Linn 360s have arrived

[akamatsu]

[akamatsu]

Been enjoying the "new" system for the past couple of days. I'm really at a loss for words. This is so far beyond anything I've ever heard in a hifi system. I think one just has to experience it. I didn't experience it at the in-store demo.

The first evening of listening, I was very impressed, but I wasn't hearing the speakers disappear, the sound stage being fixed from different points in the room, all that Linn marketing. The next morning, I saw that I'd input the speakers' distances from the front wall and the height incorrectly. The height was way off as I measured from the top back corner instead of the bottom of the base! Well, that evening, I got to hear all that Linn had advertised. There is such in incredible depth, that is a 3D effect. I was, and am, in absolute disbelief of what I'm experiencing. This is so far beyond what I heard with Akubariks. We have entered a new era with Linn speakers. I don't even remember what the Akubariks sounded like. And I don't think I've yet fully adapted to the 360s.

Then there's the bass. Plenty of it. I don't think you could even operate the 360s without Space Optimisation. It could shake your house to pieces. With the Akubariks, I had to turn the volume up to get the room filling bass that I like. With the 360s, at just about every volume level, the bass is present and seems to be well balanced with the higher frequencies.

Musical detail is abundant as less is being lost, much less. It's amazing to think that all that musical information was coming from the Klimax DSM, but being lost within the Akubariks.

As for source, and source material, the system is now so revealing that CD quality shows it's weaknesses. At the other end, a well recorded LP is absolutely fantastic! I could see DSing only with access to good recordings, but a Klimax LP12 really opens things up with a wide and deep soundstage. It's just a tremendous amount of realism.

As for the setup, I placed the 360s in the same location as I had the Akubariks. I got both speakers leveled and rock solid steady on Skeets. Speakers were leveled with each other using a laser level. I didn't make any changes to SO. Still at default with OPS at 85/15. I think my next step is to refine SO using the ceiling, wall, and floor features. I don't want to do too much now as I need time to get used to the sound. It all sound so fantastic that I don't think I'd be very good at distinguishing an improvement.

I'm really at a loss for words. No matter what I say, it wouldn't do justice to the experience.

[akamatsu]

Congratulations! Nice colour…

I am having second thoughts, whether the improvement is worth the money

It's worth the money. But only if you have the money and spending it won't impact your life too much.

[akamatsu]

I forgot to mention; a Majik sytem is all one needs to enjoy music in the home.

[Ian_km]

Been enjoying the "new" system for the past couple of days. I'm really at a loss for words. This is so far beyond anything I've ever heard in a hifi system. I think one just has to experience it. I didn't experience it at the in-store demo.

The first evening of listening, I was very impressed, but I wasn't hearing the speakers disappear, the sound stage being fixed from different points in the room, all that Linn marketing. The next morning, I saw that I'd input the speakers' distances from the front wall and the height incorrectly. The height was way off as I measured from the top back corner instead of the bottom of the base! Well, that evening, I got to hear all that Linn had advertised. There is such in incredible depth, that is a 3D effect. I was, and am, in absolute disbelief of what I'm experiencing. This is so far beyond what I heard with Akubariks. We have entered a new era with Linn speakers. I don't even remember what the Akubariks sounded like. And I don't think I've yet fully adapted to the 360s.

Then there's the bass. Plenty of it. I don't think you could even operate the 360s without Space Optimisation. It could shake your house to pieces. With the Akubariks, I had to turn the volume up to get the room filling bass that I like. With the 360s, at just about every volume level, the bass is present and seems to be well balanced with the higher frequencies.

Musical detail is abundant as less is being lost, much less. It's amazing to think that all that musical information was coming from the Klimax DSM, but being lost within the Akubariks.

As for source, and source material, the system is now so revealing that CD quality shows it's weaknesses. At the other end, a well recorded LP is absolutely fantastic! I could see DSing only with access to good recordings, but a Klimax LP12 really opens things up with a wide and deep soundstage. It's just a tremendous amount of realism.

As for the setup, I placed the 360s in the same location as I had the Akubariks. I got both speakers leveled and rock solid steady on Skeets. Speakers were leveled with each other using a laser level. I didn't make any changes to SO. Still at default with OPS at 85/15. I think my next step is to refine SO using the ceiling, wall, and floor features. I don't want to do too much now as I need time to get used to the sound. It all sound so fantastic that I don't think I'd be very good at distinguishing an improvement.

I'm really at a loss for words. No matter what I say, it wouldn't do justice to the experience.

Glad you’re enjoying them, look fantastic.

