1. Linn Ekos Tonearm
2. Linn Ekos Serial Numbers Chart

Hi all, new to this forum but have read for some time. I just purchased a Linn lp12 yesterday in great condition and I'm trying to find out the year of manufacture. The previous owner said he thought it was from 92'. Serial # 040613 - He got the Cirkus upgrade in 94' & it has the Ittok lvII tonearm. It came w/a Benz Ace MC cart as well. Plays very nice. Would this era be a Valhalla?

Would I be able to adapt a Lingo or Hercules ps to this? It only plays at 33rpm, a lingo would change that and upgrade the sound as well correct? Any help and info is much appreciated. I'm playing it through a McIntosh MA6200 & Cornwall speakers.

I have a Rotel phono preamp for now. My dad has a early 90s LP12, so whilst i dont know the answers to most of your questions. But i didnt know on his that it could play 45rmp until recently, when he showed me that it does, i dont know if its via an upgrade however.

Linn LP12 Upgrades Every one knows how revered is the Sondek, it is basically a well made well designed deck that plays your LP’s to a fairly high standard. It can be upgraded in performance to a level unimagined by most owners, there are two routes to this end, the most cost effective comes from Origin Live.

You hold the start button down and it goes from Green (33) to Blue (45). Had you tried that at all? That being said, one of his friend as an LP12 himself but from an early construction and his doesnt play 45's. I couldn't tell you what upgrades thats had. Nice purchase btw, i've always enjoyed the sound from my dads and would own one myself if i had the money!! If it helps any, I used to own a Linn Axis from 1990 and an LP12 from 1985.

The LP12 came with Valhalla so your turntable should have that power supply if it's from 1992. The Valhalla is recognisable by the simple black press button start switch which has a small LED inside and lights (red?) when running. The post from above mentions the 45rpm facility which is something the Axis had as standard but it's PS was altogether very different. If you press and hold that start switch the light goes from red to green which indicates 45rpm. I'm not aware myself of an LP12 fitted with that from the period your turntable comes from. You can change any PS to anything you like. My Valhalla LP12 broke down due to a common fault with the PS (overheating resistor - R9?- blows a bridge and the whole thing is defunct) so I swapped it out for an Origin Live DC Motor kit which comes with its own box and cables and takes a novice like me about an hour to fit.

The DC motor upgrade was very significant, far better than an over-priced Linn AC motor PS in my view. The Origin Live has 45rpm and can even do 78rpm with a little adjustment. It's a fraction of the cost of the Linn and is better.

This might not be a popular opinion but it's your money and I know if I still had a Linn where I'd be putting mine! The Origin Live gear is better than Linn now anyway. Good luck and enjoy it. Hi all, new to this forum but have read for some time. I just purchased a Linn lp12 yesterday in great condition and I'm trying to find out the year of manufacture.

The previous owner said he thought it was from 92'. Serial # 040613 - He got the Cirkus upgrade in 94' & it has the Ittok lvII tonearm. It came w/a Benz Ace MC cart as well. Plays very nice. Would this era be a Valhalla?

Would I be able to adapt a Lingo or Hercules ps to this? It only plays at 33rpm, a lingo would change that and upgrade the sound as well correct?

Any help and info is much appreciated. I'm playing it through a McIntosh MA6200 & Cornwall speakers. I have a Rotel phono preamp for now.

Click to expand.As far as I can tell, bearings on Ittok are fine. It plays very well, I've been jamm'n it a bunch last 2 days and I'm really happy with it. Bounce is great (I have a Thorens TD145 MK2, AR 'the Turntable' & a Soniograph sg3) so suspension is one thing I've had a little experience with I have a cement foundation floor in the den and the TT rest on a wood credenza.

No weird over tones or vibrations. I'd love to see how much more and I expand the sound AND play 45's on this TT but also happy for now until $$$ and knowledge stack up.

If it helps any, I used to own a Linn Axis from 1990 and an LP12 from 1985. The LP12 came with Valhalla so your turntable should have that power supply if it's from 1992.

The Valhalla is recognisable by the simple black press button start switch which has a small LED inside and lights (red?) when running. The post from above mentions the 45rpm facility which is something the Axis had as standard but it's PS was altogether very different. If you press and hold that start switch the light goes from red to green which indicates 45rpm. I'm not aware myself of an LP12 fitted with that from the period your turntable comes from. You can change any PS to anything you like. My Valhalla LP12 broke down due to a common fault with the PS (overheating resistor - R9?- blows a bridge and the whole thing is defunct) so I swapped it out for an Origin Live DC Motor kit which comes with its own box and cables and takes a novice like me about an hour to fit.

The DC motor upgrade was very significant, far better than an over-priced Linn AC motor PS in my view. The Origin Live has 45rpm and can even do 78rpm with a little adjustment. It's a fraction of the cost of the Linn and is better. This might not be a popular opinion but it's your money and I know if I still had a Linn where I'd be putting mine! The Origin Live gear is better than Linn now anyway.

