Which MC-Phono sounds better with MAJIK DSM and Kandid
- LINTO or built-in MM/MC-Phonoboard?

If you've got a Kandid, have you got a Radikal? If so, neither, go for a Urika. There's one in the for sale section... :)

David Neel wrote: ↑2020-01-08 23:16 If you've got a Kandid, have you got a Radikal? If so, neither, go for a Urika. There's one in the for sale section... :)

That was not the Question.

Slightly odd scenario.

I can't answer exactly. However, I had Majik Kontrol with MC card, connect to what was at the time a top-spec LP12 with Keel, Ekos SE and Akiva. I upgraded to the Linto and had mixed feelings. It was more tuneful but I also felt lost something else which I couldn't put my finger on, some cohesiveness perhaps. Maybe it was just burn-in but I soon adjusted to the new sound. The benefits were there but seemed fairly moderate. You may experience things quite differently though.

A few years later (when I'd already upgraded to Radikal), I upgraded from Linto to Urika and that was a much bigger step up.

Seems like you have a very low box count system which is nice so I'd leave it like that and only bother with the Urika, if feasible, or Entity.

I have a Linto and an Exotik DA/D with internal MM/MC phono card. I believe it's the same card they used in the Majik Kontrol, but I don't know about the DSM.

I've compared both and Linto is superior, but the internal board is quite good.

I’ve heard a very near comparison with a Akurate level LP12 into Akurate Exakt DSM KAT using internal MC board. Compared to Linto.

The results were night and day better with the Linto.

The DSM internal board is OK but the Linto is much superior.


This is a high level musical system belonging to a friend. With a system such as this the Linto does the system justice.

All that heard agreed but, as ever, YMMV according to your system and preferences.

Linto is better though most units are also about 15-20 years old by now - I do believe they hold up well.

Do note that Majik DSM comes standard equipped with an internal MM phono board only.
So you would have to buy a separate MM/MC board.

Majik Kontrol and all Akurate Kontrol and DSM models have the MM/MC board fitted from factory.

In my experience the Linto is more musical than the internal MC/MM board that comes standard with the Akurate units and is optional with the Majik units. Lintos are generally very solid devices but they are getting up there in age and the SMPS might need some attention to the caps before long. Urika 1s are quite a bit better than a Linto (or even two Lintos, as I used before the Urika came out). You may be able to pick up one at a good price as some are selling them to switch to the Entity.

Ok, then i will keep the Linto.
I don´t have a MC-Phonoboard to compare myself.
I would like to have fewer devices in the room, that's the reason.

Two Lintos!

One for each channel and individual power supplies?
I’m running two Radikals, one on Radikal motor and other on Urika 1.

Klimax Radikal case on motor and Akurate case on Urika 1 all to experiment with individual power supplies etc.


Others have carried out similar experiments and found no difference or worse.


I’m finding a real improvement.

Best results are Klimax case on Radikal motor. Better than Klimax case on Urika surprisingly.

However, there’s a definite improvement using individual power supplies.

YMMV according to system and preference.

Ianw wrote: ↑2020-01-09 19:31 I’m finding a real improvement.

I do too! As your experiment suggests, the motor is more important. So you can keep driving that with the best Radikal and then replace Urika+second Radikal with an Entity. Try it!

Lingomatik wrote: ↑2020-01-09 19:30 Ok, then i will keep the Linto.
I don´t have a MC-Phonoboard to compare myself.
I would like to have fewer devices in the room, that's the reason.

I definitely prefer Linto to the plug-in board. But you should try an Entity, you will get a much smaller box than Linto and a new vinyl collection.

how can i "start" the second radikal without an Motor on/off switch?

You start the second Radikal with both cables plugged in, then unplug the motor cable and move it to the Radikal you are using for the motor. The Radikal you are using for the Urika will remain powered up indefinitely (or until a blackout).