No offence Thomas, but I think you make a huge mistake assuming guys in NA are the only ones with large distances.ThomasOK wrote: The other thing I wanted to comment on is the “you should really listen to them in your own home” comment that comes up in any thread like this. Now, of course, the ideal way to make a decision on anything is to listen to it in your own home with your own system. And I’ve certainly given this recommendation myself often enough. (Probably the second best is to compare a component to one you are familiar with in a somewhat similar system in a dealer who has rooms designed to mimic normal listening rooms.) However, I don’t think people realize how unrealistic that often is in the US and especially when dealing with a long-discontinued, high-end product like the Komri. I have to agree with post from Azazello that the idea is rather depressing, as it is so unlikely. Some of this is just due to the US market. Here we have a quite large landmass with pretty spread out dealerships. A good example of this is that I now have three customers who travel 500 to 600 miles to have me set up their LP12s and a fair number traveling over 300 miles.
In EU it's not easy finding good dealer with attention to details, dedication TOGETHER with deep knowledge of TuneDem.
Some examples :)
Living i South France for 5 years it took me 2 days in the car 2400 km to get to a good dealer for the heavy stuff. Then it was the return trip...
And in EU we often travel quite a bit just to buy stuff.
My KK was bought from a guy 3500km away (North Norway), we both book a flight trip and teamed up at an airport halfway between. Changed KK, money and both went straight back into the aircraft to travel back. The crew having a great time laughing I remember...
I actually bought most of my electronics unheard. Mostly as I liked getting the new stuff asap. Not an option to wait for the official demo and line up in the queue.
Normally that is not a risk as upgrading within the Linn range as you just get something better.
But with SPEAKERS, I strongly recommend listening first!
Specially with speakers from 2000 when Linn started releasing a bunch of stuff that sound VERY differently.
Up to Komri all had same characteristic, but nowadays...well how many strange speakers have we seen? And sadly heard!
Back to Komri.
If a customer can travel 600 miles to hear Komri but hesitate, that is a HUGE mistake. Cost nothing compared with buying/selling them.
I had to wait 6 years after the release to hear my first pair 3000 miles away. I instantly knew I must get a pair and a year later I picked up an ex-dem pair 2000 miles away.
So don't think we have all nice Linn stuff just a block away. Even in EU, high end Linn gear are not THAT common ;)
All the best!
btw, your ATC's sound great a long distant bird recently told me hehe