An Exakting Review

[Martin Crowther]

(I was stuck on a broken down train with my iPad but no WiFi so thought I'd pass the time writing this - any typos blame Apple!)

Many years ago, before my Hi-Fi preferences took on a decidedly green hue, my wife and I had the dubious please of auditioning the Linn Karik/Numerik CD player. Sadly it was at the time of the infamous “foot-tapping” tests and the dealer unwisely insisted that the Linn player could only be appreciated through a complete Linn system. The die was cast when Anne, my piano and flute playing better half, leant over and whispered “please ask them to turn it off”. Soon after we auditioned and bought a CDI and thus my path diverged from Linn equipment never to be auditioned again ……..

 

……..until last month. It turned out that a work colleague and friend from “up north” shared my love of music and invited me round for a listen. It was a long and interesting evening which I thought would be worth sharing with club members.

 

I guess a little definition is required

 

The Linn System

 

My colleague’s system comprises a KDS with 350 Speakers with the Exakt system installed in the speakers. I’m not hugely familiar with the ins and outs of this except to say that my understanding is that this is an active system with a digital cross-over. This particular system has the Solo (?) Power amps built into the speakers. In practice, purely from a visual perspective, this is a complete culture shock with the KDS looking awfully lonely on the equipment stand. (I fear this would be enough on its own to sell it to Anne so you must all promise not to tell her.) The other upshot of this is no analogue cables whatsoever. Things are still pretty busy round the back of the 350s though, with both Ethernet and power cables to each speaker.

 

My Naim System

Whilst I didn’t listen to the systems back to back, I guess everything I say can be prefaced by “compared to my own system”. However, I’ve also heard Statement at last year’s Bristol Show and the Naim “6-pack” into Ovators at various Tom Tom Audio days. Not ideal, I know, but enough I feel to offer a few instinctive comparisons. For the record my own system is 555PS (DR), NDS, Supercap2, 252, 300, Kudos Titans.

 

Costs

 

As I’ve observed elsewhere: “One of my greatest fears is that, when I die, my wife sells my HiFi for what I told her I paid for it”.

 

So without getting out the calculator, I would estimate that our two systems are broadly similar in cost and somewhat cheaper less expensive than a Naim 6-pack or Statement

Play List

Whilst we dipped in and out of all manner of tracks, the following was our main playlist.

 

Alan Parsons : Eye in the Sky

Norah Jones : More than this

Dido : Sand between my feet

Shelby Lynne : Just a little lovin’

Fever Ray : Streets Empty for me

Agnes Obel : Fivefold, Dorian

Angus and Julia Stone : For You

Dead Can Dance : Yulunga

Bruce Hornsby : Rainbow’s Cadillac

Stevie Ray Vaughan : Tin Pan Alley

Chris Jones : Roadhouse and Automobiles

 

I rather suspect that the above list is pretty typical of what you get when you cross a Naim user with a Linn user. My own tastes tend to be a little heavier so I would have liked to add Deep Purple, and Joes Bonamassa, Satriani and Hendrix, however SRV pretty much hit the “guitar” fix.

 

Impressions

So where to start! Initial impressions of the Linn system are of impressive control with very finely drawn detail of each and every note. Shelby Lynne’s “Just a little lovin” was the clearest example. This is a track I know well and I’ve always been intrigued by the drum line (for intrigued read: is the drummer any good?). As my own system has improved (SBLs to Titans & NDAC to NDS) so the talent of the drummer has improved as well. However, through the Linn system the drumming is simply sublime with a beautifully subtle level of touch I have never previously heard even through a Naim active six-pack.

 

The Bass also impresses, characteristically the 350s provide a hell of a punch with a genuine thump in the chest for Eye in the Sky. Strangely, for me, SRV’s Tin Pan Alley didn’t quite generate the power I was looking for though perhaps my view is coloured by hearing Statement nailing this track to the wall at last years Bristol show. The Bass seems to be very tightly controlled and able to kick out a very focussed burst of energy. My own system sounds decidedly woolly by comparison (not something I thought I’d ever say about the Titans). Probably worth noting though that the room was bigger than mine with a concrete floor and parquet covered by carpet compared to my own dry lined, suspended floor with laminate and a rug.

 

As we listened to more tracks, the strengths of the system consistently shone through. Over and over again each note on each track was carefully and beautifully crafted and presented and you could appreciate the finer points of the musician’s skill. Allied to this, the timing was taut at all times and the overall effect was particularly exquisite on sparse (female vocalist) arrangements that seem to be the forte of the Linn label and, dare I say it, Linn devotees.

 

I suspect that you can guess what’s coming next? The downside to the above or, more accurately, the slightly less brilliant consequence of the above is that I didn’t find the denser, complex pieces as compelling. Tracks such as Dorian and Yulunga didn’t quite bounce along with the Pace and vivacity I’m used to from my own system and they didn’t quite convey the atmosphere I was looking for. Let me just emphasise though that we are definitely talking subtleties and nuances here.

