Rat's Nest In The Garage?

I've decided that wiring the 5 channels of an active Linn 5.1 system using Ninkas, Trikan and Katans is not for the faint hearted.

Here's the back of the AV5125 amps:

Scalford System 2015 - Feeback From Around the Forums

Here are the comments from around the forums (I've listed them all, where I've found them - both positive and negative):

LINN:

Dasher: I think that you surprised quite a few people yesterday! Congratulations - it worked really well

PINK FISH MEDIA:

Ginger: A digital set up of Fiio/MF VDAC, tisbury passive and Linn Katans (all for under a grand according to it's owner) sounding lovely, especially at this money. I've heard none of this stuff before but the speakers disappearing, imaging nicely, again unforced, out of the boxes, I could live with that no problem. 

Muzzer: Ginger I agree about some of those big money systems being amongst the poorer sounding systems, also was not really impressed by the much hyped Event Opals and did not rate the Linn Katan active setup much.

Joolzdee: My first, but won't be my last Scalford show.
Favourites for me were...in no particular order....
Room 200 with the Mac mini/ Grimm active speakers
Room 201 with the Royd Sapphires. What a big sound!
Room 202... Activ Katans
and Room 22... High spec LP12, Gato, Art Alnico speakers (stunning!!)
Well done to all exhibitors though.....plenty of good sounds and lots of hard work too!!
Thanks everyone.

TonyL: I enjoyed a couple of systems mentioned rather negatively upthread, the active Katans & Events both sounded good to me, I've certainly never heard passive Katans sound anything like that good before, but in both cases I managed to bag a good front and centre seat.

Foot Tapper: I made a point of popping in for a listen yesterday and was really pleasantly surprised. For such compact speakers, I thought that the sound was punchy, fast, tuneful and went surprisingly deep. The very small source components were also digging far more of the music out than I had expected. Not being a fan of Linn's current electronics, I really wasn't expecting much, but the system far, far exceeded my expectations. In fact it was great! Thanks for making the effort to set it up so well.   (also, from the same contributor on the Naim Forum: Your room sounded amazingly good this year, especially for such a compact system.  
It must have been the active amplification for the speakers.
Either that, or the carefully selected grade of goose down in your bass traps

jhud1952: Couldn't agree more - truly excellent sound from such a compact system.

CYRUSUNOFFICIAL:

hifinutt: so good to catch up with quite a few from cu and the rooms sounded good with the opals and I must say sunbeams room was absolutely brilliant as usual. those katans with the linn and flac source was very holographic. well whatever you did it was magic !!!!  As you know sunbeam was using his (Tisbury) in his marvellous set up at the wam show and it sounded pretty fine

mickbald: Sunbeams set up. How can you possibly get so much sound for £1000? Tiny speakers delivering the impossible, and where was the subwoofer hidden? Sunbeam never stood up while I was there so I have my suspicions

maro73: Some systems to point out
1. Sunbeam .. World beater system
2. The mingda system was really good
3. There were some high high end systems , good to listen to but in a house impossible , unless you wife is blind or likes hifi

abozo: sunbeamgls: very impressive sound/pound. Your system was making a lot us think!

Dan1502: Having been meaning to find your room all weekend Edun telling me how good it was gave me a nudge to go and find it on Sunday afternoon. It ended up being a much needed break and I sat there relaxing for half an hour or so up until the point I noticed nobody else could get in the room so I moved on for their sakes.

Callen24: Sunbeam system was one of the few able to create a soundstage, I only heard 13 rooms, but most of them sounded like the sound was in the speakers, not around them....The two packed duvets, in the corner, and the closed curtains suggest to me that sunbeam spent a lot of time thinking about what he was doing. He has obviously had an affect because the price of katan speakers has gone up a few notches, on the bay, since scaffold.

CrimsonDonkey: Loads of cred for sunbeams room he did a great job

HIFI WIGWAM:

Petrat: ... and Sunbeamgls ... those little Aktiv Katans will stay long in my memory.

syep2001: Sunbeamgls - Probably them most relaxed room i went in all day, smooth low volume, and the female vocal that came out of the Katans sounded very nice.

