We don't think Linn ever lost the taste for music that was embodied in Sondek LP12 turntable. But the last few years have seen much of the company's energies and resources devoted to the development of multichannel and multiroom capabilities, and this new Majik system marks a public 'return' to Linn's two-channel roots.

The three components involved in this system are all new, though all have engineering links to previous Linn components. The Majik CD player is a development of the Ikemi, with lessons learned with the top-of-the-line Sondek CD12.

The Majik Kontrol preamp has its roots in the longstanding Kairn, but has also benefited from Klimax architecture. And the Majik 2100 power amp is based around Linn's patented Chakra output stage.

All three components are compact and lightweight. The reason is that all three use Linn's proprietary switch-mode power supply, which operates at very high frequencies above the audio band and therefore needs only a small and light mains transformer.

All three share similar casework and styling; with nicely bowed convex front panels with softened edges and corners, some 5cm narrower than 'standard' 43cm components. Our samples had dark grey matt casework, enlivened by a silver and slightly recessed central section. Fashionable all-silver versions are also available.

Both the Majik CD and Majik Kontrol pre have decent size display panels and just six buttons; additionally the CD player has a frontloading drawer, while the preamp has a 3.5mm socket. The power amp looks rather different, with a grey central section with silver badge flanked by cooling vents that are also found in the top panel. All three have steel,wrap casework, perhaps parsimonious at the price.

The Majik CD player is primarily intended for regular stereo CD replay, but it also supports a number of other two-channel optical disc formats, including CD-R,RW, DTS Audio, MP3 and HDCD. Other features are also very comprehensive.

Socketry includes two pairs of analogue output phono pairs, optical and electrical digital outputs, plus Linn KNEKT and RS232 control sockets. All the usual disc navigation functions are available, though the scan only operates at twice normal speed. A wide variety of display and user-configuration options are also available.

Although both may be operated via their front panel buttons, in reality, the supplied remote handset will be doing the work. Although usefully slim for one-handed operation, it's not a particularly inviting device, with more than fifty tiny buttons. Yes, it does support a range of products and it does all the necessary functions with a bit of practice; but, it's not ergonomically friendly.

Multi-room capability

The Majik Kontrol preamp is the most complex component, partly because it includes the necessary socketry for integrating with Linn's multi-room KNEKT system, over and beyond its standalone stereo capabilities. As a stereo preamp, it has eight phono pairs, clustered rather too close together for some of the bulkier plugs around these days.

Two pairs cover line and tape outputs, while the six input pairs provide for plenty of sources. One of these inputs allows re-positioning of an internal 'piggy-back' board for three alternative configurations - matching high output (MM), low output (MC) phono cartridges, or an additional line level source.

Microprocessor control - via an elaborate series of menus and sub-menus - allows a huge number of user-adjustable features. Some are more useful than others, but all of them taken together make for a rather daunting prospect.

To explain all the options would use up all the space available for this review. The short version includes a range of display options covering brightness, content, 'time out' and 'sleep'; inputs can be assigned names, selected directly and adjusted for relative volume; the rate of volume change, muting, maximum, relative headphone and start-up levels.

Then there are numerous others, rather more obscure - indeed often very obscure - options, but most users will settle for the default settings here, but the sheer flexibility over the operation of the preamp will make it very handy in multiroom settings.

Last comes the power amp. The Chakra output configuration consists of a central IC module surrounded by an array of bi-polar 'boosters' that come into operation as power requirements are increased.

Modest but adequate

Power output is always the headline-maker for power amps, and here it's a relatively modest but entirely adequate 2x 56 watts into eight ohms. In addition to the two phono inputs and authority when asked to play at very quiet late-into-the-night levels,

Of the three components here, the Majik CD player is the stand-out performer, delivering its music with fine pace and urgency and decent dynamic drive and enthusiasm. While it doesn't entirely transcend the innate artificiality of the medium, nor deliver the quietest backgrounds, it does communicate the musical messages with fine clarity and aplomb.