The
Linn Majik is an integrated amplifier with 33 watts per channel (@ 8 Ohms) and the unit I'm going to tell you about was equipped with a phono board.
Aesthetically the Linn Majik is very similar to the Linn Mimik CD player. So it is a black 32 x 32 x 8 metal box and the only difference with the Mimik is that the
Majik doesn't have any CD transport :-)
The Mimik and the Majik, put one above the other are a nice pair, very compact in size and extremely non intrusive. You can even use the same remote
control, since there's no volume knob on the Majik, just two up and down buttons.
For the following listening test the Linn Majik has been connected to various systems, ranging from budget-oriented stuff to very expensive components.
Its forte is the mid range, open and detailed, with a great sense of realism, difficult to find at this price, something that gives a nice touch of class to the
performance of this little integrated.
Though Linn Majik can play loud, despite its low power (33 watts @ 8 Ohms), the bass range isn't exactly what can be called punchy: it is fast, well extended and
articulated but it lacks the extra drive that can be found in those high-current integrated collegues.
When coupled with difficult (mini)loudspeakers (low efficiency or low impedance) the Majik seems to grasp for breath, though it still doesn't lose its excellent
self-control: it doesn't shout, it just plays smoother.
When mated with the right partners, the Linn Majik becomes lively again. It plays everything with a touch of class, like its colleague Mimik, every kind of Music
is welcomed.
Micro and macro dynamics:
The self-control in the mid-range remains excellent even during strong and fast transients, never becoming harsh or aggressive. The micro dynamics,
especially in the high range, are indeed very good for the price range of the Linn Majik and few "colleagues" can play Music with the same level of micro detail in the highs.
A little extra punch and drive in the bass range and this little amplifier would have been a little miracle.
3D imaging:
The reproduced soundstage is wide and very deep, unusually deep for the price but it is its height to be truly amazing. Linn Majik is easy to detect the position of a
singer in a choir, not only thanks to his horizonatal position, but also thanks to the height: first row, second row ... you can't go wrong. This is not an easy
task for ANY amplifier.
The soundstage is then well focused, there's no trace of blur in it. Many audiophiles prefer a soundstage in which the elements are slightly out of focus, like
it happens, sometimes, in real life (ever heard a large orchestra in the last rows of the theater?). No, the soundstage reproduced by the Majik is well defined,
I'd rather say engraved, each element has a clearly focused position.
Phono stage:
With the well deserved popularity of this Scottish brand in the field of the analogue reproduction, evaluating the phono stage of this amplifier is a must.
The overall sound of the Linn Majik inboard phono stage is quite similar to the rest of the line inputs, it does have just more bass (quantity) and smoother highs.
Dynamically it seems a bit slower and the soundstage is less focused and defined, the center of the image being more crowded too. Compared with expen$ive
outboard phono stage, the little Linn Majik phono stage sounds less defined, with a lower level of detail but still very, very musical.
So my advice is: if you have a so-so turntable, few LPs and no idea for upgrading ('cause vinyl is hard to find...) you may find the phono input of the Majik
a real bargain, something that can survive even to some possible improvements of the front end.
The ideal buyer for a Linn Majik is someone who values the middle of the road more than either of the shoulders and enjoys music far more than equipment.
Its a no-fuss package -- except for those darn BFA connectors -- thats easy to use and listen to. The Linn Majik is an impressive package, small as it is, and one you should definitely hear if its in your price range.
If you have a good turntable, many LPs and plan to upgrade in the near future, buy the Majik without its phono stage and choose a separate phono preamp
instead. No, not something that costs like the phono board of the Linn Majik, of course...
Some further advice: place this amplifier in a well ventilated place and leave it permanently connected to the mains, with a minimum of 1 hour of burn-in
before any serious listening test. Be sure that the unit you're going to evaluate has been played for a couple of days, to say the least.
Avoid little difficult loudspeakers since the Linn Majik isn't a *drive-it-all* kind of amplifier. There are several amplifiers that can drive almost any speaker made
on Earth but then, for the same price tag, you can't have the clarity and the classy sound of the Linn Majik. There are no miracles in HiFi.
Conclusions:
This Scottish amplifier seems to me the natural second other of the Mimik CD player, but even as a stand-alone component its qualities can make it shine above
the colleagues. No, it can't drive any loudspeaker made on Earth but it can play Music in an amazing way.
After all you should know well that the neverending search for High Fidelity is an adventurous hunting for the best (Linn Majik for your ears) compromise.
