Well I went ahead and did it. Always wanted to a Sondek but finally upgraded. Still awaiting delivery (apparently will take 4-5 weeks).
I purchased a Linn LP12 Akurate level (Lingo 4, Karousel, Trampolin, Kore, but upgraded to Ekos SE/1 arm and Kandid cartridge).
My question is about my phono stage. I currently use a Rega Aria Mk3, which I suspect may pose a bit of a choke on the Kandid.
Has anybody had any experience using the Kandid with a Superline? In your opinion will the Superline outperform my current Aria? Any input you can provide in that regard?
If I power the Superline with my SN3 through a SNAIC 5, will that affect performance of either the Superline or SN3?
Not exactly your question, but… if committed to the Kandid, in your position I’d look at moving the Lingo4, getting a Radikal + Urika. You can find second-hand Urikas from dealers at very attractive prices, or alternatively you can benefit from the package deal with the Radikal. The deck would also perform better with this anyway.
Part of this stems from my preference of the Linn phono stages over the Superline (which I passed in favor of the Uphorik at the time).
Thanks @ricsimas. Unfortunately I am at my financial limit for upgrades this year. The Akurate itself was already a big purchase for me.
But I do agree that the Radikal and Urika would very likely be great upgrades, but those represent a significant outlay of money. Hopefully someday, but not this year.
I would wait until the deck has arrived with you and you have run everything in, one thing is for sure you have a very good spec LP12 and will show you the music
on my Lp12 journey I went Stageline > stageline/HCDR/Naim Pre/HCDR and now Urika Radikal - each step was a good step in the musical direction
I have heard very good reports of SN3 phono so I would try that combo first, but superline is very very good
Superline with Supercap is a stonking option on the LP12. Expensive - but very good. Superline powered separately to the pre-amp via Burndy to Supercap is a big enhancement compared with the SNAIC to preamp such as 252.
How would you power the Superline though? And I’m assuming that’s an additional purchase?
If your deck hasn’t arrived yet, feels like the dealer could just take the Lingo4 out of the deal, and you’d get a better result with Radikal and staying with the Aria for a while.
The Superline certainly doesn’t need a Supercap in order to shine - the Supercap just optimises performance. Even in its most basic powered form (AUX2 from a Supernait, NAC202 or NAC282) it’s a superb phono stage and should be an appreciable step up from the Aria. There’s an interim step too, by powering from a Hicap or, should you ever upgrade to a NAc252 our NAC552, from their AUX2 powered sockets.
As for the Kandid, the Superline allows exact matching for load and capacitance through the two DIN plugs, and even nice little upgrades through z foil resistor and Airplug versions.
Yes - I meant that the Superline itself would be a purchase.
I know lockdown makes this impossible, but I would wait until you could demo those two options to make a call. I personally much preferred the Linn stages over the SL when I was running first an Akiva and later a Kandid, but you should make this choice based on a demo.
The Kandid’s output is misleading imo…
I have set up my Kandid with SL/SCdr suitably loaded @ 576R+470pf plugs recommended by Peter Swain. No issues with the overall SQ however i sensed far more surface noise and other oddities as i felt the output was higher than the .4mv quoted by Linn for the Kandid.
you would be better of with an SL in E form methinks…unless you can “tame” the Kandid’s output somehow…
As ever YMMV…@Stag
Tasebase
You’re probably right regarding the output, if you look at the other Lyra cartridges they’re around 0.5mv and above
I must admit I didn’t have any issues with the Kandid & Superline, I had the same plugs from the same place
Might be worth holding onto the Superline standard version for now, when he upgrades from the Kandid assuming he stays with Lyra, the SL versions as quite a few forum members have gone for works perfectly with a standard Superline although going for a non SL cart like me then a standard Superline isn’t ideal, I was considering an E but then went on a different course but even then when I had the thing upgraded which was a complete rebuild I had it specifically built for a 0.56mv rather than the normal 0.2
You might want to consider the Lejonklou Entity MC. I migrated from the Urika to the Entity on two LP12’s. First is Keel/ Radikal/ Karousel/ Ekos SE/1/ Kandid, second is same but with Keel Aro/ Aro/ Krystal. Both have a Chris Harban movingui plinth.
The Entity was clearly better than the Urika, and at $2695 cheaper than a new Urika or Superline. The Kandid LP12 fronts an active Naim system with a 552, so that makes me a Naim guy recommending a non-Naim phono pre. In fact, the Lejonklou MM phono preamps are also terrific.
I spent a long time a couple of years ago choosing a new phono stage for my LP12 as an upgrade to the Linn Linto I’d had for ages. I auditioned all the usual suspects with Uphorik, Stageline, Superline, Roksan RPP, Urika and this little beauty from Cyrus (yes, Cyrus!). It blew everything else away. A real surprise. Phono Signature + PSXR2 power supply. Absolutely wonderful. Highly recommended. And it leaves my Radikal to spend 100% of its time powering the LP12 and not sharing duties with Urika tasks.
Owned a Urilka for just over 12 months, I am certainly not changing I am a fairly active member of another forum on LP12’s I have never seen it mentioned? not many dealers in the UK
