The Linn DS / DSM thread

[Electro]

O my word! I'm sure it'll be great when sorted, but this is exactly what would put me off ever going down this route.

Good luck Alex.

Mac

Me too, it would drive me crazy

Simple is good

 

[acalex]

O my word! I'm sure it'll be great when sorted, but this is exactly what would put me off ever going down this route.

Good luck Alex.

Mac

Me too, it would drive me crazy

Simple is good

Guys, read all the posts first :rofl:

I was asking advice for an advanced configuration, a nice to have option. The set-up was literally plug and pluy...nothing simpler than that exists...

 

[CnoEvil]

Guys, read all the posts first :rofl:

I was asking advice for an advanced configuration, a nice to have option. The set-up was literally plug and pluy...nothing simpler than that exists...

Absolutely correct.

At a basic level, it's even easier to use than a CDP.

At a more complicated level, it's just giving "icing on the cake", which is fun for those who enjoy the technical / flexible side of things. Most of the work is in the set-up, and then you forget about it....and that's what the Linn dealer (or the likes of Ripcaster / Linn Forum) is there for ie. It's as simple, or as complicated as you wish to make it.

 

[acalex]

In the meantime I have found Linn Silver for 150 euro in Italy...I might take the plunge and go ahead before committing in buying the Siltech 550i for the Akurate also . At least I would like to compare them...

 

[acalex]

Guys, read all the posts first :rofl:

I was asking advice for an advanced configuration, a nice to have option. The set-up was literally plug and pluy...nothing simpler than that exists...

Absolutely correct.

At a basic level, it's even easier to use than a CDP.

At a more complicated level, it's just giving "icing on the cake", which is fun for those who enjoy the technical / flexible side of things. Most of the work is in the set-up, and then you forget about it....and that's what the Linn dealer (or the likes of Ripcaster / Linn Forum) is there for ie. It's as simple, or as complicated as you wish to make it.

Actually the setup was completely straightforward for me and didn't have to use my hi-tech skills

I just plugged all cables and followed the instructions in order to download the right software. The Konfig software recognised the Akurate straight away...and the Akurate found my library in a moment....

True I had my NAS set-up already for the SBT

 

[acalex]

In the meantime I am being taken away by the quality of this digital source...seriously impressed. When amp gets warmer it really improves the sound. It is very close to the vinyl indeed...still missing that sparkle of thrill only vinly can give...

 

[CnoEvil]

In the meantime I have found Linn Silver for 150 euro in Italy...I might take the plunge and go ahead before committing in buying the Siltech 550i for the Akurate also . At least I would like to compare them...

I haven't heard the Siltechs with the DS, but my hunch would be to get the Silvers, as you should be able to sell them again with little loss, if necessary.

My only thought is whether you want to go balanced (if that's an option).

Let me know how you get on with Clearer Audio, if you decide to go down that route.

Regarding this whole cable area, it is worth trying out good value "solid" products (like Linn Silver / Copper-Line), because if they work in certain areas, can save a fortune.

As you have heard, it's generally quite easy to hear where the expensive ones are worth using...but it involves a lot of trial and error.

 

[Neuphonix]

Hi Alex,

what I meant with the NAS exactly as Pgoody said. It should have the option in the NAS set-up to spin down to stand-bye after a period of in-activity. Then spin back up as soon as something tries to access it over the network. You're obviously more tech savy than I am, should be pretty staright forward if the function os there. I have a QNAP drive, the dealer that I bought the DS from recommended it as the best one for use with Linn.

I downloaded Chorus onto my Mac, they give you a free trial run. It was OK but nothing special. If I want play music while at my computer itunes is better, free & what I know. They want you to pay for the iPad version so it definitley wasn't worth it IMO, mayube slightly better than Kinsky in some ways but not $50 worth.

Are the cables that you are demoing balanced or RCA? I wouldn't bother with RCA, you are most definitley not getting the most out of the Akurate unless you are using balanced connections.

