Barry
04-05-2014, 19:54
FS Linn ASAK cartridge with Linn LINNK phonostage
For sale is my Linn Asak cartridge complete with matching Linn LINNK phonostage.
I bought both of these in the early ‘80s: the Asak following an enthusiastic review in The Absolute Sound magazine by Harry Pearson, and the LINNK with the intention of building a minimal preamp using the LINNK with a stepped attenuator volume control. The minimal preamp didn’t proceed past the prototype stage using an Alps pot, and the cartridge didn’t get much use either, as I had resurrected my EMT.
So to the items in detail:
Linn Asak DC 2100K cartridge
http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/yy88/barrydhunt/491_zpsbf925cf0.jpg?t=1397065076
First the technical specification:
Moving coil design
Output 0.25mV (at 5cm/sec)
Coil resistance: 3.5Ω
Recommended load: 300 - 500Ω
Mass: 6g
Dynamic compliance: 12 cu
Frequency response: 20Hz – 40kHz
Channel balance: 0.4dB
Inter-channel crosstalk: 32dB (at 1kHz)
Stylus: 6μm x 18μm elliptical
Recommended tracking force: 1.8 –2.2g
This cartridge has had very little use; I estimate < 20 hours. The stylus is clean and in good condition with plenty of usable life left, as I hope the following photomicrographs show.
http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/yy88/barrydhunt/draw_0407-3_zps9a17f68b.jpg http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/yy88/barrydhunt/draw_0407-4_zpsf51637a9.jpg
It comes complete with the rudimentary stylus guard, ‘jewel box’ case, original foam nest and outer cardboard box. Unfortunately I do not have the original stylus brush (which was pretty basic), nor do I have the original cartridge fixing screws, but I’ll try to substitute something similar.
http://rs780.pbsrc.com/albums/yy88/barrydhunt/486_zpse24d20fd.jpg~c200?t=1396967332 http://rs780.pbsrc.com/albums/yy88/barrydhunt/484_zps6cb5c8a8.jpg~c200 http://rs780.pbsrc.com/albums/yy88/barrydhunt/494_zpsb0364bfe.jpg~c200 http://rs780.pbsrc.com/albums/yy88/barrydhunt/482_zpsd8013dc6.jpg~c200?t=1396967167
Allegedly made for Linn by Supex, it was originally designed to partner the Linn Ittok arm, but it can be used in other arms. Given its mass and compliance, any arm with an effective mass of 10 – 25g will be suitable.
I used it originally fitted into an ADC LMG-1 headshell on an SME 3009 arm (with light damping), and then later fitted in a heavier Fidelity Research S-5 headshell, also on an SME 3009 arm. The Linn Asak has a shallow profile, so spacers may have to be fitted to prevent the bayonet flange of the headshell touching the record instead of the stylus. This is true if the ADC headshell is used.
For those who wish to run the Asak ‘nude’, it is a relatively simple matter to remove the outer case – it slips off easily. Some have claimed there are audible benefits to be heard in using the Asak nude.
Please note the FR headshell is not included in the sale
The Linn LINNK phonostage
http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/yy88/barrydhunt/65000b05-7be0-4d6a-ac15-42f1f93f694f_zps47e27dab.jpg?t=1396980090
Described by Linn as a “Moving coil cartridge pre-amp”, it would be more correct to describe this as a phonostage as it combines a solid-state headamp with RIAA equalisation feedback. It is thus used between the cartridge and any line level input of a preamp.
I bought it to form part of a minimal design preamp, and used with a stepped attenuator, with the output going directly into a power amplifier of 0.5V sensitivity.
The LINNK was designed for the Linn Asak cartridge by Naim Audio, and is based on the Naim 323 circuit board of the Naim 32 preamp.
The technical specification is as follows:
Gain: 57dB at 1kHz
Nominal input: 100μV at 1kHz
Nominal output: 70mV (Output is RIAA equalised to suit auxiliary inputs)
Overload margin: 40dB
Input impedance: 390Ω in parallel with 7.5nF.
Clearly the LINNK can be used with other moving-coil cartridges – it would be a simple matter to reduce the input impedance by fitting suitable resistors across the input sockets if need be.
The LINNK comes complete with the 24V AC supply. It is in excellent condition and has had little use.
http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/yy88/barrydhunt/487_zpse03fea4c.jpg?t=1396883422 http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/yy88/barrydhunt/489_zps704d724c.jpg?t=1396969994. http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/yy88/barrydhunt/005_zps3c4f62c3.jpg?t=1399219538
Left: Input connections plus earth terminal. Centre: Output connections plus power supply input. Right: 24V power supply.
Unfortunately I no longer have the original packaging, but the unit will be well wrapped and packed for delivery.
Performance
I have just auditioned the combination. The Asak being mounted in a Fidelity Research headshell and fitted to an SME 3009 arm, tracking at 2g with the LINNK feeding the line level input of a Mark Levinson ML-28 preamp, thence into Quad 57 ESLs driven by Levinson ML-2 monoblock amplifiers.
It hasn’t been played for nearly thirty years, so I had forgotten how good it sounded: nice ‘punchy’ well-controlled base, good clear midrange with fine articulation, tidy treble and a well defined soundstage with good focus. Being designed for Linn, it will come as no surprise that the Asak has good pace rhythm and timing. I would be quite happy to keep this cartridge, were it not for the fact that I have about ten other moving-coil cartridges in my collection; which will see me out!
