Amplification options

[Charlie1]

One further point I'd overlooked earlier. Before my Majik-i, I had an Exposure pre and power amp combination which although it gave an excellent sound, produced a background hiss that annoyed me when there was no music playing. The big difference when I acquired the Majik-i was the complete silence when no music was playing. Can I expect the same from a Boazu?

I used to own an Exposure XV integrated amp so I know what you mean. All subsequent Linn and Lejonklou (Kikkin pre-amp, Tundra) kit has been dead quiet. Can’t specifically speak for the Boazu though.

[matthias]

Before my Majik-i, I had an Exposure pre and power amp combination which although it gave an excellent sound, produced a background hiss that annoyed me when there was no music playing.

Yes, my Exposure 13 MC Phono is a little bit "hissy" as well, but not the 21 Pre with 4DR Power when listening with the high sensitivity 3677s (at volume 9h which is very loud).

Matt

[lejonklou]

One further point I'd overlooked earlier. Before my Majik-i, I had an Exposure pre and power amp combination which although it gave an excellent sound, produced a background hiss that annoyed me when there was no music playing. The big difference when I acquired the Majik-i was the complete silence when no music was playing. Can I expect the same from a Boazu?

Yes, it's very quiet.

[u252agz]

All subsequent Linn and Lejonklou (Kikkin pre-amp, Tundra) kit has been dead quiet. Can’t specifically speak for the Boazu though.

That’s been my experience with LK series Linn amps, AK/1 preamp and all my Lejonklou amps.

Just put my ears to the Komponents which are hooked up to my Boazu in the bedroom - pin drop silence.

[Raylogic]

I couldn't justify the Sagatun/Tundra option on price, so if I did make a move it would have to be the Boazu. I'm sure I would find the speakers inadequate anyway with the former, and be tempted to spend even more.

I shall have to take a listen when I'm nearby somewhere that stocks them, which would probably involve a trip to Carlisle. I'm guessing that there is no way of operating with this option without the addition of a further remote control (or the old fashioned getting up out of the chair and pressing the buttons).

Hi Peter

If you do decide to take a trip to Carlisle then Peter Tyson are at a new site, very nice store everything under one roof with a couple of demo rooms.

[Peter Lanky]

Hi Peter

If you do decide to take a trip to Carlisle then Peter Tyson are at a new site, very nice store everything under one roof with a couple of demo rooms.

I hadn't realised they'd moved. A bit out of the way now from the town centre when walking though.

[Spannko]

Can I just check something gents please?

Are you suggesting that changing the Majik to a Boazu will improve the sound or the musicality?

[David Neel]

I'm suggesting that musicality will be improved. The sound is a bonus.

For clarity, I've not heard a demo of Boazu vs Majik-I. But I do know that Boazu preamp section is (at least) a match for AK/1, which is in turn better than the preamp section in Majik-I. And the power amp section of Boazu should be way ahead of the Majik-I.

I have heard an ADSM direct into 4200 into 109s. Switching off DVC, removing the 4200 and using a Boazu was a big lift in musicality and sound. Boazu is not as good as Sagatun and Tundra but it's not that far behind and ridiculous value for money.

[Raylogic]

Hi Peter

If you do decide to take a trip to Carlisle then Peter Tyson are at a new site, very nice store everything under one roof with a couple of demo rooms.

I hadn't realised they'd moved. A bit out of the way now from the town centre when walking though.

Yeah, probably best to do after the city centre it's about a 8 minutes walk (they have parking on site).

[JoDeKo]

Ho,

Hopefully one day I'll have time to try a boazu. I think it should play brilliantly with my Harbeth...

Best regards,

Jo

[Sopper]

Ho,

Hopefully one day I'll have time to try a boazu. I think it should play brilliantly with my Harbeth...

Best regards,

Jo

It will!
Harbeth M30.1 here with Sagatun and Tundra stereo

[JoDeKo]

Yes, I´m quite sure, but I have to test the item before I buy.

[Peter Lanky]

Update. After considering all the options, I now have a Boazu along with my KRDS1 and M140s. Sounding good :)

[Charlie1]

Nice!

You could try single wiring, next time you're twiddling your thumbs and curious.

Have you thought about the 2db cut too? Easy enough to do. I found it more engaging. Maybe a bit less natural sounding to my ears but I wasn't too bothered by that. I suppose if you don't like it then it's a bit annoying but I was able to simply push the stiff wires back in contact when I wanted to compare.

[Ozzzy189]

Just one more point on the 140s, I know we try to emphasis the musical side of any advice, but I was surprised by how much more controlled the bass is on my 140s when upgrading from 4200 to Tundra Stereo. I'd always assumed the 140s were just quite ill-defined in this area due to cheap drive units, but actually, they are capable of reproducing bass instruments in a very well controlled and tuneful way. Whereas, previously, it was not always easy to hear what bass notes were being played - it was a kind of deeply resonate melee, albeit pleasant enough.

