After years of gradual upgrading, I have the following system CDS2/hiline/XPS, 52/SC/250, KEF reference 3/2s on Isoblue. I am very happy with the CD side of the system, and can't see myself making any changes for some time.

I also have a large record collection, and have a trusty LP12 (pre cirkus), Ittok and DV20. I am looking to upgrade significantly and have the option of Naiming the Linn or looking elsewhere (Avid, Michell). I am wondering if forum users have experience of these turntables with Olive or whether Olive users always stayed loyal to the LP12. My budget is pretty flexible, but I would be considering a full Naim set so this would make a Volvere/Orbe within reach.

Any advice greatly appreciated!

Hi and welcome

My advise would be to listen to the combinations you have suggested but as you already have the trusty old LP12 consider what upgrades can be done upto the value of what you are looking to pay.
Where do you live? And do you have a good dealer? Listen to a modded/upgraded LP12 to the value you can afford and I am sure the LP12 will give you greater sonic benefits.
There is nothing wrong with the pre Cirkus LP12 or pre Valhalla, I have one myself and am enjoying it with a 30 year old SME arm.
The conclusion is IMO, fully check out your LP12 before spending out on another deck, you may be quite suprised.

ATB

John

As John says get your lp12 to a good Linn dealer,Check out the Linn upgrades to bring it up to top speck.
Munch

EL PEE TWELVE

Hi Analyst

The Orbe is a very good musical TT that with the right arm and cartridge can sound very fine indeed. The Avid Volvere on the other hand is a good piece of technical engineering, the Orbe is this too, but it plays music nicely in to the bargain. IMHO, a Rega P3-24 is more musical than a Volvere. Especially if you ask Max Townshend to tweak the P3-24 then it really ROCKs.

So if it is Michell vs Avid then for me, it is no contest - Michell every time. Despite what some might say, the Michell needs expertise in setting it up - the Orbe more so than the Gyro. I know an Orbe can sound great, but I had one on loan and couldn't achieve that with it. I've heard the Avid up against CDs and CD won every time.

But hold on a minute, you already have a Linn LP12 - so what's this with other TTs. The big LP12 advantage is that there are some dealers around who can work majik with this TT and a well set-up LP12 is hard to beat. Sure other TTs will sound different, but I think serviced and brought up to spec as necessary the LP12 will be your best choice.

My advice would be the get your Linn cirkus'd and have a nice arm like the Ekos SE and most importantly get a good dealer to demonstrate this to you. I was surprised just how good the latest fully Linn'd LP12 sounds - not surprised it sounded good because any well adjusted LP12 sounds great, but the latest spec one was a revelation. A fully Naim'd one will sound very good as well, but a bit different from the full Linn'd one.

So definitely go and listen to some TTs - Orbe/TechnoArm, Rega P9 and Townshend Rock are the three that I feel have something special to offer (there are TTs like VPI, but never heard one) and TTs like the Naim'd Phonosophie P3 which are great, but no local support. However, use the LP12 as a benchmark and be totally convinced with a home demo that one of these other TTs is better before making a move. If you're like me then you won't find a TT that outperforms the LP12 and you'll be very content by getting the best out of what you got.

ATB Rotf

Analyst

What RoTF said is 100% on the money.

What ever you do, you must listen a Linned LP12 as well as the Naimed version.

quote:

The Avid Volvere on the other hand is a good piece of technical engineering,

J

The only thing the Avid has going for it is the colour IMO.

Hmmm....i have a CDSII with 555PS and my Avid beats it hands down. Its not without its foibles granted but given the choice its black plastic everytime. I recently offloaded my aging LP12 and have never regretted the decision. In fact i felt almost guilty selling it on as the mug guy was so enthusiastic! Admittidly, ive never heard a full blown LP12 with an ARO but then Avid make a mount for the ARO anyway...

Hi Analyst

Firstly a very warm welcome to the forum

If it is of any help I have just completed a 2-year investigation into turntables, begun when I first learned of the up-coming Naim Superline phono preamp. I completely lost count of the number of turntables that we tried and somehow Linn’s LP-12 always came out on top, even though the one we were using, like yours, was not the latest specification. Given that some of these were to the order of £25k and the one that came closest for me was the Acoustic Solid, the one tried here looked not unlike an oil rig and its parallel tracking arm required a fish-tank pump running for the air bearing.

