New Linn Launch 2022

[ThomasOK]

According to the new price list the original style KDS/KDSM no longer exist. Linn also informed us that the original style Klimax System Hub is end of life. So it looks like going forward it will only be the big box KDSM and KSH that will be available. The upgrade in the US is $7020, the same price the Katalyst one was. Linn has never done a Renew upgrade and there is no mention of a Renew to reuse your older KDS/M board when you upgrade to Organik.

[tokenbrit]

... Linn has never done a Renew upgrade and there is no mention of a Renew to reuse your older KDS/M board when you upgrade to Organik.

My question was really just tongue-in-cheek prompted by the vague, ad-marketing language of the email, which was open to interpretation, short on specifics, didn't list exclusions... I really should unsubscribe :p

[matthias]

The upgrade in the US is $7020, the same price the Katalyst one was.

When calculating the price of the Organik DAC board as "price of NGKDSM" minus "price of NGKSH" then the price of the upgrade is a steal.

[Matteo]

When calculating the price of the Organik DAC board as "price of NGKDSM" minus "price of NGKSH" then the price of the upgrade is a steal.

A steal ... still crazy

M.

[ThomasOK]

The upgrade in the US is $7020, the same price the Katalyst one was.

When calculating the price of the Organik DAC board as "price of NGKDSM" minus "price of NGKSH" then the price of the upgrade is a steal.

It is a rather interesting difference, isn't it?

[matthias]

It is a rather interesting difference, isn't it?

Indeed,
the price for the pure Organik board is the same as for a complete NGKSH, really crazy!

[El Mero Mero]

Does anyone know if there is a Renew option for the Katalyst board?

[Catweazle]

When calculating the price of the Organik DAC board as "price of NGKDSM" minus "price of NGKSH" then the price of the upgrade is a steal.

The cost driver is the real Scottish cookie box. If you ever tried Scottish shortbread, you know it comes at a price, even with a cardboard box 😜

[ThomasOK]

Does anyone know if there is a Renew option for the Katalyst board?

There is no renew option for the Katalyst board. Apparently the Katalyst board will not be able to be used in older Renew cases either.

[El Mero Mero]

Does anyone know if there is a Renew option for the Katalyst board?

There is no renew option for the Katalyst board. Apparently the Katalyst board will not be able to be used in older Renew cases either.

Thank you Thomas!

Is there any specific reason to why?

[Peter Lanky]

I received the email about this today, and I'm not interested having only just acquired a Klimax DS earlier this year. However what interests me is what will be the difference between a new £30K box and and upgraded older version? Will every upgrade result in the same product and will it be a DSM or will it be a DS if the original was a DS? Will an upgraded DS0 be the same as an upgraded DS3? Are there in fact any answers to these questions yet, seeing at the official information is quite vague?

[ThomasOK]

I received the email about this today, and I'm not interested having only just acquired a Klimax DS earlier this year. However what interests me is what will be the difference between a new £30K box and and upgraded older version? Will every upgrade result in the same product and will it be a DSM or will it be a DS if the original was a DS? Will an upgraded DS0 be the same as an upgraded DS3? Are there in fact any answers to these questions yet, seeing at the official information is quite vague?

A DS will remain a DS and a DSM will remain a DSM. However, there is also the option to change a DS to a DSM with Organik for a little more than twice the price of the Organik upgrade itself. There should be no difference between a DS/0 and a DS/3 once they are upgraded as the entire main board is replaced. However, early DS and DSM models have to be returned to Scotland by your dealer for upgrade whereas later units are a dealer installed upgrade. There is still supposed to be a significant musical difference between the new style KDSMO and a KDSM upgraded to Organik. Linn is recommending that dealers upgrade a KDS/M to Organik so they can demo it vs. the new box to show the difference and also to compare to customer Katalyst units.

[sunbeamgls]

Upgrade cost is £5400. I believe if it’s a recent DS/DSM with the new earthing arrangement, it’s a dealer upgrade.

D

Was this part of the DSM update in late 2018 with the new smaller component circuit boards? Do you have more info please?

[Peter@57m]

From Thomas on another forum:

The upgrade is done on most units in the store but DS/0 and /1 and DSM/0 that haven't been upgraded previously will have to be returned to Linn in Scotland.

