I started with the Genki and FMJ, both very nice but different players-the FMJ has a little more on the bottom, but a little less detail. After swapping 10-12 discs back and forth, ended up preferring the Genki. (Thanks to Jerry at Cinema and Sound in Albuquerque who handed the remote to me, sat and listened, swapped set-ups, talked a little between cuts, let me play for 2+ hours) That was a surprise as I was fully prepared to dislike the Linn based on some demos a few years ago by factory reps who were condescending creeps. Then Jerry did a very bad thing--he put the Ikemi into the mix. There was music. Music with pace and rhythm. Music with a balanced, coherent smoothness without sacrificing detail. Music that could rock on the Radiators and Stevie Ray and be delicate on Dvorak. On Arlene Auger's Love Songs I closed my eyes so he wouldn't see my tears. I am going to find a way to get my wife to hear this thing so she will want to have it as badly as I do. Then a home audition. I am on a mission to own this player. I'd like it to source my Thiel 1.5's though my Classe Cap 150.

Similar Products Used:

Genki, Arcam FMJ

3D Imaging, musical detail

I would have liked it to bring more of the emotions forward

This is a great CD player, and its 3D imaging is superb. In addition, it brings all of the small details forward, meaning that you can hear each INDIVIDUAL violin in an orchestra, or really hear the taps of John Lee Hooker's foot on the wooden floor of some club. For analytical listeners, This is the perfect choice. However, I would not recommend it for listeners who are looking for a player that would make them want to dance or sing. For its price, there are players that bring more of the emotion in the music forward, such as Thule's top players or some C.E.C models. If your'e a serious listener who's looking for the most detailed, accurate player in this price range, the Ikemi is hard to beat. Otherwise, I wouldn't spend $3000 on this player.

Clarity. Depth. Soundstage. Reveal. Construction. Music. Music. Music.

Zero, zip, nada!

Wow! What a player. I'm relatively new to the hi-end audiophile world but have always been a huge music fan. I can honestly say that I never knew how much I was missing by using an inferior digital source. I could go on and on about the color, the transparency, the analog-like sound, the dimensionality, the new formats on the horizon, and all the rest of that audiophilic mumbojumbo, or I can just get to the point. If you have a lot of CDs and you love music, buy this baby now! (assuming you have a lot of cash as well) I know there are more expensive players (I've even listened to a few) but I doubt there are any better ones (OK, I haven't heard the 20K CD12). FYI, I demo'd the Genki first, which is a helluva player in it's own right, but was blown away by the absolute sonic beauty of the Ikemi. Plus, I imagine it will only improve with more playing time. The rest of my system is more geared to 5.1 DVD surround sound, but adding the Ikemi to it has transformed it into a wonderful 2 channel audio system with the focus firmly placed where it should be — on the music. 5 Stars all the way!

Associated Equipment:
Pioneer Elite DV37
Rotel RSP 976 Digital Surround Processor
Rotel RB985MKII 5.1 Amp.
Vienna Accoustics Mozart Front Speakers
Vienna Accoustics Maestro Center Speaker
BA SubSats Rear Speakers (to be upgraded soon)
Assorted Audioquest and Van Den Hull Wires and Interconnects

Similar Products Used:

A host of mid-fi CDPs and a few hi-fi ones too

Excellent sound, smooth and no listening fatigue

None yet

First I want to thank the manager and owner of Atelier Brosseau for lending me the unit and try it out. I cannot understand a person buying a unit in this dollar figure and not trying it out. My rule was simple, if the store did not want me to try it out, I was out of there.

My decision was not made up yet between a Rotel-991 or another unit since I had not found my unit yet. I had tried the Roksan and the Rotel-971 (see Reg under Roksan Caspian and Rotel). I finally tested the Rotel-991 and the Linn Genki and my desicion was made up - the Linn product was far superior. I later returned to the store and purchased the Linn Ikemi because of the transport and from what I was told it was an even better machine than the Genki (also see UHF magazine report)

I could afford a machine on that price range but I never tough I would put this much money on a CD player. I was first looking at a budget of $ 1,300 US.

As far as the Ikemi, the sound is very clean, the bass has a lot of weight without being harsh. The string instrument are very nice to hear and the voices so clear and present. The highs are nice and no fatigue. All the instrument are present. The sound is very very tight and by that you will see when you crank the amp...no distortion and this was the only unit I could go this far in volume with my amp without hearing unpleasent noises.

Again, I never thought I would spend this much for a CD player but my wife soon found out that the sources very important and agreed on my choice without hesitation.

As the UHF magazine said "I found my player". This is so true because after 1 month I love every dollar I spent. I always woundered when people said "I'm re-lisening my CD collection", well I am.

My system:
Passion Amp 30 WpC I-11 - tubes
Reference 3A speakers
Rotel RLC-900 Line Conditionner
Linn Ikemi CD player
Linn analog cable (came with the unit)
Rotel tuner
Kimber Cable 4TC

Similar Products Used:

Roksan Caspian, Rotel-991, Rotel-971, Linn Genki

Extremely smooth and non-fatiguing; tight controlled but unobtrusive base; sweet smooth treble with lots of detail; big soundstage;great depth

none

This is a serious piece of equipment!!! I have heard alot of cd players, some many times more expensive than the ikemi and the ikemi blows them all away!!! This player does not sound digital in any way--its ease and smoothness giving it a decidedly analog feel but with fantastic tight super-controlled bass that is never obtrusive. I can listen to this player all day and all night and never get listening fatigue and believe me I have done that on many occassions already in the few months I have owned this unit. The midrange is clean, transparent, detailed and smooth---vocals rock on this unit. The overall clarity of the sound is incredible. As one of the previous reviewers said, I too can push my amplifiers and they don't sound distorted in the least!!! Oh, and the most important aspect of this unit---it plays music, it does not sound like it is some kind of electronics experiment. You get right to the emotion of the music with this player---easily and honestly--it doesn't hype any particular aspect of its sound to temporarily impress you----true FIDELITY. As for some of the reviewers' comments about soundstage being flat and no depth---either you are deaf, your associated equipment is garbage, or your room is playing tricks on you. In my set up, the layering of instruments both from front to back and from side to side is phenomenal. And the imaging and focus-WOW!!!!!! The separation of instruments is incredible!!!!
Holly Cole was in my house last night singing for me---and the night before that, Tracy Chapman paid a visit. Even my mediocre pop and rock recordings sound better with this player.

Everything I said above, for hdcd encoded disks, even that much better--this player rocks!!!!

I have waited a long time for a cd player that doesn't sound digital and that simply plays music---honestly and convincingly----finally, I found it-- THE IKEMI. If you want to hear music the way it should sound---invest in one of these players too!!!!!

Similar Products Used:

many

• sweet open trebles with lots of details par with other cdps in this price range
• good bouncy bass. no touch of boominess or never heavy handed
• even the pop cds sound coherent
• Great clarity/attack on percussive music with good decay
• sheer fun to play the music on!
• Authoritative piano solo. Similar to the CD12 minus the details, however
• Places firmer central images on piano/vocal solo. Conseqently, they
sound cleaner than the kps. (can hear the subtle nuances )
• got that 'Linn' groove
• the bass is tighter and drier than the kps.
• busy music passages do not fall apart at high SPL: as the Mimik did
• as usual more prominent leading edges and quick footed than the krell
• Excellent details on the midband. ( can't really tell apart from the kps)
• As the CD12, it gave the main system 'springy' feel without giving up the bass weight

• flat soundstage
• the trebles bit on the forwardside. (contributes to the loss of 3D image)
• yet again, a cheezy remote
• more upfront than the kps
• details got lost in the rim shots and crushed symbals (shorter decay/air
)
• the top end does not have the 'sheen'
• lost 'certain' lower bass bloom
• collapse of soundstage
• the kps still has one up on the lower register piano resonance. ( sounds
much more real. )
• HDCD recording sounds ok. still prefer the kps
• there are some sticking notes around the tweeters.

AGAINST MIMIK:
• much more laid back
• the trebles do not stick out at low level.
• all frequency range sound more even tempered
• no contest in terms of the details

AGAINST SFCD-1:
• lost depth of field and holographic 3D imaging
• fast!! ( firmer bass with excellent decay)
• the trebles sound out of place in some cases
• the resolution might be hair better
• stronger vocal centre image

Attitudenaly, it is very similar to the CD12. A lot closer than from where the Mimik is, for sure. A nice try, but does not quite make it.

It lacks in that last ounce of detail heard in the top flight CDPs that makes all the difference in the world. Yet, it gives the music so much life and an involving experience which I value a lot when selecting any components.

Another thing going for this cdp is an ability to make the badly recorded CDs sounds good without masking the details. That's hard without sounding way too analytical.

This unit is not for someone who values all the audiophile tricks. (ie:
soundstaging/depth etc..)
If you want the Linn grooves with all the audiophile trimmings, the CD 12 is the one to get. Nonetheless, it'll make a very nice sonic upgrade from the Mimik for the cost difference.

As for the difference between more similarly priced SFCD-1 and the Ikemi is negligiable. They offer alltogether different kind of sonic pleasure. Pick your poison sort of. Ikemi has a smoother top end detail and elastic addictive bass that i love so much. in turn, the SFCD-1 offers greater depth and the more liquid midband. If i have to pick one, it will be a hard choice.

Similar Products Used:

Linn Mimik, Sonic Frontier SFCD-1
Krell kps 25s

For me a constant revelation of what is really on the CD's...

None especially at it's price level

Well...kick-as* - to be blunt. If you can't afford a CD12 - get the absolute next best thing - the Ikemi. Great in every way - trasparent, detailed, great timing, rythmic, and you won't believe the amount of music that is imbedded on your CD's - this player is hard to fault. The box is plain and simple and does not look like it sounds. If you can't afford the Ikemi, get the Genki but try to save up for the Ikemi - it'll be worth it! Check out the other reviews...

http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/linn_ikemi.htm

and the recent UHF magazine issue #59 (Canadian publication) at www.uhfmag.com

Similar Products Used:

None

Imaging and balance

None

I am very impressed with this player. It has a lush, clear sound, with full bass and midrange, perhaps a slightly rounded off top end, which is fine with me. The most impressive feature is the imaging, which rivals the best turntables, but with better bass. I am using it with a Copland 301 preamp and two Linn LK 100 active amps. This is the best sound that I have ever had in my many years of playing CD's. Slightly more expensive that the competition, but worth the money.

Similar Products Used:

Other Linn CD Players, Classe CD

Hmmmmmmmm.

although improved over the Karik/numerik still has that boxy, smallish, wee-soundstage that linn crack-heads love

An improvement over former Linn stuff, so at least the company is moving forward, however; not my cup of sonic tea. If they could make these things full size and dump the goofy names, this might help sales too.
The 3 other players tested easily outclassed the Linn, but I still think the player was tolerable

Similar Products Used:

Meridian 508.24 , Copland 289 , Levinson