Written by Karl Erik Sylthe, at 18.03.06.

Translated to English in may 2007

For people not familiar with Linn`s practical jokes I can mention that Linn has a long tradition in using a phonetic spelling of words in the product-names, and the letter “k” has a nasty habit of showing up in every one of them. So Majik is another word for Magic.  

The new series consists of  three products:

• CD-player Linn Majik CD, retail in Norway at Nkr. 24.250,-
• Stereo Pre-amp Linn Majik Kontrol, at Nkr. 21.750,- including phono module.
• Power amp Linn Majik 2100,- at Nkr. 18.200,-

This series is pure two-channel stuff, and it is obvious that it has been essential for Linn to be loud`n clear about stereo. During the past years there has been a massive launch of new product-lines with multi-channel capability, and this may have created a bit of confusion and frustration. What happened to good old stereo? And this is where Majik comes in. We were given a very strong impression that the need for a profiled two-channel-series is reason d`etre for the Majik-series.  

One part of the back-screen for the launch of Majik is obviously the rather sudden dismiss of the LK-range, that was removed from the market with only few weeks notice at the start of February this year. This act created a lot of wondering among Linn-enthusiasts, since it was not generally known at this stage that the reason for the exit of LK was problems regarding lead-content in the cabinet.  

And because of the removal of the LK-range, the Majik-series will be the entrance to the Linn-world. Or at least the world of separate components. It might seem a bit risky for recruiting that “entry level” electronics will set you back more than 60.000,-, and an obvious jump up from the previous entrance, where Genki/Kolektor/LK85 was offered for the half of this amount. But then, the Majik-range is obviously also at an entirely different level of quality. And again it might be reason to look at the fast dismiss of the LK-range – it is tempting to assume that there could be other products later that will underbid the Majik-range.
But despite my eager in attempt to squeeze a careless sentence about future products from Linn during this launch, also at settings and part of days (and nights) when words are known to flow easily, my only capture was something like “we might be looking at a tuner…” Disciplined guys this. And really professionals. And despite looking really hard for tracks from an eventually upcoming CD12-follower at the factory-visit at Castle Precision Engineering, the factory that is manufacturing Klimax-cabinets and parts of the work on LP12 and Ekos, it wasn’t possible to get a glimpse into the future for a new prestigious CD-player to replace the late Linn Sondek CD12.

Linn Majik CD
The CD-player in this Majik series is the only product that is brand new from scratch, and therefore also the most interesting product in the range. During the press-launch it was presented by Stuart Gray, who has been responsible for the development. The player holds new DAC`s from Wolfson, and as stated by the people at Linn, this is the first time around with Wolfson DACS in a Linn product. British Wolfson have got a lot of new high-end brands on the consumer-list, and it will be very exciting to closer review what this CD-player can manage. Linn was very clear that this is much better than the Ikemi. On a direct question from me about a comparable dvd-player from Linn when it comes to playing CDs, they were a bit hesitating in pointing at Unidisk 2.1.  

A lots of Linn-enthusiasts, including myself, would have hoped that Linn should employ the sophisticated CD-drawer from Ikemi and Unidisk 1.1 / 2.1 into a new CD-player at this price, but we were told that economy would not allow that. On the other hand, it was a good news that the quality of the plastic drawer appeared to have better quality than I have previously experienced on Genki and Unidsik SC. Both movements and noise was at a far more sophisticated level.  

I personally appreciate that Linn had brought along HDCD-decoding from earlier CD-players. In addition they have employed decoding of DTS-CD and analogue playback of these in two channels. Also the Majik CD can play MP3-CDs.  

Linn Majik Kontrol
Costructed by the creator of the legendary preamp Klimax Kontrol, this is a sort of two-channel variant of Linn Exotik, also admitted by the constructer Ian Wilson during the presentation. But there are some news. Besides the obvious fact that the multi-channel potential is removed, the implementation of a brand new phono-board is the most significant news. This module can play both MM and MC, and can also be mounted in Exotik and Kinos. Wilson was very satisfied with the way he had solved the MM/MC-switch, by simply turn the insertion of the card. According to him, this gives the ultimate minimalist signal path. The price for separate phono-board for retrofit in Exotik/Kinos wasn`t settled.   A bit surprising Linn has chosen to give the Majik Kontrol a simpler power-supply compared to the power supply in Exotik, giving the result that Exotik outranges Majik Kontrol. But Ian Wilson underlined that the difference is marginal.   Multiroom functionality through Linns KNEKT is kept at the same level as in Exotik, and in addition the Majik Kontrol has the Unity Gain function from Klimax Kontrol and Kolektor.   Some might say that Majik Kontrol seem to be an superfluous addition to Exotik. But I wouldn`t agree to that. Given the need Linn have for a distinct two-channel series, tha Majik Kontrol is actually a clever move. And given that the quality really is at the same level as the Exotik, I personally can confirm it`s a brilliant preamp. But a very big news it isn`t.   Linn Majik 2100 The only difference between Majik 2100 and Chakra 2100 is the name, and a slightly thicker cabinet. In other words this is a two-channel power amp with 2x100watts in 4 ohm, containing Chakra technology. But even if this isn`t really av big news, it is a very good amp. Iknow, because I own a 6-channel edition of the same amplifier myself. And if the new name can make som hard-core stereo-fundamentalists sleeping better at night, it really is a smart move to give it a twin with a new name, isn`t it?   TUNE DEM It came as no surprise that the demonstration with sound was performed as a TUNE DEM, a method that shortly consists of listening to the perception of music. Brian Morris was leading the demonstration with a steady hand, where it was performed as a duel against a LK-system in roughly same price-range. We`re talking about the CD-player Ikemi, the preamp Kairn, and the amp LK140. The speakers were a pair of Ninka, who in this case had to settle with passive filters. A bit pity, actually. Because the Ninkas can play very much better with active filters.   The difference between the new and the old system was striking, in the way that Majik was so much more distinct, and the music came out more clear. This aside, it wasn`t possible for me to conclude the individual role of each component, as the TUNE DEM only dealth with the systems as a unit.   Later and and far more extensive listening will give a better reply to which level these components have. For my part it is the CD-player that is the biggest excitement when it comes to sound quality. The pre- and power amp I know play well, based on my own experience with Exotik and Chakra C6100. And if this CD-player is up there at the level that it promised to be, the result can easily be magic. Errr….Majik

Sist oppdatert : 03.06.2007 14:44:56