Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
Product Strengths
- Key to the enduring appeal of the LP12 is the indefinable rhythmic joy to the way it makes music
- The Linn Selekt LP12 retains an extraordinary ability to draw you into the performance with a simple rhythmic rightness
- The Selekt offers a level of performance that is an order of magnitude higher than LP12s of old
- Fine details that are so easily lost from the grooves of a record are worked effortlessly into the performance
- The LP12 is utterly painless to live with
Product Considerations
- The Kendo cartridge isn't a very forgiving performer and can sound a little hard and forward with less pristine pressings
- The Arko arm has a rather stiff example—that needs a little force—to move it out of its rest
Takeaway: The Linn Selekt LP12 is an insightful and enjoyable turntable that delivers an absolutely competitive performance with anything else at its price point. It is a formidable turntable that delivers the emotional content of the music above all else
All
Kendo
reviews
Manufacturer details
- Stylus Type: Super Fine Line
- Cantilever: Boron
- Armature: Square
- Coil Wire: Copper 4N
- Pin Connection Type: 1.2mm gold pin
- Mounting Points: 3
- Output Voltage: 0.45mV @3.54cm/s
- Channel Balance at 1 kHz: <1dB
- Channel Separation at 1kHz: Better than 28dB
- Load Resistance: 100Ω
- Load Capacitance: 1nF
- Tracking Force: 2.0g
- Cartridge Mass: 7.6 g
Kendo is the eager apprentice to its master, Ekstatik; sharing the same values, and picking up many of its traits along the way. Kendo is the outcome of our engineers' efforts to capitalise on the elements of Ekstatik which work so well; using our tried-and-true, trickle-down development methodology to produce a more affordable, high-performance cartridge which retains the same core design principles and acoustic fingerprint.
Kendo possesses a rigid, nickel-coated 7075-grade aluminium body. This specific grade of aluminium matches that of our Arko tonearm, for which Kendo was designed to be the perfect partner. This facilitates superb material synergy throughout the tonearm system, and effectively banishes unwanted resonances away from the delicate generator, along the arm, and out through the sub-chassis.
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- Linn emphasizes its in-house engineering expertise rather than relying on off-the-shelf components, showcasing its commitment to innovative design and integrated system performance.
- The brand stands out for its fully integrated systems, offering a complete solution from source to speaker, designed to work harmoniously together for optimal sonic results.
- Linn's products, particularly loudspeakers, can be upgraded with "Exakt" technology, allowing for digital crossovers and individual amplification of each driver, significantly enhancing performance.
- They offer their "Space Optimization" technology to account for and correct room acoustics, demonstrating a commitment to adapting to diverse listening environments.
Select products
119
- Positioning: The entry-level compact bookshelf speaker in Linn's lineup.
- Description: Offers linear performance with premium drive units, making it suitable for small spaces or as part of a versatile system. Features a rear-ported design for enhanced bass performance, and its passive crossover can be bypassed for Exakt operation, providing flexibility for future upgrades.
150
- Positioning: A passive floorstanding speaker in the mid-range of Linn's offerings.
- Description: Designed for refined and sophisticated sound with excellent linear performance. Features a down-ported design for omnidirectional bass, setting it apart from the bookshelf 119, and includes a high-quality passive crossover that can be bypassed for Exakt upgrades.
Series 5
- Positioning: A stylish and customizable speaker series offering a balance of performance and design.
- Description: Integrates Exakt technology and an Isobarik bass system, providing powerful and accurate bass in a compact form. Unlike the 150 and 119, allows for extensive customization with various Fabrik covers and finishes.
360
- Positioning: Linn's flagship loudspeaker, representing the pinnacle of their speaker technology.
- Description: Features ultra-low distortion drive units and groundbreaking dispersion characteristics, delivering a soundstage with unprecedented clarity and realism. Stands out from the Series 5, 150, and 119 with its advanced Adaptive Bias Control and Power DAC technology.
Our take on the brand
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Used
Linn
What if you spend more?
Ultimate stereo cartridge with EMT multi-layer core transducer and titanium body All EMT Novel products feature the innovative EMT multi-layer core transducer technology. The coil core is designed in two parts and is arranged around a carrier made of high-strength titanium, which encloses the sapphire needle carrier. Incredible realistic performance is achieved, while at the same time the tried and trusted EMT typical specs are respected. The generator coil of the JSD Novel Titan is made of pure silver and creates a fine and smooth sound. The titanium housing ensures optimal energy dissipation on high-quality tonearms.
