The Linn Sondek LP12 was once the be all and end all of not only turntables, but serious hi-fi as a whole.

In the late seventies and early eighties your masculinity was certainly in doubt if you didn't own an LP12. That's assuming that you believed the hype in magazines and from Linn dealers.

The LP12 was, in fact, so successful for a relatively expensive turntable that it went on to launch thousands of Linn/Naim systems – many of which are still around today. But in the last ten years or so the LP12 has become just another turntable in a hotly contested market place.

It's also pretty expensive in the general scheme of things – a full monty version will set you back £4,480 and that's without the arm or cartridge.

Affordable system

The new super-affordable Majik version is a full LP12 turntable with the standard armboard and solid base as well as the "extremely low-noise patented main bearing" and Mazak 8 platter.

It has a three-point spring suspension system and a folded steel subchassis that connects the main bearing to the wooden armboard.

The main body of the turntable is solid wood and comes in a variety of types and is surmounted by a stainless top plate which seats the on/off switch. Majik elements include the internal power supply and a Pro-Ject 9cc carbon fibre tonearm.

This is surprising, because Linn used to sell its own entry-level tonearms (most famously the Basic).However, the company has a history of using third-party tonearms such as the Grace, so the Pro-Ject is not such a radical choice after all.

Awkward setup

The 9cc is the top Pro-Ject tonearm and retails for £450 when sold separately. It has inverted bearings and a conical carbon fibre tube that morphs into the headshell.

It can be adjusted for both VTA (armbase height) and azimuth (the tube can be rotated) and comes with an arm cable that plugs into the base and could be replaced if you fancy juggling with the insides of an LP12.

Unlike most turntables, this is not something that is encouraged – the LP12 is a difficult design to set up – those springs are inclined to go out of alignment if knocked or twisted and getting them back in place is a kerfuffle even if you've had the training.