Linn Sondek LP12 User guide

LINN LP12
TURNTABLE
SET UP MANUAL
For Evaluation Only.
Copyright (c) by Foxit Software Company, 2004
Edited by Foxit PDF Editor

Page 2
Copyright©1991-1998byLinnProductsLimited.AllRightsReserved.
Revised Jan 1998
INDEX
IN THE BEGINNING ...
Thisiswhereitallbeganbackin1973-theSondekLP12,
which revolutionised people’s perception of what pro-
duces ‘good’ hi-fi. At Linn we have demonstrated that
turntablesarethemostimportantcomponent in a record
playing hi-fi system. Twenty five years after its introduc-
tion, the LP12 is still the reference turntable.
Since 1973, Linn has invested a great deal of time and
effort upgrading the LP12; improvements which have
had far reaching effects on the whole system. Today,
the LP12 sounds significantly better than at any time in
its history, and has an ever expanding customer base.
Looking after ‘yesterday’s' customer has always been
a priority at Linn, ensuring that almost all the upgrades
are retrofittable, thus making it possible to upgrade any
LP12 to current specification and performance.
This section is designed to assist you to carry out any
requestedupgradestotheLP12, to help you identifyand
correctminorirregularities, tofamiliariseyouwithrecom-
mended tools and provide useful information on LP12
specifications. Wehopethissectionwillhelp youprovide
better service to all your existing and future LP12
customers.

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Copyright©1991-1998byLinnProductsLimited.AllRightsReserved.
Revised Jan 1998
INDEX
INDEX
Contents.................................................Page
LP12 Introduction..............................................2
LP12 Set-up......................................................4
Required Tools.........................................5
Set-up Jig.................................................6
Preparation...............................................7
Assembly..................................................10
Suspension Adjustments..........................14
Arm cable fitting........................................17
Motor adjustment......................................21
Final Installation.......................................23
Tips...........................................................24
Common Turntable Set-up Faults.....................25
LP12 Fault Finding............................................26
Lingo Fault Finding...........................................32
LP12 Guidelines for Upgrade and Repair
Lingo.........................................................33
Suspension Grommets.............................36
Motor Thrust Bearing................................37
Bearing Housing “CIRKUS”......................38
Armboard..................................................41
Suspension Springs..................................41
Sub-chassis (glued)..................................42
Plinth.........................................................43
Valhalla Power Supply..............................44
Nirvana Kit................................................45
Valhalla Repair Kit....................................46
Valhalla Update Kit...................................47
Motor Adjustments....................................48
Linn Speedchecker...................................50
Kinky Arm Alignment Tool........................51
T-Bar Bolt Straightener.............................52
45-rpm Adaptor.........................................53
LP12 History and Upgrade Path.......................54
LP12 Specifications...........................................57
For Evaluation Only.
Copyright (c) by Foxit Software Company, 2004
Edited by Foxit PDF Editor

Page 4
Copyright©1991-1998byLinnProductsLimited.AllRightsReserved.
Revised Jan 1998
INDEX
LP12 SET-UP
INTRODUCTION
Important - read this before you begin
It is extremely important that you read this entire
section before attempting to set up a Linn Sondek
LP12 Turntable. Failure to do so may well result in
substandardperformance, andcouldresultinperma-
nent damage to the turntable.
We realise that the policy of most hi-fi dealers is, “If
allelsefails,read theinstructions”. The set up procedure
used on the Linn Sondek, while not terribly difficult, is
significantly different from that used on other turntables.
It is virtually impossible to set the table up correctly
without following the steps in this section.
These instructions refer specifically to the set up of the
Linn Sondek LP12 fitted with a Linn Tonearm and
cartridge.
Tightening Procedure
Since wearedealingwithatransducerthathastorecover
information considerably smaller than a millionth of an
inch from a phonograph record, it is important that all
fasteners (screws, nuts, and bolts) in the turntable be
very tight. Whenever the instructions call for you
totighten a fastener, we do mean tight -probably tighter
than you would have imagined.
However, there is no advantage to tightening past the
point where materials will deform, or where you damage
the materials or destroy their structure. A good rule of
thumb is simply to bring the nut or screw up to where it
seems tight and then turn it about 1/8 turn more (in the
case of armboard screws, which are put into wood, 1/16
turn will do).
Estimated Time
forCompletionof
task~60minutes

