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Linn Classik ? Sound good?

Wanting to replace my new nad separates (already!) I like the look of the linn classik.. Being a self contained unit, my hope is that it will deny me the temptation to upgrade again and again, because the amp, Cd, and tuner are as one.. all i have to wory about are the speakers..

but at $2000 or there abouts is it a good sound for this kind of money? I can't decide whether for this princly sum it's a bargain because you get 3 units built in.. (each discounted i suppose) or whether its a glorified alarm clock.. only expensive because it has 3 units built in for your convenience!

They say it has 'true separates performance' but - what is a 'separate'? a couple of $200 denon separates? or a couple of $900 roksan separates? :-S

Anyone have one? Can enlighten me?
demonjon1e82
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muzikat
929 posts
 
I have a Linn Classik. It is a great unit, equal to or better than mid priced seperates (Rotel, NAD, etc.). Looks are a bonus. It can be found here on Audiogon from time to time for around $900-1000. It is not however a cure for upgraditis, you will just find another room in which to use it. ;)
tobias
1,534 posts
 
I have heard the Classik often at my father's home. It's impossible to say across-the-board that it is better than a NAD system but in my view it is better than _some_ NAD systems, notably the all-in-one L40 which I owned for a while (and liked for the price). Of course the Classik costs a lot more than the L40 did.

As an all-in-one system the Classik is a winner: reliable, musical, compact. Great in a bedroom or an office. On the downside, the remote is far too busy and the CDP is not as good as Linn's standalone units.

I wouldn't mind having a Classik for a low-maintenance application like a cottage system, but for a main system I think I could get better sound for the same money. I'd start with a Music Hall CD-25 (or better, a Shanling CD-S100 Mk II) as a source and the best integrated amp and interconnect cable that I could find for the balance of my funds.
newbee
4,775 posts
 
What will you do when the CD portion dies? Personally I would get a good integrated that would match your speakers and a seperate CDP.
ghasley
2,507 posts
 
I had one a few years ago in a second system and the sound is VERY good. The compact footprint and no need to worry about anything cable related except for your speakers (have a Linn dealer terminate the special connectors with decent speaker cables). Use efficient speakers as the rating is at 4 ohms if I remeber correctly.

You will be hard pressed to do better than the Classik for the money especially if you shop the pre-owned market. Warmer than average sound, typical Linn.

You can however do ALOT better than the $2k for a new Classik if you work at it and don't care about the 1 box compactness. Used Cary CD player, used Sim I5.

Good luck.
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