Asking £175 for the two, including insured delivery. Payment by cheque, bank transfer or PayPal gift will be fine.
For sale is my Linn Asak cartridge complete with matching Linn LINNK phonostage.
I bought both of these in the early ‘80s: the Asak following an enthusiastic review in The Absolute Sound magazine by Harry Pearson, and the LINNK with the intention of building a minimal preamp using the LINNK with a stepped attenuator volume control. The minimal preamp didn’t proceed past the prototype stage using an Alps pot, and the cartridge didn’t get much use either, as I had resurrected my EMT.
So to the items in detail:
Linn Asak DC 2100K cartridge
http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/yy88/barrydhunt/491_zpsbf925cf0.jpg?t=1397065076
First the technical specification:
Moving coil design
Output 0.25mV (at 5cm/sec)
Coil resistance: 3.5Ω
Recommended load: 300 - 500Ω
Mass: 6g
Dynamic compliance: 12 cu
Frequency response: 20Hz – 40kHz
Channel balance: 0.4dB
Inter-channel crosstalk: 32dB (at 1kHz)
Stylus: 6μm x 18μm elliptical
Recommended tracking force: 1.8 –2.2g
This cartridge has had very little use; I estimate < 20 hours. The stylus is clean and in good condition with plenty of usable life left, as I hope the following photomicrographs show.
http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/yy88/barrydhunt/draw_0407-3_zps9a17f68b.jpg http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/yy88/barrydhunt/draw_0407-4_zpsf51637a9.jpg
It comes complete with the rudimentary stylus guard, ‘jewel box’ case, original foam nest and outer cardboard box. Unfortunately I do not have the original stylus brush (which was pretty basic), nor do I have the original cartridge fixing screws, but I’ll try to substitute something similar.
http://rs780.pbsrc.com/albums/yy88/barrydhunt/486_zpse24d20fd.jpg~c200?t=1396967332 http://rs780.pbsrc.com/albums/yy88/barrydhunt/484_zps6cb5c8a8.jpg~c200 http://rs780.pbsrc.com/albums/yy88/barrydhunt/494_zpsb0364bfe.jpg~c200 http://rs780.pbsrc.com/albums/yy88/barrydhunt/482_zpsd8013dc6.jpg~c200?t=1396967167
Allegedly made for Linn by Supex, it was originally designed to partner the Linn Ittok arm, but it can be used in other arms. Given its mass and compliance, any arm with an effective mass of 10 – 25g will be suitable.
I used it originally fitted into an ADC LMG-1 headshell on an SME 3009 arm (with light damping), and then later fitted in a heavier Fidelity Research S-5 headshell, also on an SME 3009 arm. The Linn Asak has a shallow profile, so spacers may have to be fitted to prevent the bayonet flange of the headshell touching the record instead of the stylus. This is true if the ADC headshell is used.
For those who wish to run the Asak ‘nude’, it is a relatively simple matter to remove the outer case – it slips off easily. Some have claimed there are audible benefits to be heard in using the Asak nude.
Please note the FR headshell is not included in the sale
The Linn LINNK phonostage
http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/yy88/barrydhunt/65000b05-7be0-4d6a-ac15-42f1f93f694f_zps47e27dab.jpg?t=1396980090
Described by Linn as a “Moving coil cartridge pre-amp”, it would be more correct to describe this as a phonostage as it combines a solid-state headamp with RIAA equalisation feedback. It is thus used between the cartridge and any line level input of a preamp.
I bought it to form part of a minimal design preamp, and used with a stepped attenuator, with the output going directly into a power amplifier of 0.5V sensitivity.
The LINNK was designed for the Linn Asak cartridge by Naim Audio, and is based on the Naim 323 circuit board of the Naim 32 preamp.
The technical specification is as follows:
Gain: 57dB at 1kHz
Nominal input: 100μV at 1kHz
Nominal output: 70mV (Output is RIAA equalised to suit auxiliary inputs)
Overload margin: 40dB
Input impedance: 390Ω in parallel with 7.5nF.
Clearly the LINNK can be used with other moving-coil cartridges – it would be a simple matter to reduce the input impedance by fitting suitable resistors across the input sockets if need be.
The LINNK comes complete with the 24V AC supply. It is in excellent condition and has had little use.
http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/yy88/barrydhunt/487_zpse03fea4c.jpg?t=1396883422 http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/yy88/barrydhunt/489_zps704d724c.jpg?t=1396969994. http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/yy88/barrydhunt/005_zps3c4f62c3.jpg?t=1399219538
Left: Input connections plus earth terminal. Centre: Output connections plus power supply input. Right: 24V power supply.
Unfortunately I no longer have the original packaging, but the unit will be well wrapped and packed for delivery.
Performance
I have just auditioned the combination. The Asak being mounted in a Fidelity Research headshell and fitted to an SME 3009 arm, tracking at 2g with the LINNK feeding the line level input of a Mark Levinson ML-28 preamp, thence into Quad 57 ESLs driven by Levinson ML-2 monoblock amplifiers.
It hasn’t been played for nearly thirty years, so I had forgotten how good it sounded: nice ‘punchy’ well-controlled base, good clear midrange with fine articulation, tidy treble and a well defined soundstage with good focus. Being designed for Linn, it will come as no surprise that the Asak has good pace rhythm and timing. I would be quite happy to keep this cartridge, were it not for the fact that I have about ten other moving-coil cartridges in my collection; which will see me out!
Asking £175 for the two, including insured delivery. Payment by cheque, bank transfer or PayPal gift will be fine.