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Copyright©1991-1998byLinnProductsLimited.AllRightsReserved.
Revised Jan 1998
INDEX
Tools Needed For Set-Up
5.5mm or 7/32 Hollow Shaft Nut Driver
8mm or 5/16 Hollow Shaft Nut Driver
No. 1 Pozidrive Screwdriver
No. 2 Pozidrive Screwdriver
All cross slot screws on the LP12 are Pozidrive. While a
Phillipsscrewdriverwillwork,thecorrectPozidrivescrew-
driver is preferred.
Medium Size (about 5 mm wide) Flat BladeScrewdriver
Medium Size Needle Nose Pliers
12mm or Adjustable Wrench
5mm or 3/16 Wrench
1.33mm Allen Key
2mm Allen Key
3mm Allen Key
4mm Allen Key
Requiredallenkeys,exceptforthe3mm,aresuppliedwith
Linn tonearms.
Turntable Set-Up Jig or Substitute
Itisdesirable to raise the turntabletoabouteyelevel so
thatyoucan reachand seetheundersideoftheturntable.
The set-up jig on a standard-height work bench is best.
The surface that the set-up jig or turntable rests upon
must be absolutely steady and level for proper suspen-
sion adjustment. If the surface is unsteady or subject
to rocking motion, the energy put into the suspension
during the adjustment process can induce movement in
the support surface as well as the suspension. Proper
adjustment of the turntable suspension will be difficult,
if not impossible under these conditions.

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Copyright©1991-1998byLinnProductsLimited.AllRightsReserved.
Revised Jan 1998
INDEX
LP12 SET-UP JIG
We recommend that you always use a set-up jig when
settingupanLP12. Thiswillfacilitateeaseof adjustment,
prevent damage to your turntable and ensure proper
suspension adjustment.
1. Before using the jig make sure that the mounting
plateshave beencoveredwith a protectivestrip. Fit
protectiontoundersideofclampandplacethejigon
a stable surface.
2. Fit plinth carefully to set-up jig and lock in place.
3. Adjust jig feet until plinth is level. Check with a spirit
level, both front to back and side to side.
ç level è
ç level è

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Copyright©1991-1998byLinnProductsLimited.AllRightsReserved.
Revised Jan 1998
INDEX
PREPARATION
The next steps cover unpacking the turntable and check-
ing to see that none of the fasteners (screws, nuts or
bolts) have become loose due to vibration in transit.
Caution
Make sure that the turntable is unplugged from the A/C
outlet before removing the bottom cover. High Voltages
(400 Volts!!!) are present on the Valhalla circuit board.
Failure to observe thisprecaution can result in serious
electrical shock.
Pleasenotethat, on turntablesequippedwiththeValhalla
circuit board, the board is live at all times. The Valhalla
switch does not turn the
A/Cpoweron and off; it simply sends a controlpulse to
the boardwhichresultsinthemotorbeingturnedonoroff.
1. Unpack the Turntable
Packed below the dustcover you will find:
An armboard
Two dustcover hinges
Two baseboard screws
Three armboard screws
One inner platter/spindle assembly
Two phials of main bearing oil
Underneath the turntable you will find:
The outer platter, felt mat, and belt
2. Place Turntable in Set-up Jig
After placing the turntable in the set-up jig, lock the
turntable into place. Use a spirit level to ensure that the
turntable plinth (base) is level. This is done by adjusting
the feet of the set-up jig.
Pleasenotethat ifyouareusingaLinnset-upjig, youmay
lay the jig on its back at various times during set-up to
provide easier access to the underside of the turntable
(steps 3 to 6 for example).
However, when this is done you should first remove the
innerplatterandcap themainbearing well with the red
plastic cover provided to avoid spillage from the bearing
housing if it has been charged with oil.

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Copyright©1991-1998byLinnProductsLimited.AllRightsReserved.
Revised Jan 1998
INDEX
3. Remove Baseboard
Beforeproceedingwiththis step,stopandchecktomake
sure the turntable is unplugged! To remove the base-
board, unscrew and remove the four feet on the bottom
of the turntable.
If you are working on a previously set-up table, you will
alsohaveto remove the two baseboardscrews that are
located in the centre of both the front and rear edges of
the baseboard.
NOTE: If the turntable is to be repacked in its original
carton, the two baseboard screws must be removed. If
left in, they will scratch the rim of the platter which is
packed directly under the turntable.
4. Remove ground and P-Clip Nuts
Use the 8mm nut driver to remove the nut holding the
turntable earth jumper wiretothe front chassisbolt, and
the nuts holding the nylon P-clip, washer, and green
A/C ground wire (if fitted) to the rear chassis bolt. (See
Turntable Exploded View).
5. Tighten Wiring Strap Nuts
Check to see that the nuts holding the wiring strap, on
whichthecircuit board is mounted,are tight. These nuts
are located directly
under the ones just removed. The chassis bolts pass
through the wood mounting blocks of the plinth. These
wooden blocks may expand and contract due to
temperature and humidity extremes during transit and
this can result in the nuts working loose.
Observethetop surface ofthestainlesssteeltopplate as
you tighten these nuts. Do not overtighten these nuts
such that the stainless steel top plate becomes de-
pressed or deformed beneath the heads of the chassis
bolts.
6. Tighten Sub-chassis Ground Screw
Tightenthe allen head screw whichattachesthechassis
earthjumperwiretotherightrearedgeofthesub-chassis.
Witholderturntablesthatdo nothavethis screw,proceed
to the next step or if welded type,drill the side of sub-
chassis and relocate earth wire.

