Show us your Sondek

Only £3k? I have gone well beyond that with Keel, Radikal (the machined version), Urika :grimacing:

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new product called Phoenix all in one machined ala Keel which they reference on thier web site no photos

I will looking at Keel or Phoenix to move up from Kore, assume the arm board can be mounted with diffrerent arms - but I know Linn took at long time over Keel and Aro fit

so from my understanding full Tanergine deck is Stiletto, Skorpion, Eklispse, Karmen, Phoenix, leaving ARM/Phono - assuming you are spending the £££ on Tangerine radikal would be power

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Ah so some of that I have already moved away from then, with Keel. No further spend on the lp12 for at least a year I think, anyway, I hadn’t been aware of the Tangerine bits other than Stiletto (and skorpion from today’s references) and I think a top plate? Anyway all for the future!

The Tangerine Karmen is an excellent alternative top plate, probably the best one out there, a huge upgrade over the standard Linn SS top plate, and highly recommended for those of us who can’t afford a Stiletto :money_mouth_face:

I’ve been enjoying my Tangerine Karmen for the past 6 years :+1:

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lot of my friends have Karmen, and rate it very highly

I have one of the last TP Khan on my deck which I am more than happy with, but Phoenix vs Keel might be an interesting one :grin:

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lovely deck @Debs great minds link alike?

I went Ekos SE rather than ARO, I am too clumsey with Unit Pivot!

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It doesn’t really matter if you go Keel or not, the massive gain (to my ears) is with the Stiletto, plus the Skorpion baseboard it seems (which my dealer advocates alongside) - with all the other Linn bits included (Radikal et al) - Aro instead of Ekos SE?

I think this goes to reinforce the view that the plinth and top-plate union and allied interactions play a bit part in the reproduction - and to discount/deny this is folly (IMV), especially without listening to one.

Being a suspended design, the plinth & top-plate carry a great deal of weight, the moreso as the years have gone by and Linn’s arms have got heavier (I will stand corrected on this). Having a far more rigid structure to manage this seems highly logical - which my ears agreed with.

My understanding is (as you would expect) they tested/went through various versions of the Stiletto before they were happy with it, noting the internal surfaces aren’t flat.

…and if you do go the Stiletto route the £’s cost what with all the other Linn bits puts you in the territory of other uber-decks.

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Looks great Debs. What kind of improvements did you hear with the TA top-plate vs standard issue? How does a solid top replicate the tensioning of the bent steel top at the junction with the plinth - or is that tensioning just not necessary?
Kevin

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Hi Antz,
Is the Phoenix actually available? It seems to have been at the ‘announced’ stage for a long time now…

The result is increased sonic resolution, definitely an excellent upgrade, i guess it carries along on the theme of aluminium simply being a superior top plate material than stainless steel, and also wood in the case of the Stiletto. You’ll have to ask Peter @Cymbiosis about the technicalities of tensioning, but i suspect it’s not necessary in the same bending over the knee way when the top plate is designed in aluminium, i doubt it would flex :grin:

IIRC the Karmen’s engineering means that spring adjustment and correct bounce factor becomes a far easier job to achieve.

Picture below from the fitting in April 2014, can’t believe six years ago already!

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Thanks Debs. Very helpful and I guess it makes sense that the tensioning is simply to overcome potential shortfalls in the stiffness of a plain sheet of steel as a top plate…
I’m frankly flabbergasted at how involving my current rig sounds, but if it can get better yet then I’m in!

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I will ask, couple of directors on FB group I have not seen anything yet not much on web

Iv’e upgraded my LP12 over the years usually taking an annual financial hit each time to spread the cost. The only bit left from way back is the outer platter!
When Tangerine Audio Stiletto and Scorpian options were announced my dealer turned up at home and installed the modified LP12 in my system. From the off it left the stock plinth way behind. The Linn has colouration in comparison with the Stiletto and its cleaner sound.
Its not a fluted plinth but that does’nt bother me. I was tempted by the Harben options but when the Tangerine Audio arrived that was it.
This year I had Karousel with the benfits well documented here. Also the red Collaro mat has much less static to cause it to come adrift along with the record.

morning @kjc my dealer has a demo Phoniex for Linn arm, will ask for more details when I see him soon

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Reading the posts of all you Sondek owners, I can’t help thinking about Trigger’s broom. Although I doubt if I will ever own one, I must confess to being fascinated by them and the one I heard driving Naim amplification and Kudos speakers sounded wonderful.

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It’s inevitable really in order to progress. Naim is similar - I have a 52PS converted to a Supercap - this means I have a 52PS cardboard box and a full width case.
There’s not much left after a DR conversion either…

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took me a while, think of an LP12 as a coach built car, all the different consituant parts make up an LP12

I have always felt in order of importance, Bearing, PSU,Sub Chasis, Arm & Cartridge - but all owners chosse different journeys

the one thing I can say in 20 years of demo’s factory visits - friends systems etc - a well sorted LP12 is still today one of the finest musical sources on the market - just don’t get a friday afternoon

as with NAIM equipment - care, look after them well and service by approved dealers and the reward is musical excellance

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Interesting Antz. I’m curious because I would love it if TA @Tangerine were able to make a Phoenix with a Rega mounting. Mark, if you’re reading you have a sale here☝️…
pretty sure Linn would never dream of making a Keel for Rega :confused:

I’m very seriously impressed with the Roksan Sara. I think at last we have a very viable alternative to the much missed ARO. Sounds amazing even with just a Kore. If it could be Keel’d or Phoenix’d I can only imagine how it would sound.

This is mine… Dates from 1981 - just pre Valhalla. Got Valhalla & Ittok in '82. Various minor tweaks and mod’s thereafter - nothing expensive… Until… 2018, when it (finally…) had the Cirkus mod fitted.

Carts started with a 10X, then an Asak, a Karma, and then back to a (newer) 10X…

Its not broken, so … :slight_smile:

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How about a pic of your lovely flutes!