Linn Keilidhs

[Naxos]

As I mentioned in a recent post, I've owned a pair of Linn Keilidhs since 1994, and I love the sound they produce on their Ku-stone stands - I know people often either love or hate Linn, but as much of my listening is classical, with some organ music, they produce excellent weight and soundstage, even if they might just miss the last degree of rawness for rock music.

I've been umming and aahing about changing them for a while, and wondered what people might recomment for under £2k - the new Spendor A5's, for example? Or should I just stick with them if I like them?

My current system is a Rega P3/24/Pro-ject phono stage/Cyrus CD 8SE through a Naim Supernait, and the speakers are biwired with Chord Carnival cables.

I'd really appreciate a few thoughts!

 

[Anonymous]

For classical, I don't think these two can be beaten: For outright musical clarity and enjoyment, these are the best: http://whathifi.com/Review/ProAc-Response-D-Two/ but for more slam and depth to the bass (which you'll need for those 32foot reeds!) try these: http://whathifi.com/Review/ProAc-Studio-140/

 

[the record spot]

I think you might have to go some way to improve on the Keilidhs - a good chunky speaker, one I'd been thinking about getting until recently. How much would you have to spend to improve on those? I think a good question to ask is how much your desire to change is driven by the sound you are listening to against the "I just fancy a change"?

I fell into that bracket with my speakers recently. Picked up some Mission 752s (floorstanders) for a superb price, they haven't quite cut it - a very good speaker, but I'm back to my Mission 733i's!! Another change next week I think to rerun the 752s again. I think I have discovered that I'd need to spend a serious amount of money to beat the current sound I get with my existing speaker.

Do you want "raw" for rock, or do you listen to a very wide range of music, where a solid all rounder might be better instead? In which case, have a listen to a few suchlike models. It might mean you have to forsake the bass thunk (or not), but if you get something that delivers for 97% of the time, that might cut it. Of course, you might already have that!

 

[Naxos]

Yep, just what I'm thinking - it's that vague itch you get where you feel there must be a better product out there just because you haven't upgraded for so long, but deep down I know I'd have to spend a shed-load of cash to improve. I remember trying a few models last year when I was auditioning the Supernait and thinking I was just a little underwhelmed.

My tastes range from indie rock like Muse and Radiohead (plus a large amount of 70s prog and electronica like ELP, Genesis and Tangerine Dream) to the whole gamut of classical (you might guess which company I work for from my login name..!), but as you say it takes a lot of speaker to reproduce those organ pedal 32's and Mahler climaxes without stress! Heck, I only have to put the "Gladiator" soundtrack on to know the Keilidhs can cut it.

As you can see, I just need that reassurance that I haven't got upgradeitis, if that's possible!

 

[the record spot]

Bit like me in that case Naxos! Our tastes seem similar and I've had upgradeitis since changing my CD player earlier this year. New speakers? Definitely. Err, maybe not.

Coincidentally, I nearly went for a pair of Keilidhs from a local dealer, but the £300 (although a good price) was a step too far. I picked up my 752s last week for £80 and the 733i's are currently playing Yessongs on the Gastwirt remastered CD as I type. So what do I know!!

(Naxos eh? Jammy sod! Are they ever going to do an SACD line at all?)

 

[the record spot]

Bit like me in that case Naxos! Our tastes seem similar (Yes, Genesis, Floyd, classical, newer rock and the odd bit of Coltrane, Cash, and some artists beginning with other letters too, etc) and I've had upgradeitis since changing my CD player earlier this year. New speakers? Definitely. Err, maybe not if recent experience is anything to go by!

Coincidentally, I nearly went for a pair of Keilidhs from a local dealer, but the £300 (although a good price) was a step too far. I picked up my 752s last week for £80 and the 733i's are currently playing Yessongs on the Gastwirt remastered CD as I type. So what do I know!!

