Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site myrias.UUCP Path: utzoo!decvax!tektronix!uw-beaver!cornell!vax135!houxm!ihnp4!alberta!myrias!dgt From: dgt@myrias.UUCP (David Tang) Newsgroups: net.audio Subject: Linn/Naim seminar(results) Message-ID: <187@myrias.UUCP> Date: Wed, 30-Oct-85 13:24:50 EST Article-I.D.: myrias.187 Posted: Wed Oct 30 13:24:50 1985 Date-Received: Thu, 31-Oct-85 08:17:01 EST Distribution: na Organization: Myrias Research, Edmonton Lines: 71 On Oct. 28 I attended a Linn/Naim seminar held at a local dealer here in Edmonton, and conducted by a Canadian representative of Linn/Naim. I would like to repeat some of the points that were brought up, and perhaps solicit an opinion from some of you net.audio subscribers. Basically what was said can be summed up by the following statement: Vinyl records (as opposed to tape/cd) provide the best possible reproduction of music. It then follows that the backbone of a good system lies in the record player. Elaborating, any audio system should obey the following hierarchy: a) Turntable - the basic chassis/motor/platter assembly b) Arm - next in importance c) Cartridge - in the record playing system this is the least important d) Amplifier - preamp/amp combination of course e) Speakers - least important overall Thus when purchasing an audio system, the bulk of one's budget should go towards the "record player". (An example would be say in a budget of $2000, $1600 should be spent on the table/arm/cartridge and the rest on amplifier/speakers.) This is in sharp contrast to recommendations in the past that half of the budget be spent on speakers. Comparisons were performed in a 'demo' fashion, as opposed to double-blind testing. It is left up to the reader to draw Hir own conclusions as to the validity of results derived from this technique. In more or less chronological order, here is what transpired: 1) The effect of a change in tracking force on the music. The claim is - increased tracking force is better. 2) Linn Sondek/Basik arm/cheap cartridge vs. Linn Sondek/Ittok arm/cheap cartridge vs. Linn Sondek/Ittok arm/better cartridge. The claim - increasing levels of performance. Also the first combination is con- sidered a better starting point than say a Rega turntable/Audio Technica AT37E cartridge. The recommended order in upgrading is turntable, arm, then cartridge. 3) The superiority of Linn's new preamp/amp combination was demonstrated. Each channel had its own power supply, and the phono section could also be powered separately. 4) The rep next attempted to demonstrate the affect of having a third undriven speaker in the room. Supposedly, the speaker cone(s) would respond to movement of air by the driven speakers and distort the music audibly. What followed next was a query of each person attending as to what they had for a system, and recommendation as to upgrades. Please note that all the demonstrations were done using Linn/Naim equipment. What we were told to listen for was not increases in bass and/or treble response, or imaging, or depth of soundstage, etc., but changes in the flow of the music, whether the singer appeared to begin singing when you expected Hir to, whether the background violins could be heard while listening to the horns. In each case, we were told that each change was audible. I must admit to not being able to hear any of the effects. The suggestion that a difference was audible with each change was strong enough that I actually thought I did several times, but I am not certain of that. I will not discredit any of the points raised, but neither will I support them. I merely report them to you and ask you to formulate your own opinions.