Radikal OR Keel?

[linn MD]

LHB Wrote:

ThomasOK Wrote:

Elbow Wrote:No real debate. Radikal.

This would be my feeling as well. Having had my own Radikal for a couple of weeks now, and having used it without the Urika for the first week to hear the Radikal by itself, I would say that the Radikal makes a more musically fundamental improvement than the Keel and the Ekos SE together and by a wide margin.

There is no question in my mind that anyone with a well functioning LP12 who can afford the upgrade should do the Radikal before anything else (with the possible exception of the Cirkus).

I just listened to a Radikal today, but unfortunately it was under less than optimal circumstances (a Lyra Argo i cartridge, a Boulder phono stage, and Wilson Watt/Puppy speakers). Still, even on a system I was completely unfamiliar with, I heard stuff going on with the music that I'd never heard before. Extremely impressive, although I'd still like to understand how a somewhat different motor can make that much difference in the music, as opposed to things like surface noise etc. I hope I can afford one sooner rather than later!

The comparison I want to hear is the Boulder phono stage vs. the Urika, obviously with a fully maxed out LP12 with Radikal. If anybody has heard this, please jump in and comment. - linn MD

LP12/Ekos SE/Akiva/Keel/Linto/Lingo/Trampolin2/CD12/Klimax Kontrol/Klimax Solo's/Kimber Kable Select 1030 and 3035/Wilson Duette's.

[Andy]

LHB Wrote:If it's any comfort springwood64, just because I heard the Radikal doesn't mean I view it as a "must have." A lot of posters lose sight of the (fact?) that any LP12 is pretty remarkable. I could be very, very happy with my current set up for a long time to come. I fantasized for years about having the kind of LP12 set up I have now. It sounds amazing, and the existence of a new upgrade makes neither my nor your set up sound any less fantastic than it does right now.

Given you say that and have an L2, I suspect your Linn must be, at most, 10 years old? So you haven't been decades on the upgrade path?

I've seen LP12 owners post:
* "The Cirkus is a step down", and
* "I prefer the basic power supply (ie. pre-Valhalla)".

IMO these people are certainly - if not misguided - hard of hearing! Or they may just be those who don't strive to improve ... they're just happy with what they've got. Of anything in life.

I am delighted with my LP12/Lingo1/Cetech/Graham 2.2/Benz LP/non-Linn phono stage. However, I want to make it better ... and I know I can! So I will do that, when I can get hold of an L2 traded in when the owner moved up to a Radikal

Regards,

Andy