Linn Components

Newmanoc,

I love my Joule Electra but didn't have same experience with higher end C-J stuff. Send me an e-mail with your phone number and I can share some of my vast experience with you (hee, hee).

Newmanoc - Just wish they carried at least one tube line. But, man, do those new Viennas look good. Same with SF Domus. Great bunch of people there including some true music lovers. By the way, did you ever visit the old Accutronics over on State Street? The owner closed it in 1999 and created Audiogon.

Last night I listened to remastered CD of Santana's "Welcome" with John McLaughlin on 2nd to last song. Just incredible. Nobody in pop/rock/rap/whatever is making music that even approaches this league. I couldn't wipe the smile off my face for a half hour after.

System:

Joule Electra LA150 II pre-amp
Plinius SA-50 MkII amp
Marantz transport
Perp Tech ModWright DAC
Harbeth C7ES2s on Skylan stands
Tonian Labs R-1 super tweeters
REL Strata III subwoofer
All Cardas Golden Reference wiring

When the record ended I just wanted to go over and shake those guys hands. Seemed like they were all right there in the room with me.

"Plain ole Linn stuff"? Have you seen their high end amps and CD players? The $20,000.00 CD player is barely usable. The guy at the store who demo'd it for me a few years ago could barely get it to open. And the $1,500.00 all-in-one player flumoxed the saleman who had to get "a more Linn knowledgable person" to get it working. And we could hardly get it to change volume from the front panel. I've even checked out speakers that the salesman couldn't explain how they worked.

And my Air Tight tube amp does have mesh plates 300Bs but is self-biasing, kind of like the light bulb you change above your head. I also have a Plinius SS amp which made more realistic music than anything in it's class or for even $2,000.00 more. I've done nothing to this amp but turn it on and off. I did have to tinker with the REL sub but then Linn also makes subs.

I heartily agree with Lugnut. I tried my first tube pre-amp in 1984 and haven't gone back. Now have a Joule Electra LA150 mkII and it's superb. Makes wonderful music.

I think the Harbeth C7s need a good amount of power, though, and am just today gettin' the itchin' to check out a 100wt tube amp.

Well, you asked for it...so here goes. I have been visiting a Linn dealer in Ann Arbor for about 17-18 years and they pretty much carry all of Linn's offerings. That is, from the $1,500.00 "all in one" box to the $20,000.00 amps and CD player. I've bought things from this dealer (who is, by the way, a great group of people and a really fun store) but never anything Linn. The store carries Sonus Faber, Vienna Acoustics, AVI, Paradigm, Arcam's high end stuff, and NAD in addition to Linn. However, the don't and have never carried anything tube based. Being a tube person this pretty much leaves out purchases of amps and pre-amps.

I've listened to many Linn systems there and most recently heard a pair of $20,000.00 Sonus Fabers, the Klimax pre-amp, the stereo Klimax amp ($10,000.00?), and the top end Linn CDP. Sound was stunning. However, this is $50,000.00 worth of stuff without cables. I usually hear, with Linn, a rather dry, somewhat colorless, dynamically limited presentation. Not grossly so but enough to not draw me in. I am really interested in that $1,500.00 all-in-one box for a bedroom system.

People hear and (unconciously) listen for different things in hi-fi systems. I think the limited dynamics give Linn that sense of pacing or PRAT. That's not my thing although I like it along with the musically real dynamics that good tube designs seem to excell at.

I have to say in all the years I've visited that store (Overture Audio, by the way. Really great bunch of guys.) I've never heard of a Linn product breaking. Never was there when one had been brought in for repairs or a customer was complaining of such. Also have to say that the top-of-line CDR has awful ergonomics.

By the way, check out the new Sonus Faber Domus line and also the new Vienna Acoustics. The Viennas are gorgeous...I'd buy a pair just for appearance sake. The Domus Concertinos seem to be very musical and a bit enthralling, and this from a pair that was not broken in. I intend to go back and borrow a pair of Concertinos and Hadyns for a weekend. I do want a second pair of speakers for fun and those two are beautiful.

Sorry, but I think (my own opinion) that the Plinius SA50-MKIII and Air Tight ATM300 sounds better than the two Linn amps I borrowed 4.5 years ago for a home test. Neither of the Linns had the color and tone richness of the amps I ended up buying. Again, in my opinion.

Linn is not as much of a cult thing as, say, 15-20 years ago as most of the other high end stuff is just as reliable. And I do understand (and from experience with the Linn store in my area) that Linn is extremely reliable.

It's also a bit dry and undynamic sounding (both macro and mirco) but does do that PRAT thing very well. I think this has something to do with type of dynamic presentation. Nothing really pops at you so it's easy to relax and just tap your feet. This opinion does not apply to the high end items which sounded superb with $20,000.00 Sonus Faber speakers at the store. However, you have to admit the CD12 is a bit of an odd bird. I mean, no drawer open/close button? It took two salemen 2-3 tries just to get the drawer open.

I also borrowed two Classe amps for home audition and found them similar to Linn. Not my cup of tea but I can understand fully that it will be for others. I also don't care for Audio Research's house sound and, even though having owned six Conrad Johnson products, find their house sound no longer appealing.

We all should remember that each and every one of us hears and unconsciously listens for different things. This is what causes us to like different products. I have a friend who loves an OTL amp which to my ears sounds lean and edgey. All he hears is "stunning resolution and transparency". He truly loves it, I can't listen for more than 2-3 minutes.