Linn Basik w/ Akito tonearm: possible purchase?

Hi, all:

Basik w/ Akito tonearm from approx '91 available for $500.00. AT95 cart.

Worth it? Or, hold out for something new (RP3) for a few hundred more?

Also, the Basik does not do 45, right?

Thanks, all!

 

I Googled it and it seems to be able to do 45 RPM...

Linn Basik Manual - Belt-Drive Turntable - Vinyl Engine

pdfstream.manualsonline.com/7/73eeef71-15e6-4933-936d-8a372edb249b.pdf

 

Yes. Thanks, @feinstei9415. It's a belt position change.

 

I went through that belt change thing when I had a Linn-Sondek with the Valhalla Power Supply. When I upgraded to the Lingo Power Supply, I had to hold the power button down until a little light went on indicating that the turntable was running at 45 RPM.

Typical of Linn, it's making something incredibly simple (every crappy record changer in the 1960's could do 16, 33, 45, and 78 RPM) into something overly complicated and foolish from an engineering standpoint.

I'd keep looking (in my humble opinion)....

 

Thanks for the advice, @feinstei9415.

I never understood what the big deal was to have a switch. Even today...

 

You had a problem holding down the switch for a few seconds.

I'd go for the RP3.

jeff

 

Thanks for your snarky reply. I had a problem with the original Valhalla where, as I remember, you had to remove the platter in order to change the speed, not with the Lingo where it varied the speed by frequency change. Apparently, they've changed the Valhalla so that you can add 45 RPM in the same way as the Lingo. I agree with you about the Rega RP3 however. A very fine turntable mechanically, even though I've never owned one.

 

The Basik/Akito is a great deck, the best VFM that Linn ever made. You'll enjoy it just as much as a Rega, though the sound will be very different. Of course, if you go for the RP3/P3, you'll end up wanting the PSU as well which will be more spend.
Is this the mark 1 or 2 Basik?

 

It's an MK2. Is there a big difference?