It's funny I've been looking after a friends house, very simliar set-up tomine. Massive vinyl collection. The sound has such a solidity to it. But the crackles & pops? & having to get up & change sides every 10 minutes? Makes me feel nostalgic but not motivated to go down that road.

 

[CnoEvil]

It's funny I've been looking after a friends house, very simliar set-up tomine. Massive vinyl collection. The sound has such a solidity to it. But the crackles & pops? & having to get up & change sides every 10 minutes? Makes me feel nostalgic but not motivated to go down that road.

I think Vinyl "can" be like fast cars, and is something that needs to be got out of your system (terrible pun!).....I now have both out of mine. :twisted:

 

[Neuphonix]

It's funny I've been looking after a friends house, very simliar set-up tomine. Massive vinyl collection. The sound has such a solidity to it. But the crackles & pops? & having to get up & change sides every 10 minutes? Makes me feel nostalgic but not motivated to go down that road.

I think Vinyl "can" be like fast cars, and is something that needs to be got out of your system (terrible pun!).....I now have both out of mine. :twisted:

Like having an old Aston MArtin in the garage. Happy to take it out for a spin on Sunday morning, but wouldn't want to drive it around every day.

 

[acalex]

Hi Alex,

what I meant with the NAS exactly as Pgoody said. It should have the option in the NAS set-up to spin down to stand-bye after a period of in-activity. Then spin back up as soon as something tries to access it over the network. You're obviously more tech savy than I am, should be pretty staright forward if the function os there. I have a QNAP drive, the dealer that I bought the DS from recommended it as the best one for use with Linn.

I downloaded Chorus onto my Mac, they give you a free trial run. It was OK but nothing special. If I want play music while at my computer itunes is better, free & what I know. They want you to pay for the iPad version so it definitley wasn't worth it IMO, mayube slightly better than Kinsky in some ways but not $50 worth.

Are the cables that you are demoing balanced or RCA? I wouldn't bother with RCA, you are most definitley not getting the most out of the Akurate unless you are using balanced connections.

It's funny I've been looking after a friends house, very simliar set-up tomine. Massive vinyl collection. The sound has such a solidity to it. But the crackles & pops? & having to get up & change sides every 10 minutes? Makes me feel nostalgic but not motivated to go down that road.

Thanks for clarification on the ChorusDS, as I thought not worth. I know there is a disk spin down option but I like to keep my NAS off at night...

regarding the vinyl this is exactly as you said...it is like an old Aston Martin which cannot be used every day...but whenever is used it gives you plenty of emotions. balanced is impossible for me as the Jadis does not have any XLR connectors...

 

[Neuphonix]

I'm just not going to start collecting vinyl at this point in my life. My friend has a wall of records, and I mean a big wall! You need a ladder to get up to the top section. But he's obviously been collecting since a young age and has stuck at it.

What I would like to know is if/when you rip your vinyl how does it compare when played through the DS? Does it retain that vinyl sound? Can you have your cake & eat it too?

Pity about the lack of unbalanced, I didn't realise the Jadis was missing that.

I would recommend checking out Audioquest leads if you have an opportunity, not cheap but worth it. If you didn't like the silver Sky leads then the copper Colorado's would possibly be a good option.

 

[Neuphonix]

Found this over on the Linn forum: http://forums.linn.co.uk/bb/showthread.php?tid=20217

Interesting if you stream to your DS from your PC, using iTunes via Songcast. Post #6 outlines the push/pull differences in feeding your DS music files.

If you use iTunes via Songcast you are pushing which means that your PC's sound card is doing the work rather than the superior DS processor. Add to this that apparently Songcast itself introduces an inferior clocking process (post#9)?

So the trick is to have iTunes & Kinsky desktop open side by side. Then drag whatever you want to listen to from iTunes into the Kinsky player. This should mean that you are allowing the Linn to pull which means better sound. Haven't done any side by side comparisons yet & I doubt with lossy files it would make much/any difference. Don't go there with the 16bit / 24bit thing!

 

[acalex]

Just a quick survey...which I/C and power cords are you using with your DS?