Good luck and enjoy it. Some nights. Click to expand.That pretty much covers all the important upgrade history. There was the 25th anniversary edition in 1997, with Ivor's signature engraved on the top plate, and badge on back of plinth, where they were up to around 95,000. The Keel, was introduced in 2006.

To answer the original question, Linn did make a 45 adaptor, but obviously this doesn't improve the sound. The Lingo, was one of my favourite upgrades for the LP12, and a LP12, Lingo, Akito, would easily outperform, a LP12, Valhalla, Ekos. 1980 bought a significant upgrade to the Ittok, with the thicker arm pillar, and the bearing shaft material was changed in 1983, around serial number, 12,000. Either a Hercules, or Lingo, are very easy mods, the Lingo giving you a substantial sonic upgrade, the Hercules, giving you 45. There is now a Hercules II, with an external Mode, power supply. This is not as good as a Lingo 1. That pretty much covers all the important upgrade history.

Linn Ekos Tonearm

There was the 25th anniversary edition in 1997, with Ivor's signature engraved on the top plate, and badge on back of plinth, where they were up to around 95,000. The Keel, was introduced in 2006. To answer the original question, Linn did make a 45 adaptor, but obviously this doesn't improve the sound. The Lingo, was one of my favourite upgrades for the LP12, and a LP12, Lingo, Akito, would easily outperform, a LP12, Valhalla, Ekos. 1980 bought a significant upgrade to the Ittok, with the thicker arm pillar, and the bearing shaft material was changed in 1983, around serial number, 12,000. Either a Hercules, or Lingo, are very easy mods, the Lingo giving you a substantial sonic upgrade, the Hercules, giving you 45. There is now a Hercules II, with an external Mode, power supply.

Linn Ekos Serial Numbers Chart

This is not as good as a Lingo 1. I would try the Lingo, a used original one is all you need. When I got my Linn Valhalla I swapped my cartridge from my Systemdek IIX and noticed that while clearer, quieter, and more open sounding the Linn was a bit lightweight sounding by comparison. I added the Lingo and the bottom register extended dramatically and developed a sense of weight and authority, dynamics improved, noise-floor dropped, timing improved, imaging got better, etc. If you dont notice that, then I would turn your sights to what the Linn is sitting on, which as others have mentioned is critical.

One thing at a time tho, add the Lingo and see what you think. Hi all, new to this forum but have read for some time. I just purchased a Linn lp12 yesterday in great condition and I'm trying to find out the year of manufacture. The previous owner said he thought it was from 92'.

Serial # 040613 - He got the Cirkus upgrade in 94' & it has the Ittok lvII tonearm. It came w/a Benz Ace MC cart as well. Plays very nice. Would this era be a Valhalla? Would I be able to adapt a Lingo or Hercules ps to this? It only plays at 33rpm, a lingo would change that and upgrade the sound as well correct? Any help and info is much appreciated.

I'm playing it through a McIntosh MA6200 & Cornwall speakers. I have a Rotel phono preamp for now.

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Despite the fact that I have owned a couple of 'ordinary' LP12's in the past, I consider myself an ignoramus regarding arms and psu's so here are the questions. What is the difference, cosmetically and sonically, between the various Ekos arms (1,2,3)? Values seem to vary massively. I am thinking of buying another LP12 for a second system and it also has a Mantcore external psu. Never seen one before, only Manticore t/t's, so it is a good one and does it add value? The LP12 I am being offered is circa 83,000 s/no and has an Ekos (type to be determined), K9 and Manticore. What would you expect to pay for this as LP12 prices baffle me.

It's in great condition. The Manticore power supplies are well regarded, probably better than the Hercules and Heed Orbit power supplies. Manticore made a few different power supplies with the MB6 being the top one (challenger to a mk 1 Linn Lingo I believe). I remember bidding (didn't win) on a Manticore MB5 power supply on a certain online auction site about 4 years ago. The price it went for was over £200. The serial no. Of the LP12 in question means it has the cirkus bearing.

So the deck itself will be 'worth' at least £600, maybe much more. I don't own anything Linn but I'd guess that the Ekos 1 arm probably would sell for well over £500.

Have a look on the Naim and Linn forums. If it has been kept in dry storage for several years leave it in, e.g. Your living room, for a few days to rise to room temperature before switching on. And of course get it serviced by a Linn dealer e.g. Peter at Cymbiosis in Leicester. Click to expand.I think it was £380 (am not at home and bought quite a few items recently so cant say for definate) through linn dealer. I know I could've got it fixed cheaper elsewhere but it was stripped and rebuilt by the same employees who build the Ekos SE, with genuine Linn parts, and it is also recorded as having been rebuilt by linn who will give you the service history if requested.

I was told it is now very nearly up to Ekos 2 standard, I can't compare them however it does sound fantastic.