flatpopely
Prog Rock/Moderator
Introduction:-
Today Mark and I visited Cymbiosis in Leicester at the invitation (I asked him!!!) of Peter Swain. The purpose was to see if the RubiKon LP12 sub chassis provided a viable ‘cheaper’ alternative to the Linn Keel and would be something that Cymbiosis would want to offer to customers. We want the RubiKon to be sold though dealers so Peter’s impressions were to be an important part of the RubiKon project.
We arrived just after 10am and were met by a friendly and welcoming Peter. He took us down stairs to where the listening would be conducted and told us he had three Radikal LP12s available; one with a Keel/NAIM Superline, one with a Keel/Linn Urika and the last a STD pressed steel sub chassis/Urika. Mark explained the design process behind the RubiKon and we showed him the spare RubiKon.
Please bear in mind that these are my thoughts on the day and Mark and Peter may have other viewpoints which I ACTIVELY ENCOURAGE them to post on this thread.
Here is what happened.
PHASE I – Phono stages
Peter was keen to get us familiar with the setup and to choose the phono stage to use. We compared two LP12s with Keel/Ekos SE/Akiva; one had a Superline the other a Uruka. After 10 mins we all agreed that the Urika was a better phono stage by some margin. The Superline was flat and lacked bass timbre in comparison to the Urika.
PHASE II – Ittok/Troika
My deck was inserted into the system fitted with my arm and cart. We compared it against the Keel/Ekos/Akiva (from now on the Keel deck). There was £7000 of difference in cost and yes the Keel deck was better but not by a huge margin. The underlying strengths of the RubiKon to retrieve huge amounts of detail and resolve macro and micro dynamics and yet still time well were present. The Keel deck gave a more even presentation and was more refined. Still not bad considering I had Prefix fitted against a Urika.
PHASE III – Ekos SE/Akiva fitted
Peter then fitted an Ekos SE/Akiva and Urika to my deck so that the only difference between the decks was the sub chassis. To see him at work is to watch experience and finesse combined with huge knowledge. He replaced the springs and grommets and also some nuts, my deck was 100%.
PHASE IV – Keel and RubiKon listening
So what did we think? Well it was very interesting, within 10 mins Peter stated that it was hugely better than the std steel sub chassis so it was not worth even bothering to bring in the std deck, result! We listened to a wide variety of records but the results were consistent.
The Keel gives a very even sound and one that is ‘calm’ and easy to listen to, not boring just refined. In contrast the RubiKon is ruthless in revealing tiny details. This has the effect of making the Keel having a slight ‘loudness’ switch effect where the bass and treble are more pronounced than the midrange. It’s an enjoyable effect and the Keel sounds rather fine as a result. Both Mark and I did think that the RubiKon had more drive and rhythm than the Keel as well as a sweeter treble.
Peter did declare that he still slightly preferred the Keel and its ‘easy’ to listen to presentation. I can see exactly what he means but I feel that the RubiKon is more faithful to what’s on the record.
This was writ large when listening to Frankie Goes to Holywood 'Welcome to the Pleasuredome'. The atmospherics and birdsong at the beginning are much more as one on the Keel but the RubiKon etches the birdsong out from the mix. Also when the bass line starts the Keel ebbs and flows smoothly while the RubiKon punches out the bass and the timbre of the note is easier to hear. Playing my beloved Tom Robinson track 'The Wedding' Toms voice was very much smoother and more even on the Keel. The RubiKon pushed the vocals out of the mix. Cymbal crashes were more detailed on the RubiKon as well. The presentation style is a bit like listenening closer to the speakers with the RubiKon, you hear every detail and timbre expression with ease. With the Keel the sound is as though you are sitting further back, everything is there but in a more restrained way.
BUT, here is the deal both the Keel and RubiKon sound superb and it’s more a matter of taste than one being better or worse. Peter declared the ‘RubiKon a no brainer at the price’.
PHASE V – The next steps
Now that it appears the RubiKon is something that will sell via dealers we will sort out some finance and get a full production prototype made, about £1000. We will then get a first batch made, probably about 20. We will continue to talk to prospective dealers and will welcome enquiries from any interested parties.
Should be done in a couple of months. I will work on the website.
Conclusion:-
The RubiKon is a great alternative to the existing subchassis available for the LP12, including the Keel. If you think, as we do, that the RubiKon is very close to a Keel (in some ways just different) then you could get a RubiKon and trade in your Lingo for a Radikal (huge difference in performance) and have a rather stunning upgrade for your deck for just a bit more than a Keel on its own, now that's worth thinking about!
System used.
NAIM NAC282
NAIM NAP250.2
NAIM HICAP2
Kudos C2
THANK YOU:-
Peter gave up a whole day to do this and this invloved much work and fitting parts for free to my deck. He is obviously highly skilled with an LP12 so if yours needs an upgrade or just a once over then I can highly recommend him.
Thanks Peter, you're one of the good guys.
P.S.
A very kind person lent me his Ekos MKI and Peter fitted it for me. I will be listening this weekend.
