Newbie from Oxford

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Lp160
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Newbie from Oxford

Post by Lp160 »

Hi folks,

I’m new to ‘hi-fi’ but have loved music for the last 40 years. All kinds from a to z as long as it’s good, and by good I mean I think it’s good! I realise everyone’s tastes are different.

I’m not sure about the quality of my hearing, I don’t think i could ever critically asses a hifi, but again I know I can recognise a sound I like and a sound I don’t. What I couldn’t say is which was technically better or worse.

I’m building a second system on a budget at the moment, and will be interested to see how it works out!
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Mr Onion
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Re: Newbie from Oxford

Post by Mr Onion »

Welcome aboard
Lp160 wrote: Wed Jun 12, 2024 7:23 pm as long as it’s good
Thats all that matters

... and as for HiFi, its only a means to and end which is enjoying the music. If you enjoy it thats all that matters
James


Fluted Afro LP12, Khan, KEEL, Karousel, Urika, Radikal-2 K, EKOS SE/1, sKale, DVXX-2 A, Tangerine Audio Revolver,
NAIM CD 5si with Marigo Lab Aida CD Mat
ThePre, ZAP 250, Kudos Super 20A's
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akamatsu
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Re: Newbie from Oxford

Post by akamatsu »

Welcome! I've visited Oxford. What a beautiful city. As for being able to critically assess hifi, I think not being able to makes you better able. When I try to hear a difference between this and that, I can't, or at least find it confusing and difficult. But if the system is playing right, and the music is flowing, I find myself not wanting to move from the listening position. To me, this is a better way to assess a hifi. Enjoy!
Linn Klimax LP12, Linn NG Klimax DSM hub (Utopik), Linn 360s

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Moomintroll
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Re: Newbie from Oxford

Post by Moomintroll »

Lp160 wrote: Wed Jun 12, 2024 7:23 pm Hi folks,

I’m not sure about the quality of my hearing, I don’t think i could ever critically asses a hifi, but again I know I can recognise a sound I like and a sound I don’t. What I couldn’t say is which was technically better or worse.
As long as you can hear when instruments sound out of tune or not keeping time, you’ll go far.

Dave
Klimax LP12, NGKDSM Hub, Klimax 350E Organik
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Mr Onion
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Re: Newbie from Oxford

Post by Mr Onion »

Lp160 wrote: Wed Jun 12, 2024 7:23 pmI’m building a second system on a budget at the moment, and will be interested to see how it works out!
I know we are all dying to know, whats the second system going to be (as well as whats the first)
James


Fluted Afro LP12, Khan, KEEL, Karousel, Urika, Radikal-2 K, EKOS SE/1, sKale, DVXX-2 A, Tangerine Audio Revolver,
NAIM CD 5si with Marigo Lab Aida CD Mat
ThePre, ZAP 250, Kudos Super 20A's
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timster
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Re: Newbie from Oxford

Post by timster »

Mr Onion wrote: Thu Jun 13, 2024 10:31 am
Lp160 wrote: Wed Jun 12, 2024 7:23 pmI’m building a second system on a budget at the moment, and will be interested to see how it works out!
I know we are all dying to know, whats the second system going to be (as well as whats the first)
:smt023
♫ ♫
Turntable: Rega RP1/Bias 2/Carbon
Digital Music Source: QNAP HS-251+ SilentNAS
Pre-amp/Streamer: Linn Selekt DSM (U)
DAC and Digital Xovers: Linn Akurate Exaktbox10/Kat (U)
Amplification: Linn Akurate A4200/1 (D)
Speakers: Kudos Super20a
Sub-Bass: REL T5
Sundries: Linn Silver Interconnects, Kudos KS-1 Speaker Cable
♫ ♫
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Wenge1
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Re: Newbie from Oxford

Post by Wenge1 »

Lp160 wrote: Wed Jun 12, 2024 7:23 pm Hi folks,

I’m new to ‘hi-fi’ but have loved music for the last 40 years. All kinds from a to z as long as it’s good, and by good I mean I think it’s good! I realise everyone’s tastes are different.

I’m not sure about the quality of my hearing, I don’t think i could ever critically asses a hifi, but again I know I can recognise a sound I like and a sound I don’t. What I couldn’t say is which was technically better or worse.

I’m building a second system on a budget at the moment, and will be interested to see how it works out!
.
How you 'assess'? - I say 'Whatever' works for you ........ :smt023

You think it's good? - That's all that matters and it works for me too ........ :smt023

Hearing - With the caveat of 'As long as you get checked out if you think it may be a problem' - You've got what you have got and so you end up back with 'what sounds good to you' ....... :smt023

Sounds like you're doing fine to me ...... :smt023
LP12 - Klimax Radikal 2/Urika, Harban Plinth, Karousel, Keel, Karmen, Ekos SE, Skale, Lyra Atlas
CD Players - Roksan Caspian M2 CD Player, dCS Puccini CD Player + Scarlatti Master Clock
Amp - Chord Ultima Integrated
Speakers - Kudos S20 A's in Santos Rosewood
Cables - Linn Silver RCA & K200 speaker cable
.
Lp160
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Re: Newbie from Oxford

Post by Lp160 »

Thanks all for the welcoming replies. My first system, is not Linn at all and some probably wouldn’t consider it hifi!

