NEW LP12 Upgrades

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Linn's 40th celebrations also saw the launch of 2 new subchassis options for improving existing LP12s.

A few years ago a new combined subchassis/armboard called Keel was introduced, and it's still available and still brilliant, with only one drawback, £ 2400.

The Keel continues as the Klimax level while 2 new models are introduced. The Kore is an integrated subchassis/armboard like the Keel but of simpler welded construction at £ 750

The standard subchassis is now also upgraded, giving an obvious improvement in sound while still using the existing armboard. This is £ 300

Both of these will also incur a fitting and set-up charge as the old parts have to be stripped out and the suspension refitted.

To give you better value for this we will fit either kit for £ 100 to include all the bits you should change on an older Sondek anyway, belt, springs, grommets.

So £ 400 will give your LP12 a new lease of life with a new subchassis, £ 850 will do even more by giving you an integrated subchassis and armboard where you will be able to see the difference as well as hear it.

Delive ries from October, treat yourself for Christmas, get yours booked asap!

Linn Kandid

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Installed a Linn Kandid in superb system in the Isle of Man. The Kandid is Linn's new ultimate level moving coil cartridge and they have messed up!

Because they cant make enough and have a waiting list that currently runs to 8 months!

Where they haven't messed up at all is in the sound. The turntable I fitted the Kandid to is a full F1 spec LP12.

Keel, Radikal, Urika, Ekos SE, everything, and the cartridge I removed is a perfect Arkiv.

Before the first note the surface noise was lower and the dynamic range greater. Clarity, drive, dynamics, tracking all immediately better, more solid, and altogether a big jump up in performance.

Through a Linn Klimax Kontrol into Klimax 350A speakers the sound of this full blown LinnFest is just amazing, and for good measure a Klimax DS gives an equally amazing sound, though different in presentation.

Which is better? That's for another blog sometime 

Lucky man!

You have 8 months to save a cool £2960 for your very own Kandid if you place your order now

Linn Exakt Launch

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Linn is 40 years old this year. 20th September saw the celebration of this and the launch of a brand new Linn technology, Exakt. Their source first motto is taken even further by Exakt, taking the source performance all the way into the loudspeaker.This follows on from their work on DS and takes it to a new level.

From the Linn digital streamer the signal is preserved in the digital domain with an 'exakt link ' into the speakers, in this case the Klimax 350As. Here it is split in bass/middle/treble still in the digital domain, eliminating crossover distortion. It is then converted into analogue to go into the amplifiers and on to the speaker drive units.

This new signal path arrangement means less loss over the process with a resulting improvement in clarity and dynamics. It's a big difference.

Another feature of the new layout, now that we have precise control over the frequency bands, is a room correction system.

Many rooms do not allow for the perfect placement of speakers and so domestic harmony means a compromise position. No more! Exakt allows the same top performance irrespective of placement. How? Phone me, it's too long to explain here.

Or check it out with 2 animations on www.linn.co.uk

These technologies are available now in new Klimax systems and are also available as an upgrade for owners of existing Linn Klimax systems.

Price? Klimax systems are the top level, the current level is £ 45,000 for DS, amplifier, and speakers. The new Exakt level is £ 50,000. 

Stormont Show Report

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Friday, set-up day

Having unboxed and tested all the gear it had to be reboxed and a van loaded to go to the Stormont hotel. Sam and Ross then unboxed it all over again and started the set-up process. We knew where the gear was going for the best sound but you still have to set it up and check it by listening. Rega speakers are clever. The assymetric bass unit layout means that you have two chances to tailor the sound depending on whether the bass points in or out. The first system was RP1 and RP3 turntables with Apollo-R cd player connected to a Brio-R amplifier and RS5 floorstanding speakers. This gave us a cd based system at £ 2045 plus cables or a turntable based system at £ 1726-2055. We wanted to use the Rega Couple interconnects and the Ter mon bi-wire cable at £ 12/m to complete the system without going to mad money cables.

As we had already tested and run-in most of the gear in the shop there was nothing more to do except enjoy. These systems really outperform their price level, giving an involving, musical and dynamic presentation unrivalled at anywhere close to £ 2k. Real value for money.

The higher level system used the new Elicit-R amplifier, first one in Ireland, paired with the RS7 speakers and a choice of RP6 turntable and the new RP8, again first showing in Ireland. The RP6 system sounds great but the RP8 is really really special. Set-up on all Rega turntables is a piece of cake. Cartridges all factory fitted, set it down , set tracking force and bias, plug it in and sit back to enjoy and make yourself ready to be surprised, excited and satisfied.