Linn Troika Moving Coil Cartridge


This Troika has, to the eye, an undamaged cantilever. The stylus has
plenty of playing hours left on it. I have tested on Hi-Fi News
Analogue Test LP and this is the only cartridge I own that would track
the +18db Bias setting.


Description: Top of the range cartridge when introduced. It has a red
housing which is machined from high tensile alloy and a three point
mounting that only fits the Ittok and Ekos arms. It has flying leads
rather than the usual pins for connecting to the arm. A development of
the Karma cartridge. Manufactured by Supex, the two were manufactured
side by side for a time.


"The Troika can be considered to be a variant of the old Karma design.
In both of these older cartridges, the magnet and generator assembly
was mounted to a plastic sub-chassis, which was in turn bolted to the
aluminium outer housing (which was a "U"-shaped extrusion that wrapped
around the cartridge internals. The cartridge was capped with a thin,
aluminium L-shaped plate that protected the delicate internals."


Date of introduction: 1986
Output: 100 micro Volts
Compliance: 10 cu
Tracking weight: 1.5 - 1.7g
Loading: 10 ohms, nominal 150 ohms, 560 ohms recommended
Weight: 7g
Price: 546 GBP (1988), 798 GBP (1992)


The Troika will offer a good vinyl experience in the right system.


s/n 7583 etched on side of cartridge which is a later number towards
end of production.


The Troika is no longer available and its replacement from Linn
(Akiva)is about 3000 dollars.


A future rebuild/refurbishment/re tip etc starting at 400 dollars is
available from the Expert Stylus Company in the UK.
Expert Stylus is at P.O.Box 3, Ashtead, Surrey, KT21 2QD, UK.
Telephone 00 44 (0)1372 276604


There are also around five or six dealers who are included in a
programme allowing them to send Troika to Goldring (who were originally
involved with the cart via Linn and will not deal direct with public)
for a full refurbishment.


This cartridge is working and playing excellant now, and offering it as
a cartridge that can be played for many hours, not just as a trade in.
I dont have a moving coil preamp anymore so heres your chance to own
one of Linn's finest cartridges.


I feel that whoever gets it will be able to enjoy it for some time to
come. Here is the potential for someone to get a real bargain, test the
musical performance, and in the long term own a cartridge that competes
sonically with Linn's Akiva at 4 or 5 times the cost of refurbishing
the Troika.


email: , will respond with real email address and
phone #'s
550.00 OBO