View Full Version : Linn Asak
rigger67
15-02-2018, 19:22
Think I got a bit of a bargain on eBay this week as I took a chance on a 35-year old Asak MC, the seller saying it hadn't been used that regularly down the years and still sounded great.
Well, after a bit of fettling and fiddling I've got it singing now and it's made an obvious difference to the sound from my vinyl source compared to the P77 I was using previously.
I had a sesh last night and played lots of different types of music on lots of different ages of vinyl and was much happier than I had been previously.
In particular, a forty-five year old copy of Kate And Anna McGarrigle's Dancer With Bruised Knees sounded brand new :yay:
Rock never sounded that good before - always a bit muddled - but playing some Smiths, ELO and Bowie proved otherwise.
The soundstage is better, there's more clarity overall (especially treble-wise), the bass feels tighter but really it's just more musical all round.
My only slight concern is that on some reissues - like the Bowie Diamond Dogs that I bought new in about 1984 spookily enough - are rather quiet and I actually had the gain on the Tisbury up to the max.
Newer vinyl is much louder though and some of the thicker old stuff is fine too - it's just those semi-flexidisc RCA black label reissues that sound quiet. Good, but quiet.
Anyway .. thanks for everyone who chipped in with advice : I've taken my first step on the MC ladder.
I'll be looking to sell the P77 now. It had a brand new old stock stylus fitted three years ago when I last had the Linn serviced by Simon of The Audio Files in Crowthorne.
I've not used it that much since then, generally preferring the CD player, so it's probably had about 150 hours use. Not sure how much to ask, really - does £70 sound about right ??
walpurgis
15-02-2018, 20:01
Not a bad MC the Asak. Originally made by Osawa for Linn if I'm right and based on their OS-80L model I think. Which was a related design to the well respected Supex SD-900. All from memory, but I think that should be correct.
I had a Linn Asak once. Not a bad cartridge at all; bought following a favourable review in The Absolute Sound magazine, who at the time rated it better than the Koetsu Black.
All my friends however pleaded with me to return to the EMT cartridge I had been using up until then. I did so, and the Asak was sold on. No regrets.
However it is all a matter of choice: if you are pleased with your sample, then well done - enjoy!
While I have been reluctant to spend huge money on cartridges I have found a pattern that the best results for me tend to be with MC's. However I would advise you give yourself a couple of months with the new cartridge before selling the old one or even hold onto it as a reserve in case of accidents.
While I have been reluctant to spend huge money on cartridges I have found a pattern that the best results for me tend to be with MC's. However I would advise you give yourself a couple of months with the new cartridge before selling the old one or even hold onto it as a reserve in case of accidents.
If your post is directed to me - then I would say it was a few years before I sold my Asak. By then I had a couple of dozen or so cartridges: both moving coil and fixed coil, so was able to make an informed decision.
My post was meant for Paul - there is often a honeymoon period with cartridge changes and I find that several weeks evaluation is needed to confirm there are no negatives that will eventually detract from the positives. In Paul's case the Asak is used so wont require much running in but there will be a period of time where he gets used to the new sound. Hopefully he is getting the step change he perceives and he will find he just wants to play records that will continue over multiple sessions. Personally I would expect the Asak to be better. However if any doubt sets in then temporarily swapping back to the A&R cartridge can be a useful double check so should avoid selling it on until he is sure.
rigger67
16-02-2018, 03:26
Thanks for the sound advice, Clive :)
jandl100
16-02-2018, 07:54
I had a VdH retipped Asak, and I was just blown away by it.
I've no idea what difference the VdH retip made, but the underlying bouncy robustness and downright clarity of the cart must be similar.
It was, in retrospect, the best sounding cartridge that I had owned over decades of playing with quite high endish carts.
I suspect that if it just happens to coincide with your preferences then it is one stonker of a device!
Marco recommended using a vintage battery powered Lentek step up with the Asak. Sound advice indeed - the combination is superb, a huge improvement on an already good result.
If you can be bothered, have a look at my system blog from here (http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?1236-New-speakers-and-amps&p=623077#post623077)
And btw Paul - thanks for changing your avatar to the "real thing" - that way too chirpy looking cartoon was driving me batty!! :lol:
The Asak, Karma and Troika are great cartridges. They seem very long lived and once the stylus is worn out they can be re-tipped to advance their performance further than ever before. Personally I run a rebuilt Troika with new coil windings, a ruby cantilever an a Gyger sylus and am more than happy.
