Vinyl Asylum: REVIEW: Linn Adikt Phono Cartridge by Dman

Model:	Adikt
Category:	Phono Cartridge
Suggested Retail Price:	$465CDN
Description:	Moving Magnet phono cartridge
Manufacturer URL:	Linn
Manufacturer URL:	Linn

Review by Dman ( A ) on September 16, 2003 at 09:12:56
IP Address: 206.186.115.135

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First, let me just preface this review with a bit of a disclaimer- I've put off wanting to send in a review here three times so far simply because I am under the belief that there is NO WAY a person (whether a pro or amateur reveiwer) can have a handle and understanding of a new product in just over one week. Components, especially phono cartridges need break in. Some more than others. Some of you may dispute this claim, and you may have a right to. But the change I've heard in the Linn Adikt in one week has made me a FIRM believer in break in.
Secondly, I AM a Linn kind of guy. I don't own an LP-12 (yet) nor do I totally buy into the "one brand" philosophy that has built Linn into more than just a 'table making company, but what they do well in the upper end of their product catalog has a definite benefit in the lower end (read relatively affordable).
As the name of the product infers, the Linn Adikt IS addictive (at least to me)! I've hardly used my CD player at all over the last week, simply because of the afore mentioned "getting a handle" on this product liability that can sometimes make you question your whole system's capabilities/limitations.
Since I have a Linn Axis/Akito II combo, install is a snap. The included instruction are the easiest I've ever seen included with a cart. they are no harder to follow than a child's snap together model kit and include all the mounting hardware (screws, Allen key, etc...) as well as a very well finished set of headshell leads. Installation on any Linn arm is simply- there are two protruding "guides" that line up with the screw mounts on the headshell. You simply rough mount the cart in, and move it backwards until they but against the back of the mount. then you tighten the screws, adjust tracking, antiskating and VTA, and you are set.
I had a serious issue with the sound of this cart. during the first few hours of play. the sound was brittle, dry, lifeless and VERY forward. Not typical of Linn or as some would say, the "Linn sound". This did not really change during the first 4 or 5 LPs I played. I began thinking "what did I just dump my money on?"
The dealer, Gary at Better Music in St.Catharines Ontario Canada, said the cart would sound great out of the box. Was I hearing this thing properly or was there a defect? After talking with him on the phone and a dozen or so emails, I relented and decided to let the cart be and play some music that would let the stylus assembly "loosen up"- BASS heavy music. Out came Future Sound of London 12"ers. Out came the Sheffield drum record. Out came every Dance 12 I could think of that ever tried to pup a stylus out of the groove.
After a week and some 20 hours (and some late nights) of LP play, I can honestly say sometimes break in DOES change things. I have just finished listening to Radiohead's "Kid A" double 10" LP, and this record is really the push I needed to get on the reviewer ball so early in the ownership of a product. I have heard the CD version a MILLION times before on many systems, but NEVER with as much resolution as I hear now. Maybe CD to vinyl isn't a good comparison (apples vs. roadapples?).
Let me tell you exactly what I hear now in relation to the things sounded one week ago.
Bass- One week ago- neurotic and restrained. What bass was there was muddy at times. Not very forceful and a serious lack of PRAT. Today- Not thunderous, but certainly response low enough for the subs to "wake up" first thing in the morning and an ease to hearing (and feeling) the correct pitch down there. PRAT makes my toe tap (Ivor would be smiling had he dropped by), and dare I say want to dance (and I don't dance). Very tight bottom wth no mud
Midrange- one week ago- very muddled and no PRAT whatsoever! Dry soundstage and no real bloom to the image. Today- Incredible to the point that the piano on track three on the new Radiohead LP "hail to the thief" came from behind the left speaker and sounded like it was in my room (I actually opened my eyes to look over there). Depth is pretty good. Not on par with the killer MCs out there, but for the price I would say near giant killer status in the making! Percussion has its momments as well. Pitch in the tom and snare range is VERY good as well.
Treble- one week ago- I thought it would peel paint! Cymbals sounded highlighted in a narrow frequency range along with all surface noise. no spittiness, but a lack of air and 3D to it. Today- the spotlighting is gone, along with the surface noise. Air is coming on and it seems that every record I hear (unless it already has a serious EQ problem on top for the better or worse) is getting more mellow. Depth in the top is better as well. Its a little more forward than the mids at this point, but that also seems to be taming itself.
Overall, this cart seems to be a great candidate if you are ready to take the analog plunge without sinking the big bucks into it but are done with the "Fisher-Price" style 'tables and carts out there.
I had some serious misgivings at first with the Linn Adikt, but after just one week, Its made me hear things on vinyl that I swear I didn't hear before with my old Linn K-9 and even my now dead Audio Technica OC-9 (YES! even that great cart is slightly bettered by the Adikt, IMHO!).
I quoted to one AA inmate in regards to my "journey" this week with a simple statement about the Linn Adikt- " I think I'm falling in love!"

Product Weakness: Mounting tangs must be removed if used with a non-Linn arm. Sounds edgy and defective out of the box. Needs at least 20 hours break-in before final adjustments and evaluation can be meaningful.
Product Strengths: Great PRAT. Easy to set up. Tracking is incredibly good. Depth and imaging are great for a MM cartridge.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Crown PL3 (mains), SWR Stereo 800 (subs)
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Precision Fidelity C-8a Hybrid
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Linn Axis with Akito II arm
Speakers:	Dalquist Dq-10 (main), Dayton 1200 bandpass subs
Cables/Interconnects:	homemade
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Mostly electronic/rock studio recordings during break- in,
Time Period/Length of Audition:	1 week
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Mounting tangs must be removed if used with a non-Linn arm. Sounds edgy and defective out of the box. Needs at least 20 hours break-in before final adjustments and evaluation can be meaningful.
Product Strengths:	Great PRAT. Easy to set up. Tracking is incredibly good. Depth and imaging are great for a MM cartridge.