I have a Thorens TD160 turntable with standard arm and a Pickering cartridge. Rotel integrated amp, and mission 728 loudspeakers. It was all 2nd hand and in total cost me less than a £1000 many years ago.

For budget level equipment it’s all ‘fine’. The loundspeakers have a fairly poor reputation, or at least a very ‘mixed’ opinion, but I have always quite liked them. But bear in mind prior to this I listened to music on even lesser equipment!!

I bought the amp from sound organisation in York second hand and it was the most expensive item of the three. The owner was a really helpful guy and showed me and played some of the linn equipment for me. I told him I couldn’t afford it but he could see I was genuinely interested. And from then I always had it in the back of my mind to build a linn system.

We moved house recently and I have a little study (actually) it’s a reasonable size as it’s one of the double bedrooms. And I wanted to set up a 2nd system for it. As we are renting until we know the area a bit better before we buy I wanted to get cheap equipment to keep me going until we buy a house.

On eBay I found some LSA1 speakers locally and went to audition them. Again a really nice guy a deal was done for what I consider a bargain, the princely sum of £50!!

They are probably of the period I listened to the linn equipment in York so i though ok, that kit might be quite cheap now let’s get some and see how it goes.

I’ve already made my first mistake though. I’d been looking at a few power amps on eBay, but accidentally purchased the wrong one, it’s an lk100 which I’m ok about, but it has aktiv bass cards so I need to think about removing them or tinkering with the loudspeakers and getting another lk100 etc. tbh I don’t really understand how it all works, but Google is my friend. Once I have sorted that a phono stage and contol amp of similllar period is on the list.

I’m really interested to see how this goes, I’ll be using my td160 as source, the plan when we have our new house is to get an lp12 and finance permitting build a full linn system around that with more modern components.

Wish me look and any advice really welcomed as I admit I’m rather clueless at the moment!

All the best
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Mr Onion
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Re: Newbie from Oxford

Post by Mr Onion »

I had a mate with 728's on the end of a Rega/NAD system and the overall sound was pretty good.

The important thing is that you enjoy it, not what any "expert" says about it
James


Fluted Afro LP12, Khan, KEEL, Karousel, Urika, Radikal-2 K, EKOS SE/1, sKale, DVXX-2 A, Tangerine Audio Revolver,
NAIM CD 5si with Marigo Lab Aida CD Mat
ThePre, ZAP 250, Kudos Super 20A's
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Wenge1
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Re: Newbie from Oxford

Post by Wenge1 »

.
Welcome to the HiFi Kabin. Always good to see new members. It doesn't matter what kit you have - as long as you enjoy what your hearing, it's the music that's important. As to your Lk100 'problem', I can't help as I know bugger all about that but there will be other Kabineers on here who will be able to help ..... :smt023
Last edited by Wenge1 on Sat Jun 15, 2024 12:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
LP12 - Klimax Radikal 2/Urika, Harban Plinth, Karousel, Keel, Karmen, Ekos SE, Skale, Lyra Atlas
CD Players - Roksan Caspian M2 CD Player, dCS Puccini CD Player + Scarlatti Master Clock
Amp - Chord Ultima Integrated
Speakers - Kudos S20 A's in Santos Rosewood
Cables - Linn Silver RCA & K200 speaker cable
.
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Moomintroll
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Re: Newbie from Oxford

Post by Moomintroll »

“I’ve already made my first mistake though. I’d been looking at a few power amps on eBay, but accidentally purchased the wrong one, it’s an lk100 which I’m ok about, but it has aktiv bass cards so I need to think about removing them or tinkering with the loudspeakers and getting another lk100 etc. tbh I don’t really understand how it all works, but Google is my friend. Once I have sorted that a phono stage and contol amp of similllar period is on the list.”

The aktiv cards in the LK100 will be for a specific Linn speaker(s) and aren’t a generic crossover for any speaker. Best to research how to remove them and restore the amp to passive mode. If you’re lucky, the cards will simply unplug and possibly require a jumper to be moved on the board. If you can open up the amp and post photos, you’ll get more relevant advice here. At the moment, you’ll only be hearing low bass through it and not full range.

