Very decent, "airy", colourfull sound like the very best tube preamplifiers, but tighter, clearer and I think more transparent and neutral as most tubes. An last not least: Good soundstage.

Design perhaps. Personally I like switches and volume controls, but I accept the Linn concept for better audio results.

Before I upgraded to Linn Kairn, I used a Linn Wakonda as Preamplifier for 10 Months (with phono and slimline power supply). The Wakonda was satisfiing to me, but it had a bit a solid-state sound. Therefore I looked for a tube Preamp, but as I saw a used Kairn for EUR 650,00 (also with phono and slimline power supply), I just had to buy it. This price is a steel. As I switched on the Kairn the first time, I thought I would be drunk. I couldn't believe, that I was listening to my own system. It was just magic. The speakers "disappeared" completely. I use to listen to classic music. But what I like most with the Kairn now, is Jazz with a lot of percussion. I would have paied for this preamp the full price, if I had to pay it for new. It's worth every penny (or - in this case - cent).

Similar Products Used:

I use Linn Kaber Loudspeaker (about 10 years old with no update), Linn Kaber Aktive Crossover with 3 Cambridge Audio P500 Marantz CD-Player with D/A Converter Enlightened Audio Desings DSP-1000 Series III Thorens TD 146 MK 5 mit Linn LK 9

Transparency, Detail, Soundstaging, Quiet operation

Lack of function selections on the preamp. Primarily remote control driven operation. Gimme a big ol' volume knob!

Skepticism abounds in the audio world, even for avid music lovers like myself. That emotion restrained me from purchasing a Linn Kairn for several months. Could it be an improvement, how much difference will a preamp really make, is it really a legimate upgrade? Well, I took the plunge and purchased a demo Linn Kairn. I plugged it in upon arrival and waited with bated breath. Sacre Bleu, what a difference this unit imparted to my system. First and foremost the revealing nature of this preamp shown through. Everything upstream of the preamp was exposed as either competent or deficient. I have an EAD 7000 III w/hdcd d/a converter and it has never been shown to greater effect (with a T-1000 transporter). The first element I recognized was that the soundstage was wider and individual voices and instruments were better pinpointed. Initially the soundstage seemed slightly veiled and to have receded, but I soon resolved that by replacing the preamp to power amp cabling (from monster cable to kimber kable). The veil immediately lifted. The level of detail and the disappearance of any semblance of component presence was a boon to the music. I could accurately pinpoint the voices and hear the complex acapella harmonies of The Fairfield Four's exquisite disc "I couldn't hear nobody pray". The ability of the Kairn to resolve this sort of detailed vocal extravaganza is indicative of this units superb pacing and rhythmic abilities. The preamp simply calls no attention to itself with its quiet unobtrusive operation and truthful recreation of the music presented to it. The next pleasant surprise was the quiet detailed performance of the phono section being fed by an Linn LP 12. The gain is excellent, the resolution (Linn Troika) is superb and the output is sheer musicality. The only downside of this setup is the revealing nature of these sorts of combinations. Faulty recordings (digital or analog) are brutally revealed. So much so that you may believe that there exists a fault elsewhere in your system. When coupled with quality components the culprit is usually not the system but the recording. High praise for this unit. I've long been a fan of Linn and this unit merely butresses my belief in the viability of their approach. The Linn Kairn further extends the "toe tapping" delight afforded by so many of their products. A fabulous bargain in the used /demo market. My system: EAD DSP 7000 III w/hdcd D/A converter EAD T-1000 Transport Linn LP12 w/Ittok and Troika Linn Kairn preamp McCormack DNA-1 w/revision A B&W 801 matrix series 2 various cables:(Kimber,Apature,Tara,Audioquest) Room tunes and Echo tunes

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Threshold FET 10, Adcom, PSE, PS Audio

Natural sound, handles complex music with aplomb. Air and clarity.

Expensive if new (and difficult to find new).

I have been amazed by the difference the Kairn has made to my system. I have a Karik with Aktiv triamped Keiledhs and , due to financial constraints, I had been using the preamp section of the Majik before buying a dedicated pre-amp. I trialled the Kairn against the other Linn options (Wakonda, Kollector) and found it superior in a listening test. I ended up buying a second hand one with an upgraded Brilliant PSU. It has kept the "Linn sound" that I enjoy but it has brought new life to the system, with increased levels of clarity, spaciousness and a more natural sound. At first listening I thought it was lacking in bass, but I have realised that my previous interpretation of bass was boom and distortion at the lower end. The new bass sound is clean, extended and can send shivers down your spine. It is also a completely unfatiguing sound and I have not wanted to stop listening for a minute since buying the Kairn. It is particularly good for listening to vocals, accoustic and jazz. I also play a lot of hip hop (hence my prev love of "boom")and it handles this well. Complicated pieces with lots of horns and percussion are well separated now and the more complex, the more joyous a sound comes out. As a second hand buy, it is a steal. It would be a must for anyone going down the Linn route. As it is contained in a stylish black minimalist box, it is also extremely wife-friendly (it matters, believe me).

Similar Products Used:

Majik, Kollector, Wakonda

"Klean" unadulterated sound. Only adjustments are volume gain and sound stage left-right adjustments. Non-fatiguing musical sound. User options allow unit to be used in conjuction with surround sound processor. Memory for source level equalization. Line outputs for three amps. Linn Silver interconnects preserve a clean sound to and from the Kairn.

