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Linn
Classik Movie System
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Description Model:
Linn Classik Movie System
Price: $2995 USD
Dimensions: 12.6"W x 3.15"H x 12.8"D
Weight: 13.23 pounds
Warranty: Two years parts and labor
Features
- Dolby Digital, DTS, and Dolby Pro Logic decoding
- 40Wpc into 8 ohms (75Wpc into 4 ohms) x 5
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Features (cont'd)
- AM/FM tuner with 80 presets
- Multiroom connections for up to four zones when connecting
to other Linn Classik Movie Systems
- One S-video input and output
- One composite video input and output
- Two analog audio inputs
- One digital output
- 5.1-channel preamp outputs
- Full-function remote control
- Available in Koral blue, silver, Arctik white, Baltik green,
and black
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So, I spent a few months living with an old Yamaha
Integrated amp, a 27" TV, and an inexpensive DVD player. I guess for a home-theater
reviewer, this would have to qualify as roughing it. Had the Linn Classik Movie System
been here when I was in the apartment it would have been a much different story. As it
turns out, the Linn replaced a largish Onkyo receiver and a budget Toshiba DVD player as
the driving force behind a small system in my new home. The size of the unit makes it a
nice fit for a bedroom or small apartment system where space is at a premium.
Description
The Linn Classik Movie System is a single-box solution,
akin in a way to many of the home-theater-in-a-box (HTIB) packages currently on the
market, albeit several steps up in quality, and less the speaker system. At $2995 the
Classik is certainly more expensive than the vast majority of HTIB systems on the market.
The basic feature set includes a five-channel, 75W
amplifier (into 4 ohms), an AM/FM tuner with 80 presets, and an integrated DVD player.
Additionally, there are two analog audio inputs, one digital audio input, one S-video
input and output, and a full set of 5.1 analog outputs for external amplification. The
speaker outputs are very unusual in that they’re reverse banana plugs, or BFA
(British Federation of Audio) connectors. (For an explanation of BFAs, see the GoodSound!
article "What
You Need to Know About Loudspeaker Cables.") Try finding connectors for that
at your local Radio Shack. I had to go to five electronics stores before I finally found
rolled bananas that would just barely work with the connectors on the Linn. Better to get
real BFAs if you can.
Surround processing consists of Dolby Digital and DTS on
DVDs, and stereo, stereo plus sub, and three- and five-channel stereo on the analog
inputs. There’s no Dolby Pro Logic for the analog inputs so you can forget about
surround for VHS tapes, satellite, or cable. However, the Classik does include multi-room
capabilities for up to four additional zones when used with additional Linn Classik Movie
receivers. This unusual setup allows each unit to operate independently or to control and
use the signal from one main Classik.
Physically, the component is a mere 12.6"W x
3.15"H x 12.8"D, small enough to tuck into just about any TV cabinet.
Aesthetically, the Linn is easily one of the most attractive pieces I’ve had in the
house, so you may choose not to hide it in a cabinet at all. This is high-quality,
minimalist gear in the tradition of other Linn audiophile components, but with a twist of
home theater added for flavor.
Setup and use
Before you even unbox the Classik, make sure you have five
pairs of rolled bananas or BFA connectors on hand, as mentioned above. The Classik will
not accept standard bananas, spades, bare wires, or pins. And watch those rolled bananas
with serrated edges as they can catch on the gold-plated contacts inside the unit and make
the speaker wires extremely difficult to disconnect. I actually pulled out one of the
internal contacts when I was boxing up the Classik to ship it back. The good news is that
they slip back into place without too much trouble.
Setup is fairly straightforward as these things go. The VCR
plugged into the appropriate connections, but I had to plug the satellite receiver into
the TV’s audio input jacks and the Classik’s single S-video input. If you have
more than one S-video source, you’ll have to switch them elsewhere. S-video signals
pass through the unit whether it’s turned on or not, which is nice for those
occasions when you may not want the sound running through your entire speaker system
(thereby using the TV sound only).
The system setup menu is broken into four categories.
