Linn Karik v CD5?

Posted by: Steve B on 11 August 2001

My brother has a Linn Karik. He's never been totally happy with it (he's also got an LP12), even more so since it's had to go back to Linn a second time since it's last service about a year ago.

Has anyone compared this machine to the Naim players - a CD5 for example, or other similar priced mahines. If he decided to change it would definitly be a new machine in that price range.

His amp is Naim 92/90 with Shahinian speakers.

Steve B

Posted on: 11 August 2001 by mykel

Have him try a numeric with it. I found the base karik quite lean and edgy. Adding the numeric turns it into a whole 'nother ballgame.

what version?

Sorry, have never compared the CD5 and the Linn.

mykel

Posted on: 11 August 2001 by Steve B

Thanks Mykel,

It doesn't sound lean and edgy really, it just sounds a bit er..dull and unexciting. His son's Rega Planet sounds better in his opinion.

I'll suggest he investigates the Numerik anyway.

Steve B

Posted on: 12 August 2001 by Not For Me

I added a Numerik to a Karik, and it does improve things a lot - the basic Karik is rather lifeless compared to adding the DAC.

Funnily enough, I had 2 Numeriks and sold one today to a Linn-o-phile. We listened to the sound of the Numerik, then Karik and then the Numerik again, and the Numerik cleaned things up, removed the vagueness and brought some more sparkle to the proceedings.

Get one while you can secondhand, becuase Linn don't do them anymore.

David

Posted on: 16 August 2001 by Goose

The Karik Numeric is very different to all Naim CD players. It is a very respectable cd combination which deserve top flight amplfication.

Personally I would stick with the cd combo for the moment and really upgrade the amps, with which ever Shahinians he has ( except perhaps Super Elf's)..out of interest, which ones?

Steve Jc..
"If your system is unexciting then have a look at the speakers because the karik/92/90 should be fast and bright. "
This leads me to believe that you haven't heard any of these speakers!!

Cheers
Goose

Posted on: 17 August 2001 by Steve B

I've borrowed the Karik so I can hear it in my own system for while. (My brother seems intent on selling it, although he's not heard the Naim players yet).

I think it plays tunes well but it just seems rythmically challanged compared to my own Cambridge CD5. I expected the Linn to walk over my CD5 but it doesn't. Perhaps it needs longer to run-in after it's service.

From what I'm hearing so far I would think the Naim CD5 would sound far better.

Steve B