Today Mark and I visited Cymbiosis in Leicester at the invitation (I asked him!!!) of Peter Swain. The purpose was to see if the RubiKon LP12 sub chassis provided a viable ‘cheaper’ alternative to the Linn Keel and would be something that Cymbiosis would want to offer to customers. We want the RubiKon to be sold though dealers so Peter’s impressions were to be an important part of the RubiKon project.
We arrived just after 10am and were met by a friendly and welcoming Peter. He took us down stairs to where the listening would be conducted and told us he had three Radikal LP12s available; one with a Keel/NAIM Superline, one with a Keel/Linn Urika and the last a STD pressed steel sub chassis/Urika. Mark explained the design process behind the RubiKon and we showed him the spare RubiKon.
Please bear in mind that these are my thoughts on the day and Mark and Peter may have other viewpoints which I ACTIVELY ENCOURAGE them to post on this thread.
Here is what happened.
PHASE I – Phono stages
Peter was keen to get us familiar with the setup and to choose the phono stage to use. We compared two LP12s with Keel/Ekos SE/Akiva; one had a Superline the other a Uruka. After 10 mins we all agreed that the Urika was a better phono stage by some margin. The Superline was flat and lacked bass timbre in comparison to the Urika.
PHASE II – Ittok/Troika
My deck was inserted into the system fitted with my arm and cart. We compared it against the Keel/Ekos/Akiva (from now on the Keel deck). There was £7000 of difference in cost and yes the Keel deck was better but not by a huge margin. The underlying strengths of the RubiKon to retrieve huge amounts of detail and resolve macro and micro dynamics and yet still time well were present. The Keel deck gave a more even presentation and was more refined. Still not bad considering I had Prefix fitted against a Urika.
PHASE III – Ekos SE/Akiva fitted
Peter then fitted an Ekos SE/Akiva and Urika to my deck so that the only difference between the decks was the sub chassis. To see him at work is to watch experience and finesse combined with huge knowledge. He replaced the springs and grommets and also some nuts, my deck was 100%.
PHASE IV – Keel and RubiKon listening
So what did we think? Well it was very interesting, within 10 mins Peter stated that it was hugely better than the std steel sub chassis so it was not worth even bothering to bring in the std deck, result! We listened to a wide variety of records but the results were consistent.
The Keel gives a very even sound and one that is ‘calm’ and easy to listen to, not boring just refined. In contrast the RubiKon is ruthless in revealing tiny details. This has the effect of making the Keel having a slight ‘loudness’ switch effect where the bass and treble are more pronounced than the midrange. It’s an enjoyable effect and the Keel sounds rather fine as a result. Both Mark and I did think that the RubiKon had more drive and rhythm than the Keel as well as a sweeter treble.
Peter did declare that he still slightly preferred the Keel and its ‘easy’ to listen to presentation. I can see exactly what he means but I feel that the RubiKon is more faithful to what’s on the record.
This was writ large when listening to Frankie Goes to Holywood 'Welcome to the Pleasuredome'. The atmospherics and birdsong at the beginning are much more as one on the Keel but the RubiKon etches the birdsong out from the mix. Also when the bass line starts the Keel ebbs and flows smoothly while the RubiKon punches out the bass and the timbre of the note is easier to hear. Playing my beloved Tom Robinson track 'The Wedding' Toms voice was very much smoother and more even on the Keel. The RubiKon pushed the vocals out of the mix. Cymbal crashes were more detailed on the RubiKon as well. The presentation style is a bit like listenening closer to the speakers with the RubiKon, you hear every detail and timbre expression with ease. With the Keel the sound is as though you are sitting further back, everything is there but in a more restrained way.
BUT, here is the deal both the Keel and RubiKon sound superb and it’s more a matter of taste than one being better or worse. Peter declared the ‘RubiKon a no brainer at the price’.
PHASE V – The next steps
Now that it appears the RubiKon is something that will sell via dealers we will sort out some finance and get a full production prototype made, about £1000. We will then get a first batch made, probably about 20. We will continue to talk to prospective dealers and will welcome enquiries from any interested parties.
Should be done in a couple of months. I will work on the website.
Conclusion:-
The RubiKon is a great alternative to the existing subchassis available for the LP12, including the Keel. If you think, as we do, that the RubiKon is very close to a Keel (in some ways just different) then you could get a RubiKon and trade in your Lingo for a Radikal (huge difference in performance) and have a rather stunning upgrade for your deck for just a bit more than a Keel on its own, now that's worth thinking about!
System used.
NAIM NAC282
NAIM NAP250.2
NAIM HICAP2
Kudos C2
THANK YOU:-
Peter gave up a whole day to do this and this invloved much work and fitting parts for free to my deck. He is obviously highly skilled with an LP12 so if yours needs an upgrade or just a once over then I can highly recommend him.
Thanks Peter, you're one of the good guys.
P.S.
A very kind person lent me his Ekos MKI and Peter fitted it for me. I will be listening this weekend.