Linn/MultiRoom etc was Re: SonicBlue now have Rios on sale in the UK

["bensbarn2001" <ben_wilkinson@xxxxxxx>]

I'm glad this subject has come up as I'm at the point of shelling out
=A320k for a Linn System!!  I do have some reservations about it thoug= h
and would dearly like a solution such as the KAT5 switcher.  However <= BR> that doesn't exist yet and I need to put wires in now! 

I agree with all the negative points on the Linn Knekt although the
way I've seen costs, it doesn't add up to as much as I've heard
quoted here.  Basically, it's about =A31200 per room + =A35000 for the=
controller + whatever sources you want.  This is probably about =A3800=
more per room than any other system (such as Rio etc) as they all
need amps and speakers (even if all put together).  I looked at QED, <= BR> Living Control etc, but I have 12 rooms which need doing and they're
actually more expensive if you go this route.  I'm worried about
obsolescence of the Linn, although I think this is unlikely as it
hasn't changed much in the past 5 years.  The other plus for the Linn =
system is that you can have one room with outstanding quality just by
uprating the amp and speakers and don't have to double up on all the
sources.

The Imerge CD server provides 4 concurrent CD (stored on hard disc)
signals which allows 4 different CDs at once and costs about =A34k.  <= BR> I'll probably put this in eventually.

Another way of looking at this is if I'm spending =A32-300K building a
house, then it doesn't make much difference to the total if I put in
something like Linn (I've used this argument consistently and that's
why it's cost that much so far!)

So I'd love to be persuaded out of the Linn system as it does have
big flaws, but haven't seen anything with quality and flexibility
which is as good.

By the way, I'm sure Linn outlets will negotiate (at least the reps
I've been speaking to imply they will) - anybody got any ideas on
where to go for a better price than standard!

Ben

--- In ukha_d@y..., "nick_towers2000" <nickt@t...> wrote: > I've a Linn Classik (nice smart amp/tuner/CD with added bonus of 4 > balanced line outputs compatible with KAT5). Cost =A3750. Good piece <= BR> of
> kit - I'm pleased with it.
> When I bought it last year I thought Linn multiroom is very
tempting
> if money no object, but it's not now the way I'd go as I think the > downside is (IMHO)
> 1) They like to use STP or FTP Cat5, and nonstandard pinouts,
> consequently it will probably not be plug and play on a standard
Cat5
> netwrk.
> 2) They do not release technical info very readily so it's
difficult
> to figure out what you can and cannot connect up. Gives the
> impression of forcing you down the Linn only route, which costs!
> 3) Their multiroom model is based on individual room amps with
audio
> distribution via balanced line signals over CAT5 - this means that > you need another box or few boxes in each local room. This point is > probably personal to me - were I a real "audiophile" it migh= t be an
> advantage, but my <<ideal>> multiroom hifi system would co= nsist of
> all the kit hidden away in a rack in node 0, with ONLY speakers and > IR "eyes" in each room. I would compromise on "theoreti= cal" audio
> quality for discreteness (and in Linn's case - price!).
>
> My feeling is that Linn are not that advanced technically - they do > produce nice quality audio kit though and it looks pretty. I reckon > KAT5 technology (switcher??) with IR distribution will match Linn
for
> multiroom functionality, if not looks, at hopefully a fraction of
the
> price. For what I think I now would ideally want (which no doubt
will
> change in 6 months), I'd go with QED products if I was looking at
> commercially available solution.
>
> Just my thoughts.
>
> Nick
>
>
>
> 
>
> --- In ukha_d@y..., "Kenneth Watt" <kennwatt@b...> wro= te:
> > Ah right then, here's a discussion I had with a few mates one > night...
> >
> > "Define a multi room system?"
> >
> > Now try and pin down *exactly* what that means. For example I could
> have
> > several hi-fi stacks placed in each room with cross-linked
sources,
> MP3
> > or AV, whatever control it with a Pronto and it _IS_ a multi-room=
> system
> > IMO. However, my way I can tailor the system to suit my needs, my=
> tastes
> > and *exactly* what I want that system to do and not do in any given
> > location and no system can match that flexibility.
> >
> > Granted, the Linn system probably is very good, for that kinda > money I'd
> > bloody well hope so, but I don't think I'd go down that path even=
> if I
> > did have the money, too inflexible for my liking and I don't like=
> being
> > at the mercy of a single manufacturer should I want to change > something.
> >
> > K.
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Gerard McGovern [mailto:stuff@i...]
> > > Sent: 10 April 2002 10:56
> > > To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx > > > Subject: RE: [ukha_d] Re: SonicBlue now have Rios on sale in=
the
> UK
> > >
> > > > > You obviously have never heard the Linn system ...= it is
> > > > out of this
> > > > > world.
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > That would be "out of this world on price" th= en would it ;-)
> > > >
> > > > I'm afraid that I wouldn't stretch to 40K for a hi-fi s= ystem,
> > > > unless someone else is offering to pay for it of course= ...
> > >
> > > It's all relative really. There is no doubt that the Linn is=
the
> best
> > > sounding multi-room system in the world. Whether one feels t= he
> cost is
> > > justified or not is an entirely individual matter.
> > >
> > > I'm with you; I wouldn't spend 40k on *any* hi-fi system. Bu= t I
> can
> > also
> > > appreciate the quality of the Linn system
> > >
> > > G
> > >
> > >
> > >
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