Life is better with Kelvin on KZread.

@stephenstevens6573

Жыл бұрын

Yes, it is.

@carlchong8292

Жыл бұрын

Can’t agree more.

@andrewfitzsimons8509

Жыл бұрын

Yep me too.

@donny303

Жыл бұрын

Here here!

@rolandd5397

Жыл бұрын

1 vote here

Hi Kelvin. I loved the comment in your video about northern countries, long nights and the need of a good hi-fi system to snuggle up with. I grew up in Texas and ended up moving to northern Michigan years ago. Man what a difference!! Yes the nights are very long this time of the year. Incredibly long! And cold, ha. Goes without saying I reckon. I've enjoyed all your videos and glad to sit down with you in my TV 💯

I always love your reviews bc they are from a real world perspective, not the over analyzed stuff other channels have

Thanks Kelvin for making videos again. I could watch you all day. I've learned a lot. Thank you.

Hi Kelvin, Good to see your channel back on line again. I enjoy your down to earth views on the equipment. Cheers Peter Sydney Australia

Thanks so much for this review. I have 3 similar systems: 1 Lk85 / Kolektor / KEF LS50 and 2 Linn LK 140’s / Kolektor’s with Thiel CS2 and B&O RL6000 and absolutely love them all. I also have a 4th Kolektor, awaiting for another 85 or 140 mate, when the right opportunity presents itself. I also own a Linn Genki CDP, which I seldomly enjoy when I am not streaming 99% of the time. Since 1982, I have owned 3 LP12’s but gave up on vinyl 7-8 years ago, given the superior ability of digital to cherry pick tunes info playlists and not purchase music that I do not emotionally connect with. Nonetheless, the tables were wonderful. Like yours, mine are all in mint condition, problem free and I enjoy them every day. I absolutely love their small chassis, bullet proof construction and great sound. These vintage Linn amps are not well respected here in the US as they should be. Nonetheless, I am a proud Linn For Life owner. Cheers! michael

Great to have you back Kelvin, so good to enjoy your real world reviews 😀

From one old hi- fi nerd to another ... Thanks Kelvin. Love your spot on heartfelt reviews!

@stereoreviewx

Жыл бұрын

Cheers mate

I love your authenticity! You speak in terms of the everyman. Use songs that people actually listen to!! Don't stop doing what you do, brother!!

welcome back!! Stereo review X is the only vintage Hifi review i watch!! fantastic review as ever

Hi Kelvin.Glad to watch your videos again and glad you're ok.Thanks a lot for sharing your knowledge.

Kelvin you are so right. Here in Sweden it is both dark and cold. So listening to good music with a good system is warming. Claes

Another top shelf review. No one else holds a candle☺️

Good to see you back! Can't wait to see more videos soon :)

Great Kelvin is back, nice to hear a proper review about proper stuff that normal people can afford

Thanks Kelvin! Best vintage gear reviews on the tube, and it has to be pointed out again :) I wish i who collect some good vintage hifi lived closer because i could have sent and borrow you gear then. Looking forward to your LP12 review. Im gonna put Swedish Linn Sondek review anekdote in the comments when you do :)

I really like both Linn and Naim products and have had gear from each. They are both well made and sound very good and are both rather pricey!

I totally agree with you on bass Kelvin. An amplifier should have good bass performance first and then create the best possible mid en high with that. When you build a house you start with the foundation. Same should go for music amplification.

Hi K, great video, good to see you're back.

Good to see you back mate!

Good to see you back at it sir!

Great review. I love hearing about Linn and Naim.

Hey, Kelvin!! Great to see you back!

This channel should have at least 50k subscribers kelvin you describe sound like no one else never change Sir 😃😃

Love to see your channel and content its great to see you doing this again. I am a vintage convert now thanks to your informative videos. I changed my kit this year for vintage Sansui 221 and Monitor Audio MA5's (spent some time restoring them both) and cant believe the difference and enjoyment in the sound and presentation I have re-discovered my music collection from this vintage kit. Keep them coming please always a pleasure to watch and listen to you with your unique style and breadth of knowledge, they always feel like Im sitting in your house just chatting with you. Merry xmas and a happy new year to you.

