JohnNick72

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $400.00 from e-Bay

Summary:
This is a great little Integrated Amplifier (with a phono section). I am now just using the Majik IP as a pre-Amp for my all Linn Aktiv sytem, but initially I powered my older Linn Index speakers with the Majik's amp section and they sounded the best I have ever heard them. If you are looking to get into Linn for less, this is a great place to start. The amp is high quality and will drive all but the least efficient speakers to a high level of performance, and the pre-amp is great also. These units can be had 2nd hand for under $500 (US) and they will not disappoint!

Similar Products Used:
NAD 3225PE (my first HiFi Integrated Amp)

Price Paid:  $1300.00 from Innovative Audio Vid

Summary:
I have been using my Majik-I for about 2 years and have been quite satisfied with its performance. When paired with a very high quality source, depth and clarity are excellent, soundstaging is great, and the overall listening experience is best described as a musical and faithful reproduction of the original material. The pre-amp unit is sonically translucent, not quite without some color, but listening is a genuine pleasure. Amplification is precise and controlled, although somewhat lacking in the low frequencies.

Strengths:
Sound quality is quite good for the price. Robust construction, excellent design and materials. Good remote control functionality. Matches very well with other Linn components. Modular design will permit upgrade to aktiv configurations or on board tuner/multi-room module. The upgrade path provides significant improvements in sound quality, but at a price. Comparatively, nothing comes close without spending a lot more money.

Weaknesses:
Perhaps a little shy in the bass extension. In my bi-amp configuration, the LK85 picks up where the Majik seems to drop off.

Similar Products Used:
Linn Ikemi CD player, Linn Ninka speakers, Linn LK85 amp. This system is configured bi-amp with Linn black interconnects and Linn speaker cable. I also have a Rotel RT2100 Tuner and a Nakamichi DR3 t

Price Paid:  $900.00 from Hi Fi shop in Yorkshire

Summary:
Have lived with this amp for many years and have never been disappointed with its performance. At the time of buying I compared this to an equivalent Naim amp (Nait 3? - it was a long time ago) and found it hard to decide which to take. In the end, it was down to the build quality and the remote control.

There are poor points: cross-talk on the phono input, particularly from the tuner although the CD can be heard too. I leave all my kit powered-up all the time, so have to make a conscious effort to turn off the tuner when listening to records. I also find the controls on the unit very awkward to use and one button is duff so has to be pressed very hard. That said, everything you need is on the remote. Neither of these things have an impact on the music so I don't view these too negatively.

For the last six months, I have used the Majik as a pre-amp to the Linn LK140 driving B&W Nautilus 804's with fantastic effect. I sort-of plan to replace it with the dedicated Kolektor pre-amp but would need a home demo before deciding whether it would be worth it. And I am in no rush to do that. Other kit: Genki CD player, Rega Planar 2 and Rotel Tuner. Previous speakers Heybrook HB1 then Celestion 5000's.

I can easily recommend this amp although the price of the Kolektor/LK85 pre/power amp pairing isn't that much more expensive and this may suit some people. Therefore value loses a mark.

Strengths:
neutral, build quality, recording a channel not being listened to

Weaknesses:
cross-talk on phono channel, controls on the amp (not a problem as the remote is all you need)

Summary:
Phono stage is SUPERB! I had Sistemdek IIX, with but the mid-quality of the turntable isn't a match for the Majik's phono stage. Eventualy, i will try Rega Planet 25 with the RB600 tone arm and some good Low otput MC cartridge! I will reapeat: The Majik is the most neutral and detailed Integrated amplifier in it's price range, period! You may prefere, more "colored" sound of the Audio Analogue Puccini
or Audio refinement complete, but Majik is "non-pretentious" little amp.

Strengths:
Neutral, detailed, laid-back, very dependable, easy to use..
superbly comunicates musical event!

Weaknesses:
Jumper requires imediate replacement with AQ silver!
(jumper conects amp-in with pre-out and factory is copper but it "tarnish" rather quickly)

Similar Products Used:
Linn Karik CDP, Kimber PBJ, ACI Sapphire monitors, Linn k-400 bi-wire speaker cable, both CD and Majik upgraded with API ef 313 power cord!