Linn Krystal moving coil cartridge

Key Features

• Vital fine line stylus
• Aluminium cantilever 
• Triple point mounting
• Nude design body
• Lightweight Aluminium chassis
• Tracking force between 1.5 -2.0g

Linn Krystal sits in the middle of Linn's cartridge hierarchy and provides a significant uplift in sound quality from the Koil.

The vital fine line stylus uses a nude body design for the lowest possible mass which allows it to read every bump. This design has a sharper edge radius that plays the record groove walls, which allows better high-frequency reproduction (this is most notable at the inner groove where it is more difficult) resulting in better imaging, depth, lower distortion and many other aspects of fine analogue listening that are lost when the high frequencies are not resolved well - normally caused by lower quality stylus shapes. 

The Aircraft grade 7075 aluminium chassis and specific adhesives offer a lightweight, low inertia basis for the cartridge to do its job to the highest of standards. The three-point screw fixing enables a very firm mounting point to the tonearm headshell and gives instant alignment for ease of set-up.

We've found the Krystal to be a remarkably capable cartridge and give the similarly priced Dynavector, Hana & Ortofon cartridges a run for their money. Thanks to its fine-line stylus the Krystal offers a highly detailed sound that is not fatiguing or shrill. This detail is beautifully balanced with a smooth mid-range and full-bodied bass. I was massively impressed with this cartridge when playing back the Tron Legacy soundtrack by Daft Punk. In the short section in track 2 where Jeff Bridges is describing the Grid, I could have sworn he was sitting in the room with me.  

Who is Linn

Linn wants to bring you closer to the music you love, to feel every note, to experience your music with clarity and power, unlike anything you’ve ever heard. Their philosophy is simple too. Linn doesn’t make anything unless it’s better than what’s available elsewhere. For Linn, “good enough” isn’t good enough.

Every single system is built by hand in their Glasgow factory and bears the name of the person who made it. It’s built with precision and pride, designed for the future and engineered to extraordinarily tight tolerances. And of course, every product is rigorously tested before it leaves the factory in order to ensure that it delivers outstanding performance today and for many, many years to come.

A Linn system isn’t just something to enjoy now. It’s an investment that will enrich your whole life.