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Copyright©1991-1998byLinnProductsLimited.AllRightsReserved.
Revised Jan 1998
INDEX
7. Tighten Top Plate Screws
By looking down at the stainless steel top plate from
above, locatethe twosmallpozidrivescrewsthat helpto
attachthe top platetothe plinth. Theycan be found next
tothechassisbolts locatedatthecentre front and centre
rear of the top plate. Ensure that these two screws are
tight.
8. Check the Position of the Motor
Check the position of the motor mounting bolts in the
elongated slots in the top plate. These are the two bolts
on the extreme right and left of the motor.
On current turntables, (50 Hz pulley, 21mm diameter)
the motor mounting bolts should be in the middle of the
adjustment range. While this can be accomplished
by carefully aligning each of the two motor mounting
screws in the middle of the slot provided, it is easier
and far moreaccurateto simplyhaveonemotormounting
boltattheextreme outside of its slot, andtheother motor
mounting bolt at the extreme inside of its slot.
In countries with 60 Hz mains supplies, older turntables
may have a smaller (17 mm) diamter pulley. On these
LP12sthemotorshouldbeintheoutermostposition. This
is accomplished by having both motor mount bolts at the
extreme outside of their slots.
Please note:
All new turntables are factory fitted with the larger,
50Hz pulley, and thus should have one motor
mounting bolt at the extreme outside of its slot and
the other motor mounting bolt at the extreme inside
of its slot.
BothLingo and Valhallapower Supliesuse the50Hz
motor/pulley.
Motors with 60 Hz pulleys as supplied in the appro-
priate BASIK power supply kit and are not compat-
ible with the Lingo or Valhalla power supply.
Original Valhallas supplied to countries with 60 Hz
mains were supplied 60 Hz Valhalla boards.

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Copyright©1991-1998byLinnProductsLimited.AllRightsReserved.
Revised Jan 1998
INDEX
9. Check Motor Mounting Nuts
After you have checked the position of the motor
mountingbolts,checkthatthenutsonthemotormounting
bolts are tight, using the 5.5 mm nut driver.
Donotover-tightenthese nutsoryouwillsimplycrushthe
motor mounting domes!
10. Check Bearing Housing Bolts
Checkthattheboltswhichmountthebearinghousingand
oilwelltothe sub-chassis are tight. Theseareaccessible
fromthetop,throughtheholeinthecentreof the stainless
steel top plate, by shifting the sub-chassis from one
side to another.
Current "Cirkus" LP12 turntables use 4 mm socket head
(Allen key) bolts. Older units may use 2 mm, 2.35 mm
2.5mm or 3mm socket head bolts, Phillips screws, or
slotted screws.
POWER SUPPLIES
Since 1991 (serial number 87600) the LP12 has been
supplied as a mechanical assembly only, without power
supply factory fitted.
Three different power supply options are available:
Lingo, Valhalla and Basik. Valhalla and Basik. If you
are setting up a new turntable see separate instructions
for fitting the power supply.
ASSEMBLY
Some instructions in this section, concerning certain
tools and fasteners, are specific to Linn tonearms.
Procedures may vary slightly if other tonearms are used.
11. Mount the Tonearm Base on the Armboard
In the case of the Linn arms, the arm base is fastened
from the bottom of the arm board with three 4mm socket
head bolts with lock washers.Read section on Kinky arm
alignment tool before proceeding.
To Locate Properly
With arms using other mountings, ensure that the mount-
ing screws, bolts, or nuts are properly tightened observ-
ing the tightening procedure. With arms using a single
large mounting nut, reaching the proper tightness does
require the use of a spanner, not just your fingers!