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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.