Linn Isobarik (DMS or PMS)

Geko posted:

Had Briks with x-overs in the stands for the best part of 25 years. Run them in both passive and active formats. I've listened to a lot of speakers but the only ones I've heard that I preffered and could afford have been DBL's. There's a certain 'correctness' to how Briks play music that I think has been rarely matched in any speaker. I agree with DB that the bass control is truly exceptional. Some say they can't image but I would disagree if you feed them a good enough signal and enough power. They are a bit of a bugger to drive and would light my fans up even in active mode!

this is what i suspected to some extent. that they still give a lot of modeern speakers a run for their money. its interesting you compare them with the mighty DBLs even!

Briks have been criticised to have quite a few flaws -- (colouration, blah, blah, blah) but as you say -- they have a certain 'correctness' about them -- and loads and loads of fun! we need to enjoy our music right?

one of these days i hope to be able to re-make acquaintance -- when i find someone who will let me listen to pair.

enjoy

ken

Dev B posted:

We have both Isobariks and Kans, both excellent speakers 

loyal to the family Dev B ! 

enjoy

ken

Allante93 posted:

Ok, Ken I will stop you!

As DB pointed out a musical and enjoyable Speaker, and sleek compared to Dbl's and even DB's 800's.

I would still hold out, your only problem, meeting the requiement of being close to the wall. I would think most modern speakers won't fit that criteria . 

But if you happen to Stumble on a well kept pair of the later versions, go for it!

You might be pleasantly  surprised!

As far as built quality, Solid as a Brik!

The Armchair QB!

i am not looking for pair to buy -- but simply to listen to, for old times sake...

enjoy

ken

ken c posted:

Allante93 posted:

Ok, Ken I will stop you!

As DB pointed out a musical and enjoyable Speaker, and sleek compared to Dbl's and even DB's 800's.

I would still hold out, your only problem, meeting the requiement of being close to the wall. I would think most modern speakers won't fit that criteria . 

But if you happen to Stumble on a well kept pair of the later versions, go for it!

You might be pleasantly  surprised!

As far as built quality, Solid as a Brik!

The Armchair QB!

i am not looking for pair to buy -- but simply to listen to, for old times sake...

enjoy

ken

"'Somebody stop me' !!

enjoy

ken"

Stop you from what?

Anyhow, if you're in the Neighborhood, you are always welcome to Drop Bye!

Redford, MI, 48239

United States Of America!!!!

After all this is the Naim Family!!!!!

Darke Bear posted:

I have run Passive DMS Briks, then Active 3x500 PMS Briks for about 20 years before finally finding speakers that I enjoyed more on balance - that was when I swapped to Active Ovator S600. But I still missed some of the very low bass control the Briks had which the S600 did not quite manage, despite being better everywhere else, so I now have S800 Active, which does everything the Briks managed in the Bass and far more.

But the Briks now seem a neat small unassuming speaker compared to the S800.

I did have great fun for decades with the Briks - they are a very musical speaker and wonderful Active-driven.

G.

you definitely talk from experience DB and its very interesting to hear you say there were certain aspects of this old transducer that were better than S600 -- and that it took the S800 to completely oust them.

'great fun' !!! that is my overriding experience too.

The late Roger Macer installed mine when i was living in Kentish Town. He came with a colleague to help him -- Malcom Steward -- and i will never forget the painstaking effort they went through to get them to work in my flat. and then afterwards playing records into the night.

Oh my, what fun!

enjoy

ken

Allante93 posted:

Dear Ken, if you're in the Neighborhood, you are always welcome to Drop Bye!

Redford, MI, 48239

United States Of America!!!!

After all this is the Naim Family!!!!!

thanks for the offer Allante93 -- i might take you up on it !!

enjoy

ken

ken c posted:

Darke Bear posted:

I have run Passive DMS Briks, then Active 3x500 PMS Briks for about 20 years before finally finding speakers that I enjoyed more on balance - that was when I swapped to Active Ovator S600. But I still missed some of the very low bass control the Briks had which the S600 did not quite manage, despite being better everywhere else, so I now have S800 Active, which does everything the Briks managed in the Bass and far more.

