Advice -- Naim or Linn Amplification for my system
Posted by: NaimDropper on 30 July 2002
I'm a long time lurker and am seeking some advice from you folks. This site was a great surprise! Lots of good info.
I'm in the process of updating my electronics.
Source: LP12, Ittok, recently serviced Karma. The LP12 is driven by a "Lingo" of my own design. Much effort was expended to keep any noise off the motor lines as well as from getting back into the mains. I'll be happy to describe this if anyone is interested.
Electronics: Up until recently, very early models of the LK1 & LK2. Before that and most recently, a 42.5/110 combo with a "HiCap", again of my own design.
Yeah, I know... But the improvement, to my ears, was at least as good as a SNAPS if not a bit better. I'm sure a "real" HiCap or SuperCap would leave my work in the dust. I don't claim to be able to design and build this type of electronics to the level of Naim and Linn. I'm a tweaker though and not afraid to muck around inside my expensive gear.
Speakers: Early vintage (~1980?) Isobarik DMS on Linn stands fed by the older Naim wire.
I'm top and bottom heavy while thin in the middle (my hi fi, not me!!!).
Anyway, the best I've ever heard DMS driven was with a 6-pack of 135's. That's out of my league financially, to be sure.
A close third was with a 250, with a pair of 135's clearly better than the single 250.
Recently my LK1 phono stage died at my own hands -- I was working on a tweak and accidentally cleaned the board with flux stripper, wiping out several sensitive components. The good side to this is now I'm ready to update my electronics.
Here's my dilemma: I really like the synergy of the Linn systems. They sound so right together. I also really like what the Naim electronics do, especially the 250 which was what the DMS designers had in mind for that vintage of speaker. My 42.5/110 combination sounds much better to my ears now than the LK1 & LK2 did, though the 110 is too light to really drive the DMS. I fell in love with the more "musical" LK1 & LK2 about 1989 and never switched the gear back out until I destroyed the LK1 phono stage. I always intended to upgrade the amplifier but never got around to it. It's now time.
Opinions, please, on a couple of these possible combinations:
42.5 / "HiCap" with a 150 or 180
42.5 / "HiCap" with a 250
92 or 112 / "HiCap" with any of the amplifiers above
I have a line on a used Kairn which I may want to use with my LK2 until I can find a suitable amplifier (i.e. Klout or LK140 or similar).
Is it even reasonable to combine the Kairn with any of the Naim amplifiers (I can handle the connections easily)? Has anyone here really tried such mix and match?
The Kairn goes so nicely with my Karma... Though the 42.5 sounds pretty good too but it probably needs an update...
Nobody has DMS set up where I can audition several combinations of equipment, so your advice is appreciated! Are there any Linn/Naim dealers left in the US??!!?? I doubt it.
Any comments?
Thanks and sorry for the long post!
David
I'm in the process of updating my electronics.
Source: LP12, Ittok, recently serviced Karma. The LP12 is driven by a "Lingo" of my own design. Much effort was expended to keep any noise off the motor lines as well as from getting back into the mains. I'll be happy to describe this if anyone is interested.
Electronics: Up until recently, very early models of the LK1 & LK2. Before that and most recently, a 42.5/110 combo with a "HiCap", again of my own design.
Yeah, I know... But the improvement, to my ears, was at least as good as a SNAPS if not a bit better. I'm sure a "real" HiCap or SuperCap would leave my work in the dust. I don't claim to be able to design and build this type of electronics to the level of Naim and Linn. I'm a tweaker though and not afraid to muck around inside my expensive gear.
Speakers: Early vintage (~1980?) Isobarik DMS on Linn stands fed by the older Naim wire.
I'm top and bottom heavy while thin in the middle (my hi fi, not me!!!).
Anyway, the best I've ever heard DMS driven was with a 6-pack of 135's. That's out of my league financially, to be sure.
A close third was with a 250, with a pair of 135's clearly better than the single 250.
Recently my LK1 phono stage died at my own hands -- I was working on a tweak and accidentally cleaned the board with flux stripper, wiping out several sensitive components. The good side to this is now I'm ready to update my electronics.
Here's my dilemma: I really like the synergy of the Linn systems. They sound so right together. I also really like what the Naim electronics do, especially the 250 which was what the DMS designers had in mind for that vintage of speaker. My 42.5/110 combination sounds much better to my ears now than the LK1 & LK2 did, though the 110 is too light to really drive the DMS. I fell in love with the more "musical" LK1 & LK2 about 1989 and never switched the gear back out until I destroyed the LK1 phono stage. I always intended to upgrade the amplifier but never got around to it. It's now time.
Opinions, please, on a couple of these possible combinations:
42.5 / "HiCap" with a 150 or 180
42.5 / "HiCap" with a 250
92 or 112 / "HiCap" with any of the amplifiers above
I have a line on a used Kairn which I may want to use with my LK2 until I can find a suitable amplifier (i.e. Klout or LK140 or similar).
Is it even reasonable to combine the Kairn with any of the Naim amplifiers (I can handle the connections easily)? Has anyone here really tried such mix and match?
The Kairn goes so nicely with my Karma... Though the 42.5 sounds pretty good too but it probably needs an update...
Nobody has DMS set up where I can audition several combinations of equipment, so your advice is appreciated! Are there any Linn/Naim dealers left in the US??!!?? I doubt it.
Any comments?
Thanks and sorry for the long post!
David