I have my LP12 on an Audiotech stand same as you’re using, but with the supplied black plinth, what are you using instead? I remember Hamish at the Sound Organisation when installing my LP12 saying he thought a more flexible plinth would help I but never got round to it.

[timster]

Great review @akamatsu
Similar to the differences I experienced with Kudos and Akurate amps from m140s and majik, particularly the 'bass at any volume' comment. Obviously at a much much higher level

The amplification in the 360s is Klimax yes? So how much of the improvement would you put down to that, as opposed to Organik, do you think?

[Moomintroll]

Stunning. Congratulations Michael.

Dave

[arm]

Enjoy Michael

[akamatsu]

Great review @akamatsu
Similar to the differences I experienced with Kudos and Akurate amps from m140s and majik, particularly the 'bass at any volume' comment. Obviously at a much much higher level

The amplification in the 360s is Klimax yes? So how much of the improvement would you put down to that, as opposed to Organik, do you think?

There has been much written about the amps in the 360s. The adaptive bias and the powerDAC technologies were new for the 360s. The Klimax 800 Solos have the adaptive bias technology. These amps are beyond the Klimax Solos.

As for Organik, I really can't say which has the greater impact. But if I had to say, I'd say both.

[akamatsu]

Been enjoying the "new" system for the past couple of days. I'm really at a loss for words. This is so far beyond anything I've ever heard in a hifi system. I think one just has to experience it. I didn't experience it at the in-store demo.

The first evening of listening, I was very impressed, but I wasn't hearing the speakers disappear, the sound stage being fixed from different points in the room, all that Linn marketing. The next morning, I saw that I'd input the speakers' distances from the front wall and the height incorrectly. The height was way off as I measured from the top back corner instead of the bottom of the base! Well, that evening, I got to hear all that Linn had advertised. There is such in incredible depth, that is a 3D effect. I was, and am, in absolute disbelief of what I'm experiencing. This is so far beyond what I heard with Akubariks. We have entered a new era with Linn speakers. I don't even remember what the Akubariks sounded like. And I don't think I've yet fully adapted to the 360s.

Then there's the bass. Plenty of it. I don't think you could even operate the 360s without Space Optimisation. It could shake your house to pieces. With the Akubariks, I had to turn the volume up to get the room filling bass that I like. With the 360s, at just about every volume level, the bass is present and seems to be well balanced with the higher frequencies.

Musical detail is abundant as less is being lost, much less. It's amazing to think that all that musical information was coming from the Klimax DSM, but being lost within the Akubariks.

As for source, and source material, the system is now so revealing that CD quality shows it's weaknesses. At the other end, a well recorded LP is absolutely fantastic! I could see DSing only with access to good recordings, but a Klimax LP12 really opens things up with a wide and deep soundstage. It's just a tremendous amount of realism.

As for the setup, I placed the 360s in the same location as I had the Akubariks. I got both speakers leveled and rock solid steady on Skeets. Speakers were leveled with each other using a laser level. I didn't make any changes to SO. Still at default with OPS at 85/15. I think my next step is to refine SO using the ceiling, wall, and floor features. I don't want to do too much now as I need time to get used to the sound. It all sound so fantastic that I don't think I'd be very good at distinguishing an improvement.

I'm really at a loss for words. No matter what I say, it wouldn't do justice to the experience.

Glad you’re enjoying them, look fantastic.

I have my LP12 on an Audiotech stand same as you’re using, but with the supplied black plinth, what are you using instead? I remember Hamish at the Sound Organisation when installing my LP12 saying he thought a more flexible plinth would help I but never got round to it.

I'm using Baltic Birch plywood, 16-ply. It was better than Baltic Birch 7-ply, which was better than the supplied MDF shelf. The supplied MDF is about 1500g. The birch shelves are 945g. The 16-ply is more rigid than the 7-ply. Lighter and more rigid performs better.

[Ian_km]

Been enjoying the "new" system for the past couple of days. I'm really at a loss for words. This is so far beyond anything I've ever heard in a hifi system. I think one just has to experience it. I didn't experience it at the in-store demo.

The first evening of listening, I was very impressed, but I wasn't hearing the speakers disappear, the sound stage being fixed from different points in the room, all that Linn marketing. The next morning, I saw that I'd input the speakers' distances from the front wall and the height incorrectly. The height was way off as I measured from the top back corner instead of the bottom of the base! Well, that evening, I got to hear all that Linn had advertised. There is such in incredible depth, that is a 3D effect. I was, and am, in absolute disbelief of what I'm experiencing. This is so far beyond what I heard with Akubariks. We have entered a new era with Linn speakers. I don't even remember what the Akubariks sounded like. And I don't think I've yet fully adapted to the 360s.