JamPal (nee hifiwigwam at the time): However, it was some of the smaller rooms which really got me thinking. SunbeamGLS's little Linn Katans fed from a FIO was absolutely stunning, I stayed a long while in there.

Steve H: The speakers I enjoyed listening to most today was the Linn Katan in room 202 followed by the little Harbeths P3. The produce to my ears, a sound that is fast and clear. I could have stayed much longer to enjoy the music and conversation.

NAIM FORUM:

naim_nymph: This system was top draw imho, the small speakers didn't challenge the acoustics of the room, no colourisation, just easy on the ear music. If there was a prize for giant killing this system would have got 1st place.

Wanted to stay longer but much to go see and hear : )

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The Hifi Wigwam Scalford Show 2015: Room 202 Playlist

THEHIFISHOW.COM

Here's the kit list we're exhibiting at the show this year, in Room 202:

FiiO X3
Chord Prodac Gold coax cable
Musical Fidelity V-DAC 1 with V-PSU 2
Linn Silver interconnect (its only a description of the sleeve, no silver involved)
Tisbury passive pre-amp
Linn Silver interconnect
Linn active crossover cards inside AV5125 (using 4 of the 5 power amp channels)
Linn K400 speaker cable
Linn Aktiv Katan speakers on their dedicated stands

Also, a fun system in the bar area on Saturday night.

And here is the list of 16 bit and 24 bit tracks that will be on shuffle and visitors will be able to ask for particular tracks from the list too:

