Linn Axis (1982–1992)
The Linn Axis is the company's answer to the Rega Planar 3. It responded to the success of more affordable British belt-drive turntables, and it was part of Linn's effort to fend off the Japanese direct-drive designs of the era. Built in Glasgow, it was meant as a cheaper, more accessible relation to the Sondek LP12. It shares that deck's mass-loaded, low-resonance chassis philosophy, but with a simplified, more cost-effective spring suspension. It borrows much of the LP12's visual language, though the sub-chassis was pressed steel rather than the LP12's top-plate/corner-bracket approach.
The platter was massive by budget-deck standards - 30 cm across, 3 kg, and machined rather than cast, which made it less resonant. The motor was the same basic unit fitted to later, Valhalla-equipped LP12s. Linn's own LVX tonearm was the standard fit, and the deck was also available with a built-in, custom phono stage. The only concession to automation was that switching the turntable off would automatically lift the tonearm from the record. Linn called this "semi-automatic."
Period reviewers were impressed. Audio (May 1987, p.84) went so far as to say that if the magazine had a "best buy" rating, the Axis would get it, citing its low cost and high performance. The same review found the Axis's contribution to the rumble spectrum negligible, with most of what appeared coming from arm/cartridge resonance. HiFI-Stereo (January 1987, p.37) reported the test unit's channel separation at about 20 dB up to 10,000 Hz, decreasing to 13-15 dB in the 15-20 kHz range.
By the standards of the day it was a very good budget turntable. Many in the trade considered it better than an LP12 with an early Basik arm. The American price was $895 around 1984.
Collectors should know a few caveats. The suspension grommets are a known weak point and are often perished (upgrades exist), and the power supply is known to fail or develop hum. The LVX tonearm uses non-standard wiring and is difficult to service - the internal wiring in the arm pillar is a pain to replace. The motor is also cited as a known weak point. Still, the Axis is not expensive to buy, even with an Ittok arm fitted.
Known specifications
- Belt drive, DC motor (AC motor with electronic speed control available as an option)
- Speeds: 33.33 and 45 rpm (via speed-change pulley as standard; electronic control adds a 45 rpm button)
- Platter: 30 cm diameter, 3 kg, machined
- Wow and flutter: better than ±0.09%
- Rumble: better than −70 dB (DIN B)
- Dimensions: 440 × 358 × 99 mm (W×D×H)
- Power consumption: 6 W
- Tonearm: Linn LVX
- Optional accessories: hinged dust cover, wall mount
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