Pedro2
Well-known member
I've just looked at the Innuos website and their products look very good. However, am I right in thinking that the Zenith Mk.II STD streamer also requires an external DAC? If so, then it comes in at a price that's not too far off the 'cheaper' Linn streamers (with their on-board DACs).
I got into streamed music some years ago now and replaced an Arcam CD player with a Squeezebox Duet player. This in turn was replaced by a Squeezebox Touch + external DAC before the first Linn arrived; a newly produced Majik DSM with its multiple inputs (including HDMI pass through for TV, DVD etc) as well as Airplay. It also had its own built-in power amp. It sounded great and was only let down (IMO) by the quality of the power amp (which was why I continued to use a Roksan Caspian power amp).
The Linn was compared to Naim streamers in the shop with both my wife and I preferring the house sound of Linn (you either prefer one or the other - they have different flavours!)
Then, more recently, I bought a Linn Akurate DSM on Fleabay for a reasonable price and the Majik was sold. I am not, however, a fully paid up member of the Linn appreciation society! Their amps are not to everyone's taste (including mine) and I'm also not convinced by some of their speakers (although I haven't heard too many of these and over the years, there have been lots). They also appear to be going down an intricate active route (or aktiv in Linn speak). Finally, many of their products are expensive and there are cheaper (or much cheaper) alternatives.
So why bother with Linn? Their streamers do sound good and as you rise through the food chain, very good and with the latest incarnation of the Linn Klimax, outstanding (if you read the recent reviews). Are they worth the money? This depends on how much you have to spend and how much you listen to music etc etc. I would say buying a decent Linn streamer second hand is definitely worth considering.
Would I consider buying from another manufacturer? At a push, probably; especially if it had Spotify Connect built in (Linn streamers currently only support Tidal and Qubuz - very annoying). It would, however, have to be supremely musical and have no listener fatigue whatsoever. I can honestly state that the Linn Akurate meets this criteria and I can only begin to imagine what the Klimax can do. They are great machines and those that get them, usually stay with Linn.
I got into streamed music some years ago now and replaced an Arcam CD player with a Squeezebox Duet player. This in turn was replaced by a Squeezebox Touch + external DAC before the first Linn arrived; a newly produced Majik DSM with its multiple inputs (including HDMI pass through for TV, DVD etc) as well as Airplay. It also had its own built-in power amp. It sounded great and was only let down (IMO) by the quality of the power amp (which was why I continued to use a Roksan Caspian power amp).
The Linn was compared to Naim streamers in the shop with both my wife and I preferring the house sound of Linn (you either prefer one or the other - they have different flavours!)
Then, more recently, I bought a Linn Akurate DSM on Fleabay for a reasonable price and the Majik was sold. I am not, however, a fully paid up member of the Linn appreciation society! Their amps are not to everyone's taste (including mine) and I'm also not convinced by some of their speakers (although I haven't heard too many of these and over the years, there have been lots). They also appear to be going down an intricate active route (or aktiv in Linn speak). Finally, many of their products are expensive and there are cheaper (or much cheaper) alternatives.
So why bother with Linn? Their streamers do sound good and as you rise through the food chain, very good and with the latest incarnation of the Linn Klimax, outstanding (if you read the recent reviews). Are they worth the money? This depends on how much you have to spend and how much you listen to music etc etc. I would say buying a decent Linn streamer second hand is definitely worth considering.
Would I consider buying from another manufacturer? At a push, probably; especially if it had Spotify Connect built in (Linn streamers currently only support Tidal and Qubuz - very annoying). It would, however, have to be supremely musical and have no listener fatigue whatsoever. I can honestly state that the Linn Akurate meets this criteria and I can only begin to imagine what the Klimax can do. They are great machines and those that get them, usually stay with Linn.
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