@stereoreviewx

Жыл бұрын

I bet you’ve got a lovely top end with Sansui and that Twitter in the Ma5s

Season's greetings from Brussels. So lovely to see you around here again, thanks

@stereoreviewx

Жыл бұрын

Merry Christmas from London

Only just subscribed to the channel so going through old vids ….enjoying them

Another Great review. We understand you have so many other things to do, but these videos are such a great tonic for just about anyone interested in gaining further knowledge about their Hi Fi . Sure many of us have heard all the elements of music reproduction that you talk about, but listening to you helps us all take apart the music and re assemble it according to our own systems. whilst for many this may lead to further experimentation with the purchase of some different Hi Fi items and hopefully an enhanced sound. For others your way of helping us dig into the soul core elements of our music, will just further vilify our reasoning to not change a thing, just,simply kick back relax and enjoy our music with the new listening ,verbal hearing aids ! ,you have kindly given us. I do hope this may make sense to someone other than myself 😳

@stereoreviewx

Жыл бұрын

Oh thanks makes perfect sense and brilliantly written. I would say

Ha! Great video as always Kelvin. I used to own an LK85. Nice amp. Perhaps a little bit grainy in the top end, and as you say, highs rolled off slightly. But a great sound nonetheless. They shine best when run in pairs tbh.

The "Low End Fun" giving you "The Horn"?! 😍 Could get a bit frustrating on a desert island! 🤣Great review Kelvin! 👍

@stereoreviewx

Жыл бұрын

You’re thinking ahead

Nice one Kelvin more products please. Missed your inputs

I had a Pekin/Genki (upgraded to Ikemi)/Kolektor/LK85/ combo for a couple of year. I even won an all-in-one Classik. I finally found that they sounded very ordinary for what they costed me (to my ears). I sold the lot... I’m now VERY happy with much cheaper and as good-sounding equipment...

@stereoreviewx

4 ай бұрын

Fair comment, I would say the Middle ground of Hi Fi on the route to the high-end. Let’s say is such a Barron place

HI MY BUD. You Tube Didn't Tell Me. But I Checked And Hers Your next review. SO GOOD TO SEE YOU. Take Good Care And Stay Warm

Running a pair of Linn LK 100’s at the moment. These are bi-amped into an ancient pair of Mission M35’s, Nobsound four valve preamp and a WiiM Pro Plus streamer. The sounds from this system are astounding, probably one of the best I have head in a long time. Did run four Krell fbc 300’s a few years ago, along with other amplification from Audio Lab and Moon to name a few. I use pretty much the same music as tests. Dave Brubecks `Take Five’ and Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon give a fairly good audio work-out.

Awesome mate. The old rivals in a comparison. Had a LK 85 but also a Klout which was another beast. I always found - like you - that Linn sounds laid back. Good for long listening.What do you say about their imaging capabilities?

You need to try the naim with a naim pre amp it makes a big difference, the linn is made for that linn pre amp

Great review as usual (there is no substitute to Kelvin)

Another great review 👍

Linn are warmer 👍 great review 👍

I'd love a summary video of house "sounds". E.g. linn/nail/quad etc. Or maybe the house sound doesn't exist! I hate box swapping and took a punt on rega cd/integrated. Very happy.

Hi Kelvin. So glad you enjoyed Victor Wooten: A Show of Hands. As I said before, it is a reference recording of the instrument. Now try Yves Carbonne: Seven Waves; another beautifully recorded album by virtuoso bassist, Frenchman, Yves Carbonne. I think you'll love it just as much. Good luck, mate.👍👍

@stereoreviewx

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for your tips Andy

I am amazed at the price of this Linn amp. I could say 'how cheap it is', but that's not the right way of putting it. Value for money - certainly is one way of putting it. Do any components need replacing over the time to keep it at a high spec? Thanks for another great review, Kelvin!

Nice one Kelvin. Been interested in the Linn sound for a while since it's been praised by many. I thought Linn had a dry thin sound, thanks for the clearing that up. Also your 100% right about playing normal music tracks... I love all music really, including spacious well recorded less cluttered music and yes it does make gear sound better. I find once music gets a bit complicated with standard production, then you can tell what gear is capable of. ..and from my limited experience, the fairer-sex greatly appreciate a generous low end much more so than analytical details.

@jerrypartington3650

11 ай бұрын

In a nutshell the linn plays tunes better, the Naim sounds more detailed but doesn't engage you emotionally as much, and that's really what music as opposed to hifi is all about!