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Our summary
Product Strengths
- Generous low-frequency transient textures, such as fingers plucking double bass strings
- Smoothness, refinement, good timbral balance, and commendable transparency
- Precise build quality
- Seamless delivery, producing musical pleasure on a rich, colorful pallet
Product Considerations
- The Titan does not include a stylus guard, which could be a problem for people with cats, children, or housekeepers
- A particular vocal sibilant characteristic—a super-narrow, almost sweet peak—was noted
- If hard rock is your thing—look elsewhere
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Original vs test pressing of The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark—the EMT's generous presentation of bass transient textures was there too, without overhang
Takeaway: The EMT JSD Novel Titan MC cartridge uses modern materials to enhance a classic design, delivering a fast and fresh sound. With its high output and precise build, it reliably delivers satisfying musical experiences.
Video review
Our take on the brand
The TDC01 cartridge features a novel egg-shaped housing which was chosen because of its unchallenged structural Section Modulus properties. This unique housing made of A7075 Super Duralumin, and although difficult to machine with such extreme precision, is an ideal form factor to dissipate extraneous energy coming from the record groove. This, in turn, allows the generator system to reproduce only the clean signal of the music itself. The result is absolute purity of tone, with deep, detailed bass, extraordinary smooth clarity of the midrange, and crisp, clean highs bathed in pure air; together with the vast dynamic range of this design – and making a clear departure from the thin sound that so often is present in many MC cartridges – the TDC-01 presents a musical presentation of absolute beauty, solid authority, and incredible, holographic realism.
Our summary
Product Strengths
- Combines a satiny top-end sheen with an authoritarian dynamic slam and impressive transparency
- Soundstages were deep and wide where appropriate
- Produced transient sharpness on the bottom and in the mids
- Tonally neutral-sounding
- Bottom-end extension and resolution of low-level detail were high quality
Product Considerations
- Super-refined reproduction of transients as somewhat on the polite side overall, and better suited to jazz and classical than to harder-edged rock, soul, and blues
- Requires a very low loading value to get the most out of it, surprising considering the recommended 100-200 ohms
- At 17gm, it is on the heavy side
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The TechDAS TDC01 Ti offered transparency similar to the Kuzma CAR-60
- The TechDAS TDC01 Ti also produced Proteus-like overall dynamic 'slam'
Takeaway: The TechDAS TDC01 Ti cartridge is a high-quality product that combines smoothness with dynamic slam, making for a refined sound. Its neutrality and detail make it a good choice for audiophiles who enjoy jazz and classical music.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Ultimate stereo cartridge with EMT multi-layer core transducer and high-density body All EMT Novel products feature the innovative EMT multi-layer core transducer technology. The coil core is designed in two parts and is arranged around a carrier made of high-strength titanium, which encloses the sapphire needle carrier. Incredible realistic performance is achieved, while at the same time the tried and trusted EMT typical specs are respected. The generator coil of the JSD Novel Gold is made of pure gold and creates a rich and colourful sound. The heavy housing made of a special alloy ensures optimal energy dissipation, even on demanding tonearms.
Our summary
Video review
Our take on the brand
What competes at this price?
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- The LMC-5 creates a clearer window onto the music, offering more clarity, tighter focus, and better soundstage
- Fantastic bass quality
- Well-conceived and constructed with excellent build quality
- The midrange is sonorous, making strings sing
- Easy to mount and align due to its body shape and threaded holes
Product Considerations
- A somewhat polite top end might not be ideal for those who prefer a brighter sound with more sizzle
- Proper VTA/SRA is critical to achieving ideal balance
- The pins may be smaller than the crimps on some tonearm cables, requiring adjustment
- Vocals can be a little lean, depending on the system
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Versus Goldring Eroica HX, the LMC-5 creates a clearer window onto the music and has better soundstage
- Versus Denon DL-103 and Ortofon SPU series, the LMC-5 renders people, instruments, and the recording venue in three dimensions, has precise attack, and ultimate refinement
Takeaway: The Luxman LMC-5 is a well-built, beautiful cartridge that offers clarity, detail, and a romantic sweep to the sound, making it worth buying. It is a great cartridge to add to one's system.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Direct connection with music's dynamism and energy
- Stellar cartridge that gets under the skin of music with outstanding coherence and energy—encompassing, beguiling warmth of vinyl replay
- Honest sound, extracting so much information from the groove, the sound is uncanny
- Superb tracking and an ability to listen through pops and crackle well
- Excellent sight-lining for horizontal alignment within the headshell
Product Considerations
- Nude stylus with no stylus guard requires careful installation
- More about musical drive than about air and spaciousness
Takeaway: The EMT JSD Pure Black is a cartridge that provides a direct and energetic connection to the music and brings out the warmth of vinyl. It is honest and extracts a lot of information to make records sound great.
Video review
Our take on the brand
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