Linn Koil phono. S or K

Hi-Fi Corner
1

Which boards should I have for my linn Koil in my 32.5

2

K.

S will roll of the top end too much. Or at least that’s what google tells me.

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3

K boards are the best.

4

Thanks

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5

For Linn cartridges perhaps

6

The S boards are rolled of for inferior cartridges.

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7

I assume that such a sweeping claim is intended as a joke

8

No the K boards have a wider bandwidth and gentler HF roll-off compared to the S boards.

9

Now there was me thinking that K boards were designed to compensate for the excessive roll off inherent in Linn cartridges

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10

Linn describe the koil as a budget cartridge.

The k boards where developed to counter the effect of using the combination of Linn cartridges AND Linn speakers.

But that was decades ago. Cartridges and speakers have changed.

But the out of date recommendations don’t. :grin:

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11

Just compare them and you will hear that the
K boards are better, you don’t want amplification
that’s rolled off or having less bandwidth.

12

I have both. My 82 came with S. I then upgraded to a 52 which came with K. I got the boards swapped when I got the 52 serviced.

It sounds quite wonderful to me. My Dynavector XX Mk2 is hardly an “inferior cartridge”.

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13

What is the reason S boards roll off high frequency.

14

@Fatcat I think you are correct. When I bought a 32.5 in 1985 it was explained by the dealer that the “K” stood for Karma and the boards were specifically tuned to the Linn Karma. The “S” stood for Supex so this board was designed to work with Supex and later Koetsu. I do not believe Supex or Koetsu to be inferior cartridges, however I do believe the Karma (and probably other Linn cartridges) would sound better through K boards. Having had a Koetsu Red many years ago my opinion is that the S boards worked well with it, though they were awful with the low impedance Ortofon MC3000.

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15

Playing the Pérez de Cuéllar card here for international forum diplomacy, it seems we could say the K boards suit Linn cartridges and the S boards suit Dynavector.

16

S boards for cartridges that not sound so good in the high frequencies as top Linn cartridges etc.
I

17

But what causes high frequency roll off when using S Boards.

As I posted earlier Linn describe the koil as a budget cartridge.

18

The Koil is a Audiotechnica cartridge and they also sound better with K boards, when I have tried.

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19

Interesting, as the Karma was made by Supex, if memory serves.

20

I used Koil with K boards for a bit with CB amps. Sounded good but I wouldn’t have wanted any less bandwidth if that’s what the S does. Certainly the top end didn’t need hiding away. Used Ekos/Lingo LP12.

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