Quote from a Hifi forum : Two weeks ago I had the possibility to hear the Isobariks for the first time. Powered by 6 x CB135s, NAXO, 52 and CDS.
Best musical experience ever, a dream !

Customer testimonial :

Hi Simon

Although I haven’t spent as much time as I would have liked listening over the weekend, I have spent enough to get a feel for what you have achieved with the modification work.

I am quite amazed by the transformation in the overall sense of realism and depth of field. As I said to you the other day, there aren’t many live albums that can be faithfully reproduced at home and give you the sense of ‘being there’. But the ‘Bruce Hornsby and the Noise Makers’ album is a fantastic piece of work and deserves playing on equipment that can do it justice. I think my system does that, thanks in no small way to the improved Isobariks.

I have worked through one or two of my usual test CDs… music I really enjoy, recorded with the attention to detail that lets them breath properly when played. If these discs work then the system works, essentially.

I can only say that I am closer to the level I want to reach than at any time in my Hi-fi journey. I’ve had some pretty decent kit over the years… Krell amps, Martin Logan ‘speakers, Copland CD players, Nottingham Analogue record deck… so I am familiar with what works for me and what doesn’t.

The current set up is very close to complete now. I think the power supply improvements we talked about with Shaun, the balanced cables and a third KSA will make things better without detracting from what is there already. One step at a time though, I think.

In conclusion, I would say to anyone who has a pair of old (and perhaps tired) Isobariks that would love to breathe new life into them… check out Simon Hamnett’s work.

From where I sit (and listen) he knows how to take the ‘speaker on to new levels without taking away the essence of what the original Isobarik does. The work done on my pair has transformed my listening experience to the point where I believe and enjoy what I’m hearing again, instead of wishing that certain elements of the performance were better.

I’m not easily pleased (or impressed) by Hi-fi but I am incredibly happy with what has come out this exercise.

To all those skeptical people who like to speculate on how good or appropriate or effective Simon’s work is, largely without listening I might add, I would say you need to accept that the world of Hi-fi has moved on and taken the Isobariks with it thankfully.

Thanks for an excellent job, Simon

With Best Regards

Name an address supplied

Please ask about Fully Serviced and/or Upgraded Naim Amplification for your Isobariks - Best prices !

If you would like an immaculate used pair of original Linn Isobariks with excellent drivers – we can supply.

Many thanks for your enquiry, and kindest regards

Call or text 07957 203 218 and I'll call you back.

The real Isobarik - Genuinely 'remastered'


Premium Tweeter upgrade service including all units and hard ware - Replace all four tweeters with Premium ScanSpeak tweeters, rout cabinets to new specification £730 including tweeters.
This second stage conversion completely transforms the performance of the Isobarik in hi frequency spectrum allowing the rendition to match the very best of hi end loudspeakers available today. Ultimate upgrades using the very best ScanSpeak tweeters, are available, POA depending on tweeter choice.

Mid range upgrade service including all units and hard ware - Replace all four Midrange with upgrade Scaspeak units, rout cabinets to new specification -From £1450. An ideal first stage conversion really opens out the mid range of the Isobarik - allowing you to hear detail that the ancient old tired out B110 mid unit could never resolve. - The Night and Day conversion ! As one client described the upgrade.


Budget upgrade mid range above, special order special order only.


Upgrade above to special order only.
Ultimate Mid range upgrade service including all units and hard ware - Replace all four Midrange units with ultimate upgrade Scanspeak mid range units, rout cabinets to new specification - POA - Mid range performance comparable with the finest available

Cabinet routing only for above units, 4 apertures routed - Routing only, no units supplied
Price on application or see other eBay adverts.
 


Bass unit upgrade to Keltic spec - £ 1700 - Powerful Bass Keltik style

ULTIMATE TDL Bass unit upgrade - POA. - Ultimate fast precise bass - The best !

Total refinishing of cabinets or re-veneer to ANY specification prices from £1000.

Total restoration, Ultimate Upgrade and cabinet re veneer up to £6000 depending on finishes required.

Cloth speaker grills set of 4 from £250

Original Spec Foam grills  £185

Stands - From £350

Fill in Panels - From £400

Cross overs From £385 depending on spec.

Passive Crossover rebuilds. From £950 exchange

Active Crossovers from POA. LINN, NAIM PASSIVE/ACTIVE ALL AVAILABLE.

Call or text 07957 203 218 and I'll call you back for price queries.

