I've just ordered via my non-Klimax old dealer of 40 years standing, the Organik board and new backplate for my pre-Exakt KDS model which is now at Linn.
My previous dealer that supplied most of my Linn Products for many years retired some years ago and closed their huge mansion. They were probably the wealthiest and biggest dealer in the UK having a huge number of dem rooms pre-configured with different Linn and Naim systems. They were so successful they had sleeping quarters for long distance clients as well as a Helipad in the grounds for international clients coming from the airports.
These two dealers were very different but experienced problems when dealing with Linn including the existing one where I bought my first Linn system in the mid 1980s.
My current non-Klimax dealer ceased being a Linn dealer for about 20 years with the team, two of which I've known for 40 years and still working there stating about 20 years ago that "Linn were just too much trouble to deal with and we won't touch them again", however a couple of years ago became partial Linn dealers (no Klimax products), but their heart is no longer into dealing with Linn. When they were here last week to pick up my KDS to send to Linn they told me that they can't get simple parts ordered for LP12s and other equipment problems including getting things done at Linn. The manager really doesn't want to deal with Linn because of all the problems. They tend to sell cheaper and much more popular products like Rega (remember us audiophiles who deal with a number of manufacturers are a HUGE minority in the world). If you go to AVForums, the UKs largest TV and audio forum with tens of thousands of members, niche manufacturers like Linn and Naim are hardly mentioned at all and when they do get mentioned are held in considerable contempt. For example, when the founder started a thread dealing with Linn's press release concerning the Organik upgrades, the comments by people were scathing:
"You mean this is the first time Linn can actually design and build their own DAC? Why haven't they always done this?" and "Linn are just conning people - you can build a perfectly good DAC for about £300" Huge amount of misunderstanding about niche products and they mostly joke about and mock Linn. They think we are all total fools. All very unfortunate.
My retired dealer who must have made a lot of money for Linn, had to go to Glasgow to have it out with Gilad and the Board concerning all his Solos (eight saved for home-dems) and some others for the dem rooms, when he'd just restocked new ones and shortly afterwards Linn issued the Dynamiked ones and upgrades for the older ones. Well after much heated argument, Linn gave him what he wanted - free Dynamik upgrades for all their Solos.
It seems to me that Linn don't treat their dealers particularly well except around 2006 when they were in financial crisis and nearly bankrupt after Ivor T had to step back due to his crohn's colitis which he was very unwell with and somebody else disastrously taking the helm and Linn partially closing some operations making a lot of staff redundant and encouraging some dealers to become 'box shifters' - selling at absolutely huge discounts without dem or installation - just post it out, to keep some production going and some staff employed. Gilad T then took over and saved the day with mostly huge streaming success.
Over the last 40 years since I started with my first Linn system, there seems to be far fewer dealers around, and no Klimax dealers within 100 miles now.
Pricing structure:
In the middle 80s I bought my first Linn system. There was no point in mucking about - after listening to the (then) STUNNING Isobariks which wiped the floor with most other manufacturer's speakers throughout the world, I bought in one go the top version of all their equipment - a complete best of everything they made for a REASONABLE price consisting of:
Black LP12, Ekos, Troika - later upgraded to first gen Lingo.
LK1, three LK280s - later with Spark PS upgrades.
Aktiv crossover unit
Black later gen Isobariks which were passive or Aktiv by this time - DMS/PMS effectively.
All this as I say for a price that one didn't mind forking out or flinching at. But later at about the time the Keltiks were introduced at a very considerable cost when I bought mine, the prices started to get silly.
Now we have this amplified further. Somebody on here mentioned that a top system now was about £150,000 - well more with an additional Klimax LP12 with the top add-ons. I haven't calculated it all up myself, but just look at the price of a pair of Klimax Organik 350s and compare that with the cost of Aktiv Isobariks years ago - inflation adjusted. Are Linn actually selling a lot of this gear? Or is it the Komri syndrome - fantastic speakers with total worldwide sales of about only 400?
I believe in value for money most of the time with Linn products and won't be changing my Keltiks ever as they are perfectly adequate when driven by a minimum of a couple of 4200s, (Klouts never quite got them driven properly IMO) but preferably Dynamiked Twins or Solos but having had home demos are not value for money compared with the 4200/Ds.
Where is all this going? Is it that Linn want to sell less at huge prices or more units at reasonable prices? What is their Elasticity of Demand point?