(Naxos eh? Jammy sod! Are they ever going to do an SACD line at all?)

EDIT: Didn't the Keilidhs retail for around £900 or so originally? My take only, but I think you'd really need to shell out at least £1500 and then some to get the jump your after. All IMO as I say.

 

[Anonymous]

Naxos:As you can see, I just need that reassurance that I haven't got upgradeitis, if that's possible!

This place is swarming with upgradeitis and you've made 3 posts, so I'm afraid, you've probably got it now! Nevermind!

From what you listen to (and what speakers you had before) if you do want to upgrade, I would look strongly at the ProAc Studio 140s...they are like a bigger, better version of what you already have. If you really need more depth to your music, get yourself a decent sub to accompany them. Try the B&W PV1 or the new B&W ASW610XP (or the non-XP version if funds do not permit). The Gladiator theme tune is incredibly hard for a system to do justice to. My Wharfedales are very similar speakers to your Linn Keilidhs (but not as good) and they can really pump it out with no strain whatsoever. My B&Ws can't quite do the depth though.

 

[Anonymous]

the record spot:I picked up my 752s last week for £80 and the 733i's are currently playing Yessongs on the Gastwirt remastered CD as I type.

You better be playing And You And I! And the guitar solo in Starship Trooper is one of the best hi-fi tests ever! (As is when the organ comes in at the final part of "Awaken")...

 

[the record spot]

Yessongs not the later Yesshows - and the end of CD1 is currently playing (Roundabout from Fragile).

 

[Tony_R]

the record spot:I think you might have to go some way to improve on the Keilidhs

Agreed. I too have a pair of Keilidhs and I've auditioned various speakers up to £1200 and nothing seems to come close.

They are really that good.

I would suggest going active rather than selling them - I think you'll get far more for your money...

Tony.

 

[Naxos]

Hi - yes, you're right they did cost around that as I recall. Back in the day we had a local Linn dealer who was also a mate, and he made me a very tempting offer to upgrade from my Linn Helixes (remember them?). I also had an Ion Obelisk 3 amp, as I recall, later upgraded to one of the few Obelisk 300 pre-powers before the company went bust - they lasted until the Naim last year. Anyway, glad you agree re the amount to upgrade.

We actually regularly released quite a lot of our mainstream titles on both SACD and DVD-A a year or two ago, but predictably sales were low and so we reluctantly stopped. However, I still get to hear some of the Chandos and BIS ones we distribute, which are generally superb.

Yep - tastes look rather similar: what's the Gastwirt remaster you mention? I have all the last Yes expanded remasters, but I haven't heard of that...

 

[the record spot]

Joe Gastwirt did the 1994 remasters, I think Eddie Offord did the last batch for Rhino. Got Yessongs in one of HMVs better sales a few years back (think it went for about £8 where you're hard pressed to find it for less than £20 most of the time). I hear good things about Joe Gastwirt's work, so this was a plumb draw I think!

The BIS SACD's were interesting; I picked up the complete Mendelssohn String Symphonies a few weeks back on one SACD. 4 hours long. It's stereo SACD only so doesn't happen for standard redbook. Takes all the hard work out of "what'll I play next" right enough...! Sounds a bit good too.

 

[Naxos]

Hughes123:Naxos:As you can see, I just need that reassurance that I haven't got upgradeitis, if that's possible!

This place is swarming with upgradeitis and you've made 3 posts, so I'm afraid, you've probably got it now! Nevermind!
From what you listen to (and what speakers you had before) if you do want to upgrade, I would look strongly at the ProAc Studio 140s...they are like a bigger, better version of what you already have. If you really need more depth to your music, get yourself a decent sub to accompany them. Try the B&W PV1 or the new B&W ASW610XP (or the non-XP version if funds do not permit). The Gladiator theme tune is incredibly hard for a system to do justice to. My Wharfedales are very similar speakers to your Linn Keilidhs (but not as good) and they can really pump it out with no strain whatsoever. My B&Ws can't quite do the depth though.

