The Linn DS / DSM thread

[acalex]

On the website you gave me there is also a Klimax DS Renew at 5k eur

The problem is that I don't feel like now spending the money for an Akurate...it's not a problem of having funds available as those are available...is the fact of having to buy blind basically which I don't like. Plus the idea of spending more than 2k euro on a digital source still does not convince me...maybe once I will have heard the Linn in a proper systems I will change my mind...but still a brand new price looks really expensive for a digital source considering how much you can get already by the Squeezebox Touch at 150 euro :wall:

 

[acalex]

Just lined up two more demoes, this time I was clear on the phone I want to hear the difference between Majik DS and Akurate DS using a system which has nothing to do with Linn.

One is this afternoon, the second tomorrow afternoon! Good luck to me :cheers:

 

[CnoEvil]

Just lined up two more demoes, this time I was clear on the phone I want to hear the difference between Majik DS and Akurate DS using a system which has nothing to do with Linn.

One is this afternoon, the second tomorrow afternoon! Good luck to me :cheers:

Look forward to your findings

 

[acalex]

I am back :cheer:

 

[acalex]

You are waiting eh? What do you think? :twisted:

 

[Neuphonix]

Good luck to you indeed!

Are you allowed to take your own music along? If so try to take a few different formats.

So what happens if you DO like the Akurate that much more? Swap one dilema for another knowing about that second hand Klimax renew?!

Look forward to hearing how things go. You taking Roby along this time?

 

[CnoEvil]

You are waiting eh? What do you think? :twisted:

What system did you hear it with, and did you hear MDS vs ADS/1.

 

[acalex]

Well, had one of the best demo of my life. Worth the 25km drive...

First of all I discovered another small shop with a very kind and passionate owner. He also keeps his own blog and very active in organising events and demo of passive/active systems. Enjoyed a lot the first tour of the shop he gave me with all the different rooms set-up for a different purposes. Very rational and well studied...couldn't do better myself

Then I discovered two different brands which wasn't aware before...Neodio and Leedh. Both French manufacturers. The Leedh I have tried are probably the best sounding speakers I have heard so far...completely different technology but very smart and innovative. The result is incredible for such small, lighweight speakers. No fussy about posinioning or type of floor...

The first system (full Majik ampli and speakers) we used was not able to identify properly the differences between Majik and Akurate. The owner itself was aware that it wasn't at all evident. It is at this moment that we decided to switch room and sit where we stayed until the end and where I heard the Leedh E (price tag of 12k euro) driven by an excellent Neodio integrated amplifier. As a source we had Majik, Akurate and Klimax DS

The sound of Majik was sooooo different from what I have heard Tuesday night. Amazing bass, a lot of space, a great presence and amazing dynamics. I was shocked by the result...it is really a great source. We tried also some classic and it was shocking for me to hear these dynamics and level of details. Then on the classic piece we switched source to plug the Akurate.

After the first 20 seconds only we heard so much more...we could feel the room, the breath of the performer, the sound of his lips before starting...it was a pleasure. It looks like the volume is higher but indeed is not, it is only richer and more present, more 3d and natural. I couldn't stop listening, Nils Lofgren, Lou Reed, Oscar Peterson trio, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, etc...

Then he told me to demo the difference between the normal CD quality and a studio master (24/96) on the Akurate, Nevermind. It was just like switching again from the Majik to the Akurate. Everything got richer, smoother, more detailed, more dynamic....couldn't believe my ears. I had to try another piece to make sure it wasn't that cd which was particularly bad...and again this time was even more evident the difference...frankly speaking I will start buying Studio Master now :dance:

So the result? I enjoyed it a lot and I will make a purchase.... :read:

 

[acalex]

Forgot to mention I also plugged the Klimax in the end..... :wall: :wall:

Roby wasn't with me this time but we will come back for sure as it was a real pleasure he needs to try also

 

[Neuphonix]

hehehehe looks like the ales are on you! :cheers:

 

[acalex]

hehehehe looks like the ales are on you! :cheers:

Even if I reeeeealy would like to stretch for the Klimax, it won't be done this time. I will go 95% for the Akurate DS as the guy is ready to knock 25/30% off the normal price and let it go the demo unit which is a black one as I like. All of this is happening when I am back from Xmas...as I am not in a rush and this will allow a perfect planning of funds...

 

[CnoEvil]

Well, had one of the best demo of my life. Worth the 25km drive...

Then I discovered two different brands which wasn't aware before...Neodio and Leedh. Both French manufacturers. The Leedh I have tried are probably the best sounding speakers I have heard so far...completely different technology but very smart and innovative. The result is incredible for such small, lighweight speakers. No fussy about posinioning or type of floor...

Never heard tell of either....great to come across other great brands.

The first system (full Majik ampli and speakers) we used was not able to identify properly the differences between Majik and Akurate. The owner itself was aware that it wasn't at all evident. It is at this moment that we decided to switch room and sit where we stayed until the end and where I heard the Leedh E (price tag of 12k euro) driven by an excellent Neodio integrated amplifier. As a source we had Majik, Akurate and Klimax DS

This is exactly why I asked what system you heard it on.

The sound of Majik was sooooo different from what I have heard Tuesday night. Amazing bass, a lot of space, a great presence and amazing dynamics. I was shocked by the result...it is really a great source. We tried also some classic and it was shocking for me to hear these dynamics and level of details. Then on the classic piece we switched source to plug the Akurate.

