I get the feeling here that the outright hatred of the LP12 is more to do with its conception and direct ancestry (as well as current stupid pricing) than the actual product itself (despite certain flaws), which is constantly evolving over the years. Latest updates include a lower mass main platter and new basic sub-chassis I understand which can't be a bad thing as the extra weight over the donor Thorens 150 design is perceived as a bad thing for the suspension dynamics.. I'm too close to the LP12 by association over decades having built so many up from a pile of bits as part of my job, but despite hearing better vinyl reproduction thirty years ago, it's an endearing design and far better made than a TD150 ever was...
For me, vinyl can only rarely approach a good master recording, where digital can in my experience (I accept this won't jive well here), and since I'll never be able to afford to go the Notts Analogue/Decca route again (too cumbersome and too expensive), I'll stick to my Dual 701 which isn't bad at all and sounds highly involving with all my cartridges except the Decca (I don't have screws of the right thread... The other Duals and cheapo Garrards are fun things to use and because I expect so little from them, I'm surprised hugely when they do make an old pressing sound surprisingly listenable
Favourites of these are the Dual 1019 I was given and the Garrard Lab80mk2 heavyweight I got from 'Beobloke' some years back..
Not sure I can give a full list over the years, but here goes the highlights...
My parents' Auto-Deccalian 88 with Collaro Conquest changer
Loads of record players that were chucked my way as a kid - BSR UA6 and UA8 ruled
Hacker GP42 record player with Garrard 2025TC and Acos GP96 cartridge
Garrard AP76 (crap Friday afternoon sample - my current one is far better)
Goldring Lenco GL75
Technics SL110
Garrard SL95B 'Module - cheap run-out purchase and it restored my faith in Garrards of this chassis
Dual 1229 - lovely deck but surviving ones need work doing if breakages aren't to occur. I should still have it but it was loaned out and never returned.
Linn LP12 - many samples in different colours and with different tonearms from Grace 707, Hadcock, Mission 774, Rega RB to various Ittoks...
Notts Analogue Mentor deck and arm/Decca Microscanner (the best deck I ever owned sold in a moment of austerity when the Decca packed up)
Dual 701 - which I still have and enjoy
Dad's GL78 with AT95E which I serviced with new arm V-blocks and fresh idler
Beogram 3000/SP12 from 1972 - slightly bland sound (not the cartridge) but a masterwork in basic design and operational simplicity
Technics SL1500 - first one was awful but second one came alive with little work and if treated like a Rega
Garrard Zero 100 - wonderful conversation piece from before the times decks were 'listened to.'
Garrard Lab 80mk2 - Plessey's interference prevented Garrard from continuing with a heavyweight construction - arm much better than you'd think
Dual 601 - standby in case the 701 motor fails as its been threatening to in recent times
Dual 1019 - Given to me earlier this year and motor drone aside, it's a beautiful thing and can sound superb
Plus all the other stuff I play with when bored, such as the Dual 1214 the Doc gave me which was smashed in transit, the arm missing and destroyed in any case - I rebuilt it, plonked it in a 1257 plastic plinth, fitted a 1216 cast platter and it's actually rather superb...
Plus of course, all the decks I worked with and worked on in my job of thirty five years...