Smooth non-fatiguing sound

Only adequate punch
Limited power

First, I've only had it for a short time, so it's not fully run-in. At any rate, the classik is a nice little piece. I A/Bed it with my Rotel 970 CD player, and right out of the box the classik sounded better than the Rotel. Of course when I also used the amp section and the cables from Linn in place of my Krell/Transparent equipment, the classik was clearly out of it's league.

Again, I have to qualify my comments by the short burn-in time.... the classik is a nice one box piece, but it won't take the place of higher end equipment. It's really no contest. If you want convenience at a low price, with nice sound, the classik may be your answer. Just don't expect high-end performance. At $700 to $800 off of UBID, however, this thing is a GREAT bargain.

Convenience

The treble is terrible

Strengths: Good build quality - feels solid and it comes with a 5 year warranty. Convenience - all in one system is nice for my bedroom.

Amp: 50 watts (8 ohms); 75 watts (4 ohms). Enough power for a small room.

Weaknesses: Although the bass and midrange are fine, the highs are grainy and congested. Some call it laid back, I call it shut in.

Speakers:
Dynaudio Audience 40 (great speakers, highly recommended)
Linn supplied 16 gauge speaker wire.

Conclusion: For the price, separates are far better.

Similar Products Used:

Integrated amp/CD player combos from Arcam and Rotel.

Sounds Great, Looks Great, Well Made, Simple, Ton of Features

Controls take a bit of time to get used to.

Have owned a lot of mid ranged equipment over the last decade or so -- some was bought new, and others used. Owned the Linn for about 5 months now and I would have to say that I have never been happier with any product. This is some seriously good design and engineering work here, not some crap thats being "manufactured" in some guys living room.

Had been using an AMC CD8b player and Creek 4330R Integrated up to the time of this purchase, hooked up to some Linn Index 2 speakers with Linn stands. I was actually in the market for a used Creek, Rotel, or NAD tuner (one more box), and saw the great reviews of the linn in Stereophile, Wes Phillip's site, and here on audioreview, but was still pretty skeptical. $2000 for one box that looked like it came from the same mold as one of their CD players to save money and came in colors? I was really interested though and I have never been dissapointed with Linn products (also own a Linn table). My friends who have those one box Sony DVD systems or Denon Receiver were like. "$2000 and it doesn't play DVD's? No surround sound?" Then I saw an add in Audiogon of someone selling them new for $1,200. I borrowed a sample from a local dealer to take home (I know it isn't right, but that's capitalism), and was just blown away. Detail, smoothness, plenty of power, and very "integrated" ---- the synergy with my speakers was spot on. Ordered the unit from some guy in Brooklyn, NY and also picked up some used K400 for bi-wiring.

Now --- I've been to many audio salon's and listened to their "dream room" systems, and this Linn wasn't quite in that league, but its really good, actually pretty darm close to the real high end stuff, and way better than any of the Arcam, NAD, Creek midrange stuff that I was used to owning (though that NAIT was awesome while it lasted, I just can not afford the new stuff). $1,200 is still alot of money to me, but when I added up the cost of a similar sounding AMP, CD Player, Tuner, plus it all operating on the same remote, it was all way more (actually had been lusting over the new Rega stuff also) than the Linn, plus is its just so simple. I that respect, I consider the classik to be a real bargain.

I also own a DVD player that I plug into the Aux imput for watching movies. I am not much of a surround sound guy, though most of my fiends are into it, it doesn't impress me. Every dealer demo room and anyone's house where I have heard a 5.1 setup has always sounded like a big sloppy audio mess to me. I like music first and foremost, but do want to be able to hear the dialogue clearly when I watch a movie. This Linn does just fine for that. Also my speakers image well enough in Stereo, that it sounds like its comming from the TV anyway, so I don't know why a center channel is necessary.