General Setup consists of selections for: TV Display (4:3, Letterbox, or 16:9), TV Type
(Multi, NTSC, or PAL), Video Out (S-video, composite, or both), and a handful of other
minor options. Speaker Setup allows selection of speaker size and distance, subwoofer on
or off, and level calibration of the individual speakers through the on-board test tones.
Audio Setup contains selections for the audio output mode (analog, SPDIF/RAW for an
external decoder, or SPDIF/PCM for an external recorder), operation mode (line or TV out),
Dolby Pro Logic (on, off, or auto) for decoding of stereo DVDs and CDs, and dynamic-range
compression settings. The latter sets the amount of audio compression, while pressing and
holding the "Surr" button on the remote turns it on and off. The Preferences
menu allows language selection for audio, subtitles, and the disc menu, as well as
parental restrictions and password settings.
Once setup is complete there should be little reason to
access the menus, as operation consists mainly of dropping a DVD or CD into the system,
selecting the source, and pressing play. One needs to do little else for normal operation.
Remotely speaking
The one major operational weakness I found with the Linn
was the remote. Its slim, sleek design looks terrific sitting out on the coffee table, but
ergonomically it leaves a lot to be desired. All the buttons are roughly the same size and
shape, with no backlighting, and the labels are extremely small and difficult to read. It
was tough enough to use in broad daylight, but in a darkened room it was nearly
impossible. The remote is so symmetrical in design that on numerous occasions I found I
had the remote upside down!
Maybe Linn is assuming that most people already have, or
will purchase, a good universal remote with the Classik, but I don’t think
that’s a valid assumption with this class of component. The bottom line is that a
component of this caliber and price deserves a decent remote. I ended up replacing this
one with the Home Theater Master MX-500, and that improved operation dramatically.
Audio/visual
When the Linn Classik Movie System arrived, I had a
Paradigm speaker system on hand consisting of a pair of Esprit v.3s for the left and
right, a CC-270 v.3 center-channel, and ADP-170 v.3 surrounds. Driving the Paradigm
speaker system the Linn Classik displayed an increase in high-frequency detail over the
components I was using, and produced a more open sound as well. This was immediately
evident while watching the opening sequence of Panic Room, where the echoes of the
empty house took on an added sense of depth and space. The panic room itself suddenly felt
cramped and closed-in by comparison. It still amazes me how well a good surround system
can convey a different sense of space, in sharp contrast to the room in which it’s
actually placed.
Watching Moulin Rouge was an entertaining and
musical experience through the Linn Classik Movie System. A great example was where Satine
makes her grand entrance The sound of the confetti dropping seemed to come from all
around, while still remaining distinguishable as individual pieces of confetti. This was a
good sign and showed true fidelity to the source. The sound of Ewan McGregor’s voice
as Christian was rich and full during "Your Song," where he’s singing to
Satine. Driving a speaker system such as the Paradigm ensemble, the Linn Classik was able
to extract the most out of each movie and produce a most believable experience.
By the time I got around to watching Ice Age, I was
routinely listening to the Morel Spiro speaker system (review forthcoming), which makes an
interesting match for the Classik, since its speakers are also ultra-compact. There’s
enough surround activity in the opening sequence, "A Squirrel’s Life," to
make some of my two-channel audiophile friends green with envy. With the Morel system as a
mate, the audio became a little more detailed and stereo imaging improved ever so
slightly. Suddenly, I was able to follow the cracking of the ice precisely as it
progressed both on the screen and in the space around me!
Though the Linn Classik lacks progressive-scan output, its
video performance is impressive nonetheless. Where the Sony and Toshiba DVD players I had
on hand displayed numerous interlaced video artifacts, the Linn rarely displayed any, and
even then they were very subtle. This could be seen in movies like Star Trek:
Insurrection, where the second-generation Sony DVP-S300 made the straw in the opening
segment swim about the screen like a pile of snakes. This was also evident on the newer
Toshiba SD-1800, but to a lesser degree. While the Linn still displayed some artifacts on
this scene, they were relatively minor and not at all distracting as they had been on the
older Sony. Color saturation and detail are also improved over the other players I’ve
used. This was definitely the case with Moulin Rouge, where the Linn was slightly
sharper and better saturated than the Toshiba, and a noticeable improvement over the
relatively soft picture of the Sony.
