Linn system resurrection

[memepool]

The Majik will drive the Kans but... I have some of the old Rogers BBC monitors at work, which is what the Kans are based on, and I'm driving them with a NAD 3020 which has similar power, nice but a little fluffy if you try and crank it up. It'll depend on the size of your room and taste in music I shoul think. Certainly you'll need to spend a grand or more today to get anything anywhere near them.

Good news is that the phono stage on the Majik should be excellent. A friend has the matching Linn pre-amp from that period and it's a cracker.

You could also try an Audio Technica MC like the ATC09 which Lpgear have on sale at present. This would liven things up a bit

Another thing to consider is the Funk Firm's LP12 upgrades. This is the new venture from Arthur Khoubesserian ( remember Pink Triangle ?) and they have some very highly regarded stuff like a new carbon fibre arm tube for the Ittok and various power supply and plinth mods for the Sondek itself. Much more affordable than the current Linn ones anyway.

Have fun !

[steviebee]

Thanks memepool.

wish i could afford the LP12 upgrades but for now it'll have to remain merely Valhalla'd!

Are Pink Traingle still around?!

Thinking about the Audio-Technica AT-440MLa cartridge. Looks good and is a price I can afford (+ I won't have to change my phono stage to MC, tho that may not cost too much to do) for the initial set up, at least. Seems to get good reviews as a pretty fine MM. I'll add it to my list of 'check outs'

[memepool]

Yes the AT440 should be a great match and it's got a really good fine line stylus so it's also a bit of a bargain.

Sadly Pink Triangle are no longer with us but as I mentioned the main guy behind Pink now has a new company called the Funk Firm which has a few new turntables on sale that are getting similarly rave reviews.

Art Dudley did a piece about it recently in stereophile Stereophile: Listening #48

[steviebee]

Thanks. The Funk plate looks wonderful.

May have to investigate further when funds allow....

I'm increasingly drawn to one of these carts ATM:

Ortfon Blue 2M
Audio Technica AT440Ma
Linn Adikt (outside my budget but may be able to get a used one)
Grado Red

Must bone up on output matching w/ the Majik phono stage tho...

[steviebee]

Well, whaddaya know- I finally get the Linn out of storage & there, sitting on the end of the Ittok, is the presumed-lost Asaka....I must be getting old, I'm sure I changed it to an AT just before I had to pack it all away....

I need to explore the retip suggestion (thanks memepool) and also see about changing the Majik phono stage to MC. Any ideas how much both/either would cost?

[memepool]

Originally Posted by steviebee

I need to explore the retip suggestion (thanks memepool) and also see about changing the Majik phono stage to MC. Any ideas how much both/either would cost?

Try

Wyndam Hodgson
Expert Stylus Company,
PO Box 3,
Ashtead,
Surrey,
KT21 2QD,
England.

tel: +44.(0)1372 276604,
fax: +44 (0)1372 276147

they are very reasonable. It shouldn't cost more than a couple of hundred tops.
As far as the Majik goes you'll need to talk to Linn. They'll probably tell you to buy a Linto but a good Linn dealer might have some compatible MC boards lying around. If you have a spare line level input you could always sneak in a Cambridge Audio 640P ( 60 quid form Richer Sounds) when she's not looking, they are pretty discreet

[steviebee]

Thanks memepool

I had a look at the Asaka stylus using a handheld magnifier -pretty high mag: I bought it years ago from Sound Org or Grahams to look at styli, but probably not definitive! - the tip looks good and clean. I'll listen before committing to a retip...

So it's changing the Majik I stage to MC. Thx for the link to 640P. There's not a additional line-in that I can see. I could use a separate preamp temporarily I guess. Or ditch the Majik & go back to Naim, lol (wife has heart attack...)

Just to see I connected the LP12 to the Majik -wrong phono stage & all....despite the obvious lack of volume, to my ears the Asaka sounded pretty good, so I'm hopeful a retip may not be necessary. But I'll have to check once I'm MC on the amp, of course.
Boy, it sounded so good to hear a Linn spinning music again

[steviebee]

Just an update - as a stopgap (til I get the Majik phono stage rejigged for MC) I got a Cambridge Audio 640P as you suggested, memepool. Thanks! Works well, certainly for a temporary measure.

Also fitted an SRM Tech (Michell if anyone remembers them) Silent Base bottom board, & tidied up the table w/ spikes & whatnot. Added a Karik III (& Linn Silver ICs) for the digital playback, replacing a Mimik.

The LP12 is now sounding really pretty impressive - good soundstage, nice & clear almost 3D imaging & with that immersive Linn musical presentation.
Playing LPs is my primary choice, even with the Karik.

Once I get the deck serviced (I know...terribly lazy as I have to arrange transport, a cab basically) it's all going to sound superb.

Then it will be a choice of using my Kan stands or going wall-mounted with Kan mounts.

But of course, the devil spits in your beer as always - having finally got it all up & running for the most part, I now have to pack it all away again as my Domestic Goddess wants the living room redecorated! Sheesh...