$olal	Psycho Girls & Psycow Boys (Haaksman & Haaksman remix)	Electronica	2007
Afterlife	Makes Me Feel	Electronica	2000
Agnes Obel	Fuel To Fire	Jazz	2013
Ane Brun	Words	Folk/Rock	2011
Ane Brun	Worship (Feat. Jose Gonzalez)	Folk/Rock	2011
Annie Lennox	Why	Pop	1992
Art Of Noise	Moments In Love	Electronic	2008
Black Mighty Orchestra	Ocean Beach (Cybophonia Cinematic Remix)	Electronic	2008
Black Sabbath	Planet Caravan	Rock	2000
Blues Company	Cold Rain	Blues	1997
Blues Company	Dark Day	Blues	2007
Brendan Perry	Death Will Be My Bride	Folk	1999
Brendan Perry	Medusa	Folk	1999
Chris Rea	Looking For A Rainbow	Rock	1989
Chris Rea	Texas	Rock	1989
Daft Punk	Give Life Back To Music	Pop	2013
Daft Punk	Lose Yourself To Dance	Pop	2013
Damien Rice	Cannonball	Folk/rock	2003
Damien Rice	Cold Water	Folk/rock	2003
Damien Rice	Delicate	Folk/rock	2003
Damien Rice	Volcano	Folk/rock	2003
Dead Can Dance	Agape	Folk	2012
Dead Can Dance	All In Good Time	Folk	2012
Dead Can Dance	American dreaming	Folk	1994
Dead Can Dance	Amnesia	Folk	2012
Dead Can Dance	Anabasis	Folk	2012
Dead Can Dance	Children Of The Sun	Folk	2012
Dead Can Dance	Opium	Folk	2012
Dead Can Dance	The Ubiquitous Mr. Lovegrove (Remastered)	Folk	1993
Dean Fraser	Big Up/Armageddon Time	Jazz/Reggae	1997
Dean Fraser	Dick Tracy	Jazz/Reggae	1997
Death Cab For Cutie	Doors Unlocked And Open	Indie Rock	2011
Death On The Balcony	Them 3 Words (Original)	Electronic	2012
Devon Allman	Strategy	Blues	2013
Devon Allman	Time Machine	Blues	2013
Dire Straits	Fade to Black	Rock	1991
Dire Straits	Planet of New Orleans	Rock	1991
Dirty Vegas	Days Go By (Acoustic Mix)	Chillout	2003
Disclosure feat London Grammar	Help Me Lose My Mind	Rock	2013
Eddi Reader	Dear John	Folk	1994
Elbow	Asleep In The Back	Indie	2001
Elbow	Mirrorball	Indie	2008
Elbow	One Day Like This	Indie	2008
Emily Barker	Nostalgia	Folk/Rock	2012
Erykah Badu	Next Lifetime	R&B	1998
Erykah Badu	Rimshot (Intro)	R&B	1997
FAC15	Stay With Me Til Dawn	Electronica	2007
Fink	Perfect Darkness (Live from Union Chapel, London Oct 5 2011)	Rock/Indie	2012
Fink	Warm Shadow (Live from Epicerie Moderne, Lyon â?? Oct 28 2011)	Rock/Indie	2012
Flash And The Pan	Walking In The Rain	Pop	1990
Fleetwood Mac	Go Your Own Way	Rock	2011
Fleetwood Mac	The Chain	Rock	2011
Ganga	Don't Wake Me Up	Electronic	2006
Ganga	Down But Up	Electronic	2006
Ganga	You Are My Sun	Electronic	2006
Gare Du Nord	Pablos Blues	Dance	2002
Georges-Emmanuel Lazaridis	Grandes Etudes de Paganini Etude III	Classical	2007
Goldfrapp	Let It Take You Away	Electronica	2005
Goldfrapp	Ooh La La	Electronica	2005
Gotye	Don't Worry We'll Be Watching You	Rock/Indie	2012
Gotye	Puzzle With A Piece Missing	Rock/Indie	2012
Gotye	State Of The Art	Rock/Indie	2012
Holly Cole	Train song	Rock	1995
Hue & Cry	Makin' Whoopee	Jazz
I Am Kloot	Hold Back the Night	Rock	2013
I Am Kloot	Let Them All In	Rock	2013
Ian Shaw	A Case of You	Jazz	2006
It's Immaterial	Driving Away From Home (Jims Tune)	Pop	2008
Jakatta	American Dream (Afterlife Mix)	Electronica	2001
James Taylor	Gaia	Folk/Rock	1997
Jay Fisher	Old Man McKeensley	Folk/Rock
Jennifer Warnes	Way Down Deep	Pop	1992
Jenny Lewis	Bad Man's World	Country	2008
Jenny Lewis	Pretty Bird	Country	2008
Jesca Hoop	Peacemaker	Alternative	2012