Split Brik Conversions. From £295 including cable and connectors. - Use two Mono blocks or one stereo amplifier to drive each of your Isobariks more effectively - greatly increased dynamic headroom and power. I recommend all owners of earlier Isobariks to consider this simple upgrade.  An excellent cost effective conversion ( depends on model ). Briks allow many different connection configurations, contact me for more details. Also externalisation of the cross overs can bring corresponding cost effective improvements in performance.

 Cross over externalisation.

Only one speaker shown in schematic

'Split Biks' Schematic Tim Danaher.


Bespoke speaker cabinet manufacture to the very highest standards contact me for details.

All of above Via ebay Buy It Now - Contact me for details.

Simon Hamnett – 07957 203 218

ISOBARIKS WANTED ! BEST PRICES PAID! CASH WAITING ! NEXT DAY COLLECTION 7 DAYS A WEEK.

Call Or Text 07957 203 218

Four myths busted !

• Myth one : Linn Isobariks sound coloured. Or more precisely suffer from colouration. ( Over emphasis of certain frequencies )

Yes they do !

Standard late model passive Isobariks even when driven properly; and,.. you do need some very serious amplification to drive Briks properly, do sound very warm, smooth, and easy on the ear. This is due in part ( Ivor was trying to hide Sondek inadequacies ! ) to the standard five different types of passive crossover network, and the standard tweeters. But mostly this is because of the very poor quality of the Kef B110 Mid range driver. I can hear owners of that other little speaker with big reputation; the LS3 5A - gasping with horror. I apologise, but it is a simple fact that the B110 is not the best mid driver in the world ( certainly not anymore it’s not, and not 40 years ago either ! ) and when upgraded in the Linn Isobarik cylindrical midrange enclosure ( similar the JR 149 ), huge improvements can made over the standard Kef B110. Time and again customers phone me to say how pleased they are with this modification. The B110 is long dead (has been since about 1979 actually) - It really is time to get over it chaps - sorry. And yes ! - The original designers at Falcon have re manufactured a very excellent brand new B110 now, and yes, it does sound very nice. But in reality the warm coloured characteristic sound of the New/Old B110 is exactly that - a Characteristic sound.  Not an OPEN and accurate rendition of the original sound - This is what the Kevlar/Carbon upgrade offers you. Try it and hear for yourself in your own home. I'm very happy to supply the new Falcon B110 should you require. Falcons new B110 is THE BEST B110 your money can buy. However, our ears tell us there are stunning improvements to me made, should you, dear client, desire this to be!

The excellent upgrade we favour is the Monaocor Kevlar cone mid range driver with phase plug or 'Plain Carbon fibre Black'. This major ‘night and day’ ( as one client called it ) upgrade requires  cabinet modification, and for a completely professional factory fresh perfect look, these units are fitted by our cabinet craftsman. Other B110 footprint units are available so please inquire so that we can find just the right mid unit for your needs and budget. Carbon fiber cone drivers in black are also available for the more traditional B110 look. You chose. Ultimate Scan speak mid range conversion also available. Please just ask for full details.

Like wise the standard tweeter drive units from Scanspeak and Hiquphon can be upgraded with outstanding results. Our favorites are from the Scanspeak Revalator range. The vastly improved the “top end” you require is finally here for you to - 'hear' for yourself. This modification may or may not require modification of the Crossover Network. Again the choice is yours ! This is of course is far easier to do when your Briks are driven actively as they should be - it's not that expensive. The sweetness of treble from a one inch soft dome Scanspeak has to heard to be believed. No one has as yet requested they go back to their old tweeters. Which are also available should you need them of course.

• Myth two : Isobariks provide very poor stereo imaging. The driver arrangement is poor.

This statement comes up again and again on the forums. It makes us really quite angry. It is simply just not true, Briks can, when set up and driven correctly, in full active mode, with the right crossover and CORRECT cross over power supply, provide quite stunning holographic imagery. Better than ALL other speakers I’ve ever listened too. If I’d heard better speaker I’d have bought them! Imaging is the active Linn Isobarik strong point. The fact is people have never really heard a properly set up pair of Briks. They are a rare and exotic beast of a speaker, and up until recently very expensive ! – But now as second hand prices fall, it is possible to build a full active Brik system for a fraction of cost of what it would have been the old days.

• Myth three : Isobariks have a very strong articulate bass response.