After the first 20 seconds only we heard so much more...we could feel the room, the breath of the performer, the sound of his lips before starting...it was a pleasure. It looks like the volume is higher but indeed is not, it is only richer and more present, more 3d and natural. I couldn't stop listening, Nils Lofgren, Lou Reed, Oscar Peterson trio, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, etc...

It's easy to say now, but on the right system I was going to say the MDS was way better than you were expecting and the ADS/1 was better than you thought possible from a digital source!

Then he told me to demo the difference between the normal CD quality and a studio master (24/96) on the Akurate, Nevermind. It was just like switching again from the Majik to the Akurate. Everything got richer, smoother, more detailed, more dynamic....couldn't believe my ears. I had to try another piece to make sure it wasn't that cd which was particularly bad...and again this time was even more evident the difference...frankly speaking I will start buying Studio Master now :dance:

So the result? I enjoyed it a lot and I will make a purchase.... :read:

With a DS and especially with 24 bit, you can now see why I was encouraging you to have a listen before spending a lot on a TT.

You say you heard the Klimax....was it a KDS/1?

If you did, and in the right system, it should have been shockingly good.....in the way of a highend TT.

Glad you heard what they can do at last

Cno

 

[acalex]

Yes, you were right...unbelievable what a digital source can do indeed...

Wasn't sure about the Klimax...he said he has for about 1 year now...so probably not yet. So I will be soon joining the family of the DSs

 

[CnoEvil]

hehehehe looks like the ales are on you! :cheers:

Even if I reeeeealy would like to stretch for the Klimax, it won't be done this time. I will go 95% for the Akurate DS as the guy is ready to knock 25/30% off the normal price and let it go the demo unit which is a black one as I like. All of this is happening when I am back from Xmas...as I am not in a rush and this will allow a perfect planning of funds...

I think Neuphonix has you summed up nicely.....though he's also got an unfair advantage! :rockout:

 

[Neuphonix]

So Cno,

now that Alex has joined the club, I guess the only question left is "when will YOU be trading in the Majik for an Akurate?!"

Congrats Alex, glad that you confirmed some of my findings. At times I wonder if my mind believes it hears things because of my expectations. One of the dangers of researching things on the internet. It can be difficult to listen to things without preconcieved ideas.

What I will be interested once you integrate it into your system is how much you still listen to vinyl? I love the whole ipad interface thingy .

 

[CnoEvil]

So Cno,

now that Alex has joined the club, I guess the only question left is "when will YOU be trading in the Majik for an Akurate?!"

Not going to happen in the near future......the Leader of the Opposition is on Red Alert ATM.

 

[gregvet]

Not going to happen in the near future......the Leader of the Opposition is on Red Alert ATM.

Oh dear Cno, have you been on a spending spree? Or is she just worried cos you have all this time on your hands and Internet access?

 

[Neuphonix]

Hence all the vicarious spending!

 

[gregvet]

Exactly

 

[CnoEvil]

Hence all the vicarious spending!

:shifty: :silenced: :twisted:

 

[CnoEvil]

Not going to happen in the near future......the Leader of the Opposition is on Red Alert ATM.

Oh dear Cno, have you been on a spending spree? Or is she just worried cos you have all this time on your hands and Internet access?

It's nothing more than the latter.....and she (Mrs. Cno!) has those special womanly powers that wives seem to have!! :shifty:

 

[Neuphonix]

Hey Cno,

what would you say if I told you that I am going to see the dealer that sold me the Akurate this weekend. I plan to have a look/listen to a trade in pair of Focal Utopia Scalas?!

Not that I can even remotely afford it, but I can't shake that sense of missing bottom end with the Diablos.

And yes before you say anything, i will try to find a KEF dealer before I make any decisions!

 

[CnoEvil]

Hey Cno,

what would you say if I told you that I am going to see the dealer that sold me the Akurate this weekend. I plan to have a look/listen to a trade in pair of Focal Utopia Scalas?!

Not that I can even remotely afford it, but I can't shake that sense of missing bottom end with the Diablos.

And yes before you say anything, i will try to find a KEF dealer before I make any decisions!

I have heard these speakers quite a lot, and imo, they are sooo much better than the Diablos....even more than the big price difference might suggest......be very, very careful !! :read:

Much as I suggest you hear the Refs, I suspect that your taste lies with Focal....but as Acalex and Rob are finding out, when spending serious money, every good speaker in the vacinity should be considered.

As usual, we expect a report.

 

[gregvet]

Cno/anyone, have you had the chance to do a comparative demo of the original Renew to the current Akurate DS? Just wondered how much difference there was between the two, given that the Akurate has been upgraded since the original Klimax, and has the Dynamik power supply etc.

Not that I feel I want or need to upgrade my Majik DS of course, just interested

 

[CnoEvil]

Cno/anyone, have you had the chance to do a comparative demo of the original Renew to the current Akurate DS? Just wondered how much difference there was between the two, given that the Akurate has been upgraded since the original Klimax, and has the Dynamik power supply etc.

Not that I feel I want or need to upgrade my Majik DS of course, just interested

The Klimax Renews are fairly rare as they get quickly snapped up.....I haven't heard one personally, but according to my dealer, is a still a noticable step up from the ADS/1.

There are also Akurate Renews about as well, but the Klimax Renew is the way to go if VFM combined with remarkable sound quality is the goal.