Line Magnetic 518?
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Paul
Senior Member
Doug Where are you ? I'm very interested. Actually this is only chi-fi brands that makes me interesting.
dlb2
New member
I have the 218 which differs from the 518 in basically two ways. The 518 has a preamp in and is also tube rectified. It still has the main attributes of the 218 including it's 22w rating. I drive a pair of Devore Super 8's with my 218. The Super 8's have a sensitivity of 90db (8ohms) and I have no problems at all with them. My listening room is approx. 11X20X8 and the loudest I play my music is roughly 85db. Most of the time it is lower than that. On the volume knob I'm usually at 11:00 o'clock which gives me plenty of room to turn it up, although I rarely do. The Guarneri's have a sensitivity of 86db (4ohms) and are generally thought of as a difficult speaker to drive. They seem to like lots of power to get them to their sweet spot. Even at lower listening levels I don't think you're going to give the Guarneri's enough power, either in watts or current, to get the best sound from them. Hey I could be totally wrong about this and you just might love the sound, but my .02¢.
Paul
Senior Member
So Doug should I consider this products for Devore super 8 or O/96 ? 
sharkmouth
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"YES"!!!
dlb2
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the professor
Well-known member
Any opinions from a sound perspective the differences between the Line Magnetic 219 and the Cary 211 founders edition?
I ask because both use the 300b into the 845.
I know one is an integrated for 1/3 the price but .... From a sound perspective I'm curious.
I ask because both use the 300b into the 845.
I know one is an integrated for 1/3 the price but .... From a sound perspective I'm curious.
cmalak
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Doug...do you have a sense for pricing for the 218, 518, or the 501 here in the US? I figured since you bought the 218, you may have also looked at the other units and may have a sense for their price.
The thing that worries me about the Line Magnetic stuff is the preamp section and volume control and how quiet they are. This is where a good portion of money is spent with tube preamps in good circuit design (short signal paths), high quality parts, and design of the volume control. Doug...not sure what you had before the Line Magnetic but any thoughts on how quiet the units are (to use the clichéd terms in auiophilidom...how black a background do notes emerge from letting you hear deeply into the track?)
Thanks...this is the only hifi equipment designed and produced in China that is appealing to me.
The thing that worries me about the Line Magnetic stuff is the preamp section and volume control and how quiet they are. This is where a good portion of money is spent with tube preamps in good circuit design (short signal paths), high quality parts, and design of the volume control. Doug...not sure what you had before the Line Magnetic but any thoughts on how quiet the units are (to use the clichéd terms in auiophilidom...how black a background do notes emerge from letting you hear deeply into the track?)
Thanks...this is the only hifi equipment designed and produced in China that is appealing to me.
dlb2
New member
I imagine the Cary's would give you better separation and probably have more punch and dynamics than the LM since they are mono's. However that being said I've heard that the LM219 is a pretty amazing integrated that would match up very nicely with your O96's.
dlb2
New member
Cyril, the MSRP of the LM218 is $3500.00. I don't quite remember the pricing of the Gold series amps but if I recall correctly they were about 1K more than the silver series amps. Bob (Absolare) might be able to chime in here since he now carries the line.
I've had a very nice EL34 based integrated, a McIntosh MC402 and a Wyred 4 Sound amp in the past and the LM is as quiet as all of those amps. I don't get any hum out of my speakers from the unit but do occasionally get a hum for one of the transformers. This is due to the power in my house though and not the amp, since it comes and goes. I don't use any special power conditioning in my system and just plug straight into the wall. The whole black background issue is a tough call for me because while I do think it is one of the best amps I've had I think that if I used some kind of power unit that it could be better. Of course this is all subjective thought and might be a crock...
What I like about the LM is it's ability to make me connect to the music. The mid-range is sublime and since I listen to a lot of Jazz it's right up my alley. You can hear every breath taken, every little nuance, every finger pull on a double-bass. Line Magnetic uses and tries to improve on many of the old Western Electric ideas and schematics. The amps use hand-to-hand wiring and are assembled with the same personal care that is reminiscent of the best audio gear around. The quality of my piece is on par with the best American made gear I've seen. I don't have any reservations about the fact that it's made in China but do worry about having to ship it back if something goes awry. This is when your dealer becomes a huge asset and I think with the dealer network that Jonathon at Tone Imports uses, that this wouldn't be a problem. I would even go so far to say that if I did have a problem that resulted in my shipping the unit back to China for repair that my dealer would loan me something to use for the interim period.
I've had my LM218 for roughly two years now and love it as much now, hell maybe even more, than the first day I fired it up. Very, very happy with how this amp performs.
KeithR
Active member
I have 100db speakers and have demo'd amps from 8-300 watts- i personally require 15+ watts. Its not about listening volume, its about dynamic range. I think a lot of folks with 300Bs for instance just dont mind soft clipping or hear the amp running out of headroom. Or have a tiny room.
Paul
Senior Member
dlb2
New member
+1 in my case since we don't have any dealer around have to find some used one.
Paul, Coup de Foudre carries Line Magnetic. Didn't you say that you would be visiting them soon?
Paul
Senior Member
Snoober
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Hey fellows,
My apologies for digging up an oldish thread. I own the LM 216IA and I am stuck on whether to go for the 518 or 219. I'm only concerned with sound differences. Anybody have any clues? I can't audition, unfortunately. Thanks so much.
Rory
My apologies for digging up an oldish thread. I own the LM 216IA and I am stuck on whether to go for the 518 or 219. I'm only concerned with sound differences. Anybody have any clues? I can't audition, unfortunately. Thanks so much.
Rory
dlb2
New member
Hi Rory, if I recall the 216 is 4xKT88's with either 22 or 34 watts depending on the mode you use. The 518 is very similar to my 218 with the addition of tube rectification and the option to use a separate pre. The 219 is the big dog as far as I'm concerned. It's a beast big in size and weight. If it were me, after reading reviews and talking to my LM dealer, I would go with the 219. It's supposed to be everything my 218 is (which is absolutely amazing) and then some. Of course you will have more heat to contend with, but I think the trade-off is well worth it.
Check these reviews out:
Line Magnetic 219IA Single Ended Triode Integrated Amplifier | A Unique Audiophile Experience
Line Magnetic 219ia Integrated Tube Amp Review. 300B and 845 Tube Magic! | STEVE HUFF PHOTOS
Snoober
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Hi Joe, thnx for the input. Um, speakers? Uh, I'm using Sonus faber Liuto Monitors :blush:. Now before I get a lecture on sensitivity and impedance and all of that just let me say: "I know"!
If I posted this at the SET asylum the folks over there would blow gaskets, I'm sure: hence "asylum". Anyway, if the LM can't handle the Liutos then I will just switch to something more appropriate. I hope it doesn't turn out that way, though. My model is a push-pull 38Wpc.