Personally I run a rebuilt Troika with new coil windings, a ruby cantilever an a Gyger sylus and am more than happy...
BUl6PooveJE
:D;)
Marco.
rigger67
16-02-2018, 10:11
I think a retip is a good idea - thanks for the, er .. tip :doh:
Any idea how much this would cost ??
Is it just van den Hul that perform this kind of service ?
I've not given it much thought before ...
More seriously (for the benefit of Paul), in my opinion, backed up with direct and extensive experience of using the cartridge concerned, along with other Linn cartridges from the same era, such as the Trak and Karma, the Asak is a highly capable, musical sounding cartridge, produced in the days when they were 'voiced' rather differently from those today!
Therefore, Paul, I'm not surprised that you're enjoying it and that you've never heard your favourite music sound so good, particularly if until now you've been using only modern MC cartridges, many of which, to my ears, are 'all hi-fi and no music', and with a tonal balance tipped to exaggerate high-frequencies, in the quest to be considered as 'detailed'.
The Asak, in that respect, harks from a different era, and if its original stylus, cantilever and coils are in good condition, then I'd leave well alone until you're forced into renewing the former, through wear; at which point you can follow Mark's (good) advice and hopefully end up with something that doesn't sound too different, and most importantly, lose what made your Asak sound so enjoyable in the first place.
In the meantime, enjoy! :cool:
Marco.
walpurgis
16-02-2018, 11:25
I think a retip is a good idea - thanks for the, er .. tip :doh:
Any idea how much this would cost ??
Is it just van den Hul that perform this kind of service ?
I've not given it much thought before ...
Speak to Goldring. They took over the manufacture of cartridges for Linn and may well be geared up to deal with the Asak. Goldring undertake repairs and retips for many makes other than their own. The quality of the work is reputed to be good. Plus, you are dealing with a UK company with their support.
Don't retip unless necessary though. Or you want a tip profile upgrade. They may be willing to just inspect it for you, to advise on condition.
Link: http://www.goldring.co.uk/cartridge-repair.htm
.
rigger67
16-02-2018, 12:11
That's great. Nice one, Geoff - thanks a lot :)
martinjohn308
16-02-2018, 15:09
Back in the day I replaced the Supex Grace with an Ittok Asak which I followed with an Asak T. Not a bad cartridge I think i’ve Still got the T upstairs in my box of spares. I can’t see that a 40 year old cartridge is still sounding good no offence.
Regards,
Martin
I can’t see that a 40 year old cartridge is still sounding good no offence.
If it's been stored properly and looked after, why not? A couple of years ago, I bought a mint, boxed as new, 60-year old cartridge (original Ortofon SPU, from 1958), and it sounded stunning - and in many ways was better than a lot of what is produced today!
And I have other vintage cartridges, from the 60s, 70s and 80s, which also sound superb. When something was originally built to be good (to high standards), that goodness doesn't necessarily diminish with age...;)
We need to rid ourselves of the false notion that genuine progress is continually being made in audio [the operative words there being "genuine" and "continually"], and therefore that newest is *always* best!
Marco.
I now have 2 Asaka’s as my preferred cartridges - both still on original tip. The second one I bought cheap as worn out intending to re-tip it as my old one was also sounding a bit dull. I also bought a decent 10x loupe to inspect them properly...both just needed cleaning :)
Richard
BUl6PooveJE
:D;)
Marco.
Surely this is more appropriate for your Technics..... ;).
Speak to Goldring. They took over the manufacture of cartridges for Linn and may well be geared up to deal with the Asak. Goldring undertake repairs and retips for many makes other than their own. The quality of the work is reputed to be good. Plus, you are dealing with a UK company with their support.
Don't retip unless necessary though. Or you want a tip profile upgrade. They may be willing to just inspect it for you, to advise on condition.
Link: http://www.goldring.co.uk/cartridge-repair.htm
Although Goldring are a big operation the re-tips are all done by one man. Cost is £300 to £400 depending on what you get done. They did my current cartridge and also recently did a friends Asak - both of us are delighted with the results.
Surely this is more appropriate for your Technics..... ;).
Haha - I knew you'd say that!:D
Marco.
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