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citationfan · 2009-07-02, 23:57

What is the difference in sound between these two Linn Tonearms? My cardridge is and will be a K-18II with good needle.
What MM- Pre i should try with the K-18?

flatcoat · 2009-07-03, 03:10

From what I can remember I would be surprised if there was much difference. The Ekos II was a much bigger upgrade.

linn MD · 2009-07-03, 05:45

flatcoat Wrote:From what I can remember I would be surprised if there was much difference. The Ekos II was a much bigger upgrade.

I had a later version Ittok, but I can't honestly say I remember the version number. I can say when I switched to the first version of the Ekos, it stomped the Ittok version I had into the ground. The differences were enormous. I agree that Ekos 2 was better, and substantially so, but the first Ekos stomped my last version of the Ittok. - linn MD

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

Rille · 2009-07-03, 12:06

The EkosI isn't only a Ittok in black.
Most of the parts have changed from Ittok to EkosI. For example the the better headshell (Ittok and Akito have the same headshell), a more rigid tonearm tube and better bearings. The Ekos is clear better than the Ittok in every aspect.

vicdiaz · 2009-07-03, 21:25

Rille Wrote:a more rigid tonearm tube and better bearings. The Ekos is clear better than the Ittok in every aspect.

more rigid tonearm - Agree
better bearings - Disagree

Lots of Ekos 1s suffered from damaged bearings. My Ittok LV-II have been singing without a hickup since 1985!!!

HBerg · 2009-07-03, 22:05

The bearings of a working Ekos 1 is much better than the bearings of an Ittok LVII. I have had two Ittok's and an Ekos 1 and tested the bearings of them. Both the horisontal and the vertical bearings had much less friction in the Ekos.....

Unfortunately I have no experience with the Ittok LVIII/2 but the pictures shows that it has a smaller headshell (like the Ekos) and the integrated arm-rest (also like the Ekos).

vicdiaz · 2009-07-04, 03:43

HBerg Wrote:The bearings of a working Ekos 1 is much better than the bearings of an Ittok LVII.

When it worked... Rolleyes

citationfan · 2009-07-04, 05:09

I can tell you now after receiving and hearing the LV IIIMk2
compair to my Ekos, the Ittok has no chance at all, he s not able to "ring" like my Ekos1 at all! The Ekos has lots more deep wide section and more deeper bass, in the highs he has also big improvement over Ittok. He sang less nervous in the highs, so you can hear with volume tuned up, very satisfiing[/i] . And lots of more details, man its like one say "he stomped the Ittok into ground"!

HBerg · (This post was last modified: 2009-07-04 08:32 by HBerg.)

vicdiaz Wrote:
HBerg Wrote:The bearings of a working Ekos 1 is much better than the bearings of an Ittok LVII.

When it worked...

I bought my S/H Ekos 1 in '99 and upgraded it to an Ekos 2 in 2007. The bearings were still working perfect before I returned it to Linn but the dial for the pressure was nearly impossible to turn. As far as I know this is a common problem on the original Ekos after several years.
I have heard of the problems with the bearings, vicdiaz, maybe I was just lucky with mine Smile

The Ekos 2 was, however, a substantial improvement.

abbydog · 2009-07-07, 17:06

The Ittok LVIII short headshell is an extremely good tonearm and I preferred it to my Ekos - it is, in my opinion, more musical and mounted on a Keel is exceptional. I have never heard an Akiva perform as well in any other arm.

The LVIII long headshell version is the best arm available for mounting a considerable number of cartridges on an LP12 which simply will not fit in later, short headshell arms.

I wouldn't change either of these arms for less than an Ekos SE.