Playground for practical listening exercises

We use the Tune Method to evaluate performance

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Charlie1
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Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by Charlie1 »

I decided to have another listen before reading your post and try to get off the fence. This time I preferred A.

I suppose you'd have to buy another of each to stand much get more idea if each is performing as it should. However, what I'm hearing is broadly in line with where Linn has taken things the past 30 years.

If you enjoy music more with the Exotik (overall) then job done. And I think it probably sounds better in your system - in terms of balance. The treble with Kairn seems a bit tizzy but that could just be your phone.

And thanks for your comment :)
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Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by Spannko »

I prefer A too.
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Tony Tune-age
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Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by Tony Tune-age »

markiteight wrote: 2020-12-22 23:47 it's so good it makes me wonder...is there something special about this specific Kairn that makes it perform above its pay grade? Is there something wrong with my Exotik that makes it perform below its pay grade? Or is Exotik, even with Dynamik, just not that much better than Kairn?
I had a similar experience with the Linn Kairn and Linn Akurate Kontrol preamplifiers. Immediately after purchasing my Kairn preamplifier (with the round Brilliant power supply), the power supply failed. So the Kairn was shipped back to Scotland for a second round Brilliant power supply (free of charge). Then a few years later, the second power supply failed. So, once again my Kairn was shipped back to Scotland for it's third (and final) power supply (free of charge).

Only this time Linn installed the Slimline Brilliant power supply, which required replacing several other parts at the same time. Such as the chassis, outer case, control panel circuit, back panel connectors and several other parts. And as it turned out, the newer parts really propelled my Kairn to a higher level of sonic performance. And it sounded way better than it ever did with the two previous power supplies. So when Linn released the Dynamik power supply, I tried getting one for my Kairn (thinking it would bring another level of improvement). But unfortunately, Linn did not make a Dynamik power supply for the Kairn preamplifier.

And since the Dynamik power supply was only available for newer Linn preamplifiers, I decided to get the Akurate Kontrol thinking it would sound way better than my Kairn. However, the Akurate Kontrol was only marginally better sounding than my Kairn and at a much higher cost. So in my experience, the Kairn did perform above its pay grade and the Akurate Kontrol (even with a Dynamik power supply) was only marginally better.
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Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by markiteight »

Thanks, Tony! It sounds like what I'm experiencing is par for the course, but just to be sure let's try again, this time recorded with my old phone (single mic):

A: https://www.dropbox.com/s/mocwm5nt65eeb ... E.MOV?dl=0

B: https://www.dropbox.com/s/nveeyn91rqbdx ... 5.MOV?dl=0

I almost made the same mistake I made last time. Now that you know a Kairn is involved I'm sure some of you can guess what that mistake was. :-)
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Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by beck »

I prefer B



.....and by the way. I love the colour of your profile name markiteight! :-)
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Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by beck »

Charlie1 wrote: 2020-12-22 13:04 This is definitely the best vintage setup so far............

About 1min 18sec into this is the kinda tuneful and well timed groove that I love. It sounds better in the room - treble less intense.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ltrlkee9uotlp ... 6.MOV?dl=0
I feel like I have not made it absolutely clear how much I like this setup of yours Charlie1.

Can you gift wrap it and send it to me? It would be a lovely Christmas present! :-)
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Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by Spannko »

beck wrote: 2020-12-23 09:03
Charlie1 wrote: 2020-12-22 13:04 This is definitely the best vintage setup so far............

About 1min 18sec into this is the kinda tuneful and well timed groove that I love. It sounds better in the room - treble less intense.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ltrlkee9uotlp ... 6.MOV?dl=0
I feel like I have not made it absolutely clear how much I like this setup of yours Charlie1.

Can you gift wrap it and send it to me? It would be a lovely Christmas present! :-)
Yeah, it really is a fab combo. It looks like after two years of searching, you’ve found a little nugget 😊
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Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by Lego »

Charlie1 wrote: 2020-12-20 18:49 Tx. I think these Kans are more musical than the Briks.
I think probably those Kans are more easily driven than the Briks
I know that tune
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Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by Lego »

markiteight wrote: 2020-12-23 05:36 Thanks, Tony! It sounds like what I'm experiencing is par for the course, but just to be sure let's try again, this time recorded with my old phone (single mic):

A: https://www.dropbox.com/s/mocwm5nt65eeb ... E.MOV?dl=0

B: https://www.dropbox.com/s/nveeyn91rqbdx ... 5.MOV?dl=0

I almost made the same mistake I made last time. Now that you know a Kairn is involved I'm sure some of you can guess what that mistake was. :-)
Better groove and more in tune with B
I know that tune
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Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by lejonklou »

Lego wrote: 2020-12-23 14:21
markiteight wrote: 2020-12-23 05:36 Thanks, Tony! It sounds like what I'm experiencing is par for the course, but just to be sure let's try again, this time recorded with my old phone (single mic):

A: https://www.dropbox.com/s/mocwm5nt65eeb ... E.MOV?dl=0

B: https://www.dropbox.com/s/nveeyn91rqbdx ... 5.MOV?dl=0

I almost made the same mistake I made last time. Now that you know a Kairn is involved I'm sure some of you can guess what that mistake was. :-)
Better groove and more in tune with B
I agree.

If a Kairn was involved you probably forgot to reverse the phase to the loudspeakers.
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Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by anthony »

Lego wrote: 2020-12-23 14:16
Charlie1 wrote: 2020-12-20 18:49 Tx. I think these Kans are more musical than the Briks.
I think probably those Kans are more easily driven than the Briks
I had kans with 32.5 hi cap and 135s, took me a long me a long time to accept isobarik.
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Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by Charlie1 »

Spannko wrote: 2020-12-23 10:33
beck wrote: 2020-12-23 09:03 I feel like I have not made it absolutely clear how much I like this setup of yours Charlie1.

