Phono Preamp Reviews

Channel D Lino C 2.0 phono preamplifier Specifications

Sidebar 1: Specifications

Description: Battery-powered, solid-state, DC-coupled, current-mode, moving-coil phono preamplifier. Inputs: one pair balanced (XLR), one pair unbalanced (RCA). Outputs: I pair balanced (XLR). Gain: switchable, up to 85dB depending on cartridge source impedance. RIAA accuracy: < ±0.1dB, 20Hz–20kHz. RIAA channel matching: < ±0.1dB, 20Hz–20kHz. Channel separation: >80dB, 20Hz–20kHz. Disotrtion: <0.005%, 20Hz–20kHz. Input load resistance: <1 ohms. Output impedance: 44 ohms (balanced), 22 ohms (unbalanced). Power consumption: <2W idle. Supplied accessories: 5V power adaptor.
Dimensions: 17.1: (434mm) W × 2.9" (74mm) H × 9.3" (236mm) D. Weight: 18 lb (8.2kg).
Serial number of review sample: Not noted (auditioning); 132 (measurements).
Price: $2499. Warranty: 5 years (electronics), 3 years (battery), limited (parts & labor).
Manufacturer: Channel D Corp., 1570 Harbourton Rocktown Road, Lambertville, NJ 08530-3001. Tel: (609) 818-0700. Web: www.channld.com.

COMMENTS
tonykaz's picture
Submitted by tonykaz on March 10, 2020 - 11:03pm

$2,500 is a problem because it's "too cheap" explains 33.3 promoted marketing pretty well.

Tony in Venice

ps. appropriate Phono Cartridges are too expensive ( ridiculously expensive ) or even other worldly expensive

Mycophile's picture
Submitted by Mycophile on March 11, 2020 - 7:46am

A couple of examples of cartridges that work very well with this preamp are the Hana SL MC and Ortofon Quintet Black, at $750 and $999 respectively. Don't know if you define that as ridiculously expensive?

tonykaz's picture
Submitted by tonykaz on March 11, 2020 - 9:29am

The reviewer mentions the cartridge price issue.

I agree, the incredible prices for some of his reviewed phono cartridges are other worldly.

Tony in Venice

13DoW's picture
Submitted by 13DoW on March 10, 2020 - 11:25pm

Hi JA1,
I always enjoy the measurements section. You describe making an attenuator of two 10k and one 10 ohm resistors. The Lino would then see a source resistance very close to 10 ohms, but in your results you talk about a 6 ohm source resistor. What did I miss?

TiA,
13DoW

Ortofan's picture
Submitted by Ortofan on March 11, 2020 - 4:17am

... Initially, JA1 used a fixed adapter that he made using one 10 ohm and two 10K resistors.
Channel D then supplied an adapter, which allowed adjustment of both attenuation and source resistance. JA1 indicated that he set the source resistance to 6 ohms.

13DoW's picture
Submitted by 13DoW on March 11, 2020 - 10:02am

That is what I missed! Thanks :)

Ortofan's picture
Submitted by Ortofan on March 11, 2020 - 4:13am

... battery-powered unit that uses integrated circuits in the audio signal path?
If so, given that he disparaged products employing such a configuration, could it be arranged for AD to conduct a follow-up review?

shawnwes's picture
Submitted by shawnwes on March 11, 2020 - 6:19am

As the XV-1s has a 6 ohm impedance I'm guessing it's a very good match for the Lino C or is there something more to consider?
Are there high quality RCA to XLR connectors that won't break the bank?

Mycophile's picture
Submitted by Mycophile on March 11, 2020 - 7:33am

Channel D used a Dynavector DRT XV-1s and a Lino C 2.0 at the NYC audio show in November 2019 (was not listed in the program, a last-minute addition to the exhibitors). A reviewer from parttimeaudiophile judged the sound as "Best of Show Runner Up: very involving sound."

The Lino C 2.0 ships with a set of RCA to XLR adapters, but for best performance the interconnect should be balanced; that is, shielded twisted pair (two independent conductors plus shield), with pin 1 of the XLRs not connected to any signal connection, just the shield.

shawnwes's picture
Submitted by shawnwes on March 11, 2020 - 7:28pm

Thank you for your comments. Appreciated. I'm probably going to upgrade this year and need to create a shortlist.

shawnwes's picture
Submitted by shawnwes on March 11, 2020 - 7:21pm

What a surprise! LOL

Mikey you have to put us on a private email list when you announce these bargains!

Mycophile's picture
Submitted by Mycophile on March 12, 2020 - 12:06pm

Per Channel D website: "Notice of Price Increase: due to compounded across-the-board supplier price increases since 2017, the price of the Lino C 2.0 will be increasing by 12 percent from $2499 to $2799 when the stock for our current production run is exhausted (about March 2020)."

It's simply the government tariffs coming to roost, and existing stock being exhausted, is all.

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