[Matteo]

https://pinkfishmedia.net/forum/threads ... es.268982/

[matthias]

https://pinkfishmedia.net/forum/threads ... es.268982/

Thanks for sharing. How is the ranking of the new arm in the Linn hierarchy?

[Matteo]

https://pinkfishmedia.net/forum/threads ... es.268982/

Thanks for sharing. How is the ranking of the new arm in the Linn hierarchy?

It's seems between Akito and Ekos

[Charlie1]

Prefer the look of the new arm to the Akito - with it's beefier looking bearing housing

Good that they've come in with a cheaper MC (£800) - a lot of folks (like me) don't want to spend 4-figures on an MC every few years.

[Matteo]

Prefer the look of the new arm to the Akito - with it's beefier looking bearing housing

Good that they've come in with a cheaper MC (£800) - a lot of folks (like me) don't want to spend 4-figures on an MC every few years.

The Adikt replacement stylus is even cheaper (€ 250)

[Charlie1]

The Adikt replacement stylus is even cheaper (€ 250)

yes, keeping the Adikt (on another deck) as I like it a lot

[Tendaberry]

It's end of life for the Akito now, after 34 years, but there's a sizeable price hike to the new Arko tonearm (probably around 3.300,-).
Here are the specs of Koil and Kendo:

Koil.png

Kendo.png

And here's the info on the new tonearm Arko:
https://docs.linn.co.uk/wiki/index.php/ToneArm/Arko

[matthias]

Prefer the look of the new arm to the Akito - with it's beefier looking bearing housing

Indeed,
will Kendo replace Kandid?

[Charlie1]

You'd think so wouldn't you

[ThomasOK]

Here is a simplified, I hope, skinny:

The new Linn announcements are (all prices US):

1) Linn Arko tonearm at $3900 which replaces the discontinued Akito 3 (orders still accepted until July 15th or when stocks run out) and is supposed to be quite superior. Headshell, arm tube and bearing assembly all machined out of 7075 aluminum to improve resonance handling and rigidity. Improved bearings for smoother motion and a new counterweight design are included. Designed and manufactured by Linn.

2) Linn Kendo MC cartridge at $3640. Made to Linn's design by EMT and trickle down of the technology from the Ekstatik. Obviously the looks are very similar. The Kendo is a bit heavier lacking the honeycomb machining on the top of the body and has a boron cantilever with fine line stylus. It still features the bronze/aluminum threaded inserts for three point mounting and Linn claims that the Ekstatik and Kendo have the flattest frequency response of any cartridges Linn have made with no emphasis of any range. The Krystal remains in the line as does the Kandid - Linn looks at it as having two cartridges for each level of LP12.

3) Linn Koil MC cartridge at $1040. Linn cooperated with AT on a variant of the OC9 range built to Linn's specs with a change to the suspension said to take it to the next level of perfromance. It has a boron cantilever and nude microlinear stylus.

4) The Linn Krane tonearm is now available separately for $1755. I was informed that Linn is going to be bringing at least some of manufacturing of the Krane in house under license as Clearaudio is unable to make the number Linn needs to sell it separately.

5) The Majik LP12 will now be available with the Adikt for $4995 or with the Koil for $5180 with standard plinths (extra for fluted or custom colors).

6) The Selekt LP12 now replaces the discontinued Akurate LP12! The recommended package includes the Arko and Kendo and runs $14,350. The Selekt LP12 price is simply the total of the separate prices of the components, no package discount, just as the Klimax LP12 is. So you can configure it anyway you want - like substituting the Radikal for the Lingo 4 and the Adikt for the Kendo giving you a superior table for under $600 more (put on an AT VM95 series if you want the price to be less instead of more). The Majik LP12s are a package with significant savings over the cost of the components added together.

7) Linn is also offering a trade in on Lingos towards the standard chassis Radikal of $650. This is for any Lingo so it is quite a good deal for Lingo 1 owners.

One would think that the replacement of the Akurate LP12 with the Selekt LP12 might indicate future direction in the electronics ranges.

I haven't read through all the documentation yet but it appears that all these items are available to order immediately.

[matthias]

Thanks Thomas,
Euro prices here:
https://www.monoandstereo.com/2022/06/n ... .html#more