Personally I would buy it at this price, considering it’s condition and the value of the SME arm and Decca cart. It has a Valhalla power supply, black (pre cirkus) bearing liner and clear. But the power switch indicates an early power supply that is 33 RPM only. Naturally, should you have an older Sondek LP12, there may be other avenues to explore beforehand. It comes with attached power and phono leads, a linn basik. The item is in good /average condition as it has some marks on the plinth and could do with a service.
#Linn sondek lp 12 sme tonearm full
It has been tested and is in full working order.
#Linn sondek lp 12 sme tonearm upgrade
Many LP-12 owners tended to upgrade their tables as Linn was constantly updating the machine, so this one may or may not be stock. However, Linn’s own suggested upgrade path for increasing performance in a current spec LP12 is Power Supply -> Sub-chassis -> Tonearm -> Cartridge -> Phono stage. This superb sounding Linn Sondek LP12 with Basik Plus Tonearm has come to us via a part exchange and comes with a 3 month warranty. If the arm on your TD-160 is the stock TP-16, the SME would be much better for high compliance carts, but worse for just about any others. That SME arm is a very low mass arm meant to be paired with very high compliance carts, and have have no idea if it is a good match for the London cart.
![linn sondek lp 12 sme tonearm linn sondek lp 12 sme tonearm](https://www.ubuy.co.id/productimg/?image=aHR0cHM6Ly9pLmViYXlpbWcuY29tL2ltYWdlcy9nL0JUQUFBT1N3MmJGY0JSWTAvcy1sNTAwLmpwZw.jpg)
If the deck is original, I’d say performance wise it is roughly equivalent to your TD-160, perhaps capable of just a bit more. If the cart is intact and working it might be worth close to the asking price alone.
![linn sondek lp 12 sme tonearm linn sondek lp 12 sme tonearm](https://www.audioscope.net/images/linn_sondek_lp12_sme_3009-7.jpg)
I’m not familiar with Decca carts, but it looks like a Decca Gold or Super Gold, which are both still being made. The arm is an SME Series III, and it looks complete with the anti-skate weight and damping trough. The fluted Afromosia plinth would benefit from a light oiling but is actually in really nice condition.
![linn sondek lp 12 sme tonearm linn sondek lp 12 sme tonearm](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/kqMAAOSw0vpeqO81/s-l300.jpg)
Lid and top plate are better than average for the age. Valhalla PSU fitted as standard for year. Also available separately as an upgrade, this offering increased. Tonearm cable: Linn ‘Silver’ T-cable, 1.7m long version. We are not able to respond back to you, so if the ad remains on site after 12 hours then we have chosen to leave the ad live. That is a fairly early LP-12 as indicated by the pre-Valhalla power switch, the older style hinges, and the hole in the right top plinth for the dust cover prop/kickstand (among other things). A pretty and tidy Linn Sondek LP12 with Basik Plus tonearm and budget Audio Technica moving magnet cartridge. The Majik Sub-chassis is fitted as standard to the Sondek LP12 / Majik LP12 turntable. Linn Sondek LP12 turntable, Lingo 2, Akito 2B Tonearm, Silver-T cable 1.7m, Adikt cartridge.