Hi Hughes123 -

The ProAc's sound interesting - I'll maybe add them to the list of "maybes". I'd considered going active, but it sounds a bit scary, and I don't really know the sort of costs involved. As it happens, I already have a Velodyne SPL-800R for those big movie moments, and also sometimes let it loose with a few organ spectaculars! I reckon I might look at upgrading my centre speaker instead then - it's currently a Boston 525v, which does integrate surprisingly well with the Keilidhs, but something like a Trikan might be nicer(?).

The Offord Yes remasters do it for me - I just never tire of "Awaken", and to hear "Relayer" minus the hiss of previous efforts was a privelege.

 

[Naxos]

the record spot:Joe Gastwirt did the 1994 remasters, I think Eddie Offord did the last batch for Rhino. Got Yessongs in one of HMVs better sales a few years back (think it went for about £8 where you're hard pressed to find it for less than £20 most of the time). I hear good things about Joe Gastwirt's work, so this was a plumb draw I think! The BIS SACD's were interesting; I picked up the complete Mendelssohn String Symphonies a few weeks back on one SACD. 4 hours long. It's stereo SACD only so doesn't happen for standard redbook. Takes all the hard work out of "what'll I play next" right enough...! Sounds a bit good too.

Yes, there's some great stuff coming out - for a great piano test disc, try the recent Scriabin CD played by Yevgeny Sudbin (BIS SACD 1568) - intense stuff, but a superb, realistic piano recording. Some of the Chandos stuff also blows your socks off! Unfortunately, I only get to hear these at work in SACD, but my recently-upgraded CD 8SE is a good second best!

 

[Anonymous]

Naxos:
As I mentioned in a recent post, I've owned a pair of Linn Keilidhs since 1994, and I love the sound they produce on their Ku-stone stands - I know people often either love or hate Linn, but as much of my listening is classical, with some organ music, they produce excellent weight and soundstage, even if they might just miss the last degree of rawness for rock music.

I've been umming and aahing about changing them for a while, and wondered what people might recomment for under £2k - the new Spendor A5's, for example? Or should I just stick with them if I like them?

My current system is a Rega P3/24/Pro-ject phono stage/Cyrus CD 8SE through a Naim Supernait, and the speakers are biwired with Chord Carnival cables.

I'd really appreciate a few thoughts!

I use to have a pair of Linn Keilidh speakers which I liked. These pair I had was built in 1993, they had the rough finish fronts with the old metal mesh tweeter.

They had a very nive lively sound, and good midrange with any music I play. I don't now why these speakers sounded so good with any music I played, Me and my father believe these speakers has been tweaked or something?????

I lasted 8 months with these speakers until I went for a pair of Linn Sara speakers. Which was not as good as the Keilidh. And after the Sara was a pair of Rega Ela speakers, which was not even good too.

But now, I own a pair of TDL Studio 0.75 'M' speakers which I love to bloody bits. These are original TDL Transmission Line speakers. With these TDL speakers, there is no going back!!!!

 

[Anonymous]

TDL speakers - That'll get any 32foot reverberating throughout the house!

I once had the privilage of testing two very, very tasty pairs of speakers at my local dealer, but he said the deal was I was only allowed one CD (we have some very funny deals, you see!) So I took in the greatest hits YES remastered album (because it's loaded with as many tracks as possible that I like and it's 2 CDs!) and the last track was Awaken.

The speakers were The PMC EB1i's and the Naim DBLs hooked to a brace of NAP500s (yes, this was an extreme system!) and a Naim CDS3. First up with the PMC's, Awaken sounded amazing...but with the DBLs, I've never heard such clear, deep, fast, undistorted bass - it was amazing!

Didn't Jon Anderson once say that when they had created the song, it was the one song they thought was perfect. The rest of their songs, they said, had nothing on it!