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Linn Classik

post #1 of 21
3/16/02 at 6:51pm
Thread Starter 
I got to hear this for the first time today and it's aroused some curiosity. The salesperson seemed to like it quite a bit and was planning to own one for his main system--this being one of the store's less expensive components.

The Linn Classik is an all in one $1500 cd player/tuner/pre-amp/amp that I typically write off without bothering to look at. The last one I did pay attention to was Nakamichi's and I stopped caring about what Nakamichi made after that.

The salesperson claimed, though, that the Classik's performance was near that of the Genki, Linn's entry level CD player priced at $1700. I didn't have the luxury of ABing. My initial impression of the Linn was that it was very smooth perhaps overly so.

I never get to hear this things in direct comparrison. Has anyone else gotten the chance to hear the Classik in comparrison to other comparably priced CD players? Know of where to find any comparative reviews of it online?

I doubt I could convince myself to buy something integrated again but maybe with more information I can either be swayed or made confident in my prejudice.
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post #2 of 21
3/16/02 at 10:32pm
The Classik is an awesome piece of gear! The only thing that puts me off about it is the fact that is does not offer HDCD decoding which the other Linn CDP's do. Take it FWIW. I like HDCD, believe it to offer superior sound and personally would lean in the direction of the Genki for that reason. Like you, I have not had the opportunity to A/B the two.

Cheers,
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post #3 of 21
3/17/02 at 5:16am
I have a Linn Classik for the "den". I bought it due to

a) great all in one package. form factor for CD, tuner and amp is outstanding in my opinion
b) good sound
c) really well built
d) high WAF ( wife acceptance factor )
e) reasonable amount of power
f) remote for tuner, CD, and amp that made sense

I bought mine for $1100 NIB. They are often for sale used at $850 - 1000.

I looked at Nak and Denon. But I paid a little more to get the "Honda Accord" of all in one units. I would have gotten better sound buying a Cambridge D500 CD and Cambridge 500 amp and Cambridge tuner but I didn't want to have 3 separate components. And for my 2nd system the other benefits of the Linn outweighed the better sound of the Cambridge.

- Ken
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post #4 of 21
3/17/02 at 6:11am
Many people have seen me enthusiastically recommend the NAD L40 for all-in-one/compact systems. I think it's a fantastic middle ground between "shelf" systems and components, and a very good price.

Well, the Linn Classik is, in my opinion, significantly better than the L40. I think it's the best "all-in-one" system out there (although three times as expensive ). Plus it's a gorgeous system. If I could afford one I'd buy it.
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post #5 of 21
3/17/02 at 1:54pm
Ya, I'm seriously thinkin' about the Classik for my bedroom system. That, some cheaper bookshelfs, some Omega 2s... That'd be nice
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post #6 of 21
3/17/02 at 1:58pm
Flumpus,

I thought you were through with HPs?

Have you considered the LS 3/5a?
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post #7 of 21
3/17/02 at 2:18pm
Hehe...not entirely through with headphones. Omega 2s will be the last I get.
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post #8 of 21
3/17/02 at 3:07pm
I've read several reviews of the Classik and thought about getting it for my bedroom system at one time. I have heard it but not really done any serious comparisons. I was impressed that a dealer I knows that sells Linn, Rega and Creek has one in his bedroom. There may be some reviews on Linn's website. From what I recall its a decent unit for the price and what it does.

I have a Linn Ikemi which is a couple of steps up in their model line. I like the size of the unit and the sound, but it is the only thing I own where I have to keep the manual with the unit at all times. It has only a few buttons on the front of the unit, so some buttons do double duty but its not obvious how. For example, if you want to enter the program mode, you press and hold the "display" button for a couple of seconds. Speaking of display, you also have to toggle this button if you want more than the track number or the play time because you can't get them both at once. The remote is a sea of tiny buttons which I hate. It sounds good but I get frustrated with it sometimes, but maybe that's just me.
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post #9 of 21
3/18/02 at 5:57am
I had a listen last weekend to the Classik with Linn's own bookshelf speakers (model: Kan?) and was unimpressed.

And at the price Linn want for it, no way.

I was more impressed with NAD's Nad C740 stereo receiver + C541i HDCDp combo. Also happens to cost less- that's a bonus.

I guess the WAF is important, but to me it looks rather plain.
It doesn't look like a 1000-1500 piece of kit, nor does it sound like one.

I dunno, after all the fuss and reviews, when I finally got to listen to it I couldn't help but scratch my head. Am I missing something? Perhaps it was the Linn bookshelf speakers...

I came to the conclusion that it is a reasonably good souding system. Just don't expect your jaws to hit the ground, or it to beat equivalently priced separates.

And it can carry a premium pricetag because it's a Linn
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post #10 of 21
3/18/02 at 6:00am
anyone have any pictures?

Driftwood
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post #11 of 21
3/18/02 at 6:15am
Driftwood:

www.classik.com
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post #12 of 21
3/18/02 at 6:22am
tk - I thought it sucked too.
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post #13 of 21
3/18/02 at 8:33am

Linn Classik

I have one as a second system which is in my living room where we spend most of our time. I think the choice is pretty much space based. When I actually want to sit down and listen to music I use my main system which is in a different room. However as an alternative to Television and when entertaining guests the Linn is fine without taking up half the room. As mentioned elsewhere the WAF rating is high (dangerously so) due to the lack of power cables and interconnects.

I found the quality surprisingly good and I am happy with its performance in a room which is not optimised for listening. I use Rega Minstrals and have no problems.

I think it is a good second system and good where space is limited. If you have space and can get the WAF (or are free of this requirement) buy 'seperates' they should sound better.

Note there is a Cyrus solution called Quattro which is a similar idea but more expensive than the Linn. I have not had the opportunity to hear it.
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post #14 of 21
3/18/02 at 8:43am
Quote:
Originally posted by tktran
Perhaps it was the Linn bookshelf speakers...
Definitely could be. When I saw it, it was being used with some really nice bookshelf speakers that definitely were not from Linn (don't know what they were).
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post #15 of 21
3/18/02 at 9:46am
I heard the Classik with it's own speakers, the Kan's, and it was quite good. Very impressive actually for it's size.
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