Linn Katan Bookshelf speakers
The technics of the Scottish company "Linn" reminds more a private club, the access to which is available only for the elite. The developers design all the components in such a way that they will be best combined with each other and they do not care about compatibility with an equipment of other brands. There is certain sense here because such approach allows building the most effective system with minimum efforts on the selection of components. As an example we mention the speaker terminals on the back panel of Katan. There are no any screw terminals and other variants - only the slot for "banana". Cable's model, by the way, is also recommended by the manufacturer as well as an amp with a player.
Dignity of Katan is evident in everything. This are unwillingness to stand out with its appearance, quite careful designing of the body, speakers and crossover, and also great sound. By the way, it is better not to say about the sound - it is better to listen. The first thing that surprised us - how can such modest in volume body and with such small MF/LF-speaker have such bass? There were as many tops and middle as necessary at playing any offered recording. The sound picture stayed to be absolutely flat in all styles of music. We couldn't identify any special preferences. Excellent microdymaics, the ability to adequately play powerful dynamic bursts, great musicality...
The only blind side of these speaker systems is the work at high volume. As befits to a nobleman Linn Katan raises its voice not very willingly. At the same time, its timbres become noticeably cold and the sound becomes sharper. Obeying these not good notes, the hand goes to turn down "speed". However, this feature will hardly reject the lovers of hard rock as even at medium volume level a room is quite densely filled with sound. In home cinema Katan will meet some difficulties. And just due to the fact that you want to make some films louder.
Linn Katan is able to work with any equipment, but still you should use "native" amplifier or select such high class model which can appropriately behave with low-sensitivity speakers.