The Linn Classik proved its worth with movies on DVD, but
it really separates itself from the rest of the pack when playing CDs. I’ve found
that the vast majority of the current crop of DVD players fail in standard CD playback,
and the two players I have in the house are no exception. I notice this most with the
Toshiba SD-1800, but the Panasonic RV-32 in the living-room system is really no better in
this respect.
The depth and warmth of Cassandra Wilson’s voice came
through in all its glory on "Death Letter," from New Moon Daughter [Blue
Note 32861], as did the shrill plucking of the guitar strings from the opening of
"Find Him." Her voice and musical style may be an acquired taste for some, but
the Linn reproduced every cut faithfully and accurately, regardless.
The Linn also proved its ability to rock with the Dire
Straits remaster [Vertigo 800 051]. With the Paradigm Esprit v.3 in the system, the
percussion at the opening of "Water of Love" was precisely placed and the bass
line was tightly controlled the way it should be. Most people probably put this album on
for "Sultans of Swing," but I tend to migrate instead to "Wild West
End." I like the combination of acoustic and electric guitar, piano, and percussion
on this cut, and the Linn system blended the distinct individual elements into a single,
lifelike whole.
Comparison
When I tried to think of something to compare the Linn
Classik Movie System to, I realized something very important: There really isn’t
anything. When it comes to single-box home-theater components with audiophile origins, the
Classik is in a class of one. So what’s a reviewer to do? Since it
doesn’t fit neatly into a particular category, I finally decided I would compare it
to everything else I have in the house. Right now, that includes Outlaw
Audio’s Model 950 surround-sound processor and Model 770 amplifier, and the Onkyo
TX-DS696 receiver.
When I plugged the Linn into the bedroom system, it
replaced the Onkyo receiver and the Toshiba DVD player. The difference was immediately
apparent in both sound and video quality. The top end of the Paradigm speaker system
opened up remarkably, and the bass became noticeably tighter.
Visually, the Linn had better saturated colors and slightly
better detail than either the Toshiba or Panasonic DVD players. It easily outperformed
both players on CD playback, too. Compared against the Outlaw system, the Linn is a bit
warmer and smoother, but lacks the dynamic punch gained from having 200Wpc on tap for loud
passages in movies and music. That said, I seriously doubt this will be much of an issue
for the target market Linn is going after with the Classik, where 115dB peaks will draw
the ire of neighbors and building management alike!
Conclusion
When I look at the Linn Classik Movie System, I can’t
help thinking about people like my brother. He lives in a small apartment in New York,
where space is at a premium. Every additional component takes valuable real estate
that’s so precious in such a small space. The Classik addresses this concern smartly.
The Linn system provides a high-quality alternative to the
large multi-component arrays that comprise the vast majority of choices on the market
today. If you want top-notch audio and NTSC video playback in an exceptionally small
footprint, the Linn Classik Movie System is in a class all by itself. City apartment
dwellers will likely fall in love with this piece as it offers superb audio and video
quality in roughly the same amount of space as their existing DVD or CD player. To be
sure, this is a niche market, but for people like my brother, the Linn should be an easy
choice.
| Review
System |
| Speakers - Paradigm Esprit v.3
(mains), CC-270 v.3 (center-channel), ADP-170 v.3 (surrounds), PDR-12 subwoofer,
Morel Spiro 5.1 speaker system |
| Amplifier
- Outlaw Audio Model 770 |
| Processor - Outlaw Audio Model 950 |
| Sources
- Toshiba SD-1800 DVD player, Panasonic RV-32 DVD player, Sony DVP-S300 DVD player,
RCA DirecTV receiver |
| Cables - Monster Cable, Radio Shack |
| Monitor
- Proscan 35" direct-view monitor |
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