Similar Products Used:

Amps: Arcam 7/8P, Creek 4330R, NAD 7240PE, Acurus DIA-100, Naim Nait 2, AMC CD8b, NAD CD Player, Marantz CC-? (changer), Sony DVD Player, Yamaha CD Player

Price, compact size, ergonomics, remote control

NOT an "audiophile grade" product. It sounds as compact as its size.

I was swayed into buying this product by the review by Stereophile and some of the reviews on this board. I was looking for a good sounding system to replace the cumbersome individual components that I currently use (which sound great by the way). Man was I disappointed! The highs are harsh and sizzly, and the inner detail that I've become accustomed to has all but disappeared. Some of the previous reports have noted the same thing, but they claim that it gets better with time. I've run mine 24 hours a day for a month and it still sounds the same. When I switch back to my old system, the difference is shocking. As much as I dislike listening to the Classik, I continue to use it in the hope that it will get better with time. My patience is wearing thin.

Needless to say, I'm disappointed. Maybe my expectations were too high for a "all-in-one" system. I really wanted it to work for me because its a great looking product and fits my space needs. If your concern is for aesthetics over sound, it's probably worth buying one, but this is not the answer for those accustomed to quality sound (even at a mid-fi level).

All the good reviews in this site have me wondering if I just got a lemon.

Similar Products Used:

Aragon 4004, Sumo Preamp, Linn Speakers

After a fairly lengthy search I purchased the Linn Classik and B+W CDM7SE speakers. I had been thinking of a Bryston B-60 and Rega Planet and also heard the speakers with an Acurus integrated amp and Acurus CD player. The Linn sounded better than either combination. Sounds wonderful. It lists for $1700 but I got it for $1500.

I just purchased a Linn Classik, a choice based primarily on size and convenience --I have a tiny apartment-- and Linn's reputation for quality. I auditioned it very briefly before purchase, and more for the purpose of ensuring it was a completely functioning model since I was taking it overseas. I have it paired with Dynaudio Audience 40s. So far, it has been great. The remote works great,the manual controls are silky smooth, the manual is clearly written, and the clock functions are real world useful. Before the Linn, I had a Meitner Musatex 55 and Electocompaniet Preampliwire 1, which together are quite more expensive than the Linn, which also includes a CD player. I was using an older Rotel CD player before. Anyway, the Linn sound is not as distinctive as my earlier set-up, lacking the very real sweetness of the Meitner, which is a beautiful litle amp. However, I do expect the Linn's sound to bloom with time and it's still being burned in. It drives the 40s with no problem and as of now I'd have to characterize the sound as accurate and neutral. The unit just seems to get out of the music's way. You don't notice it, which I think for most people is the real goal. Not everyone, very few people really, want to listen to their equipment. And I expect it to sound better when it's been burnt in.While the tone controls are helpful, Linn isn't. It took them two weeks to answer an e-mail I had regarding the use of a step-down transformer with my unit. Neither of the two Linn dealers in the U.S. I spoke with had a Classik in stock and only one had a demo. My U.S. home is in Jacksonville, FL, also the location of Linn's distribution center. They didn't have a Classik in stock. They were able to get me one from another dealer--I was flying overseas and didn't have time to wait for one from Scotland--which I suspect may have been a demo unit. I'll never know. I had already bargained with the Jacksonville dealer for a 10% discount since he was doing almost nothing to effectuate the sale. It would have been damned tough without a demo unit. Anyway, my Linn buying experience certainly didn't match that described on their website.I don't know how they expect to sell many units if their dealers don't stock them. Their Korean network is even worse. I was thinking of buying Linn Cans but their distributor here won't have any for at least two months. And he warned me that they were going to be very expensive.Maybe Linn sells enough gear in the UK and Japan so that they don't have to worry about marketing in little places like Kora and the U.S.

