Linn announce new MC cartridge...

[Linnism]

New Linn MC cartridge - Information on following pages:
http://www.linn.co.uk/hifi-separates/tu ... es#krystal
http://www.promusica.com.au/linn/krystal/

[matthias]

http://forums.linn.co.uk/bb/showthread.php?tid=32073

Matt

[lejonklou]

What was the comment you deleted, matthias?

I'm looking forward to listening to this cartridge. If it's really good, it might deserve a phono stage developed specifically for it?

[matthias]

What was the comment you deleted, matthias?
I'm looking forward to listening to this cartridge. If it's really good, it might deserve a phono stage developed specifically for it?

I asked for the price in GBP. After posting I found the answer on page 2. The price is GBP1200.
My gut feeling is that it is not much behind the Kandid. Surely it deserves a Lejonklou MC stage.

Matt

[Charlie1]

If it's really good, it might deserve a phono stage developed specifically for it?

If someone can afford £1,200 every 5-6 years then they probably have a fairly high spec LP12 so there's a good chance they own a Urika or are aiming for one.

What about a nice two-way speaker, or would you rather leave that to Anders? A floorstander would be good but I know you favour stand mount speakers. Something that improves upon the Ninka might sell well. It's so hard to tell though.

[macrotech2]

A little off topic perhaps but my highest priority would be a DS killer!

[ThomasOK]

The Krystal is the long awaited replacement for the Klyde. As of now the Klyde is discontinued and the Krystal, which runs $1900US, is scheduled to ship in quantity in February.

There have been a fair number of people, both customers and dealers, requesting Linn come up with a replacement for the Klyde with improved performance and a Troika 2 was the most consistent suggestion. It looks like Linn have come up with pretty much what was being asked for (although there will be Troika fans who will bemoan the lack of the red coloration). The Krystal is a three-point mount with raised lands, certainly one of the most important parts of the Troika legacy. Although it does give up the flying leads (apparently reserved for Linn's premier cartridge) for regular pins it does have some advantages over the Troika. These include having the headshell screws thread into the body, a body of the same 7075 aluminum as the Kandid and a nude body to reduce mass and resonances. If it is as good as Linn claims it should be a stellar cartridge for the price.

The cartridge is made by Armour who is the one making the Klyde. Looking at the specs the parentage is pretty obvious as both the Klyde and the Krystal use aluminum tube cantilevers and Vital fine line styli. They also have pretty much identical specs except for cartridge mass (as would be expected). Output is quoted as .25mv so a bit higher than the Klyde but not as high as the Kandid. This is certainly welcome news.

[Music Lover]

A little off topic perhaps but my highest priority would be a DS killer!

Agree, source first rules!

[matthias]

A little off topic perhaps but my highest priority would be a DS killer!

Agree, source first rules!

If DS, then with DSD please.

Matt

[Efraim roots]

A little off topic perhaps but my highest priority would be a DS killer!

Agree, source first rules!

If DS, then with DSD please.

Matt

And more importanly, a mono version :-)

On topic; Im really excited about the news and I've been waiting for this, lets just hope it's a killer. Regarding source first I heard Klimax radikal vs Akurate radikal yesterday and Yes, the klimax certainly made things better. Klimax radikal and urika with the new Krystal is really, really appealing.

[moog_man]

Regarding source first I heard Klimax radikal vs Akurate radikal yesterday and Yes, the klimax certainly made things better.

Efraim, would appreciate any further thoughts you have on this, please. Perhaps as a separate thread so this doesn't go off-topic. Thank you