Price Paid:  $900.00 from Better Audio

Summary:
Bought in '87 for $900 CDN, included Basik+ tonearm and the Linn "Basik" cartridge (a throw-away, but great performer while cart lasted). Upgraded to Linn K-9 later with great results. This table works as good as the day I bought it over 15 years ago! Although they are no longer made, those looking for a good bet on the used market should watch for a well priced Axis.

Strengths:
Audiophile dollar stretcher. At the time, the Axis filled a gap in the table market between the budget Duals and the mega-buck tables like the Sondek, et al. It outperformed its own peers..and some more expensive units!

Weaknesses:
Power outage or flicker? 9 times out of 10 the turntable will start running. This is a logic problem that shouldn't exist in an audiophile deck. But that is my ONLY complaint. I'm sure they ironed this problem out in later units -- hopefully!

Similar Products Used:
Dual 503, 1214.

Price Paid:  $800.00 from Radford hi fi ,Winds

Summary:
This was my 18th birthday present and all my friends thought i was mad getting a turntable. Now 9 years down the line and one complete Linn overhaul later it's working better than ever. I would seriously recommend the Axis to a vinyl lover and anyone starting out (second hand prices are really cheap for such a product) Mine did go wrong after 4 years but Linn replaced all the internals foc and it came back better than ever. The guy who changed my last cartridge ( a Reson Reca incidently - buy one for your Axis NOW) is the designer from Living Voice and he reckoned it sounded better than most LP12s he'd heard. No it isn't for sale.
The only downsides are the less than brilliant suspension and the fact that you can hear the power supply (a conditioner and new mains cable will help but experiment before buying as they can also take away the deck's dynamics) if you own a really serious system.
Soundwise it aligns with Linn Virtues - great timing and musicality. Top end and Imaging are also good. Bass - difficult to tell -my system doesn't go that low but it certainly does the business on electronic music

Strengths:
Gets the feet tapping
Price
Ease of use
Linn Service and Dealer network

Weaknesses:
Suspension

Similar Products Used:
Rega Planar 3

Price Paid:  $1000.00 from Adio-T, London, UK

Summary:
This turntable has brought me lots of pleasure since I bought it in the late 80's. Although it's no longer in production, it can be found second-hand. This is a very reliable, good sounding turntable. I've brought mine on a tour over the last 13 years - from England to Norway,U.S.A, Mozambique, and then back here in the U.SA. I recently replaced the motor, and had a general service... that's the least I could do to an old friend. I've used an Audio Technica AT-OC9 from the start - great combination!
My Linn Axis has outlived an Incha-Teach and a Reaga amplifer, and has performed well with a range of speakers.
My current set-up is: Quad 77 pre& (much under-rated), Quad 77 CD, and Proac 2000 Signature with Rel Strata II sub-woofer. It's a great combination for the wide range of music I like to play. The turntable shines after the recent service, so I choose LPs over CDs when I can find them!

Strengths:
Very musical, and supremely reliable

Weaknesses:
Poor isolation

Price Paid:  $286.00 from www.loot.com

Summary:
Whilst scanning www.loot.com I found an Ad for a 2nd hand Linn Axis, i'd never heard of it before and thought i'd go for a listen. It sounded very good, even though it had a cheap Audio Technica Cart in it, I bought it.

I upgraded the Cart to a Goldring Eroica (high output Moving Coil) and the sound has been pleasing me for three years now.

It plays 33/45 brilliantly and has improved listening to my pretty large collection of vinyl. One day i'll grow up and get an LP12 but for now i'm very, very happy with the Axis.

Don't forget Linn will stock parts for the turntable for ever and ever. Also they will do servicing jobs too, so if you see one going for a song, buy it, if it needs a little help take it to a Linn Dealer they will sort it out.

Strengths:
Sound quality available at this secondhand price is great.

Weaknesses:
Not at this price.

Similar Products Used:
Thorens Td160/SME3009 MKII/Linn K5

Summary:
Well ,this could be a real revelation for an entry level stereophile.Especially if you find a second hand bargain like my Axis.Allright,it my seam expensive to those
used in buying Japanese "toasters"and maybe it is the poor baby brother for the HiEnd freaks,still I can't find something better in the immediate competition.But with one addition:the Roksan Tabriz-Zi tonearm.Though it is less than half the price of a new Akito,I think is one of the best tonearms regardless of price.The adaptation may need some skill,but the result is pure Musical bliss.The Axis deserves a very good tonearm,and after trying also the original Akito I'm sure that the Tabriz sounds far better.
The system unveils it's great rythmic capabilities better
accompanied by a good MM cartridge(rather than a difficult MC)such as the Roksan Chorus,the twin Goldring 1042,or the Ortofon 540.Take under consider that for perfect performance in high volume it needs some extra isolation, so your mum's old bookselve is no such a good idea.I custom made a base with a sandwitch of wood-rubber-crystal on steel cones and seems to work fine.My Axis-Tabriz-Ortofon 540 system,followed by an Audiolab 8000A and a pair of Acoustic Energy 109 gives a blush of shame to many $3500+
CD-based systems.An analog reader of a new class.Highly recommended!

Strengths:
detailed and musical sound

Weaknesses:
needs some more isolation in high volumes

Similar Products Used:
Pro-ject 2,Rega 2