This baby rocks. This baby rolls. It can't be coming from a box that is smaller than my humidor. But it is...
I am in complete awe of this thing as you can tell. As an owner of much too expensive hi fi (ie, Krell, Martin Logans, Wilson Watt's) I feel that this has to be the best bargain in the hi fi world. I am ready to sell my other gear, and retire in a seaside apartment with my Classik, my Kef 104.2's and a few cases of red wine.

The sound is dynamic and authoritative. The cd player is Linn quality. The remote very functional. Haven't yet used the clock or alarm, but it's there. I am going to put one in my study. Another in my office. And maybe one in the bathroom, too.

Very highly recommended to anyone who feels that the whole audiophile community sometimes leans towards selling snake oil products. Just listen to your ears because you won't believe your eyes. I guarantee it. Oh, and it comes with Linn speaker cable, ready to plug in. Nice touch of snake oil...

Pleasure to use. Sound Quality. Tuner! My wife actually agrees that it was a great purchase.

None so far. A built-in phono stage would be nice, but that's probably getting too greedy.

I really love this product and love it a little more each day. Been buying and selling audio gear about 14 years now, and I actually think I am finally satisfied with my stereo setup (I really mean it this time). The sound is clear, smooth, and balanced, yet still very exciting. Not that it is lacking in detail, imaging, soundstaging, or any other typical audiogeek criteria, but those aspects just don't stand out -- which is a good thing because I can actually just listen to music now. Oh, but forget about those wires than come with, they sort of mess things up. Go ahead and spend a little extra for the K-400's.

Did not set out to be a Linnie, but somehow I have ended up with a complete linn system (speakers, table, wire). I am convinced that the single system approach (naim, rega, linn, meridian) is definately the road to sonic nirvana for those who like great sound, but just want to listen to music and not worry about the equipment. Synergy is just there, your not trying to convince yourself that you have achieved it or using tweeks and buying new cables to get that little something extra that seems to be missing. In a single system approach, the components don't draw attention to themselves. It just has something to do with the way the equipment works together that makes you feel satisfied or that things are complete. Simple is better. This is what the classik is all about. It is one thing --- not a whole mess of things (maybe I am just a minimalist).

As far as value, I can not think of any other combination of tuner/cd/amp with remote control that sounds this good for less. Rotel, Denon, NAD, Marantz, Yamaha, Sony ES?...Nope, sounds like good mid-fi. Creek, Arcam? -- Pretty close in price but I think Linn beats them on sound (or the stuff that sounds real good is more expensive). Rega, Audio Refinement, Audio Analogue -- good values and sounds great but cost more or does not have the remote. Some oddball combination of mid-fi tuner, good integrated, and the latest giant killer CD player and interconnects? Been there, done that. You can never get happy, something is always not quite right. I have seen the Classik w/tuner as low as $1,000 brand new. (new multi-room version with digital connections is coming out). I paid $1,300, but even at $1,950, its a great value. If you see this unit (w/the tuner) for less than $1,500 - do some serious soul searching.

Similar Products Used:

Way too much stuff.

This has got to be one of the best bargains in Hi-Fi. This unit is so engaging that it is truely painful to stop listening. If anyone is considering a first Hi-Fi, or one for the bedroom, this unit should be at the top of their audition list. My only concern is that they may not take it serious because of its diminutive size. I also own a larger Linn Hi-Fi and it certainly sounds better. But, for the money this unit is a wonderful introduction to the world of Hi-Fi. No offense to this site but it seems the distribution of the ratings are skewed a little to the high side. I understand this based on most individuals enthusiasm towards this subject and their gear. In comparison to other products I have auditioned I feel that this product honestly deserves a rating of five and anyone that listens to a Classik will agree.

I've owned my Linn Classik for 9 months and am still in complete awe over the amazing sound this small unit puts out. This sleak black box puts out strong powerful bass and accurate, crisp highs. Most people find it hard to believe that all I have powering my speakers and sub is a small Linn Classik.
The size of this unit is great for college kids like me - who are always on the go and need every inch of desk space. Truly amazing and completely wonderful in every way!