For now I am using my old Clearaudio Smart Wire I had on the phono before the Siltech. Haven't tried the Linn Black supplied yet.

As P/C using an inexepensive one the dealer where I bought the Akurate suggested...it is a Neodio PC 0 at 50 euro.

Just wondering as I feel the Akurate is capable of more than is delivering now...

Thanks!!!

 

[CnoEvil]

Just a quick survey...which I/C and power cords are you using with your DS?

For now I am using my old Clearaudio Smart Wire I had on the phono before the Siltech. Haven't tried the Linn Black supplied yet.

As P/C using an inexepensive one the dealer where I bought the Akurate suggested...it is a Neodio PC 0 at 50 euro.

Just wondering as I feel the Akurate is capable of more than is delivering now...

Thanks!!!

- I am using Cardas Golden Cross I/C.....which could be a little too warm for your system.

- So far, I have found that a P/C makes little difference to my DS, so I will be interested to know if you find the same....it may be down to the Dynamik power supply

- I have used a Linn Silver with the DS, which works very well, given its cost.

- The big difference I got, was with the BR (original) pads under the chassis of the DS.

- The I/Cs you should try are the Cardas Clear Light; TQ Ultra Black / Graphite; Vertere Pulse B; Atlas Mavros

- The P/Cs you should try are Cardas Clear / Clear Beyond; TQ Blue (sources) / Black (amp); Atlas Eos (rating depending on application)

- The idea is to never spend more than you need, in order to get an improvement. Sometimes a £150 P/C gives 90% of the performance of a £500 one, on certain pieces of kit....and the same can sometimes be said of other cables.

- You may find that your kit "works" better with certain brands than others.....every system and situation is different. eg. In the Blind test I linked to in another cable thread, found that Siltech cables reacted so badly with one of the test systems that it badly skewed the results.

 

[acalex]

Just a quick survey...which I/C and power cords are you using with your DS?

For now I am using my old Clearaudio Smart Wire I had on the phono before the Siltech. Haven't tried the Linn Black supplied yet.

As P/C using an inexepensive one the dealer where I bought the Akurate suggested...it is a Neodio PC 0 at 50 euro.

Just wondering as I feel the Akurate is capable of more than is delivering now...

Thanks!!!

- I am using Cardas Golden Cross I/C.....which could be a little too warm for your system.

- So far, I have found that a P/C makes little difference to my DS, so I will be interested to know if you find the same....it may be down to the Dynamik power supply

- I have used a Linn Silver with the DS, which works very well, given its cost.

- The big difference I got, was with the BR (original) pads under the chassis of the DS.

- The I/Cs you should try are the Cardas Clear Light; TQ Ultra Black / Graphite; Vertere Pulse B; Atlas Mavros

- The P/Cs you should try are Cardas Clear / Clear Beyond; TQ Blue (sources) / Black (amp); Atlas Eos (rating depending on application)

- The idea is to never spend more than you need, in order to get an improvement. Sometimes a £150 P/C gives 90% of the performance of a £500 one, on certain pieces of kit....and the same can sometimes be said of other cables.

- You may find that your kit "works" better with certain brands than others.....every system and situation is different. eg. In the Blind test I linked to in another cable thread, found that Siltech cables reacted so badly with one of the test systems that it badly skewed the results.

Interesting...why you didn't stick with the Silver? Found that the Cardas was making substantial difference over the Silver?

 

[CnoEvil]

Interesting...why you didn't stick with the Silver? Found that the Cardas was making substantial difference over the Silver?

It made a noticeable but subtle difference, and if I hadn't got the GC cables at good value, would probabaly not have been worth it. The Cardas Clear Light may be a different kettle of fish, which is why they are worth trying. IME. The Linn Silver makes a great benchmark against which to judge the value of more expensive cables.

 

[Neuphonix]

Hi Alex,

I'm just using the standard power cable that came with my Akurate & Atlas Mavros balanced IC.

