REPRODUCEDFROMTHEEAR
Alexspentalotoftimefinetuningtheinstalation,in particularmakingsurethattheturntablewascompletely level,whichisevenmorecriticalforanLP12thanfor almostanyotherturntable.Finaly,weatachedapairof AudioquestFireRCAinterconnectstotheanalogueinputs onmyLyngdorfTDAI3400amplifier.Thehingeddustcover wasliftedoftheplinthforreplay,andarecordchosenat randomwasputontotheturntableplater–Alexsimply wantedtoensurethatalwaswel,andsuggestedthatwealow themachinetowarmupafteritsjourneytoDevon.Thusasured, hebademefarewelandleftmealonewiththeKlimaxLP12. Operationaly,thisLP12isverysimilartomyown.Thereisa
rockerswitchonthefrontleftcornerofthetopplate.Presitonceanditturnsredandtheplaterstarts moving,quiteslowlyatfirst,takingabout25secondstoreachitsmainoperationalspeedof33.3rpm, aboutthesameasmyownLP12withLingo4PSU.Onceitreachesthisspeedtheredlightdims,and usingthedampedarmliftmechanismontheEkosSE,thepreciousdiamondisplaceddownwithgreat gentlenes,whichIfoundveryreasuring,asthecantileverontheEkstatikcartridgelooksmuchlonger andmorevulnerablethanthatonmyownDynavectorcartridge.Theprospectofmycackhandednes damagingitwasneverfarfrommymind.AsthereviewperiodprogresedIrelaxedmore,andactualy foundtheKlimaxnomoredificulttousethanmyowndeck,whichishardlysurprising.
SoundQuality LP12usershavelongvaluedtheabilityofthis turntable to communicate the rhythmic heartbeatofthemusictheyareplaying,andIam veryhappytoreportthatthisultimateversion stilpacksthatalmostvisceralpunch.Itmaybe themostrefinedLP12yetbuilt,butitlovesto getdowninthemoshpitandboogiealongto themusicwhenappropriate.Ontheotherhand itcanalsodosubtleandevengentlewhen required,able to reproduce solo piano and acousticguitarwithgreatfineseanddelicacy. Iputtotogetheraveryeclecticmixtureof recordstoplayontheLP12,andIdidnotfind anythingtowhichitdidnotdofuljustice.
Istarted,asIoftendo,withBobDylan’sBloodOn TheTracksonMobileFidelity’sexcelentpresing, andheretheinstrumentationwasclearlysetout acros the soundstage,the acoustic guitars sounding distinctivelydiferentand thatvoice placedforwardintotheroomontheopeningtrack TangledUpInBlue.Aspreviouslymentioned,the rhythmicdrivecariedthesongalongbeautifuly, andtheendresultwastotalyengrosing.My original1973presingofDarkSideoftheMoonon theHarvestlabelsoundedincrediblyfresh,asit didwhenIfirstcariedithometoplayonmy GarardSP25MkIVwhenitwasreleased,butwith levelsofdetailanddepthsofbaswhichwereway beyond the capabilitiesofalmostanyreplay systembackthen.
MUSICATHOME+ 35
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