A year later, sorry. I'm running a Wakonda pre into a pair of LK85s into Ninkas and couldn't be happier. Been running them for 20 years and will struggle to upgrade at a cost within reason. On the preamps. In this range Linn made the Kolektor, the Wakonda and the Kairn. When I bought it, the Wakonda was noticably better than the Kolektor and the Kairn was way too expensive, hence the choice. The biggest upgrade I have made is to ditch the provided Linn Black interconnects and use Kimber. I found the Linn Black's to be terrible, YMMD. Thanks for the review.

Gotta be double the power to pique my interest in a stand alone amp, 2 ohm stable would also be nice. Kudos for the 2 pair of speaker posts, a must imo.

Hi Kelvin, May I recommend the track "Wake up and Live" by Bob Marley & the Wailers for testing your hi-fi. The song is very complex, particularly in respect to it's speed and pace. It has a STRANGE effect on hi-fi, in which the groove of the song can appear to slow down or drag when the equipment is reaching it's limits. It's a very strange phenomenon and a great test for your kit. There's so much interplay on the stabbing rhythms, lots of lead and backing vocals plus splashing percussions everywhere. When the sax and horn solo's hit on top of everything, I feel your speakers and amplifier have never had so much strain. It's my 'go-to' track,- you'll see yourself, it really does slow down or stay grooving. A great test.

@stereoreviewx

Жыл бұрын

Okay, definitely got my curiosity definitely gonna play that cheers K

I like my system, its nothing fancy but it sounds lovely. Rega p3 deck, Roksan kandy mk3 amp and concept 20 speakers.

@stereoreviewx

Жыл бұрын

Yeah if it’s not broke Dont fix it as they say

have you ever looked at active speakers? or meridian vintage stuff? I havea pair of meridian amps and pre-amp which I like and also at one time Meridian M2 speakers (weird midrange honk/lift!) back with spendor sp1 speakers now whichare a deep joy

Hey Kelvin. I have a Nad 3020 with Rogers p-22 speakers. I think they're fantastic. the 20 watts of the Nad is loud enough. Still, I wonder if the Linn lk85 would be a good update?

Morning Kelvin, good to see you, do you have any tape decks?

@stereoreviewx

Жыл бұрын

I don’t, but I have a friend who has some high end tape decks. Is it Nicky Mishi dragon?

@FIZZYYAM

Жыл бұрын

The dragon yeah, that is high end! I watched some videos on tape decks and now of course I want one for the nostalgia.

Hi Kelvin I have a line on a vintage first gen Hitachi HMA 7500 amp. I’m curious what your thoughts on those are?

Linn and Naim equipment tend to be very oriented to their own kind. Naim power amps especially, are engineered to work with Naim pre-amps and there's a whole upgrade culture within the company that incites a certain "brand loyalty" within their customer base. Linn have evolved from serious hifi, (remember their Isobarik loudspeakers, which in their meanest incarnation took 6 Naim NAP 250 power amps to drive them, so low was their efficiency at around 82dB! Naim almost had a pact with Linn to power these things) into beautiful, expensive mid/high end lifestyle audio products: the thinking man's Bang and Olufsen, if you will. Very House and Garden magazine material.

@stereoreviewx

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Andy, interesting stuff and truly my thoughts. Listening to the Lynn did go to Bang And Olufsen, I mean SoundWise you know good Bang And Olufsen I mean ?

Hi Kevin top job what ur doing😊 I am new to vintage Hi Fi and need help, I have recently bought a Sony ps1350 turntable with moving magnet. Can u tell me what’s the best vintage amp I can get I want to spend £150-£300. Thanks again for the work u do

It might help to say which speakers you use

Hey, Kelvin. If possible you should try the mission lx2 MK1 bookshelf speakers, I've had a lot of speakers but I've always gone back to my lx2s, some of the best bookshelf speakers I've heard.

@stereoreviewx

Жыл бұрын

Okay interesting, I think a couple of people sent this

Have you thought about trying horizontal bi amping.. it might work quite well with those two, the NAIM for the top frequency Linn for the lower frequency, Especially with a valve preamp. If you're looking for some bass check out the iron horse by the sound defects especially the track the fuzz, ain't alright, and peace. That was a band that went under the radar 1968

Recently setup my amp and preamp, Is my amp rare as can't find any for sale or anyone who uses one, it's a Rotel RB-985 MK2. Can't even find out when it come out

Hi Kelvin I like Linn speakers and interconnect, also have a Linn tonearm. Always wanted to see some videos about the LK85 so thanks. When will you do some comparisons with Cyrus amps and things? Of course is a bit difficult as you need the PSX power supply to get the full picture of Cyrus stuff.

