Is Channel D audio gone out of business?

Hi superkat,

I have similar problem to your Lino C3.3. After playing on one side all ok, then on the side, I start getting signal dropouts that gets worse.

I opened it up and sure enough, the bettery is fully charged. I don't think it's the charging circuitry since the battery is fully charged. Must be something else going on. Weird that both you and I have similar issue.

Looks like I have to start looking at alternatives. There's the Mofi Master Phono with transimpedance input at $6k and with XLR inputs.  Seems like it has good reviews. But not sure if it's better than the Lino C3.3

And thanks for your inputs and also review of the Sutherland Dos Locos. Seems like an upgrade to the Lino C3.3. I don't mind spending a bit more if the sound quality is positively improved. I just hate to go backwards.  Life is too ahort.

I agree. My sense is that the Dos Locos is at least as good and probably better than the Lino C 3.3.  Glowing reviews of it have appeared in Stereophile (Michael Trei and Alex Halberstadt) and Tracking Angle (Stephen Carroll with Michael Fremer noting his agreement that it was “love at first listen for him).  And I don’t think there’s anything better in a transimpedance phono stage until probably the $80K + price point for the CH Precision P10 (even then, people whose judgment I respect think that the CH sound can be dry and thin, but I have never had an opportunity myself to listen to one and I can’t imagine ever spending that much on a phono stage).  Good luck.  

Sad to hear about this, especially after the founder of Wywires recently passed not long ago as well. 

It is interesting that there don't seem to be any decent competitors in this space without spending way more. I wonder why that is.

Hi superkat,

I decided to replace the battery in my Lino C3.3 anyway even though it still had a good charge. After charging the new battery overnight, it seems to have solved the problem. So far, no more dropouts. Will have to keep testing to make sure.

I would suggest you change the battery, if you have not done so. Worth a shot.

And could you please share the XLR to RCA adapter you are using.

I will also keep an eye out for the new PS Audio Signature phono. Looks interesting. Maybe I will have to upgrade next year since Channel D may not revive. 

Thanks for your inputs and Happy Holidays.

I’m happy to hear that your Lino C 3.3 seems to be fixed.   I did, however, charge my new battery overnight before using it in the Lino C3.3, and after playing one side flawlessly my Lino C 3.3 started acting weirdly again on side 2 and then stopped producing a signal entirely.  And the indicator lights on the circuit board again indicated that the power supply rails weren’t connected.   So, I hope this doesn’t happen to you.

Regarding the connectors, the dealer I have worked with for several years (and from whom I bought my amps, speakers, turntable, cartridge, etc. and now Sutherland Dos Locos) had the adapters made for me gratis.  The RCA connectors are Neutrik spring-loaded NF2C Profi connectors, and the person who built them used silver wire to connect them to the XLR connectors and silver solder, and they have floating ground wires that connect to the ground lug on the back of each Dos Locos.  I’m told they sound better than stock Neutrik XLR/RCA connectors.

Again, I hope your Lino problems are over, but if they’re not good luck in finding a replacement.