Then there's the bass. Plenty of it. I don't think you could even operate the 360s without Space Optimisation. It could shake your house to pieces. With the Akubariks, I had to turn the volume up to get the room filling bass that I like. With the 360s, at just about every volume level, the bass is present and seems to be well balanced with the higher frequencies.

Musical detail is abundant as less is being lost, much less. It's amazing to think that all that musical information was coming from the Klimax DSM, but being lost within the Akubariks.

As for source, and source material, the system is now so revealing that CD quality shows it's weaknesses. At the other end, a well recorded LP is absolutely fantastic! I could see DSing only with access to good recordings, but a Klimax LP12 really opens things up with a wide and deep soundstage. It's just a tremendous amount of realism.

As for the setup, I placed the 360s in the same location as I had the Akubariks. I got both speakers leveled and rock solid steady on Skeets. Speakers were leveled with each other using a laser level. I didn't make any changes to SO. Still at default with OPS at 85/15. I think my next step is to refine SO using the ceiling, wall, and floor features. I don't want to do too much now as I need time to get used to the sound. It all sound so fantastic that I don't think I'd be very good at distinguishing an improvement.

I'm really at a loss for words. No matter what I say, it wouldn't do justice to the experience.

Glad you’re enjoying them, look fantastic.

I have my LP12 on an Audiotech stand same as you’re using, but with the supplied black plinth, what are you using instead? I remember Hamish at the Sound Organisation when installing my LP12 saying he thought a more flexible plinth would help I but never got round to it.

I'm using Baltic Birch plywood, 16-ply. It was better than Baltic Birch 7-ply, which was better than the supplied MDF shelf. The supplied MDF is about 1500g. The birch shelves are 945g. The 16-ply is more rigid than the 7-ply. Lighter and more rigid performs better.

Cheers, will look into that

[akamatsu]

Listening to Laurie Anderson, "Bright Red" on Qobuz 192/24. Contrasting what I'm hearing now with yesterday's listening of Tears for Fears, "Seeds of Love" 16/44. There's no comparison! The difference is between fantastic and unlistenable.

P.S. This is embarrassing. The Laurie Anderson album turns out to be 44/16. I misread. I guess the Tears for Fears was just a bad recording. I'll revisit 44/16. Perhaps there's hope for CD quality.

[akamatsu]

Congratulations! Nice colour…

I am having second thoughts, whether the improvement is worth the money

It's worth the money. But only if you have the money and spending it won't impact your life too much.

If I may properly reply. Thank you!

On the colour, same as my Akubariks; RAL 9023 Pearl Dark Gray. I loved my Akubariks in this colour. At first, I thought the gloss was a bit much for such a big speaker as the 360s. Made the 360s look like they are made of metal. However, it really is growing on me. I think I made the right choice.

I was excited when you said you were going to order the 360s. I think you should think about it some more. I can't say the improvement coming from Klimax 350s (Organik?). But I really think this is a paradigm shift. Again, we have entered a new era of Linn speakers. If Linn do release an Akubarik replacement, which I expect, I can imagine some of the 360 technology filtering down. Perhaps worth waiting for? But you may be spoiled by the 350's bass.

[briardsrock]

Congratulations! I look forward to hearing more!

Been enjoying the "new" system for the past couple of days. I'm really at a loss for words. This is so far beyond anything I've ever heard in a hifi system. I think one just has to experience it. I didn't experience it at the in-store demo.

The first evening of listening, I was very impressed, but I wasn't hearing the speakers disappear, the sound stage being fixed from different points in the room, all that Linn marketing. The next morning, I saw that I'd input the speakers' distances from the front wall and the height incorrectly. The height was way off as I measured from the top back corner instead of the bottom of the base! Well, that evening, I got to hear all that Linn had advertised. There is such in incredible depth, that is a 3D effect. I was, and am, in absolute disbelief of what I'm experiencing. This is so far beyond what I heard with Akubariks. We have entered a new era with Linn speakers. I don't even remember what the Akubariks sounded like. And I don't think I've yet fully adapted to the 360s.

Then there's the bass. Plenty of it. I don't think you could even operate the 360s without Space Optimisation. It could shake your house to pieces. With the Akubariks, I had to turn the volume up to get the room filling bass that I like. With the 360s, at just about every volume level, the bass is present and seems to be well balanced with the higher frequencies.

Musical detail is abundant as less is being lost, much less. It's amazing to think that all that musical information was coming from the Klimax DSM, but being lost within the Akubariks.

