Warm, detailed

none

Beautifully built, great soundstage, 3d imaging. What else could you want! 5 out 5 all the way!

Similar Products Used:

Naim, merridian

Build quality, Styling, Sound!

None

There is not one bad thing you could come up with when it comes to this player. Its incredible musical and accurate, detailed and warm. As one reviewer here put it, 'it is a combination vinyl and digital,' the best of both worlds, you got' ta' love it! 5 for value and five for overall. There are a few people here in this office building who picked them up real cheap because of the new models just released. Some say they bought 'em for $2500 Canadian! What a steal!

Similar Products Used:

Arcam, Linn

Regarding Jerry's review below, I believe my thoughts on this CD player are right on target based on the last few reviews as my opinions really struck a chord with other Linnies. You cannot deny that this player is well built, however, I have yet to find anybody that would claim that a CD player that has been DISCONTINUED could be considered "cutting edge" technology. Get real. Anyways, by this time next year you'll probably be drooling over a LINN DVD player. By the way...my first name really IS LINN!

Musicaly involving, "...simple but not simpler"

after auditioning Karik in all Linn system, i was impresed, but skeptical. After listening in my system...i have to say Extraordinary! I would sugest Karik to anybody looking for "The Last" player they will ever need...Also i directly compared Karik with SFCD-1 which sounded a bit forward, although in all linn set-up.

Similar Products Used:

Pass Aleph 0, Cabasse Farella...Dyscovery ...etc SFCD-1

Build, warmth, character of sound

None

very smooth sounding, musically invovling, and resolving. i think this player has to be the best kept secret this side of the ocean. i agree with one of the other reviewers here, i prefer the karik/numerik's interpritation to that of its new cousin the ikemi. as has been said, less forward, warmer, more inviting. can you put a price on truly involving music, that moves you, as music should...i don't think so. its a no brainer, 5 stars all around.

Similar Products Used:

Ikemi, merridian, arcam

very involving,great pace,smooth,clear

nothing i could think of

i bought my player 4.5 years ago.i intended to buy a cheaper arcam player,but after i heard the karik i knew i got to have it.i enjoyed it very much for the last years. a 7 month ago i added a numeric dac.the numeric made the sound clearer with more body and slightly better bass and the soundstage is also better,but i had a problem:with the numeric the sound was too laidback.after a few monthes of frustration i found the answer.i replaced my audioquest lapis interconnects(which have a laidback nature by themselves) with xlo limited (ultra expensive but worth every cent,the signature are also exellent).now the sound is realy wonderful,invilving,airy,with great bass and pace

associated equipment:kef reference-3 speakers,ensemble tiger amp,xlo sig.5.1 speaker cables

Similar Products Used:

classe cd 1,micromega stage 2,naim,arcam

beautiful smooth sound, lacking any "analytical" traits,
reliable, first class "craftsmanship"!

...without numerik, solid performer but can sound "lean" in some sistems

I worked at the "premier" hi-end shop, in Vegas. Also visited numerous CES show's...and i can say that i am "somewhat" knowledable about the products, i was selling.
Linn products are 1st class. Their price is justifiable, and
the fact that Linn Karik/Numerik combo, first introduced, cost over 6k was with the reason! This "combo",now days can be bought for about 3k, or less, clearly outperforms ANY stand alone CD player, at any price. As a stand alone player, best sounding in all Linn set-up. If, 3k TODAY, i would question the price vs value, but for less than 1.5k, i still think, outperforms anything, in price range, up to 2k!

Similar Products Used:

All Linn, all CJ, NAD, Nakamichi, Marantz, ML speakers,
Aerial Acoustics...etc

Musicallity, mesmerizing realism

None

If you are looking for a top notch player/transport that does nothing second rate, this is it! I do not no of a player that even comes close at this price range. It is so involving, mesmerizingly so. You just don't want to stop listening, what else can you say?

Similar Products Used:

Cambridge, Anthem

It screams quality, last player you'll buy.

none

I don't understand some of the lousy reviews of this product. The smooth character of this player, its sheer musicality, is really unparalleled in my experience. It is so involving, it is mesmerizing. Something you can really enjoy time and time again. 5 stars easy, time and time again!

Similar Products Used:

arcam, naid, merridian

Smooth, LIVE, Real music. Stings are strings, Diane Krall is Diane Krall....

I do not have a numerik....yet.. To be really picky the remote.

To start, I am a Linn fan. However, I have listended to other systems like Classe, Rotel, Naim and Brystons. All these have their forte and weaknesses, but the Linn sound is like fine wine....it gets better with age or at least the more you listen, the better it sounds. Non Faiguing.

The Transport is second only to the Ikemi/Sondek CD12. The finish and feel of the piece is first rate.

Sound is like music. Just simply music. No discoloration, no extra stuff...the Karik just pulls out all that it can muster. The change in sound can come from changing the cabling you use, and then it is so minisculey subtle.

Bottom line is that the sound reproduced is what the CD contains. Neutral, and just lively.



My system:

Linn Majik/Kudos with Kimber silver jumper (real short, 4 inches long instead of the Linn gold amp/pre jumper)
Karik III
Monster M1000 reference w/tara labs turbines
Totem Arro
Vampire CCII speaker bi-wire




Music just sounds le you are there.

Similar Products Used:

Linn Mimik, Naim CD3.5,Rotel RCD991,RCD971