I have never heard a Linn. That is what the local HiFi shop told me years ago |
|
How do linns play old records? The scout can play new reissues decent but struggles with the tracking on older records |
I am going to audition a Linn sondek on Monday. I still would like to hear an SME. I watched a couple of videos on YouTube of the SME 20 and I have never heard a piano sound like that. The attack and decay is incredible, amazing actually. I know I heard it through my laptop but that makes it all the more incredible IMHO.
|
The reason is that I feel VPI does not have the pivoted arm mastered. I do not like the arm. Maybe this arm with a much lesser cartridge would be fine like an ortofon red or black. I cannot put a different arm on my table. I listened to the prime and I did not like the arm at all. My friend has a mission 774 with a 774sm arm that just blows any VPI table I have ever heard away big time. That table is over 30 years old. I cannot find one of these tables used and I have been looking for years. I have only seen that arm for sale once ever. Must be rare to say the least. VPI should allow for an different arms to be used with their tables |
Well, that may be, if they are that difficult and fussy, then it is not worth it. I actually had my table sent out and professionally set up and when I received it, it was not right and I had to reset it up again. That would mean that all the VPI tables I have heard have never been set up correctly. Geez. It will be interesting to hear the linn. Maybe I just need an SDS? |
Speaking of YouTube, I just saw a couple of lp12s that seemed to sound amazing. I know it is YouTube but I am pretty excited about listening tomorrow. |
Well, I auditioned an lp 12 yesterday. I was quite impressed and pleasantly surprised. I did bring my Benz ref s. It did not sound very good on the Linn. It sounds far better on the scout. However when the Linn klyde cartridge was installed it sounded great. I guess my big concerns with this table are obviously setup for one. If this expert ever left town, the closest one is in Cleveland. Also, how dependent is Linn synergy on Linn components. Cartridges, arms, phonostage, etc. I was listening to an all Linn system.
|
The table I listened to was an updated Iinn with the radical power supply and the ekos 1 tonearm. I also believe after listening that I am really starting to have a problem with Benz. It did not track well on the Linn, almost the same tracking distortion as on the scout. We were listening to Linda Ronstadt and nelson riddle. The benz/ekos combo could not handle the dynamic passages and Linda's voice distorted terribly although tracked perfect with the klyde. The distortion was similar as on the VPI scout. We looked at the Benz under the microscope and it did seem to be wearing evenly. Not sure if this distortion is caused by resonance from the wood body. |
Actually, the Benz only has about 350 hours on it. I had similar problems on the Benz cartridge I had before this one so I have been marking the hours. We looked under a microscope and the klyde cartridge actually had more wear on it. It appeared as though the Benz was in fact wearing very evenly. So I am concerned about Benz. Not good. It actually sounded distorted from the very beginning. I was thinking it was the table arm combo, wrong. Something else. Not happy with Benz and I will not purchase another. |
|
If you read the thread, this is the second expert I had set up this cartridge. |
The cartridge is only two years old. Suspension is fine. I have a 10 year old glider that tracks very well. I have a demon 103 that tracks fine as well. Like I said, it did this from day 1 |
I always thought it was my arm. Well, now I know that is not the problem. |
Well, while the Linn is a very good table, I am very impressed by the VPI scout. For its modest price, there is a lot of value for the price. Best value for the money without question. Very suprised
|