But the Briks now seem a neat small unassuming speaker compared to the S800.

I did have great fun for decades with the Briks - they are a very musical speaker and wonderful Active-driven.

G.

you definitely talk from experience DB and its very interesting to hear you say there were certain aspects of this old transducer that were better than S600 -- and that it took the S800 to completely oust them.

'great fun' !!! that is my overriding experience too.

The late Roger Macer installed mine when i was living in Kentish Town. He came with a colleague to help him -- Malcom Steward -- and i will never forget the painstaking effort they went through to get them to work in my flat. and then afterwards playing records into the night.

Oh my, what fun!

enjoy

ken

Small world Ken, my first DMS Briks came from Roger Macer too. Assuming that's the same Roger from the original Sound Organisation behind Southwark Cathedral. Spent more time than I should have in the Thameside Inn with him and Steve.

Roger and Hamish sold me my Ittok and Asak. Lovely venue, great dealership.

Ken please contact me via the moderator I can fulfil your wish to listen

Marksnaim posted:

Small world Ken, my first DMS Briks came from Roger Macer too. Assuming that's the same Roger from the original Sound Organisation behind Southwark Cathedral. Spent more time than I should have in the Thameside Inn with him and Steve.

yes, indeed its the same one -- and same Naim retailer. i bought my first Naim system from there. LP12/Ittok/Asak/32/snaps/nap250. ran out of money for speakers -- !!! used Kef Codas for a while till i could afford Briks.

they gave me a LOT of time to decide what i wanted -- and every  now and then, we would retire to a local pub to discuss finer aspects of Naim hifi... :-) Hamish who is now running SoundOrg in York was there -- great guy too...

yes, small world!! 

enjoy

ken

Dev you have some room to play those Briks in too!!

gary yeowell posted:

Roger and Hamish sold me my Ittok and Asak. Lovely venue, great dealership.

yes, i agree!! great retailer!

enjoy

ken

Dev B posted:

Ken please contact me via the moderator I can fulfil your wish to listen

email in my profile... Dev B

enjoy

ken

Ken, I'm not sure what source you guys will be using, but if CD, Try: 

THE

STOCKFISCH

DMM-CD/SACD

VOL.1

My favorite cut is My Diamond Mine: Mckinley Black

We call our new production method "DMM-CD". With this solution, we can eradicate the aforementioned disadvantages of the pressed record - and yet still maintain the typical vinyl sound:

Have Fun! 

The Armchair QB!!!!!!

I ran Briks passive with 2x135s for many years and as a fan of classical organ music they did very well in the bass department. In those days my source was mainly vinyl and radio before the advent of digital music. This was what the Briks were designed for of course a classic replay system. They did everything else well too!

Some years after the coming of CD I swapped to a 500/NBL combo which I felt coped much better with digital replay. 

So Ken yes if you could listen to someone 's system comprising of a decent turntable, Chrome Bumper or Olive kit coupled to Briks you would get the full nostalgia trip you seek!

Michael posted:

I ran Briks passive with 2x135s for many years and as a fan of classical organ music they did very well in the bass department. In those days my source was mainly vinyl and radio before the advent of digital music. This was what the Briks were designed for of course a classic replay system. They did everything else well too!

Some years after the coming of CD I swapped to a 500/NBL combo which I felt coped much better with digital replay. 

So Ken yes if you could listen to someone 's system comprising of a decent turntable, Chrome Bumper or Olive kit coupled to Briks you would get the full nostalgia trip you seek!

ah, yet another former Brik user! Good to hear from you Michael. i hope you are managing without your 500 :-( !!

i sold mine before i ever got near 135s. yes, I hope a nostalgia trip will be possible :-)

enjoy

ken

One thing for sure. 

