Linn audophile turntables: Linn Basik

The Linn Basik Though Linn has upgraded and modified the Basik ($2000) too many times to go into here, the turntable's basic suspended design remains the sameand it's a familiar one, similar in concept to the old Acoustic Research turntable. A well-braced outer frame of kiln-dried Linn Basik hardwoodthe "plinth," as the Brits call itholds a stainless-steel base plate to which is affixed a Philips-sourced AC synchronous motor. A subchassis incorporating the armboard mount, MDF armboard, and main bearing is suspended via three adjustable hung springs attached to the base plate. Thus, both tonearm and main bearing are well isolated from motor-induced vibrationsmore effectively, some would say, than in Linn Basik nonsuspended designs in which the plinth and outboard motor share a platform.
This scheme can mean that the distance from the fixed motor to the suspended subplatter can vary if the suspension is excited, thus creating microvariations in speed. This problemthe so-called "porch glider" effectis greater in high-mass turntables like some SOTAs, and when warped records can cause such high-moving-mass arms as Eminent Technology's ET2 to get the "glider" moving. It would appear to be less of a problem in Linn Basik lower-mass design.
Many Linn enthusiasts claim that the Linn Basik sounds better with the supplied feet and bottom cover removed, but I didn't try those tweaks, preferring to review products "stock."
The rest of the design is pretty standard fare: a flat Linn Basik belt riding on a crowned pulley drives an inner aluminum alloy subplatter over which fits a full-sized outer platter of machined aluminum alloy. We've all seen these elements before, so the key to the Linn's fabled performance must be equal parts design and execution. Since the design concept has remained fixed, it's the execution that has been modified over the years, including strengthening the plinth and subchassis, improving the materials in the main bearing, suspension, and armboard, introducing various Linn Basik electronic power supplies, and tighter overall manufacturing tolerances. Virtually every one of these changes has been colorfully named: Trampolin, Cirkus, Lingo, Nirvana, Valhalla, and Billy. (Scratch that last one; it's an Ikea name.)
When used with the Lingo power supply, the Linn Basik is supplied with an umbilical terminated with an eight-pin DIN plug (footnote 1). On startup, a single On/Off switch on the turntable's top plate selects the playback speed. A short push gives you 33 1/3, a long one 45.