They are lovely CD players but must admit I stream rather than use mine these days
CD12 is a very nice player (when the laser and anything else is still ok) and it was more musical than the first KDS.
I found an old NAD CD player in the cellar and connected it yesterday to my four Mutec reclocker via optical cable. Was surprised how good it was compared to direct connections via unbalanced cable (without any reclocker).
I found an old NAD CD player in the cellar and connected it yesterday to my four Mutec reclocker via optical cable. Was surprised how good it was compared to direct connections via unbalanced cable (without any reclocker).
That one looked pretty much perfekt (!) so would have been quite a find for somebody with deep pockets.
Was the seller’s claim true that Linn still service them? I thought the issue was that they don’t.
On the face of it, a CD12 played into a Katalyst or Organik DAC should sound significantly better than via the original Burr Brown PCM1702-K set up, good as they were.
Was the seller’s claim true that Linn still service them? I thought the issue was that they don’t.
On the face of it, a CD12 played into a Katalyst or Organik DAC should sound significantly better than via the original Burr Brown PCM1702-K set up, good as they were.
Linn don't service any CD players any more (unfortunately).
CD12 is great - still sounds really special. Obviously any CDP is a risk with lasers etc. but I wouldn't sell mine!
You do need a really good platform for it.
CD12 is great - still sounds really special. Obviously any CDP is a risk with lasers etc. but I wouldn't sell mine!
You do need a really good platform for it.
Never had a CD12 but 5000 gbp (or even 12-15.000) appear to be a lot of money for hifi equipment with uncertain service options.
No doubt one of the greatest CD players ever built but at these levels - at least for me - too risky at these levels.
This being said you can buy a Karik/Numerik combo for a fraction of the price - which I did - and have a lot of fun with a great cd transport / DAC system without significant financial risk.
No doubt one of the greatest CD players ever built but at these levels - at least for me - too risky at these levels.
This being said you can buy a Karik/Numerik combo for a fraction of the price - which I did - and have a lot of fun with a great cd transport / DAC system without significant financial risk.
It's all about risk and reward and I get a lot of reward from my CD12 and so it's worth the risk for me. The difference in sound quality is worth it for me.
I think the Linn CD players are excellent, I have an Ikemi and Accurate CDP as well and I think they re all great but the CD12 is pretty special in its own way.
I think the Linn CD players are excellent, I have an Ikemi and Accurate CDP as well and I think they re all great but the CD12 is pretty special in its own way.
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I would imagine the same or worse applies when buying from a private individual. Any dealer worth their salt, would honour a limited warranty on their used gear should something go wrong, whether it's their own specialist stock or one outside this taken in px.
My CD12 still gets regular use, usually with newly purchased CDs that I haven’t got around to ripping. I notice surprisingly little difference in sound quality between the CD12 and ripped CDs played through my KDS/3. If you’re still wedded to those silver discs - and why not - I’ve never heard them sound better than through a CD12.
CD12 is/was a fantastic CD player and was much more musical than the KDS/1.
But a KDS/3 Katalyst should outperform the CD12. Maybe the ripping was not perfect (depends on ripping software and CD drive).
But a KDS/3 Katalyst should outperform the CD12. Maybe the ripping was not perfect (depends on ripping software and CD drive).
If it helps I use the free software Exact Audio Copy EAC (https://www.exactaudiocopy.de/) for ripping.
Oh, don’t get me wrong: I think the KDS/3 is better than the CD12, but not by much. If anyone’s still agnostic to streaming, they couldn’t do better than the CD12, should they be lucky enough to find a good one at a reasonable price. IMHO of course.
In my experience, the CD12 can't compete at all with a Organik KDSM or a Katalyst KDSM. I follow Ben Webster on this
As much as I love this terrific machine – still probably the most beautiful CD player on the planet, in design and practice (no button, organic feeling…) – it has a 24 years old DAC… how could it compete?
And of course, it is still a mechanical thing that spin a CD, which Linn and so many listenings told us it's bad. Even a CD12 with an integrated Organik DAC remains absurd vs. a NG KDSM, if at the same price.
But let's imagine a new CD12 spinning the disc with the science of a Radikal 2……
😍
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