Very Pure, quick and great sounding

Remote control, switching with another source

Well, it's an expensive product but it does an incredible job, it outperformed the Kairn in Audiophile listening. I've never heard a great system and so pure. You add an active system and you've got the best system in Home cinema for this price. Proceed with Revel speakers doesn't come at all close to the Linn system. Lexicon are very bad at producing great stereo but there DSP is great. Krell is auright but to expensive for what it is.
I was very suprise but I love it. It's not at all a BOOM BOOM machine and it's pure, dynamic and fast.

Similar Products Used:

Krell, Proceed, Lexicon

Sonic brilliance
Sonic brilliance, Linn accurate uncolored surround sound performance, transparency, stereo signal like top analouge preamp

None

Nearly fell for the 'you shouldn't use a digital processor for stereo signal' story...

.. however I used my own ears. This piece of equipment is truly superlative. I auditioned the AVP and the Lexicon in my home and of the two the AVP was next in line but was just totally outclassed by the Linn.

This is as Linn rightly states a 'system controller'. It will take every source you can throw at it and has the connections to do so.

Disclaimer - I own an all Linn set up (except for CD - which is an Arcam and the DVD which is a Pioneer). However I have heard this piece of kit in 'multi manufacturer' arrangement and it still came out on top.

The DAC is fantastic - even if you buy it just for that you are on a winner. I am using the Arcam Alpha as a transport for CD and Pioneer DV333 for DVD. The 5103 has cranked up the performance on these components and my system by quantum levels.

The 5103 produces wonderful sounds - clean tight extended bass and wonderful musicality is available from all sources I have fed into this unit.

Yes - Linn has included a delay in the switching from source to source but it is intentional buffer from extremes of volume change - you can cancel switching if you recognize another source has the volume cranked up.

I can't say enough about this 2000 model which nows carries DTS as well as DD and Linn's proprietary Limbik software to allow you to listen to stereo in several 'sophisticated' surround modes (as opposed to the array of surround effects on mass produced processors).

You would have to be serious about stereo reproduction and home theater to grab this but if you are in the market give this a try - expensive but worth every greenback.

My system:

3 x Linn LK140
1 x Linn LK85
1 x Arcam Alpha CD
1 x Linn Pekin Tuner
1 x Linn AV5103 System Controller
1 x Pioneer DV333 DVD

Similar Products Used:

Proceed AVP, Lexicon MC1, Linn Kairn

The Linn AV-5103 stayed in my home for four days. Four very interesting days. Looking, feeling and listening to this one, pure audiophile.
The stereo mode, when playing music, is very good. Everything is well defined and neutral. But the sound is very close on the speakers. Mildly compressed I think.
The Pro Logic mode, was dull sounding but clean and neutral.
Music worked very good with the Pro Logic mode. All speakers sounded clean and well defined.
The real surprise was the Dolby Digital mode. The surround channels where as clean and detailed as the frontspeakers. I could easily hear voices in the rears.
The overall sound is rolled off, both on the highs and lows. Not much but a little.
The fan also sounded a bit hi for my tast.
I don't think it's worth the price tag, but the quality is very good.

The on screen display, jumped when it apeared. Timing error in the video section. The remote is heavy and beautiful but to big for me. I had to move my hand to reach all the buttons.

Best 2-channel preamp I have ever heard

only 2 s-video inputs, no component video input

I bought the 5103 because I wanted the best 2-channel preamp I could find. It is deadly quiet, incredibly well built, and extremely versatile. I used it at least 9 months in two channel mode, before using it for home theater. I now have an almost all Linn AV system, and after 30 years of buying/selling/trading equipment, I have lived and loved the Linn longer than any other system (approximately 3 years). The 5103 is cosmetically beautiful, extremely musical, and in home theater mode, it completely disappears. It has the ability to define processing type, per input (i.e., stereo, stereosub, 3-way with center channel, limbik3, limbik5, etc). So, even my kids can be provided with the best sound, by selecting VCR, DVD, Satellite, etc. It also mates perfect with an all Linn system. Name any other AV preamp designed with an entire vendor solution in mind.

My system includes:
Linn 5103 AV preamp
3 Klouts, active with 5140's
LK140 active with 5120 center
LK140 passive with 5110 surround (wishing for Katan's)
Denon DV-2800 DVD player
Pekin tuner
Karik/Numerik CD
LP12/Lingo/Ekos/Archiv/Linto

Similar Products Used:

Linn Kairn, B&K Ref 20, Proceed AVP

Since my review (previous post below) several users have asked what speakers I have in my system, sorry for the ommission. They are:

Front - 2 x Keilidhs - ACTIV
Centre - 1 x Centrik (Keilidh type) - ACTIV
Rear - 2 x HCM Solid (B&W)