Question, do you have any way of ripping your vinyl? I would be interested to see if you had any way of being able to hear if this had any difference to a ripped CD. Is it possible to capture some of that vinyly sound?

 

[CnoEvil]

Hi Alex,

I'm just using the standard power cable that came with my Akurate & Atlas Mavros balanced IC.

Question, do you have any way of ripping your vinyl? I would be interested to see if you had any way of being able to hear if this had any difference to a ripped CD. Is it possible to capture some of that vinyly sound?

Did you happen to compare the Atlas Mavros (great cable btw) against anything else?

 

[Neuphonix]

No I didn't. I was able to buy them through a wholesaler that I deal with through work, the price was about one third or RRP. Only catch was there was no demo, once the box was opened that was it. So a bit of a risk, but I've been pretty happy.

I stright away noticed a significant difference when I swapped out from a cheaper set of RCA leads I was using. Blacker background? Voices much crisper, less silibance. Instruments seemed to be much more defined.

But unfortunately I was unable to do any side by side testing or make any VFM assesments. it would seem that the Silver is a pretty good benchmark.

Are you able to rip your vinyl? Or do you have you made any comparisons of CD vs vinyl rips?

 

[CnoEvil]

No I didn't. I was able to buy them through a wholesaler that I deal with through work, the price was about one third or RRP. Only catch was there was no demo, once the box was opened that was it. So a bit of a risk, but I've been pretty happy.

I stright away noticed a significant difference when I swapped out from a cheaper set of RCA leads I was using. Blacker background? Voices much crisper, less silibance. Instruments seemed to be much more defined.

But unfortunately I was unable to do any side by side testing or make any VFM assesments. it would seem that the Silver is a pretty good benchmark.

Are you able to rip your vinyl? Or do you have you made any comparisons of CD vs vinyl rips?

The Mavros is a remarkable cable at full price, so you did great.

Remind me what S/C you have, as Mavros is brilliant...their Eos mains cables aren't too shabby either......and their Balanced mains transformers and 4 way power block, are as good as is out there (imo).

I got rid of all my Vinyl years ago.

 

[Neuphonix]

I'm just using a cheap generic heavy duty standed oxygen free copper cable with banana plugs at the moment.

Eventually I will look at the Mavros cable. Same reasons, price & should partner well with the IC.

Because I'm using the Beresford box to ebable the use of common speakers between two systems it makes the speaker cabling a little more complicated.

& to add to that I've now got to get extra ICs to get the Bryston crossover set-up.

I'm considering one of the Thor PS-10 power conditioners, more for protection & clean 240v than any SQ improvements. There is a new model coming out this year so will try to pick up the older version ex-demo or clearance price. I'm still not entirely convinced with power cables & conditioners. Can certainly see the value in protecting your equipment, but improve SQ not so sure?

I know that you are an advocate for power cables, do you use a conditioner yourself?

 

[CnoEvil]

I know that you are an advocate for power cables, do you use a conditioner yourself?

I tried an Isol8 regenerator, and didn't like the effect.

I seriously considered the Atlas Balanced Mains Transformer, but the value of copper shot the price up on launch, to a price that was prohibitive at the time. It's certainly the best improvement I've heard (and is silent).

ATM I'm considering the Atlas 4 way mains block, but it too is expensive (but very good).

 

[Neuphonix]

I'm not sure if the distibutor for Atlas over here carries their power products, I'll have to look into it.

That particular part of the puzzle is still a way off however.

What 'difference" did it make for you?

I'm certainly feeling better about having the system on it own circuits with some voltage protection. but thats more about peace of mind than SQ.

 

[CnoEvil]

What 'difference" did it make for you?

I'm certainly feeling better about having the system on it own circuits with some voltage protection. but thats more about peace of mind than SQ.

The Balanced Mains Transformer didn't change the sound, but optimized it.......Silent background / less hash or glare, more air around the the notes, sweeter treble, punchier bass etc etc.

The Isol8 seemed to polish the sound and make it sharper and more analytical, which didn't suit my ear.....it's very funny and unpredictable, this mains business.