Linn · Cartridges
$2,415
Linn · Cartridges
Linn's nude-bodied moving coil: the generator mounted on a stiff, light 7075 aluminum chassis with triple-point mounting and a Vital Fine Line stylus, bringing the agility of Linn's top cartridges to a lower price.
Requires a moving coil phono input; three-point mounting suits Linn tonearms.
Authorized Linn dealer · Delivery and installation by Pearl Audio · Trade-ins welcome
The story
Krystal takes the design ideas of Linn's flagship cartridges and applies them with a more affordable stylus and cantilever. The generator sits without a housing on a chassis machined from 7075 aluminum, so moving mass and inertia stay low and the stylus can follow the groove quickly. A Vital Fine Line nude diamond rides on an aluminum tube cantilever with a cross armature and copper coils. Linn's triple-point mounting clamps the cartridge to the headshell at three points, and even the adhesive was chosen for the stiffest bond so that nothing in the structure absorbs detail. Output is 0.5 mV into 50 to 200 Ω.
In Linn's range Krystal sits above the Adikt and Koil and below the Kendo and Ekstatik, and Linn describes its character as a highly musical presentation with increased agility. It tracks at 1.5 to 2.0 g, weighs 7.0 g, and needs an MC phono stage with a load in the 50 to 200 Ω range: a Urika, a Selekt or Klimax DSM's MC input, or the Uphorik. The three-point mount is designed for Linn's arms; ask us about fitting it to others.
For an LP12 owner with a Lingo and Kore, Krystal is the cartridge step that matches the rest of the deck.
| Type | Moving coil (MC), low output |
| Output | 0.5 mV at 5 cm/s |
| Recommended load | 50–200 Ω; 100–1000 pF |
| Tracking force | 1.5–2.0 g |
| Cartridge mass | 7.0 g |
| Stylus | Vital Fine Line, nude diamond |
| Cantilever | Aluminum tube |
| Armature | Cross, copper wire |
| Body | Precision-machined 7075 aluminum, nude |
| Channel separation (1 kHz) | Better than 30 dB |
| Channel balance (1 kHz) | ±1 dB |
| Mounting | Triple-point; 1.2 mm gold pins |
| Compliance | Not published by Linn |
Linn's cartridges in order of price; the Kendo, fitted to the Selekt LP12, is available to order.
Arms: Arko or Ekos SE. Phono stages: Urika, Uphorik or a Selekt DSM MC input.
Plan your Linn system with Pearl Audio
Pearl Audio is an authorized Linn dealer. Our technicians fit and align tonearms and cartridges on the LP12 in our Portland workshop; ask us to match an arm and cartridge to your deck and phono stage. Call (503) 222-2599 or email sales@pearlaudio.com.
The Pearl Audio experience
A system at this level should be heard, thoughtfully matched, and properly set up. From the first audition to long-term ownership, you work with the same people, in person.
Hear the Krystal Moving Coil Cartridge by appointment in one of our two purpose-designed demonstration rooms, with your own music and time to compare without pressure.
We deliver and install throughout the Portland area, taking care of placement, connections, ventilation and system configuration ourselves.
We support everything we sell for as long as you own it, whether the answer comes by phone, in your home, or through factory service.
Trade-in assistance and qualifying 100% Trade-Up options give you flexibility when your listening priorities or your system change.
