Phono stage
typical
Among the 44 phono stages in the catalogue, this one is typical.
A band places a component against its peers and carries no price. It is deliberately the only price indicator on this page: a second one, measured against a different set, would narrow the two together far enough to give the figure away.
Linn Glasgow-built. Stand-alone version of Linn Urika reference (LP12-internal phono); shares dual-mono topology and screened differential input. Linn position it as "the most flexible phono stage available" — credible given 11 MC R values + 8 MM C values + dual-input.
Cymbiosis (specialist UK Linn dealer) maintains detailed loading recommendations per cartridge — Linn carts are tightly specified for precise tuning. Linn recommends hardwiring preferred settings for sonic improvement vs DIP-switch contact.
Aluminium-cased and physically silent — runs cool. Replaced earlier Linn Linto + Lingo (pre-2010).
Assessed against 10 rivals across the sixty systems: 4 head-to-heads won, 56 lost.
The dimension the engine names as the weakest link, counted across every head-to-head it lost.
16 lost · Anchored, Artisan, BBC Sound, Cavity-Native, Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Twin Arms
Against the Twin Arms brief, the Naim NVC TT MM/MC keeps the slot decisively.
On its own merits the Linn Uphorik MM/MC is the stronger phono stage — but it loses here on fit: the way it sits with the rest of this system under the Twin Arms weighting.
seemingly infinite bass responseEnjoy the Music (Lyle), 2024 (system)
15 lost· 1 won · Anchored, Artisan, BBC Sound, Cavity-Native, Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Silent Path, Twin Arms
Against the Anchored brief, the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC keeps the slot decisively.
With the van den Hul The Frog, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the Linn Uphorik MM/MC is the stronger phono stage — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the van den Hul The Frog gives up quietness at rest under the Anchored weighting.
extremely low background... physically silentHi-Fi Choice (Hughes) 2010
8 lost · Anchored, Characterful, PRaT, Romantic
Against the Anchored brief, the Musical Fidelity M8x Vinyl keeps the slot decisively.
With the van den Hul The Frog, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
With the Audiolab 9000Q, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the Linn Uphorik MM/MC is the stronger phono stage — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the van den Hul The Frog gives up quietness at rest under the Anchored weighting.
extremely low background... physically silentHi-Fi Choice (Hughes) 2010
extremely low background... physically silentHi-Fi Choice (Hughes) 2010
7 lost · BBC Sound, Cavity-Native, Intimate, Reference
Against the Intimate brief, the Rega Aura Reference MC keeps the slot decisively.
With the van den Hul The Crimson, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
With the EAR Yoshino 868L (Line), the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
On its own merits the Linn Uphorik MM/MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.
extremely low background... physically silentHi-Fi Choice (Hughes) 2010
extremely low background... physically silentHi-Fi Choice (Hughes) 2010
4 lost · Artisan, Reference, Twin Arms
Against the Artisan brief, the EAR Yoshino 88PB MM/MC keeps the slot decisively.
With the van den Hul The Colibri, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
With the Audiolab 9000Q, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the Linn Uphorik MM/MC is the stronger phono stage — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the van den Hul The Colibri gives up quietness at rest under the Artisan weighting.
extremely low background... physically silentHi-Fi Choice (Hughes) 2010
extremely low background... physically silentHi-Fi Choice (Hughes) 2010
3 lost · Vocals-First
Against the Vocals-First brief, the Tom Evans Groove+ SRX MkII keeps the slot by a whisker.
On its own merits the Linn Uphorik MM/MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.
2 lost · Vocals-First
Against the Vocals-First brief, the Cyrus Classic PHONO keeps the slot by a whisker.
On its own merits the Linn Uphorik MM/MC is the weaker phono stage for that brief.
1 lost · Silent Path
Against the Silent Path brief, the Michell Apollo + Muse PSU keeps the slot decisively.
With the Audiolab 9000Q, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the Linn Uphorik MM/MC is the stronger phono stage — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Audiolab 9000Q gives up quietness at rest under the Silent Path weighting.
It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the phono stage position.
extremely low background... physically silentHi-Fi Choice (Hughes) 2010
0 lost· 2 won · Silent Path
Against the Silent Path brief, the Linn Uphorik MM/MC takes the slot by a whisker.
On its own merits the Linn Uphorik MM/MC is the stronger phono stage for that brief.
It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the phono stage position.
0 lost· 1 won · Silent Path
Against the Silent Path brief, the Linn Uphorik MM/MC takes the slot by a whisker.
On its own merits the Linn Uphorik MM/MC is the stronger phono stage for that brief.
It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the phono stage position.
Linn flagship phono with PRaT focus Linn Uphorik + Cymbiosis dealer notes· Timing precision
extremely low background... physically silent Hi-Fi Choice (Hughes) 2010· Electrical noise floor
placement... outstanding accuracy and precision Hi-Fi Choice (Hughes) 2010· Spatial resolution
striking clarity and razor-sharp focus Hi-Fi Choice (Hughes) 2010· Presence & articulation
retain their individual timbral qualities Hi-Fi Choice (Hughes) 2010· Harmonic texture
| mm capable | True |
|---|---|
| mc capable | True |
| mm gain db | 44/48 |
| mc gain db | 54/64 |
| mm load resistance kohm | 45/47/49/51 |
| mm load capacitance pf | 68/105/135/175/215/255/285/325 |
| mc load resistance options ohm | 31/37/42/53/70/100/170/580/670/810/1000 |
| mc load capacitance options pf | 470/1000/1500/2000 |
| input overload mv | 29.0 |
| output level mv | 6000 |
| output impedance ohm | 100 |
| balanced output | True |
| psu external | False |
| notes |