Conference hips::uk_audioo

    Linn dealers get the std 30% markup (Same for all electrical goods in
    the UK I think).
    
    As for are they overrated - I spent a lot of my (misspent?) youth
    working for mu local Linn/Naim/Ion/Rega... dealer and can say that all
    these people are very nice but certainly don't think their stuff is
    overrated.
    
    I have spent a lot of my own hard earned cash on Hi-Fi and belive that
    I couldn't get a better sound for the money I've spent (At the time I
    spent it) and Yes I have got an all Linn system. You may say that I get
    a discount - which is true - but I could get the same discount on
    anything from Sanyo to Sony (To Krell for that matter).
    
    But as I.T. said If you can't here the difference then don't but it -
    maybe your listening too hard ?
    
    Talking of Linn ...
    
    	New baseboard will be about by this Sept.
    
    	Much will happen at Chicargo Jan-92
    
    	Expect the following
    
    		Linn A/D - Transport to follow
    		New Low-end LP-12 (No valnalla or Lingo)
    		New replacement for 'bricks - based on Kaber technology.
		+ More
    
    1992 will certainly be a busy year for Linn...

    fair points ! I'm not a fanatical Linn hater, I just don't find them
    very inavative or frward looking compared to the likes of Meridian or
    Musical Fidelity. I'm glad to hear they plan a CD player (or at least
    the convertr), maybe I'll then stay in a hi-fi shop when I realise
    the're a Linn dealer.
    
    When will they replace those Isobaiks though ( 2 channel mono !) :-)

    Linn may have been overhyped in the past, but only by the media. Things
    aren't so bad now. Some hifi journalists have spouted a lot of taurus
    guano over the years, both pro and anti Linn, but then their job is to
    sell magazines!
    
    Linn may not appear very forward looking because their public face
    deals with conventional product. What goes on behind the scenes in
    developing that product and understanding others would convince you
    they are very forward looking. They just don't jump on bandwagons.
    
    As far as bias in this conference goes, I can see why you feel like
    that but I can assure you it is not a concious decision on anyone's
    part. It's probably just that those of us who have chosen to spend our
    hard-earned on Linn kit are very enthusiastic about it. If owners of
    other manufacturers's kit do not feel enough enthusiasm for their
    systems that may (and may not!) say something about the role it plays
    in *their* lives.
    
    As far as being unconvinced by dems of Linn kit, that's fine. Linn
    openly say that they would rather you listened first, even if you buy
    someone else's kit afterwards; then *you* have made a decision on
    *your* criteria. Those of us who are convinced by Linn dems just happen
    to share Linn's priorities when it comes to judging what we will get
    into debt for! If the dealer who gave you the dem didn't explain what
    Linn's priorities were, then he/she wasn't doing their job; if they did
    but you didn't understand, again they weren't doing their job; but if
    you understood but judged by something more important to you, great.
    It's your money.
    
    Dave

On a (slightly) more serious note.

Isobariks have often been critisised by the press for their ``mono'' sound.
A lot of this was due to people (The reviewer) placing in speaker too far apart!
'Briks shouls be placed close together fireing up the length of the room. Even
then they are not as good as say the _old_ Qual ESL but they should match most
other things. Another thing to remember is they are very revealing to the extent
of showing up faults in the mastering process. 24-track recording can sound very
mono (One channel per track if you see what I mean) even on well set up 'briks.
On the other hand good quality two track can sound ... well I'll leave that up
to your ears.

It this mono-problem is at a friends tell him to try moving them around a little
- a few inches can make all the difference.

	Linn and the other very expensive stuff is basically for
	people who are first and foremost enthusiasts.

	Paying ten times as much as base level equipment, for what
	is a marginal improvement is justified as being the price 
	necessary to obtain the best. 
	
	Most people just think it's a waste of money.

	-John

I think there is a danger of changing the base note from debating about
Linn, and debating about High End Hi Fi. If you compare Linn on price
to high end Hi Fi, then Linn would be seen as a mid-range solution!

People who like Linn, would argue that Linn is excellent value high end
Hi Fi, and maybe that Linn sounds better than anything else.

Noter .5 has to decide (looks like he already has), whether or not, any
extra money is worth it.

Mark.

    re. 6....
    
    Linn isn't all hi-end. They make some competetively priced and
    competent entry level kit. As Mark says, pricewise Linn aren't hi-end
    anyway. Compared to the *real* hi-end, Linn is very cost-effective,
    cheap even!
    
    Dave

re: .9 Well, I let my ears determine value for money, not my wallet.

When I hear something that sounds good, I then decide if I want to continue
listening to what I was before. Sometimes I can, sometimes I can't.

I would say without hesitation that Linn have offerred me value for money
for every one of my purchases of their kit. No, I don't have an all-Linn system.

Re. .11

>re: .9 Well, I let my ears determine value for money, not my wallet.
>
>When I hear something that sounds good, I then decide if I want to continue
>listening to what I was before. Sometimes I can, sometimes I can't.
>
>I would say without hesitation that Linn have offerred me value for money
>for every one of my purchases of their kit. No, I don't have an all-Linn system.

Not prepared to say how much though!

Re. .10

Ok so we've done the garden shed, what about the living room?

-John

	I am clearly at a considerable adbantage inasmuch as I
	have heard both CDs, and LPs. What astounds me about LPs
	is how absolutely huge they are and no sooner have you put 
	them on the bit that goes round and dropped the needle on
	'em, they've finished playing.

	I have one or two CDs that are transcripted from the days
	of direct recording on disc, and with these you can enjoy
	the rythmic clicks, rumble and hiss, just as you'd get
	from the Linn. Perhaps if CD makers were to record special
	versions especially for shellac enthusiasts, complete with
	all these familiar sounds they'd come around to buying them.

	-John

    In this discussion it might be as well to mention what Linn are trying
    to achieve.  I'm no Linnie, but they tell me that Linn try for putting
    across the tune, that is being able to follow the timing of the tune
    and continue it for yourself if the music stops.  Also included are
    pitch stability and clarity (to be able to discern differing notes).
    
    You can hear Linn fans listening to a terrible din that has wonderful
    rhythm and timing, though not all Linn systems are like that!
    
    Meridian go for reproducing a realistic scale of music, essentially
    soundstaging / imaging (Linn don't relly believe this is part of the
    music).
    
    Pink Triangle are for reproduction as close to the master tape as they
    can get.
    
    IMHO, the ideal would not be one of the above, but a combination of all
    three.  I have to say though that Linn do achieve their aim, at least
    with their more expensive systems.  

    Well that seemed to provoke a good deal of interest !?
    
    Clearly a lot of people out there are happy Linn users, which is after
    all good especially as Linn are a UK firm.
    
    One final question:-
    
    what kind of music do you Linn users listen to in the main ?
    
    Can I guess ?