Lingo 2: a complaint
Posted by: Tarquin Maynard - Portly on 11 November 2002
Just got my trusty Sondek back from Martin Kleiser who serviced it and fitted the Cirkus upgrade ( worth it, but that's another post ). While I was there Colin the manager offered me a quick demo of the new Lingo against my early mark one. The dem was simplicity itself; play some of my fave vinyl with my Lingo, unplug it and plug in the new one, play my faves again. The difference was immediate. It is clearly better. There is more music, more detail, the background is quieter, has a greater dynamic range and extracts more information from the source. The old one was then put back; it was as if a veil had been drawn between me and the speakers. It is a noticeable improvement and if you have a Sondek, it will take about 45 seconds for you to hear it. ( including 30 seconds to change Lingo and back to the same track. )
Maybe the best analogy as to how much better it sounds is to think of the improvement in a system sounds when played louder. More of what you want, yet the volume on the dem was not actually increased.
I may be coming under the influence of Psychoacoustics, but IMHO, it is a no brainer. Before people comment that it is simply the same electronics in a wider box - it is not; this was true for the later mark ones, but the mark two has new surface mounted kit.
So why the complaint? Well, I can get away with upgrading my old Arkiv to a Boron or possibly the new super duper one in the new year, as The Nagger will not notice the new one.
But how the bloody hell am I supposed to explain away the sudden doubling in size of the Lingo?
Thanks for that, Colin Macey...
[This message was edited by mike lacey on MONDAY 11 November 2002 at 12:14.]
Posted on: 11 November 2002 by Rico
Oh dear. How is it that good dealers are so often "thanked" so, errrr, "graciously"?
Rico - SM/Mullet Audio
Posted on: 11 November 2002 by Frank Abela
Sounds like subterfuge is needed.
Disconnect the live wire or the fuse in the plug. Mutter a lot and 'try' various things that won't work. Declare the thing dead and send to dealer for 'revitalising'. Here's the really subterfugey part...
Get dealer to collude with you!
Trade in Lingo for LingoII. Story to TN goes something like, got Lingo 'fixed' but box was 'apparently damaged when the power supply died'. No old boxes so had to get new box variant. Cost a bit of course...
Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.Posted on: 12 November 2002 by Tarquin Maynard - Portly
Was it the Croft Original Sherry advert that had the line " One instinctively knows when something is right" ?
What a cracking idea!
Posted on: 03 January 2004 by Tarquin Maynard - Portly
Done it
Lingo 2 picked up from Martin Kleiser today; very pleased with the result - just as I remembered it from the original dem and the Berkshire Massive Soiree when Malcolm Davey kindly bought his L2 round.
Better detail, improved communication of what the artiste is putting across and to my ears, a lower sound floor.
Too excited to even try to trick The Nagger. Just told her it would be paid for from sales of old kit ( eg. the original Lingo.)
A fine upgrade, I am that bit further along the Yellow Brick Road. And happy.
Regards
Mike
On the Yellow Brick Road and happy
Posted on: 04 January 2004 by RoyleBlue
Am thinking of going the Lingo 2 route - what should I be looking at getting for my Lingo 1?
Posted on: 04 January 2004 by trickytree
I was looking for a Lingo 1 some time back. 3 came up on ebay and all went for just over £500.
From my point of veiw that is silly money, but if your selling........
Paul.
Posted on: 04 January 2004 by J.N.
Anyone got a pic of the new Lingo?
Does it still operate with similar circuit topology and thus put distortion into the mains, like the original model?
Posted on: 04 January 2004 by J.N.
Patrick
The fact is that the original model did screw up the sound of everything else.
Several people have commented on it, and I've heard it on more than one system.
My posting was a perfectly reasonable enquiry as to whether the situation has changed.
Your rudeness is noted and unneccesary.
Posted on: 05 January 2004 by Malcolm Davey
Mike
Happy New Year - and welcome to the club!!!
Posted on: 05 January 2004 by Tarquin Maynard - Portly
Malcolm
I blame you, following the Berkshire Massive Soiree.
Gawd bless ya, guvner!
Regards and a happy new year to you, too.
Mike
On the Yellow Brick Road and happy
Posted on: 05 January 2004 by Erik
Patrick!
Even switched off, the inlet filter in the Lingo have voltage over it and taking the filter away really improves the sound of the other equipment.
/Erik
Posted on: 05 January 2004 by Chris Metcalfe
OK Patrick, so technically he wasn't quite on the nail. So what?