Can you gift wrap it and send it to me? It would be a lovely Christmas present! :-)
Yeah, it really is a fab combo. It looks like after two years of searching, you’ve found a little nugget 😊
Thanks guys! :D

Obviously, I will get used to it but I hope I will want to leave it as it is.

@Lego, yeah you could be right

@anthony, must admit it's nice to have both since they're so different (but also alike in some ways).
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Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by tokenbrit »

markiteight wrote: 2020-12-23 05:36 Thanks, Tony! It sounds like what I'm experiencing is par for the course, but just to be sure let's try again, this time recorded with my old phone (single mic):

A: https://www.dropbox.com/s/mocwm5nt65eeb ... E.MOV?dl=0

B: https://www.dropbox.com/s/nveeyn91rqbdx ... 5.MOV?dl=0

I almost made the same mistake I made last time. Now that you know a Kairn is involved I'm sure some of you can guess what that mistake was. :-)
Bit more to B... merry Christmas, and a happy new year (maybe with a Sagatun 'to rule them all' ;)
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Re: Skeet or something else?

Post by ThomasOK »

Tendaberry wrote: 2020-12-21 13:17 Here's an experiment replacing my Skeet with something else (which will be revealed later). Which is better?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/wlgltqe97ireo ... 9.mov?dl=0
or
https://www.dropbox.com/s/vu7ewmmqkmyl5 ... 2.mov?dl=0
I'm liking the first one. It seems to me to move better. Sounds somewhat like you are using something softer than the Skeet on the second clip.
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Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by ThomasOK »

markiteight wrote: 2020-12-23 05:36 Thanks, Tony! It sounds like what I'm experiencing is par for the course, but just to be sure let's try again, this time recorded with my old phone (single mic):

A: https://www.dropbox.com/s/mocwm5nt65eeb ... E.MOV?dl=0

B: https://www.dropbox.com/s/nveeyn91rqbdx ... 5.MOV?dl=0

I almost made the same mistake I made last time. Now that you know a Kairn is involved I'm sure some of you can guess what that mistake was. :-)
I listened to A for about 30 seconds, I'm still listening to B!
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Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by beck »

I really think markiteight that your Exotic/Linto combination is a winner (guessing it is B). Lovely Christmas music. :-)
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Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by markiteight »

beck wrote: 2020-12-23 06:11 .....and by the way. I love the colour of your profile name markiteight! :-)
It's the default color for Moderator, but it does fit the season, eh?

After your multi color post a while back I thought I'd have a bit of fun and temporarily change your profile name color to something like pink, but alas I don't have that power. Consider yourself lucky. ;-)
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Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by markiteight »

lejonklou wrote: 2020-12-23 14:26 If a Kairn was involved you probably forgot to reverse the phase to the loudspeakers.
DING!
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Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by Charlie1 »

beck wrote: 2020-12-23 06:11 I prefer B
B for me too Mi8
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Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by markiteight »

beck wrote: 2020-12-23 21:23 I really think markiteight that your Exotic/Linto combination is a winner (guessing it is B). Lovely Christmas music. :-)
You are correct, and you are correct. After switching back to Exotik (and remembering to switch the speaker polarity about an hour later) it is so much easer to relax into the music.

I have a low tolerance for a lot of Christmas music, especially most of the stuff churned out by pop stars after their bank accounts start running low, but Chip Davis' Mannheim Steamroller Christmas albums are my all time favorites. One of the things I look forward to about the holiday season is the opportunity to bring out the MS Christmas albums and crank 'em up!

Happy holidays, everyone!
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Re: Skeet or something else?

Post by Tendaberry »

ThomasOK wrote: 2020-12-23 21:01
Tendaberry wrote: 2020-12-21 13:17 Here's an experiment replacing my Skeet with something else (which will be revealed later). Which is better?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/wlgltqe97ireo ... 9.mov?dl=0
or
https://www.dropbox.com/s/vu7ewmmqkmyl5 ... 2.mov?dl=0
I'm liking the first one. It seems to me to move better. Sounds somewhat like you are using something softer than the Skeet on the second clip.
OK, it's a bit of a mixed bag and opinions are split. However, most seem to be favouring the first clip, which were the Skeets I've been using for years. The second clip was with the IsoAcoustics Gaia II replacing the spikes and Skeet on my Akubariks.
In room the Gaias are definitely adding some clarity, especially to tv-voices. But somehow I have the nagging feel, that they're detracting from the tune. These are the Gaias btw: https://isoacoustics.com/products/gaia-series/gaia-ii/
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Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by beck »

I share your feeling Tendaberry. Merry Christmas. :-)
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Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by beck »

It is for me so very interesting to examine how close I can get with cd in my cd player to the performance I get using vinyl on my Sondek.

Therefore another comparison where no favour has been done to the cd performance. Taking it as far as possible with my setup right now:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/0xpxsgb4yiw8d ... 5.mov?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/dd1q04ftjavci ... 0.mov?dl=0
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Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by Charlie1 »

Closest yet I would say. I think you should stop now :D
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Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Post by u252agz »

I was going to suggest the opposite:

after taking a well deserved break, keep tweaking and when you feel you cannot go further -set up a new thread on the Forum.

'How beck made his CD player sing'

This will encourage us lesser mortals to perhaps try CD again - i have hundreds sitting in my loft hoping to be dusted off for just such a project.

I occasionally play a disc on my Linn Classik movie for old times sake - not too shabby, but would love to improve on it.

Great project for retirement.
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