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I am planning to buy a used Linn CD-12. I have coveted this unit ever since my dealer demonstrated it to me when it first came out. Now I have the opportunity to buy one at about 1/2 the new price and plan to proceed shortly. My primary hesitation is spending even this much on the CD-12 with the emergence of SACD. The other option I have been considering is the Marantz SA-1. Eventually I will buy a SACD player, but figure I will still use the CD-12 (at least until Linn or other super high end suppliers do an SACD with CD-12 performance on Redbook CDs). Any feedback would be appreciated.Other questions:
I will be connecting to the Linn 5103 System Controller. Should I use balanced interconnects and which are recommended? (I currently have Audioquest Diamond X3 single ended between the 5103 and amplifiers.) Length of cables will be 2 meters or less.
Is "tradenable.com" (formerly i-escrow.com) still a good choice for doing the transaction? What fee for over $10,000 and any extra fees if pay by credit card?
Any one know how many CD-12 units have been sold? I am curious how many are actually out there.Thanks for any responses.
Follow Ups:
your are wasting your money on the Linn since you will either be using it as a trasnport only or with an ADC.
hi mike,it pays to be cautious about these things; so i looked it up. according to the jan 2001 home theatre magazine(so it must be true)"...in the 2 channel mode, the digital processor is bypassed completely". it doesn't digitize analogue inputs automatically.
so willy, the cd-12 will work fine with the 5103.
enjoy
mikel
"according to the jan 2001 home theatre magazine(so it must be true)"LOL.
Mikel,Did you play with power cords and plc's on the CD12.
Just interested, since the cd12 and my Ikemi use similar power supplies. And i have tried many products - and am just wondering if you have come to any conclusion with your cd12 with cords/plc's.
TBone
hi tbone,i use the KCv.2 with the cd-12 plugged into the PS600.
i did try a few power cords before settling on the KCv.2. i tried the JPS power ac and digital ac, the custom power cords top gun, harmonic tech pro-ac11, audio magic, the viper v.2, and the synergistic reference designer's reference squared. you can only listen to so many power cords before you go alittle nuts. most of these cords had no effect at all on the cd-12 with it's switching power supply.
the KCv.2 was on another level than these other power cables on all my sources; lowered noise floor, increased resolution and dynamics, and better pace/drive/boggie factor. the KCv.2 made the least difference on the cd-12 of my 3 sources, but the KCv.2 made much more difference than any other cord i have tried. i did find the synergistic better on my preamp and the PS600. i also use the viper v.2 on my tt motor and vpi sds.
i have no plans for any further power cord auditioning.
the ps600 lowered the noise floor more (but not as much as the KCv.2) and added an ease and refinement to the system. i plan on auditioning the hydra one of these days as i hear great things about it.
the cd-12 works pretty good all by itself but there is some potential improvement with power cords and plc's if you feed it the "good stuff".
one surprise to me was the degree of improvement that aurios made with the cd-12. with it's carved out of granite engineering you would think resonance control wouldn't improve it much; WRONG! they made a dramatic improvement. i did have to make a sandwich affair due to the shape of the bottom of the cd-12(you can view the result on my system page).
i hope this helps.
enjoy
mikel
> > one surprise to me was the degree of improvement that aurios made with the cd-12. with it's carved out of granite engineering you would think resonance control wouldn't improve it much; WRONG! they made a dramatic improvement. i did have to make a sandwich affair due to the shape of the bottom of the cd-12(you can view the result on my system page). < <No i am not really that surprised. The Ikemi's bass definition can go from bloated to tight and defined with a simple change in isolation.
Still trying different items to get the best balance.
Thanks for you input, MikeL,
TBone
The Linn 5103 is an excellent stereo pre-amplifier as well as a system controller. I have no conerns with that part of the equation. A drawback to the 5103 is that it only has stereo analog inputs, this will be problematic if I decide to add a multi-channel DVD-A or SACD player.
hi willy,i own the linn cd-12 and the marantz sa-1. if you want top cd performance, the linn is one of the best. as i bought the linn i personally consider it the best. the marantz sa-1 is very good on cd, but a couple levels below the linn on cd only. the marantz sa-1 is a miraculous sacd player.
don't hesitate, get the linn; it is the ultimate audio jewelry.
the linn is not a fully differentially designed unit and neither is the linn controller; so you won't get the full benefit of balanced with these units. i do use balanced interconnects since all my gear other than the linn is fully balanced. your cd-12 will deliver all the performance any cable can give it. balanced or single-ended is secondary to what sounds best. in your case demo a few cables.
i can't help you on your payment method.
i bought my linn cd-12 last april and it was new from the factory with serial number 667 so by now probably 700 to 800 units i would guess.
if you have other questions e-mail me directly and i will do my best to help. good luck.
regards
mikel
nt
....just kidding chris,you will notice that i never post during the day monday thru saturday because i work all the time to afford my audio addiction. most of you guys can post from work all day but i try to get my employees to actually work while at work.
i love my job but need the music and the audio community to stay sane. so far, it has worked.....i think.
mikel
..."most of you guys can post from work all day...", not likely as I`m usually about 80 foot up a tree with a chainsaw. Don`t forget, I`m in the UK so am 5 hours ahead of you lot on the other side of the pond - it`s approximately 7.19p.m. now over here, and I didn`t get in from work until 6.00p.m..............how I envy the Drug-barons and Porn stars of the world.......
chris,i know some of us actually work for a living; many times i wish i could work outside with the birds and the bees.(you ever run into a bee's nest by surprise?)
be carefull with your hearing and don't cut off anything usefull.
enjoy
mikel
nt
nt
nt
Hi
The Linn CD 12 is a fantastic choice and if u have a good collection of cds, u ought to get it. Your choice of the SA 1 is equally good and I assume u have the budget for it becos multi channel DVD Audio and SACD is just round the corner and from what I read in Japanese and other magazines, the spatial aspect and hence the sound from these new formats is simply breathtaking on equipments that cost half the price of the CD12. One catch though, u need speakers to go onto the high frequencies and super tweeters from Tannoy and Pioneer is already available to take advantage of the new formats. A simple setup of 5 Pioneer speakers (YES PIONEER), their top of the line Exclusiv made in Japan with super tweeters, a Denon AVC-A1SE amp and a SA 1 gives such performance that the doctor owner actually proclaims it equals his Genesis I system. In my opinion when it gets to digital, the technology just moves forward and the $ of the digital equipment recedes tremendously. I am using Jadis JS 1 DAC and it has provided me many hours of enjoyment. If u are able to afford the forthcoming purchases, go ahead and get the 'best'. If not, get something second best and u may be in for a surprise a few months down the road.
From what I gather, supertweeters are also beneficial on standard redbook playback - Maplins do one for £10.00 which is used by Jimmy Hughs from `Hi-Fi Choice` to good effect according to him. I myself ordered a pair but they were out of stock (which reminds me to re-order), and at the price they`re well worth a try; especially considering the price of the Tannoy`s at £1,200. However, I wouldn`t necessarily say that supertweeters were essential for SACD or any of the Higher-rez formats - there`s a lot of happy chappys over on High-rez Forum using SACD without them, mainly due IMO to the fact that SACDs main strength is possibly the smoother linearity of the presentation and increased definition/naturalness, not the increased dynamic range.
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