Many years ago at at Hi Fi exhibition, I heard a Linn 'budget' system which included the (then new) Axis as a source. They also had a 'fully loaded' LP 12 at the front of their top of the line system. Of the two, I much preferred the sound of the Axis based system. Given the size constraints of the demo room, I think their top end system was not given the chance to shine, but nonetheless, the Axis sounded pretty damn good to me.