Joan Armatrading	Love And Affection	R&B	1976
Joe Bonamassa	Feelin' Good	Blues/Rock	2009
John Lee Hooker	The Healer (with Carlos Santana & The Santana Band)	Blues	1989
John Martyn	A Little Strange	Folk/Rock	1996
John Martyn	Feel So Good	Folk/Rock	2000
John Martyn	Sunshine's Better	Folk/Rock	1996
Justin Currie	No, Surrender	Rock	2008
k.d. Lang	Constant Craving	Pop	1992
Kaiser Chiefs	Everything Is Average Nowadays	Indie	2007
Kaiser Chiefs	Ruby	Indie	2007
Keb’ Mo’	For What It's Worth	Jazz	2004
Keb’ Mo’	Wake Up Everybody	Jazz	2004
Keb’ Mo’	What's Happening Brother	Jazz	2004
Kiki Dee	Amoureuse	Folk
Kiki Dee	Don't Go Breaking My Heart	Folk
London Grammar	Hey Now	Rock	2013
London Grammar	Strong	Rock	2013
Lorde	Royals	Pop	2013
Lux	So La Ra Dsa	Electronica	2000
Lyle Lovett	North Dakota	Alternative Country	1992
Lyle Lovett	Record Lady	Alternative Country	1994
Lyle Lovett	She's Already Made Up Her Mind	Alternative Country	1992
Malia & Boris Blank	Magnetic Lies	Jazz	2013
Malia & Boris Blank	Tears Run Dry	Jazz	2013
Marta Gomez	Lucia	Classical/Jazz	2009
Mary Gauthier	Falling Out Of Love	Country	2005
Massive Attack	Three	Electronic	1994
Michael Jackson	Liberian Girl	Pop	2001
Millenia Nova	Beautiful	Electronica	2000
Nalin & Kane	Beachball (Joris Voorn Remix)	Electronica	2010
Nick Drake	'Cello Song	Folk	1969
Nick Drake	Fly	Folk	1970
Nick Harper	The Kilty Stone	Folk	2002
Nils Lofgren	Black Books	Rock	1997
Nils Lofgren	Keith Don't Go	Rock	1997
Nils Lofgren	Wonderland	Rock	1997
Nitin Sawhney	Broken Skin	Chill	1999
Nitin Sawhney	Letting Go	Chill	1999
Nitin Sawhney	Nothing	Chill	2001
Pete Alderton	(She Said That) Evil Was Her Name	Blues	2012
Pete Alderton	Jesus In A Bottle	Blues	2012
Pete Alderton	Passing Ships	Blues	2012
Pete Alderton	Song For David (alternative version)	Blues	2012
Peter Gabriel	Don't Give Up	Folk/Rock	2012
Peter Gabriel	Mercy Street	Folk/Rock	2012
Renegade Creation	Bullet	Blues	2012
Renegade Creation	Nazareth	Blues	2012
Renegade Creation	Too Much Of Nothin'	Blues	2012
Rhodes	Grinding Wheel	Rock	2013
Rhodes	You Are The North Wind	Rock	2013
Richard Thompson	Easy There, Steady Now	Folk	1994
Richard Thompson	Mingus Eyes	Folk	1994
Robben Ford	Make Me Your Only One	Blues	2002
Robben Ford	Peace Love And Understanding	Blues	2003
Robben Ford & The Blue Line	I Don't Play	Blues	1993
Robben Ford & The Blue Line	Mystic Mile	Blues	1993
Royksopp	Sparks	Drum & Bass	2002
Sam Cooke	Chain Gang	Blues
Sam Cooke	Cupid	Blues
Samantha James	Breathe You In	Electronica	2007
Samantha James	Right Now	Electronica	2007
Sarah McLachlan	Hold On	Folk/Rock	1994
Sarah McLachlan	Ice	Folk/Rock	1994
Sarah McLachlan	Sweet Surrender (DJ Tiesto Mix)	Folk/Rock	1997
Sarah McLachlan	Wait	Folk/Rock	1994
Seal	Kiss From A Rose	Soul	1995
Semisonic	Closing Time	Rock	1998
Semisonic	Secret Smile	Rock	1998
Shawn Colvin	Kill The Messenger	Rock	1992
Shawn Colvin	Polaroids	Rock	1992
Silverchair	Israel's Son	Rock	1995
Sinead O'Connor	Nothing Compares 2 U	Folk	2003
Slovo	Killing Me	Electronica	2004
Slovo	Whisper	Electronica	2002
Sofa Sweeper	Voice Of Core	Chill	2009
Solu	The Way I Feel (Extended Mix)	Electronica	2002
Solu Music Featuring Kimblee	Fade (Full 12 Vocal)"	Electronica	2003
Steely Dan	Babylon Sisters	Jazz/Rock	2000
Steely Dan	Cousin Dupree	Jazz/Rock	2000