What I, as a potential customer of a new Lingo 2 would want to know, is does it cause the same kind of problems that the Lingo 1 undoubtedly (to me, I tried it, I know, and yes I use Naim gear, as do most of us) did.
No-one's answered that one yet.
Posted on: 05 January 2004 by Frank Abela
Hey, we have to unplug the Chord Electronics equipment in any A/B dem against Naim (or almost any other kit) otherwise the other kit just doesn't sound right. It's not enough to switch them off.
Chord Electronics make damned fine kit, it's just a shame it buggers everybody else's kit up. Of course, Chord Electronics will tell you I'm talking hogwash (as Linn always did).
Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.
Posted on: 05 January 2004 by JRHardee
How does the Lingo 2 compare with a Weekes-modified Lingo 1?
Posted on: 05 January 2004 by Tarquin Maynard - Portly
Far be it from me to act as the voice of Moderation but
- I have a Lingo 2
- I like it ( a lot )
And thats what really matters.
Regards
Mike
On the Yellow Brick Road and Happy
Posted on: 05 January 2004 by Chris Metcalfe
Well, Patrick, JN asked a perfectly reasonable , if technically questionable, question, and your response was "Never let a good story get in the way of the facts, I always say, even when you don't really know what you're talking about" - which didn't really get us anywhere.
If I get any indication that the Lingo 2 causes those kinds of problems experienced by numerous Naim owners with the Lingo 1, I'll cross it off my list of potential turntable solutions for 2004. I can't demo easily at home, as my current t/t is an LP12/Armageddon. Would ideally like to compare the full LP12/L2 vs mine, but difficult to arrange.
Anyone heard an Avid Volvere Sequel?
[This message was edited by Chris Metcalfe on MONDAY 05 January 2004 at 14:49.]
Posted on: 05 January 2004 by Tarquin Maynard - Portly
Chris
Patrick beat me to the offer. I am outside Reading and have both lingo 1 and 2 at home ( at the moment. ) You are welcome to come on down to listen - system is Ekos/Akiva/Lingo/82/Supercap/135s/Kabers.
PM me or mlaceyNOSPAM@scottishlife.co.uk
Regards
Mike
On the Yellow Brick Road and Happy
Posted on: 05 January 2004 by Big Phil
Gentlemen,
Just to add my view on Lingo1 vs Lingo2, in my
all Linn system the improvements are substantial.
I've never been aware of an issue of Lingo1's causing mains polution. I can hear no differences with the Lingo connected/disconnected while listening to CD's.
I do use separate ring mains for turntables & amplifiers.
Does anybody else have any experience of this with electronics other than Naim?
Happy Listening,
Phil.
Posted on: 05 January 2004 by Dave J
When I upgraded to a Lingo 2 I found it to be vastly superior to my Lingo 1 but, unfortunately, it also adversely affected the performance of my Naim gear when used on the same spur. On a separate spur however it's terrific - I'd urge any LP12 user to hear what it can do.
Dave
Posted on: 05 January 2004 by Jo Sharp
Patrick,
The components inside the mains power input filter in a Lingo distort the mains AC waveform even if the Lingo is not powered up. And although the components in the filter are passive (capacitors, inductors and resistors...) their effect on the mains can only be described as active. So, yes, they do put something into the mains because if you unplug the Lingo the effect is removed!!
JN was absolutely right in his comment....
Jo
Posted on: 06 January 2004 by Laurie Saunders
Big Phil...when I unplugged the QC power suply for my Michelle Orbe, there was a noticeable improvement to CD replay.
I now have the mains feeds seperated......in addition I found that using one of RA`s YELLO cables on the QC helped a great deal...I can only assume that this braided cable acted as a low pass filter, thus reducing any RFI generated by the oscillator in the QC, being fed back onto the house mains
laurie S
Posted on: 06 January 2004 by Chris Metcalfe
Mike,
Your email doesn't work for me. Email me on chris.metcalfe@whsmith.co.uk
Thanks
Posted on: 07 January 2004 by Richard Paget
Anyone gone geddon to lingo2??
RP
Posted on: 08 January 2004 by Geofiz
Interesting thread. When I last had my LP12 in for servicing at the local Linn dealer and asked about the Lingo 2 vs my Lingo 1, they claimed the difference between the two was not worth the cost. Guess I'll try to borrow one (if they have one) and hear for myself.
Cheers
