Assembling the New Linn Sondek LP12 with Keel SE & Klimax Radikal

Keel SE – NEW reference machined-aluminium sub-chassis from Linn

Keel SE is the brand-new super evolution of Linn’s highest-performance LP12 sub-chassis. In 2006, Keel broke new ground with its precision-engineered single-piece design – it’s been intrinsic to the high performance of Klimax LP12 ever since – and now, the bar has been raised once more. With Keel SE, Linn has comprehensively improved upon the original model using Finite Element Analysis (FEA). Thanks to this revolutionary technology, their engineers have evaluated all limitations of previous sub-chassis designs, and broken free from them using a combination of cutting-edge virtual prototyping and Linn’s own enhanced in-house machining capabilities. The outcome is a new and visibly improved machined sub-chassis with superior stiffness, optimised resonant behaviour, and ideal distribution of mass.

Technical Details

The intricate bracing structure on new Keel SE’s underside – designed using a mixture of manual and computer-aided optimisations – has achieved Linn’s number one goal of increasing sub-chassis stiffness as much as possible.

This significant 300% increase means that any vibrations or displacements that travel through Keel SE have their frequencies forced higher and their amplitudes substantially lowered. In fact, problematic acoustic energy across the spectrum is broken up and dissipated better than ever before, reducing its potential impact on the extremely delicate music signal generated by the cartridge. Keel SE has had rigidity and mass increased precisely where it is needed. Particular focus has been placed on the vital path between the mounting point for Karousel and the tonearm collar. The area between these has been stiffened up greatly – and for very good reason. Even the slightest rocking movement of a sub-chassis and armboard will modify the physical relationship between the tonearm and platter, negatively affecting the stylus’ tracking in the record groove. Making the path between bearing and arm stiffer ensures that any change in geometry is minimised, reducing tracking distortion. A new, better-balanced centre of mass has been established for the turntable’s total sprung mass to improve its behaviour. By extracting material from calculated areas beneath the armboard, a Keel SE fully loaded with platter, arm and cartridge has its centre of mass balanced more evenly on its suspension than Linn’s previous designs. This improves weight distribution between the springs, and reduces inertia of the sub-chassis’ extremities, improving the critical acoustic isolation properties of any LP12.

NEW Klimax Radikal – flagship Sondek LP12 motor control and power supply

Linn have just launched a new, reference LP12 power supply – Klimax Radikal. New casework brings it up-to-date aesthetically, consistent with the rest of the beautifully machined Klimax range. Its significant performance gains come from a bespoke Utopik power supply, in an improved chassis with exceptional electrical and mechanical isolation properties.The Utopik power supply is critical to performance, as it possesses separate, dedicated output voltage rails for each of Radikal’s two specialised tasks: controlling the motor and providing power to Urika internal phono stages. These output rails are separately self-regulating; any sudden, significant draws in power from the motor or controller don’t affect the rails supplying Urika, and vice versa. The independence of these rails ensures consistency and quality of power supplied to both motor and phono stage, improving the performance of each.

Linn’s engineers have mounted the Utopik power supply inside its own self-contained, machined sarcophagus, nestled behind the product’s front face. The combination of its thick aluminium walls and the relative distance between it and the main Radikal board makes for superior electrical isolation inside the product.Also critical to the performance of new Klimax Radikal is its enhanced mechanical isolation. Weighing in at nearly 14kg, machined from three pieces of solid aluminium, and mounted on high-mass stainless steel feet with rubber ring inserts, the casework is reassuringly robust in the face of external influences.

At LMC Home Entertainment, we love bringing incredible components like these to life — watching Andrew carefully assemble the LP12 with its new Keel SE and Klimax Radikal upgrades is a great reminder that in high-end audio, every detail counts.