@stereoreviewx

Жыл бұрын

Yeah everything I can get, I’m gonna review it

@MrRichymil

Жыл бұрын

@@stereoreviewx Thanks, should I be able to run a LK85 using a Cyrus 3 as a pre amp? It has a pre out and I'm currently using a Smart power Plus for the treble.

@MrRichymil

Жыл бұрын

@@stereoreviewx Hi Kelvin I've just managed to get a LK85 off eBay. Don't tell the wife. Should I be able to run it using a Cyrus 3 as a pre amp? I'm currently running a smart power plus power amp off the Cyrus 3.

There's a Linn link to The Blue Nile also.

THANKS KELVIN,WE APPRECIATE HI-FI IN NORTHERN USA ,FOR THE SAME REASON 🤗😊

@budgetaudiophilelife-long5461

Жыл бұрын

And we have been taking advantage already this year HAVE A GREAT DAY 🤗💚💚💚

Does anyone have knowledge on the b and w nautilus 803 speakers guys? Will be running 2 Rotel 1091 500 watt mono block amps… Any advice will be much appreciated..

Doesn't using the matching Linn pre-amp favour the Linn power-amp overall? I have come to understand the importance of synergy for the sound quality of any system.

@stereoreviewx

Жыл бұрын

Well I would say yes or no generally speaking, sometimes you don’t want too much of the same thing

Maybe review of some nice speakers next?

highly coloured sound is term you searched for. Linn and Naim voice their components to sound radically non.neutral,mostly sold through hifi dealers, when installed in comparator switching system in shop, they demonstrate the difference from the more neutral sounding brands. helps justify the huge pricing premium. same gambit was used by B&O on their colour tvs'(greenish color cast/bias), Leica's digital camera colour science. - different is sold as better. in hifi, vintage Sansui, which you love and kenwood solid state amps are far superior for most amp/speaker combinations. Linnies and Naimites love all this BS marketing and resale prices hold up well, to be fair. only good thing, as you will want to flog them to get better sound. Naim's P.R.A.T idea often produces wholly cooured,odd performances ,unless speakers are odd in a way that compensates. save money get good vintage, Kelvin knows his onions, imo. nice to see you back. Sansui high-end turntables bury the sondek, too. the LP12 is the wprlds most overated hifi component. incredibly often used as a 'world standard'. coloured sound,stillwaiting for a mega $ upgrade to the outer.platter, which rings like a gong, screws up upper bass.a 30k Klimax will give you all that.upgrade path is a big earner for Linn. Naim, too . bigger off-unit power supplies, which should have been incorporated into amps in the first place.

YES. THE LOW FROM 250HZ. TO 25 HZ. HAS TO BE SOOO GOOD. I HAVE AN OLD CLASS A 2 STAGE PRE AMP THAT REALLY PUTS FORWARD THE BASS GUITAR AND EVERYTHING FROM 250 TO 25HZ. AND IT SOUNDS SOOOO GOOOD I JUST MELT AWAY. COMPLETELY MELT. Sorry For The All Caps. I Always Write In Caps Cause These phones print too small. SO GOOD TO SEE YOU. MERTY CHRISTMAS

@stereoreviewx

Жыл бұрын

Merry Christmas to you, Joey

Just a fyi, I had a friend that was an accomplished Gitarrist about 20 years ago,and he had a complete LINN system with speakers,sounded great 👍…but out of my budget then…and now 🙂 ,he moved away since, I don’t know what he has now

Hello. A question unrelated to your latest video. But, can I use a low powered amp to drive higher rated speakers? Specifically, the Sansui 551 at 16watts per channel into the new Mission 770 speakers rated 25w-200watts? Many thanks.

@stereoreviewx

Жыл бұрын

For sure and I bet it’s just fine if not grest

@deanokay666

Жыл бұрын

@@stereoreviewx thank you Steve.