As for source, and source material, the system is now so revealing that CD quality shows it's weaknesses. At the other end, a well recorded LP is absolutely fantastic! I could see DSing only with access to good recordings, but a Klimax LP12 really opens things up with a wide and deep soundstage. It's just a tremendous amount of realism.

As for the setup, I placed the 360s in the same location as I had the Akubariks. I got both speakers leveled and rock solid steady on Skeets. Speakers were leveled with each other using a laser level. I didn't make any changes to SO. Still at default with OPS at 85/15. I think my next step is to refine SO using the ceiling, wall, and floor features. I don't want to do too much now as I need time to get used to the sound. It all sound so fantastic that I don't think I'd be very good at distinguishing an improvement.

I'm really at a loss for words. No matter what I say, it wouldn't do justice to the experience.

[akamatsu]

Congratulations! I look forward to hearing more!

Thank you. I'd like to write more, but I'm having a difficult time doing so. Once I get more used to the sound, I should be able to better put into words what I'm experiencing.

[timster]

I didn't know the 360s had the adaptive bias of the 800s. What power rating are they?

Also... my cd rip of Seeds of Love sounds great. Maybe the Qobuz version is from a different master?

[Newton_John]

Congratulations, Michael. From the demos I've heard, I think this is going to be the mother of all upgrades. Looking forward to hearing more when you get to know your new speakers.

Timster, I didn't see the power mentioned anywhere. That seemed strange as Linn has given it for previous active and Exakt loudspeakers. I guess they think we should judge them on the fantastic sound, not numbers.

[timster]

Congratulations, Michael. From the demos I've heard, I think this is going to be the mother of all upgrades. Looking forward to hearing more when you get to know your new speakers.

Timster, I didn't see the power mentioned anywhere. That seemed strange as Linn has given it for previous active and Exakt loudspeakers. I guess they think we should judge them on the fantastic sound, not numbers.

I have been arguing that point on the Mav re. SO!
Found it:

Bass system - Power DAC Technology Amplifiers: 2 x 500W
Adaptive Bias Control amplifiers:
Midrange - 150 Watts
Tweeter - 150 Watts
Upper Bass: Bridged 300 Watts

[vincent]

As for source, and source material, the system is now so revealing that CD quality shows it's weaknesses. At the other end, a well recorded LP is absolutely fantastic! I could see DSing only with access to good recordings, but a Klimax LP12 really opens things up with a wide and deep soundstage. It's just a tremendous amount of realism.

Congratulations Michael! They look and I'm sure sound fabulous (I can only imagine). Interested in your comment about weaknesses of 'CD quality' being revealed. Is this uniform across low-res recordings, or dependent on the particular recording?

I'm sure there's more to come with SO adjustments.

[Bianconero]

I forgot to mention; a Majik sytem is all one needs to enjoy music in the home.

of course yes! Even to drive a car you only need a 19 year old Fiat Punto like mine !
However I listened to the 360 ​​carefully in Cremona in a really too small room at the dealer where I made the updates to my DS. I'm just saying that when I went out there was a guy in the street playing the violin... I still thought I could hear Vivaldi! I envy you.
Only One point: to ship 360 in Canada I thinked a more heavy box but I see only two carton box..Linn

[Coyote Jim]

I see only two carton box..Linn

With one damaged and upside down.

[timster]

That could've been the dealer at the other end. They may have been shipped in another packing crate. One hopes.

[vincent]

So have mine!

Thought I'd lay the foundations for potential upgrade by trying 360s in place of Akubariks in our living room - introducing my partner to the idea gradually (she quite likes them, though I've not mentioned price at this stage ). Also I might have made them a little smaller than in reality.

1.JPG

2.JPG

[akamatsu]

I forgot to mention; a Majik sytem is all one needs to enjoy music in the home.

of course yes! Even to drive a car you only need a 19 year old Fiat Punto like mine !
However I listened to the 360 ​​carefully in Cremona in a really too small room at the dealer where I made the updates to my DS. I'm just saying that when I went out there was a guy in the street playing the violin... I still thought I could hear Vivaldi! I envy you.
Only One point: to ship 360 in Canada I thinked a more heavy box but I see only two carton box..Linn

The speakers' five boxes were shipped to the dealer on a pallet, then transported to my house as just the boxes. You can see a hole in one of the big boxes. This happened during shipping, but there was no damage to the speaker.

I made the statement about Majik level as this has been my experience. A well set up Majik system I could listen to for hours.

[timster]

I'm very happily listening to my Selakudos system for hours and hours...