In the end we decided upon the LP-12 or rather two of them in order to demonstrate the new Superline; Linn 1 being a fully “naim’d” LP12 with Armageddon PS, Aro arm and here we settled upon the Dynavector XV-1S cartridge & Linn 2 fully “Linn’d” with Lingo2, Keel, Ekos SE & Akiva, both of which totally outclass anything else we had tried, they needed to, adding Linn to our product portfolio was expensive!

Before you spring for a major investment in a turntable here is a very recent experience we had with a local customer (system: LP12/CD555/552/SNAXO-Supercap2/2 x 250s/SBLs), we had loaned him our Linn 2 combination above to compare to his existing LP-12, the new one was going to be ordered but our first batch of Naim Superline’s had arrived so we popped over with one all of us hearing the production unit for the first time, this upgrade to his existing LP-12 was so significant that it was ordered instead of the upgraded LP-12 with these upgrades now being deferred to the next upgrade at a later date.

My advice would be therefore that you have a listen to these latest versions of the LP-12 as well as the new Naim Superline you may well find that the Superline breathes new life into your “old girl”, and if she is looking a little tired you could relatively cheaply upgrade to the latest plinth, add a Trampolin base at the same time as having it serviced.

As you are using a 52/SC you will need an external power supply for the Superline if your budget allows go for a Supercap2, SNAXO/Superline Burndy cable & a 4-pin din to 5-pin din HiLine.

Hope that is helpful

Warmest regards

Norman
Partner - UHES

whatever happened to "source first"?

Norman,
Why would he need a SNAXO ?
Munch

quote:

Originally posted by KT66:
whatever happened to "source first"?

Some times, the idea don't work.

Hi Munch

Just for your information, the Burndy cable used to connect the Superline to a Supercap(2) is the same one as used to connect a SNAXO and Naim have therefore relabelled this Burndy cable to SNAXO/Superline.

Sorry to have confused you, I too sadly know what it is to grow old

Warmest regards

Norman
Partner - UHES

quote:

As you are using a 52/SC you will need an external power supply for the Superline if your budget allows go for a Supercap2, SNAXO/Superline Burndy cable & a 4-pin din to 5-pin din HiLine.

That's a full-monty Superline.
He can power it off his 52 without an external PSU.

I see the Forum consensus is that it degrades the sound of the rest of the source, but it seems it's not as bad as what others make it to be.

quote:

Originally posted by Rodborough:
Hi Munch

Just for your information, the Burndy cable used to connect the Superline to a Supercap(2) is the same one as used to connect a SNAXO and Naim have therefore relabelled this Burndy cable to SNAXO/Superline.

Sorry to have confused you, I too sadly know what it is to grow old

Warmest regards

Norman
Partner - UHES

OLD I am still 25

quote:

Originally posted by clanky:
Admittidly, ive never heard a full blown LP12 with an ARO but then Avid make a mount for the ARO anyway...

The Avid I heard had an ARO - just not for me I guess. Thought the ARO sounded a lot better on the LP12. The CD555 was far more engaging and musical than the Avid/ARO/Super-Line to my ears, but it is probably subjective.

quote:

OLD I am still 25

??????

quote:

Originally posted by munch:
OLD I am still 25

At heart.

Hi Kuma,

Given this from Analyst

quote:

My budget is pretty flexible, but I would be considering a full Naim set so this would make a Volvere/Orbe within reach.

I took the "Full Monty" approach, but you are quite right the 52 has a 5-pin 240 degree powered input (input 2 IIRC) that could indeed power a Superline with the addition of just a 5-pin 240 degree SNAIC. I should have made that clear and thanks for pointing it out.

Warmest regards

Norman
Partner - UHES

quote:

Originally posted by kuma:

quote:

As you are using a 52/SC you will need an external power supply for the Superline if your budget allows go for a Supercap2, SNAXO/Superline Burndy cable & a 4-pin din to 5-pin din HiLine.

That's a full-monty Superline.
He can power it off his 52 without an external PSU.

I see the Forum consensus is that it degrades the sound of the rest of the source, but it seems it's not as bad as what others make it to be.

I have only heard Julians 52 and Supercaped Superline with a brand new Cartridge.
It was good but not as good as it is now.
I did get to hear my LP12 Ittock Klyde through the Superline Supercap and 52 though.While Dr Peter was working on Julians LP12 and it was bloody fantastic.
This weekend i am looking forward to hearing a few AROs and cartridges on a LP12 through Superlines and a nice Active 500 SL2 and n/sub system
Munch