New Linn Longwell UK Mains Cable

Charlie1 · Post by **Charlie1** » 2014-05-30 23:28

Tony happened to mention he thought the new Linn UK Longwell mains cables are better than the previous ones, so I bought a pair. My existing ones are both from the past 4-6 years and have a quite square shaped moulded plug with BAOHING written down the cable.

The Longwell ones have a slightly triangulated moulded plug with Longwell written both on the plug and cable. Writing is in the same direction from plug socket towards component.

I tried to make it reasonably fair and always switched on the component for a similar period before listening. Old cables were taken out from the rack beforehand, so that both new and old were connected the same route. I didn't check fuse direction cos I couldn't be bothered and it makes such a minor difference in my experience.

I compared on the Radikal first. Definitely easier to follow all the musicians using the new cable. Sound was slightly softer, less impressive, less punch, and less separated. However, it's grown on me and I think the Longwell has more finesse - like original Silver ICs compared to modern ones, if you know that difference.

Onto the 4200 and more musical again, but less significant. Oddly, I preferred the sound straight away.

Overall, definitely worth a few quid for your source if you'd like a nice little lift in musicality. I'm trying to use words that keep this in perspective and not talking it up, but at the same time, the new cable definitely had more impact than I expected for a mains cable. Good spot Tony!

PS My Kikkin has a soldered plug in case anyone is wondering why I didn't try the pre-amp. Have a good weekend all!

ThomasOK · Post by **ThomasOK** » 2014-05-31 06:17

That's good news. The Longwell US cables Linn used to supply are still the most musical cable I have heard. (They supplied them for a while until a couple of years ago.) It would be great if they went back to them again.

They haven't changed yet as the most recent Linn products I received this week don't have them. Probably still have some of the US I-Sheng to sell through first. But I'll be looking for them.