Your music is only as good as originally recorded. Forces you to sell-off bad recording and seek high quality recordings. "Not plug in and play technology"- Phase is inverted in Kairn and requires phases adjustment at speakers by connecting positive output of the power amplifier to the negative loudspeaker terminal, and negative output of the power amp to the positive loudspeaker terminal. (If sub bass system is used this will require 180 deg adjustment as well)

Better hurry if you like Kairn-Pro - LINN decided to discontinue the Kairn Pro (line level only) in order to simplify their product range. The functionality and performance of the Kairn remains with Kairn (phono version). The Kairn Pro will be available until existing stocks run out. If you buy used be sure to pick-up a serial # greater than 6000 to get the "Slimline Brilliant power supply"

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Ikemi, Lk140, Pekin

transparency and ease

upgradability?

First I bought the Kolektor but after some listening, I switched to its bigger brother, the Kairn. More correctly, I bought a "Kairn-Pro", where the Pro means that the preamp lacks the phonostage. Since I own only 5 vinyl-recordings, I don't need that feature, rendering me a cheaper machine.

Kairn:
The sound gives me transparency in such way that I can hear all instruments as I want them to sound. The music sound easy and relaxed.
Kolektor: The sound is more up-front and into my face. The music gives alot details but doesn't play with such ease as the Kairn does. My opinion is that details are not as importance as swing since without "swingy" music, fatigueing will occur faster. (This is why vinyl-players often are better/easier to listen to than CD-players.)

The operation is very easy and smooth. It has the nice Linn-style with only two LED's glowing in the dark... I love it. If you choose that mode of operation of kourse. Well, the look is nice and you can get it with and without the BRILLIANT power-supply. Mine has, and I suggest you get a preamp that has it because of the better sound.

I think the inputs are enough for most people and I don't see a point in getting the Kolektor based upon number of connections since none of the preamps have HT-features. (Sound-processing such as dts/dd aso). But the Kolektor is nice due its lower price. But you can get a used Kairn-pro for just a little bit more than a new Kolektor... :)

Build quality is very good.
It simply rocks! There are always better equipment in this pricerange but for its price, it truly rocks. The ValueRating is definitely 5 stars. Overall is also 5 star . I have based that decision upon its features, ease of use , soundquality, etc. I have _not_ compared it to higher priced gears. A Linn AV5103 System Controller kicks the Kairn's ass...

If you plan to purchase this sweetie, keep in mind that differences are bigger the more sensitive speakers you have... Don't focus too hard on the source. Check for weak points in _all_ your hifi-chain.
(Sorry about this Linnies, I don't agree to the sourcetheory Linn say is so important. A Genki+Keltik sound better than CD12+Tukan! oh, that one hurts...)

Good luck with your purchase!

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Linn Kolektor

very musical, great soundstage, good phono

none

The Linn kairn is a very fine pre-amp.
It has a lot of in and outputs.
Comparing to the Classe it is much more musical and a better soundstage.The classe is very analitical and sometimes a little to bright.
The Spectral sounded very dull and fell of at first.
The Linn gives a very clean, detailed and musical sound.
My system : Linn genki
Linn Kairn
Linn AV 5105
Linn AV 5140

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Classe audio five,Spectral DMC 6

Rhythm, quality, design

mids

The Kairn is a real fine pre-amp and I got a lot of beautiful "music hours" where I really understood the messages of the musicians - and they made me happy. This is the highest compliment I can do for an electronic component. Maybe it's the "typical" Linn merits that brings the music to you (fast, detailed, neutral and with a lot of swing). I know that there are especially tubed amps which make a warmer (better?) job in the mids but I don't know much solid-state preamps which are really better and believe me - I know a lot of preamps which don't have this rhythm !!!

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Phase Linear, tubed Conrad-Johnson

Transparent, open, accurate

none

I already had a Linn Ikemi and two LK85s running active Tukans with a Sizmik. Adding the Kairn mad a big difference, the pre amp
I was using before was actually more expensive but there is definately a synergy between Linn equipment has brought all the
elements together.

I have listened to the full-blown Linn system threetimes. Each time it comprised of the full LP-12
rig, Karik/Numerik, Kairn, and Klouts driving active
Keltik speakers. Each time the system was setup by
people from Linn Scotland. One time it sounded
unacceptably bad, the other two times it was
barely average, and indeed on one occasion I found
their cheaper Mimik/Majik-I/Keilidh system more
musical. This all indicates to me that, while the
Kairn itself perhaps is not bad, the musical presentation
of Linn is really skewed. And overhyped, of kourse.

I mainly purchased the Kairn for it's phono stage. I must say that every component in my system has of course greatly improved with the addition of this fine pre-amp. I can't really say anything bad about it's performance (which in relation to it's price is outstanding), however, I do wish Ivor would have installed a great big fat knob on the front of it.While remote controlled units are fine as long as you drag the remote with you all the time (!), I like having music on not only when I sit in the sweetspot getting kidnapped by my system, but pretty much as an all day affair, it can turn into an anoyance looking for the darn thing or bending down to fiddle with the micro-sized buttons on the unit itself.
My rating : 1-10 : 7
1- 5 : 3.5
but there's no 3.5 on here :-(