 

Closing Thoughts (ie the train's moving again)

I’ve concluded over recent years, as I’ve been lucky enough to upgrade through the Naim hierarchy, that systems at this level are not “better” or “worse” but rather “different” to suit the tastes of the punter. Although I’ve tried to highlight some of the distinguishing characteristics above, my overwhelming impression was actually that the Linn and my Naim systems were remarkably similar. Perhaps the Linn use of active offsets some of Naim’s natural strengths in PRaT closing the gap against my passive system?

 

I suppose I’d better conclude by answering the obvious question: Would I swap? Having enjoyably cranked up my own system when I got home two days later the answer is no. For me, the musical involvement of the Naim wins out over the detail and accuracy of the Linn but it is close and definitely a matter of personal taste. At the least I was clearly wrong to banish Linn from my audition list all those years ago.

 

MartinC

 

Feb 2015

 

Postscript: In one of those strange alignment of the planets I have since found myself at the Bristol Show listening to Derek demonstrate the Mk2 Kudos Titans being run active, yes you’ve guessed it, by a Linn Exakt system. Happy to share my impressions on that too but didn’t want to colour “proper” living room listening too much with hotel room impressions?

 

[Christopher Bell]

I too run Kudos Titan's with a Naim 500 system.  Six months ago I installed room treatments from Viscoustic.  The difference was substantial.  Clarity of instruments, faster/bigger bass.  I listen to the speakers now instead of the room reflections. You should try them out.   

[Tom Tom Audio]

Thanks for this Martin, a fascinating comparison of two quite different approaches. I for one would be very keen to hear your thoughts on the Titan/Exakt system in the context of the comparisons you have already made.

cheers
james@tomtom

[Martin Crowther]

So, by popular demand (that’ll be James!), some thoughts on Mk2 Titans and Exakt. The Bristol Show hit the spot for me this year, not only did I get the chance to re-acquaint myself with Statement but I also spent some very pleasurable time with the Mk2 Titans. Pleasurable because of the music they were producing but also for the opportunity to chat to Derek and his team – a real privilege.

As hotel rooms go I didn’t think the acoustics were too bad and access to the room was via the adjacent Kudos demo room which did at least provide a modicum of discretion and control. The new Titans themselves are a little larger than mine, a fact which is emphasised by the white panels of the prototype. I’m assured that they shrink somewhat when encased in natural wood veneer so if you are OK with the size of the Mk1 you’ll be OK with the Mk2. Oh and the wood veneer sample they had, produced by Hutter, was simply outstanding and definitely a step up (wedded though I am) to the laminate of the Mk1. The new Titans also have new mid-range and treble units. (The upshot of all this is, inevitably, an increase in price though by how much hasn’t yet been confirmed though Derek did give me an idea.)

It was also interesting to see the Linn Exakt system boxes set out on a rack rather than hidden inside the 350s – I just can’t believe that it makes sense to put the amps in close proximity to all that vibration when, as here, they can be stood on a quality isolation rack. I start to get a little hazy on the technical details but I think I’m right in saying:

• The Mk2 Titans were operating with the built-in passive cross-overs bypassed

• Through consultation with Linn, the digital active cross-over is configured bespoke for the Titan drive units (a simple factory software update?)

• The whole ensemble is powered by three Solo (?) power amps and was fronted by a KDS

• As before I haven’t calculated the cost of the system but I suspect we are creeping up in cost compared to my own

So how did it sound? Well my best description is that it just sounded “right”….and I don’t mean that as faint praise. The pace and timing was everything I would expect from Titans and they had an airiness and a lack of artifice that just got out of the way of the music. Having recently listened to the 350 system, my instinct was that the Titans represented a step forward in terms of naturalness and, crucially for my listening tastes, the ability to “understand” denser, more complicated music. In retrospect, perhaps the 350s sounded just a little “impressive”.

Compared to my own system? Well my overwhelming memory is that it sounded eerily similar in character but probably with better resolution of fine detail and subtle timing, i.e. they definitely still sounded like Titans. So a Linn system sounding better than my own albeit at a higher price. I really never thought I’d say that though I rather suspect that what I’m really saying is the new Titans are a step forward.

Perhaps the quality of the electronics at this level is approaching the point where they just get out of the way and all that is left is the character and compromises of the speaker designer and his art. (……wait a minute, didn’t we dismiss this notion in the 70s/80s.)

In summary, all of this must be caveated against my terrible habit of being glib and mischievous – don’t read too much into my absolute statements! More importantly, of course, I really shouldn’t be making sweeping observations at all based on a single listen in far from ideal circumstances. However, I’d like to think that I’ve heard enough systems in hotels over the years to be, at the least, not completely off beam. I, for one, though would be interested to hear how the Mk2s fair fronted by a full bore Naim system ………..Statement perhaps (playing "Space for the Papa"!)

Martin C