The LSA1 (Living Sound Audio?) are an unknown to me and, probably, most on here. But you probably got a bargain.
Dave
Klimax LP12, NGKDSM Hub, Klimax 350E Organik
Lp160
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Re: Newbie from Oxford

Post by Lp160 »

Yes, I am almost certain I will remove the cards, it seems from Google depending on the age of the amp they are either soldered in or plugged in. In the case of them being plugged in a link is cut so if that’s the case I’ll have to solder it back together or replace depending what I find.

The LSA are indeed living sound audio and I have are indeed a bargain my opinion. Little to find on the internet but they sounded good on the sellers exposure system and sound good on my Rotel integrated.

Any recommendations for a control amp of similar period to the LK power amp, that I might be able to find at the budget end price point on eBay?

I’m really keen to see how cheap old second hand kit sounds! If it’s safe and half decent I’ll be adding a streamer / dac / some sort of digital interface and giving it to my daughter when we move and I get the lp12.
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Moomintroll
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Re: Newbie from Oxford

Post by Moomintroll »

A Linn Kairn would be an obvious choice to partner a LK100. The original model sports very decent MM and MC inputs, the later “Pro” model replaced these with extra line level AUX inputs. Early models had a toroidal transformer, later replaced by Linn’s first SMPS - “Brilliant” which sounded better but which can fail with age. Later still, this was replaced by the “Slimline” SMPS which is more robust (I believe, but none of these are in the first flush of youth now) If you look for one, make sure it’s had the front panel rechargeable battery replaced.
Klimax LP12, NGKDSM Hub, Klimax 350E Organik
Lp160
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Re: Newbie from Oxford

Post by Lp160 »

Brilliant thanks. I will look out for one.

I’ve opened up the lk100 and the cards plug in so they appear easy enough to remove.

I’ll add photos.

Logic tells me (though often fails me) that this is where I will need to recreate a bridge, immediately adjacent to the plugs are links which appear to have been cut. I’ll attach a photo. But they are annotated as ‘link210’ and ‘link310’. Before I simply solder them back I’m going to try and make sure that’s it, but googles not helping me here! So if anyone know please shout out. I’ll add photos.

Not of any significance but labels in the amp suggest it’s from ‘96.
Lp160
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Re: Newbie from Oxford

Post by Lp160 »

Image

Image
Lp160
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Re: Newbie from Oxford

Post by Lp160 »

Aktiv boards for keilidh (amp boards) are now removed from the lk100. Surplus to requirements so free to good home (untested by me, but previous owner advised in perfect working condition). So private message if you want them.

Also if anyone has any knowledge of a good Kairn that is available for sale please let me know otherwise I’ll take my chances on eBay.
Lp160
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Re: Newbie from Oxford

Post by Lp160 »

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Coyote Jim
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Re: Newbie from Oxford

Post by Coyote Jim »

Lp160 wrote: Sat Jun 15, 2024 5:42 pm Aktiv boards for keilidh (amp boards) are now removed from the lk100. Surplus to requirements so free to good home (untested by me, but previous owner advised in perfect working condition). So private message if you want them.
:smt023
Also if anyone has any knowledge of a good Kairn that is available for sale please let me know otherwise I’ll take my chances on eBay.
IMG_2191.jpeg
Please use Emporium Rules for posting previously enjoyed. :smt023
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Turntable - Linn LP12, Karousel, Keel, Ekos SE/1, Kandid, K-Radikal 2, Urika.
Amplifier - Naim Supernait 3
CD Player - Naim CD5si
Speakers - Kudos X3
Cables- Kudos KS-1 Speaker Cable, Linn Silver Interconnects
Support - Target TT4.
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Re: Newbie from Oxford

Post by Lp160 »

Will do, sorry.
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Coyote Jim
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Re: Newbie from Oxford

Post by Coyote Jim »

Lp160 wrote: Sat Jun 15, 2024 6:03 pmWill do, sorry.
It will get seen better there than in a post.
You might be lucky. :smt023
Turntable - Linn LP12, Karousel, Keel, Ekos SE/1, Kandid, K-Radikal 2, Urika.
Amplifier - Naim Supernait 3
CD Player - Naim CD5si
Speakers - Kudos X3
Cables- Kudos KS-1 Speaker Cable, Linn Silver Interconnects
Support - Target TT4.
Lp160
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Re: Newbie from Oxford

Post by Lp160 »

Now posted in the emporium.
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Coyote Jim
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Re: Newbie from Oxford

Post by Coyote Jim »

Lp160 wrote: Sun Jun 16, 2024 3:55 pm Now posted in the emporium.
:smt023
Turntable - Linn LP12, Karousel, Keel, Ekos SE/1, Kandid, K-Radikal 2, Urika.
Amplifier - Naim Supernait 3
CD Player - Naim CD5si
Speakers - Kudos X3
Cables- Kudos KS-1 Speaker Cable, Linn Silver Interconnects
Support - Target TT4.
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