Linn CD-12 Excellent in Flight Case, Factory Refreshed

Linn Sondek CD12 in
excellent condition. Includes the aluminum flight case, including all packaging
materials. This particular unit is just back from the Linn factory in Scotland,
where it received a total refresh, including a new laser mechanism.   A few notes on this truly extraordinary
machine. 

The utterly unique
CD12, with chief designer Alon Wolf (later of Magico), was introduced in 1998
as a digital counterpart to Linn’s long-lived LP player. It was the first, and
as far as I’ve read, only dedicated Red Book CD player with a development
budget over $1M. The sound, then as now, almost eluded description.  Not really digital sounding, not exactly
analog sounding, the CD12 has an uncanny ability to get closer to the music
than any other digital source that I’ve experienced.   It’s
just utterly natural.

Although the innate
liquidity is well noted, one feature of the CD12 sound that isn't emphasized much
is its bass response. This player has a more absolute grip on the very bottom
end than any other I’ve heard.  It also
delivers toe-tapping pace and rhythm. The mids sing effortlessly. Recorded
voices can startle you in your chair. The player reveals recorded resolution
down to true sonic subtleties. I think it’s also safe to say the CD12 leans a
little to the burnished end of things, rather than neutral reproduction.

In terms of
construction, the case is carved out of a solid aluminum block to 1-micron
spec. Reportedly the CNC machining of each case took a whole day. It’s compact,
unassuming, quite heavy, and very modern-looking on the rack. 

About 1,000 CD12s
were manufactured for sale worldwide during its six or seven year run (at $20K
original retail, if you could fine one). It’s sure to be the piece de
resistance in any audio stable- Prince Charles, not just an architect but
audiophile (who knew) for one reportedly owned a copy. The serial range on the
player is 0037x. Some CD12s were made with 20 bit Burr-Brown DACs, the later
ones with 24 bit DACs. This unit has the 20 bit DAC.

I emailed Linn
about upgrading the DAC to 24 bits. They said it wasn’t recommended or
necessary, since the updated DAC was not intended to affect the CD12’s overall
sound. Some say the 20-bit version sounds better anyway. All CD12s are 8x
oversampling, and can play HDCD discs.

Personally I suspect
some of the player’s sonics stem from the CD12’s power supply- it’s the same
“Brilliant Mode” switching design that appears in Linn’s Klimax amplifiers. Switchable
120/220V power. The unit includes analog, digital, and optical outputs.

Cosmetically and
operationally, this unit is in excellent, if not downright pristine, condition.
Usage time has been light the last several years. Again, the unit just received
Linn’s factory inspection and refresh, including a laser pickup replacement.
There was no particular need for that work, the unit was working fine- but now
is essentially in factory-new condition and should be good to go for years.
(The Linn treatment by itself ran $1400).

 If you’ve been waiting to nab one of these, I
doubt there’s much point trying to locate any finer or more complete example.  The package comes with the complete original contents,
including the aluminum flight case as noted. The Linn remote is included. You don’t
actually need it.  It’s an awkward
monstrosity, and only really useful in an all-Linn system.  Other remotes, including simple Marantz ones,
work fine with the player.  It can also
be operated using taps on the front tray. 

People have called
this machine a bunch of different things, though I think “reference standard”
might be a misnomer since there’s nothing else like it to compare it to. I
think it suffices to call it what it probably is- the best, or certainly the
most musical, CD player ever produced. Thanks for viewing.  -Scott