Steely Dan	Hey Nineteen	Jazz/Rock	2000
Steely Dan	Two Against Nature	Jazz/Rock	2000
Steely Dan	What A Shame About Me	Jazz/Rock	2000
Stéphane Pompougnac	Eden (with Nicole Graham)	Electronica	2008
Stéphane Pompougnac	Sunday Drive (feat. Charles Schillings - Remix)	Electronica	2007
Stephen Fearing	Dublin Bay	Folk	1989
Stephen Fearing	Welfare Wednesday	Folk	1989
Sun Kil Moon	Half Moon Bay	Acoustic	2010
Sun Kil Moon	Third And Seneca	Acoustic	2010
Swing Out Sister	Breakout	Pop	2001
Talking Heads	Road To Nowhere	Pop	2008
Tchaikovsky	'Dance Of The Reeds' From The Nutcracker	Classical	2003
Tears For Fears	Mad World	Pop	2007
Terri Walker	This Is My Time	Electronica	2006
The Australian Pink Floyd Show	Time	Rock	2004
The Black Keys	Dead And Gone	Blues/Rock	2011
The Black Keys	Lonely Boy	Blues/Rock	2011
The Black Keys	Sister	Blues/Rock	2011
The Blue Nile	Let's Go Out Tonight	Rock	1989
The Blue Nile	The Downtown Lights	Rock	1989
The Brand New Heavies	Boogie (Eric Kupper Mix)	Electronic	2004
The Cardigans	Erase/Rewind	Pop	1998
The Farm	All Together Now	Rock	1995
The Jeff Healey Band	Blue Jean Blues	Blues	1988
The Killers	Human	Rock	2008
The Memory Band	Why	Electronic	2007
The Ray Gelato Giants	Exactly Like You	Swing	1995
The Ray Gelato Giants	That Old Black Magic	Swing	1995
The Wailin' Jennys	All The Stars	Folk	2011
The Wailin' Jennys	Bird Song	Folk	2011
The Wailin' Jennys	Swing Low Sail High	Folk	2011
The Zutons	Valerie	Rock	2007
Thea Gilmore	Bad Moon Rising	Folk	2003
Thea Gilmore	Ever Fallen In Love	Folk	2003
Thea Gilmore	God's Got Nothing On You	Folk	2010
Thea Gilmore	Icarus Wind	Folk	2009
Thea Gilmore	The Old Laughing Lady	Folk	2003
Thievery Corporation	Heaven's Gonna Burn Your Eyes (feat. Emiliana Torrini)	Electronica	2004
Thievery Corporation	The Richest Man In Babylon	Electronica	2010
Thievery Corporation	Until The Morning	Electronica	2010
Tiny Tunes	Will You Catch Me (Twin Tunes Mix Edit)	Electronic	2001
Tom Baxter	Night Like This	Jazz	2007
Tom Baxter	Skybound	Jazz	2007
Tom Jones	Thunderball	Soundtrack	2002
Tom Robinson	The End Of The Rainbow	Folk/Rock	1993
T-Rex	Get It On	Pop	2001
U2	Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me	Rock	1995
U2	In A Little While (N.O.W Remix)	Rock	2003
Underworld	Caliban's Dream (feat. Dockhead Choir, Dame Everlyn Glennie, Only Men Alound, Elizabeth Roberts, Esme Smith, Alex Trimble)	Electronic	2012
Underworld	Sola Sistim	Electronic	2002
Underworld	Twist	Electronic	2002
Wamdue Project	Forgiveness (feat. Jonathan Mendelsohn - Beach Angel '07 Mix)	Electronica	2007
Was (Not Was)	Papa Was A Rolling Stone	Pop	1992
Willie Nelson	What Is It You Wanted	Country	1993
Willy Porter	Cool Water	Folk	1995
Willy Porter	Jesus on the Grille	Folk	1995
Wyclef Jean	911 (ft. Mary J. Blige - LP Version)	Pop	2000
X-Press 2	Lazy (Original)	Dance	2002
Yello	Friday Smile	Electronic	2009
Yello	Get On	Electronic	1999
Yello	Indigo Bay	Electronic	2003
Yello	Kiss In Blue (Feat. Heidi Happy)	Electronic	2009
Yello	Ocean Club	Electronic	1991
Yello	Stay (Feat. Heidi Happy)	Electronic	2009
Yello	Till Tomorrow (Feat. Till Brönner)	Electronic	2009
Yello	X-Race	Electronic	2009
Zero 7	Destiny	Electronica	2001
Zero 7	Give It Away	Electronica	2001
Zero 7	In The Waiting Line	Electronica	2001