Hifi Mistakes

Really interesting you should have had two pairs. I heard one at a mates and thought they were pleasant and enjoyable. I then bought a pair amen theiughtntheynwere just downright poor. Still not as unpleasant as Kabers though.

I wonder if there were internal changes that totally changed them? Linn has plenty of form in this respect.

Keildh's went through four main driver versions I think and both tweeter types. Mine were later ones in black ash veneer all over - front as well - and also with Ku-Stone bases which I felt were essential. The boxes had Ku-Stone blocks inside too and were very solid and well braced. The passive crossovers had decent tracks and components too I recall. I just found that in passive form, the odd load (3 - 4 ohm bass-mid and 15 ohms or similar at hf), could give the passive ones a sucked-out midrange, the clean bass overpowering in many rooms. i was able to compare passive single wire, passive bi-wire (different rather than better), active with two 140's (and four channels in the 5125 5-channel amp) and once with three Lk140's, which was the best I ever heard them, that's all...

Linn did a cheapo passive only version (made in China) called the Keosa and I thought these were ok as well. The Tukan was done in this cheapo single wire version and called the Kan III.

Being naively fooled into the belief that MC cartridges are better than MM cartridges.

And spending a wee fortune on them.

😈

He was too busy killing them ugly cartridge wires. 

You haven't heard the 2M better models then (the 2M Bronze was fan when I set one up a short while ago), no top or bottom lost there - very funky sound. The ancient Dual 601/ZLM sounds crisp and lively, but tuneful too and less sogggy than an XLM III can sound. I don't know the AT540 or 750 as yet, but they're rather OC9-like I gather.

Cheap MC's go one of two ways in my experience. they either take your fillings out with a wild top end (Ortofom MC Turbo series, Sumiko BPS and if badly matched, the old AT-F5 ), or they sound beefy and bland (Dynavector 10X models - five hundred quid my arse!!! - or the Denon DL110 which used to cost the same as the 10X IV!). A Raga RB arm will hold wild excesses in check and the straight jelco arm and distantly related old Linn Basik Plus arm, will liven up a gentler model I feel.

Thing is, the hideous money gemstone foo models may really be cachet products rather than genuinely advancing the state of the art technically. I have to say the difference a superbly finished diamond makes is definitely audible in terms of much reduced surface noise and end-of-side finesse. Many vinyl people don't hear distortions and ignore surface noise I found and as for rumbly old idler decks, they're often in total denial!

I have heard the 2m black very recently. That was more than enough for me: Utter piece of shite imo and sonically nowhere near as good as Jammys Goldring to my ears. It’s just an OM30 in disguise and I’ve said before how much I hate those things. But then I tend to dislike Ortofon carts in general. MC30 was just about tolerable, but still not to my taste. Conversely I loved the AT-F5. Not as good as OC7 and 9, but still a goodie. I upgraded from a Goldring 1040 and never looked back. I guess it comes down to taste again.

You’re right about those Dynavectors. All massively overpriced now to the point of being a piss take. But then the 2M Black is probably equally silly money for what it is. Audio Technica and Denon are just about the only ones who haven’t milked prices and I’m glad to say they are my faves anyway

I always feel that cartridges seem to be more subjective than anything else. You get the most vehement disagreements where one person’s gem is another persons “don’t touch with a bargepole”. I’ve never understood why but it seems to have been like this forever. Probably one of the most controversial ones are the “cartridge man” Music Makers. Never heard one myself.

Yup tried the orto black, the Goldie 1042 pissed all over it in any dept you care to mention....imho.
Now this could be a synergy thing......fuk knows.

Nags are okay.

needle was on its way out, or there was some horrible mis-match with the phono stage. Only explanation. But I'll grant you the difference between the 540 and the AT91 is not enormous, they are very similar in character. I went from Nag MP30 to the 540 II and it was just different, not better. Than had my one and only MC, an Eroica, that was better than the 540 but lacked the balls of the MP30. Then got the MP50. Needed a new stylus, £220! So I coughed up but then decided I wasn't chucking any more money at vinyl. It's a never-ending black hole.

That's cheap for the 20SE even though they are old hat now. They look like a capable speaker. Trouble with MA of that era is that they are too upfront, all leading edges and no 'richness'. Had a demo once with a Hardon Karman pre power and an Arcam Pre-power into some MA silver sig, big floorstanders. With the HK (which is good kit) it was just way too much, not quite harsh but getting there. Swapped to the Arcam and it was spot on.


Always wanted to try the MA7 for no reason than a read a review of them in HFR whilst sitting in the DHSS waiting to claim HB, and thinking if ever I had £200 quid I'd get some. That was about 1990.

Watch metal cone speakers, as I believe all of them zing in higher frequencies. By all accounts, a steep crossover doesn't fix it as this zing is excited acoustically as well.

When I heard the Studio 20 models, all I could hear was a 'ccchhh' kind of sound which smeared lower top sounds. Not something I could deal with for more than a few minutes I'm afraid.

I tried doping some aluminum continuous cone drivers. Failed miserably but was able to remove the dope after soaking in white spirits

Ok, cheers. I try that if there ever is a next time.

The V is a good arm. But is not for everyone.

S.

It's too expensive, but I'd never ever call it crap...