From time to time I watch a lot of amp and speaker reviews on youtube and I've learnt the first thing to do right from the start is look up what the item sells for. So many times I've sat through the whole review with all the fancy descriptions and usual catch phrases with the idea of buying the item becoming a reasonable consideration only to find out at the end the item is selling for $10k and the reviewer making out the whole time that its not a consideration - why would 10k matter for an amp total dickheads- I love your reviews as the products you review are affordable and there usually vintage which just sound better, all things being equal. Thanks Kelvin

Kelvin, if you are able or interested, pick up a Douk Audio St-01 amplifier. Sells for under $190 canadian. Its got some reviews online but most are missing the big picture. This is a little tube / Class D amp that gets looked at as a "cute" desktop amp but the sonics are superior to my AMC and NAD amps. Timbre, soundstage, imaging, dynamics... ALL superior. Hope you get to check one out. Its sneaking by a lot of audiophiles due to its price and appearance. But its a beast. (the wattage is over rated.. more like 25 per channel. drives my Monitor Audios just fine.

@stereoreviewx

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the tip. If I can get hold of one, I will definitely check it out.

@jupitermoongauge4055

9 ай бұрын

I've got a system comprising the Aiyima T9 which I think is likely almost the same amp with slightly different cosmetics, powering a pair of old Mission 753's. The sound blows me away every time I listen to it.

Great review Kelvin. Never tried any Linn amplifiers. I recently bought a pair of Linn Index MK1 speakers for my son and they were the worse speakers I've ever had. No top end and very muddy bottom end. They use the Kef B200 bass/mid so thought it might be worth pursuing. I dug out an old crossover from a pair of JPW Mini Monitors and the same tweeters and just put those in. Didn't measure them to see if they were suitable. 80% better sound than what they were. The crossover on those Linn's looked very sophisticated so I thought the crossover from the JPW wouldn't be any good. I was wrong, made a big difference. I think you might have a stalker/spammer saying to use Telegram. ( I don't even know what that is ).

@stereoreviewx

Жыл бұрын

Yes please ignore that spam now the kef b200 was used an awful lot. And most times it’s a good sounding thing so I don’t know what’s gone wrong there. You can certainly mess up the coil on bass drivers so they don’t really work properly if you drive in crazy hard

@davidmee7239

Жыл бұрын

@@stereoreviewx I thought if you could get your hands on a pair then do a review but I wouldn't want you wasting money. I only paid £35 for them. Being Linn I thought they'd be brilliant.😄 Apparently the Mark 2 Index sounds a lot better.

What speakers works mainly at yours?

@stereoreviewx

Жыл бұрын

Original LS35A. Get used most though right now I have vintage ma4 Which are big and I’m loving the base

3 hours on the sofa?

Well when I hear Diana Krell and /or Dire Straits in a room during a hifi show I,ll rush out like a spear.

@stereoreviewx

Жыл бұрын

Agreed

My opinion is Linn makes a great turntable, but Naim make better amplifiers

Have had to fix the Linn products -- I have to tell you how cheap it all under the hood.

@obscurazone

7 ай бұрын

Details would be far more useful than simply saying Linn use cheap components. What specifically?

Small speakers need more power, not the other way around.

And techmoan too

I love HiFi, but I can think of better things to snuggle up with. Appreciate the review.

@stereoreviewx

Жыл бұрын

What are you some kind of pervert 😜

Both brands are a little bit up themselves.

@stereoreviewx

Жыл бұрын

No argument

A good low end would indeed be useful when enjoying a romantic night on the sofa with your girlfriend... 😁

Now I do know the sound of Linn. Linn electronics sound awful to my ears.

Us Scots are used to the cold and most likely to be found indoors in the summer so as not to get sunburnt. I guess the North of England is like the Bahamas. Three hours on the sofa?? Are you on the viagra?

Балабол

You are uniquely qualified to answer this for me. I have a NAD 3130 which i use as a phono stage. I have just invested in new old stock Lk140 x2 and Activ cards for my speakers. I also have the opportunity to buy a Linn Kolektor. In your mind is the MM stage on the Linn better than the NAD? All the best. Hope your not dead.

Another great review. You've got a lot of fans on pinkfishmedia hifi forum so please do come on over and say hi :)

@stereoreviewx

Жыл бұрын

Yes I’ve heard of pink fish will check it out. Thanks

Thanks for another nice review. I got the scam message too. You have an account in Telegram, you should know. 😅

@stereoreviewx

Жыл бұрын

Okay thanks I barely know what telegram is but I better investigate

Hi Kelvin ......Got this the other day ........... Congratulations you have been selected among my winner you just won dm to claim your prize 🎉🎁🎁on telegram only its a scam yes l know just thought you should know.

@stereoreviewx

Жыл бұрын

Yes please ignore that nonsense. I really don’t know how to stop this happening.