If anyone knows, PLEASE let me know
My previous dealer that supplied most of my Linn Products for many years retired some years ago and closed their huge mansion. They were probably the wealthiest and biggest dealer in the UK having a huge number of dem rooms pre-configured with different Linn and Naim systems. They were so successful they had sleeping quarters for long distance clients as well as a Helipad in the grounds for international clients coming from the airports.
These two dealers were very different but experienced problems when dealing with Linn including the existing one where I bought my first Linn system in the mid 1980s.
My current non-Klimax dealer ceased being a Linn dealer for about 20 years with the team, two of which I've known for 40 years and still working there stating about 20 years ago that "Linn were just too much trouble to deal with and we won't touch them again", however a couple of years ago became partial Linn dealers (no Klimax products), but their heart is no longer into dealing with Linn. When they were here last week to pick up my KDS to send to Linn they told me that they can't get simple parts ordered for LP12s and other equipment problems including getting things done at Linn. The manager really doesn't want to deal with Linn because of all the problems. They tend to sell cheaper and much more popular products like Rega (remember us audiophiles who deal with a number of manufacturers are a HUGE minority in the world). If you go to AVForums, the UKs largest TV and audio forum with tens of thousands of members, niche manufacturers like Linn and Naim are hardly mentioned at all and when they do get mentioned are held in considerable contempt. For example, when the founder started a thread dealing with Linn's press release concerning the Organik upgrades, the comments by people were scathing:
"You mean this is the first time Linn can actually design and build their own DAC? Why haven't they always done this?" and "Linn are just conning people - you can build a perfectly good DAC for about £300" Huge amount of misunderstanding about niche products and they mostly joke about and mock Linn. They think we are all total fools. All very unfortunate.
My retired dealer who must have made a lot of money for Linn, had to go to Glasgow to have it out with Gilad and the Board concerning all his Solos (eight saved for home-dems) and some others for the dem rooms, when he'd just restocked new ones and shortly afterwards Linn issued the Dynamiked ones and upgrades for the older ones. Well after much heated argument, Linn gave him what he wanted - free Dynamik upgrades for all their Solos.
It seems to me that Linn don't treat their dealers particularly well except around 2006 when they were in financial crisis and nearly bankrupt after Ivor T had to step back due to his crohn's colitis which he was very unwell with and somebody else disastrously taking the helm and Linn partially closing some operations making a lot of staff redundant and encouraging some dealers to become 'box shifters' - selling at absolutely huge discounts without dem or installation - just post it out, to keep some production going and some staff employed. Gilad T then took over and saved the day with mostly huge streaming success.
Over the last 40 years since I started with my first Linn system, there seems to be far fewer dealers around, and no Klimax dealers within 100 miles now.
Pricing structure:
In the middle 80s I bought my first Linn system. There was no point in mucking about - after listening to the (then) STUNNING Isobariks which wiped the floor with most other manufacturer's speakers throughout the world, I bought in one go the top version of all their equipment - a complete best of everything they made for a REASONABLE price consisting of:
Black LP12, Ekos, Troika - later upgraded to first gen Lingo.
LK1, three LK280s - later with Spark PS upgrades.
Aktiv crossover unit
Black later gen Isobariks which were passive or Aktiv by this time - DMS/PMS effectively.
All this as I say for a price that one didn't mind forking out or flinching at. But later at about the time the Keltiks were introduced at a very considerable cost when I bought mine, the prices started to get silly.
Now we have this amplified further. Somebody on here mentioned that a top system now was about £150,000 - well more with an additional Klimax LP12 with the top add-ons. I haven't calculated it all up myself, but just look at the price of a pair of Klimax Organik 350s and compare that with the cost of Aktiv Isobariks years ago - inflation adjusted. Are Linn actually selling a lot of this gear? Or is it the Komri syndrome - fantastic speakers with total worldwide sales of about only 400?
I believe in value for money most of the time with Linn products and won't be changing my Keltiks ever as they are perfectly adequate when driven by a minimum of a couple of 4200s, (Klouts never quite got them driven properly IMO) but preferably Dynamiked Twins or Solos but having had home demos are not value for money compared with the 4200/Ds.
Where is all this going? Is it that Linn want to sell less at huge prices or more units at reasonable prices? What is their Elasticity of Demand point?
If anyone knows, PLEASE let me know
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