Absolutely spot on the money. They're good speakers and boazu will make you think you've gone out and bought new speakers too.
I've only just changed mine after upgrading all my Lejonklou units. I have the 2.5 to consider but might sit on it for a while yet. See what Sweden's hifi genius comes up with next.
I'm glad to see that you bought a boazu, a very good upgrade especially for the cash vs musical return.
I'd definitely recommend trying single wiring. Let us know what you think.

[Peter Lanky]

I have considered single wiring after the advice, but M140 has a design fault meaning that after removing the middle section of the terminal link strips for bi-wiring, there is no going back to single wiring. However, Linn is sending me replacement strips so when they arrive, I'll give it a try.

Not understanding the technical side, why does single wiring offer an improvement?

What is the 2db cut?

[Ozzzy189]

single wiring will often sound the most musically coherent. During our research, nearly all single wire speaker cable out-performs the bi-wire equivalent.
(from chord company).
There's literally loads of similar comments across the Web. It's usually an easier load for the amplifier to drive, with less resistance. It's also why you shouldn't swap any thin jumper links on the terminal plates of some bi wired speakers with thicker speaker cables. It'll sound worse for the most part.
The 2db cut is supposed to tame the problematic bass that can affect the majik 140's. Most owners seem to prefer the sound with the modification.
There's plenty of information on the linn forum.
Regards
Daniel

[Charlie1]

Like Ozzzy says, it cuts the bass a bit. You cut a loop of wire on the crossover board that resides in the speaker. It's aimed at being a dealer modification but many folks have done it themselves. You may invalidate the warranty though, if the speakers are within 5-years old.

I found it more musical with the cut, although slightly less natural sounding. It drops the bass by a noticeable amount but certainly wasn't a big difference to my ears.

[Freddy]

Maybe I mess up things here but I had problems with boomy base from my M140 when I had Linn power amp. To decrease the base I needed to have speakers longer from the back wall than normal c. 30cm. I was about to try the 2dB cut but decided to wait until I upgraded to Tundra. After the upgrade everything tighten up and I didn't feel any need to do the cut. I also needed reposition the speakers closer to the back wall and have no back wall issues like before. They now sit 24,5 cm and 23 cm from the back wall. And after the latest Tarandus upgrade to 2.2 I have super nice deep well balanced sound which I regard as very musical. However I have not tried or done any comparison with the 2 dB cut so I don't know how it compares but I think maybe it is more of personal taste and maybe also to match the choosen power amp or room? I certainly would not to have less base anyways! Another thing that in my mind improves the musicality and opens up M140 is to take off the grills and keep only the rubber rings.

[Ozzzy189]

Hi Freddy. That's a very valid point and in line with my findings in relation to the quality of the bass with linn vs Lejonklou amps. Even a klimax twin struggles with bass articulation and definition compared to the tundra, even if it's an older tundra.
Its an area that's very easy to differentiate imo.
So it's well worth waiting on making any major changes if you know you're going to be upgrading or exchanging amps.

[Charlie1]

I was about to try the 2dB cut but decided to wait until I upgraded to Tundra. After the upgrade everything tighten up and I didn't feel any need to do the cut.

I retested this recently with Tundra 2.2. I had a 4200/D before. I still found the cut more musical. It seemed broadly similar drop in performance when going from K400 (cut in half) to K200. Not sure whether I would have taken the risk if I'd had the Tundra back then - probably not.

[vicdiaz]

Shame I have not listened to any Lejonklou gear yet... My nearest dealer (Nokturne Audio) is almost 2,000 miles from home. I'm considering becoming a dealer myself!!!

[Ozzzy189]

Shame I have not listened to any Lejonklou gear yet... My nearest dealer (Nokturne Audio) is almost 2,000 miles from home. I'm considering becoming a dealer myself!!!

That sir, is a great idea.

[ThomasOK]

Shame I have not listened to any Lejonklou gear yet... My nearest dealer (Nokturne Audio) is almost 2,000 miles from home. I'm considering becoming a dealer myself!!!

I'd be glad to work with you on that. If you ever manage to get up to the Detroit area you can hear the whole lot. In my experience, every single Lejonklou product is musically superior to anything else anywhere near it and even at multiples of its price. Although I am not a big fan of reviews in general, I still find it heartening that every person who has reviewed a Lejonklou product has absolutely loved it, no matter what their normal references.

[vicdiaz]

I'd be glad to work with you on that. If you ever manage to get up to the Detroit area you can hear the whole lot.

Thanks Thomas! No plans in the near future to fly to Michigan but who knows!!!