Linn Klimax Radikal for LP12

A couple of days ago, I heard the new Linn Klimax Radikal for the LP12 in a friend’s system. This is a dual Utopik power supply for the motor and a Urika phono stage. It is very expensive. In fact, the full list price in the UK is nearly as much as I paid for my entire Klimax LP12. My friend’s system is almost the same as mine and I heard it before he got the new Klimax Radikal, so I can easily determine any differences due to it.

As it turned out, the differences were not subtle. It is staggeringly good. I was becoming sceptical about the benefits of upgrades, but I would do this one in a heartbeat if I had the cash for it.

The first thing that struck me was the amazing quality of the bass, not just terms of the amount of it but also the richness, shape and textures. Vocals and harmonies were fantastic too.  Voices were more distinct from each other. Overall it brought out subtleties in a familiar album that I hadn’t noticed before. Surface noise was considerably reduced, too. Every aspect of the music was better.

Having improved the streaming side of my system recently, I was becoming increasingly of the view that it is a par with vinyl sound quality wise. From what I heard, the Klimax Radikal pushes the LP12 way ahead of streaming.