Briks can do much better in scale than SL2. 

Also, different vintage passive Briks sound different. It's a moot point, however, if you are going to go active 6 paks with SNAXO-3. 

Marksnaim posted:

ken c posted:

Darke Bear posted:

I have run Passive DMS Briks, then Active 3x500 PMS Briks for about 20 years before finally finding speakers that I enjoyed more on balance - that was when I swapped to Active Ovator S600. But I still missed some of the very low bass control the Briks had which the S600 did not quite manage, despite being better everywhere else, so I now have S800 Active, which does everything the Briks managed in the Bass and far more.

But the Briks now seem a neat small unassuming speaker compared to the S800.

I did have great fun for decades with the Briks - they are a very musical speaker and wonderful Active-driven.

G.

you definitely talk from experience DB and its very interesting to hear you say there were certain aspects of this old transducer that were better than S600 -- and that it took the S800 to completely oust them.

'great fun' !!! that is my overriding experience too.

The late Roger Macer installed mine when i was living in Kentish Town. He came with a colleague to help him -- Malcom Steward -- and i will never forget the painstaking effort they went through to get them to work in my flat. and then afterwards playing records into the night.

Oh my, what fun!

enjoy

ken

Small world Ken, my first DMS Briks came from Roger Macer too. Assuming that's the same Roger from the original Sound Organisation behind Southwark Cathedral. Spent more time than I should have in the Thameside Inn with him and Steve.

Even smaller world! It was Roger Macer that played me Briks for the very first time. Once heard never forgotten. We sat playing records late into the night at the Sound Organisation, JD and ice in one hand, album covers in the other! Great days but ultimately very expensive. 

kuma posted:

One thing for sure. 

Briks can do much better in scale than SL2. 

Also, different vintage passive Briks sound different. It's a moot point, however, if you are going to go active 6 paks with SNAXO-3. 

about "scale" i know what you mean Kuma as i run a pair of SL2s active today. however, in my small room, the scale issue is not that obvious -- in fact i suspect Briks would probably 'overwhelm' the room somewhat.

one wishes there was an SL3 for this --but perhaps DBL is it? that will simply not fit in my listening room/office :-(  and in any case 3xNAP500 is a step too far for me!

enjoy...

ken

An SL2 active in a right room is hard to beat. 

Altho I suspect Briks in small room also could work as a near field monitor. I was surprised that driver integration is much better say, than DBL in near field. ( less than 1m listening position )

But yes. one of the attraction for the Briks is that 'wall of sound' in a decent size room.

I've had Briks in the same tiny room as my SL2 reside, and they sounded great except for low bass notes which excited the flooring and boomed. I doubt anyone on this forum use SL2 in such a small room as myself, and yet they never boom or get out of hand. 

given the balance of strengths and weakness of the old Briks -- do you guys believe there has been real progress made in terms speakers that enjoyable to use at home? i almost restricted this question to bondary placement speakers such as old Naim -- but that would be far too restrictive. but i guess this may not be a useful question as we will just get into the usual personal views/tastes/room dependent etc. although interesting, the view seems to be that in general, Briks we somewhat less room finicky?? i am painting myself into a corner now...

enjoy

ken

gary yeowell posted:

I've had Briks in the same tiny room as my SL2 reside, and they sounded great except for low bass notes which excited the flooring and boomed. 

How far were you away form the speakers?

kuma posted:

gary yeowell posted:

I've had Briks in the same tiny room as my SL2 reside, and they sounded great except for low bass notes which excited the flooring and boomed. 

 

How far were you away form the speakers?

 

2 metres Kuma.

as a matter of interest, while sited at my desk, i am about 1m from each SL2 speaker. still OK, but better when i pull my chair about 2m further back -- and then i'm right at the opposite wall. this is my 'serious' listening position...

enjoy

ken