This myth is very true ! Quite frankly – It’s the best bass you’ll ever hear ! However upgrading the Kef B139 isobarically loaded drive units yields even better results. Unfortunately the “race track” B139 footprint versions by other other manufactures are very difficult to source. We favour the Elac unit used in the past by IMF/TDL, but as I say, these are difficult to obtain second hand. The next best is the Keltic bass unit available from Linn. These are expensive, but are an improvement in terms of attack and slam over the standard B139 units due to the Keltik bass units lightweight cones and extra sensitivity. If anyone knows of better bass than Isobarik bass PLEASE  TELL ME ! And please keep all your transmission lines, no matter how big. Clearly you've not heard properly set up Isobarik four pack bass. Infra bass like you've never listened to before. We are talking seriously powerful, articulate, precise, perfect bass - like you have only dreamed of in the past. Not convinced ? Try them for free in your own home. If you have better bass I'll buy your speakers and you'll owe me nothing.

• Myth four : Wives, girlfriends and partners hate them.

Our wives love them, listen to them all the time, either whilst feeding the baby or just in the evening and weekends after a hard days work for some very serious relaxation. They can be tastefully integrated into most rooms, and room size is irrelevant. We have installed Briks in a room ten feet by ten feet square, and that system could literally blow the listener away ! The key, as I hope you have gathered is correct setup.

• The System of you dreams is now within your grasp! 

• FULL TWELVE PACK BRICK SYSTEMS FOR AS LITTLE AS £2000 Excluding SNAXO, £3000 INCLUDING SNAXO, INQUIRE FOR DETAILS.

• Bespoke Linn Isobarik and Keltik full restoration and upgrades. Carried by experienced French polishers and cabinet craftsman to restore you Active / Passive Isobariks or Keltiks to their former glory and far beyond.

• Drive unit upgrades according to budget and specification required. From basic replacement of units to full house upgrades using the finest drive units available including amongst others Scan Speak, Monacor, ATC and of course Linn.

• Any finish and and drive unit combination is theoretically possible but there are many straight forward replacement drivers that will fit the original driver footprint, yielding instant improvements in sound reproduction over the standard and often tired drivers.

• Isobarik and Keltic spares from stock or we can source them for you. Cross overs and stands also available FROM STOCK.

• If its Isobarik or Keltik we can do it.

• Bricks and Keltiks in stock and for sale at competitive prices. Inquire for details.

• Pick up and delivery available. Pick up and delivery country wide at cost.

• Room installation and set up. Grills and original specification foam covers to order.

• All advice regarding amplification and active crossover set up. Snaxo, Naxo, Six pack or TWELVE PACK a specialty !

Actual customer full 12 Pack full Active Naim system using 6 Fully serviced and restored Naim Nap 250s Power Amplifiers.

Please don't hesitate, feel free to contact me for further pictures and information, including full details regarding this now legendary bespoke super system. Call or text 07957 203 218 and I'll call you back.

Bespoke System Spec : uses Custom Hifi Cables Upgraded Naim Hicaps. Avondale Audio Fully upgraded Naim Nac 32.5. Custom Hifi Cables interconnects

Each drive unit is hyper accurately precision driven by it's own single dedicated fully regulated Naim power amplifier board. I believe this is one of the few Naim Nap 250 twelve packs in existence. Effortless power and unmatched control ! Offering twice the control of a Nap 135 six pack !

Using 12 Naim Nap 135s is also an option. Contact me for full details - and following your precise specifications, why not commission the world beating system of your dreams ?

• International shipping in our own super safe lightweight shipping crates.

• Exchange service where by you audition the speakers you want in your own home and keep our loan Briks whilst yours are restored/modified. Retaining complete peace of mind.

• Please contact us via Ebay mail for further information, even if it's just to talk Briks ! :-)

• OR PLEASE CONTACT US ON 07957 203 218 Should you require any further information.

Brick Restorations and Upgrades. Many thanks for your interest and Kindest regards.

WORLD WIDE SHIPPING AT COST - VERY BEST NON PROFIT RATES

FREE WORLD WIDE SHIPPING ON SOME ORDERS !!!! Inquire for details....

Custom made packing cases for safe insured dispatch to all points on the globe. Overseas customers always welcome. Shipping Linn Isobariks to all destinations world wide. We have Shipped Isobariks and components to GB, Europe, USA, The Far East, South America and Australia. Shipping to the USA from £450. All other destination available at best competitive rates. Shipping can be less than you'd think !