The Linn DS / DSM thread

[CnoEvil]

Cno

now you made me courious....

....... :shifty:

 

[acalex]

EAR makes one of the most musical sounding equipment around. The phonostage I have is ubnbelievable (with tubes also) so I wounldn't expect the CD player to be any worse than that!

 

[acalex]

Which are all in stock at Francis' :cheers:

There is also a nice deal on an ex-demo model, silver though :dance:

You and Rob are a pair of jammie b@sterd$ with the kit that you have access to! 8)

So come and stay for a week, Francis wouldn't mind some company and he will let you ear whatever you want

 

[DocG]

Cno

now you made me courious....

http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue54/ear_acute.htm

Now, that is positive feedback, indeed! Added to list! :type:

 

[CnoEvil]

So come and stay for a week, Francis wouldn't mind some company and he will let you ear whatever you want

"'Ear we go", will be my New Year's resolution. :rockout:

ray:

Cno

 

[acalex]

So come and stay for a week, Francis wouldn't mind some company and he will let you ear whatever you want

"'Ear we go", will be my New Year's resolution. :rockout:

ray:

Cno

Yes, in 2013 you need to come, our systems will be already "almost" completed and we will have fun. You might also try the Klimaxat mine if I go crazy :cheers:

 

[CnoEvil]

Cno

now you made me courious....

http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue54/ear_acute.htm

Now, that is positive feedback, indeed! Added to list! :type:

I think if any one of our little group spends money, it makes us feel better (less guilty), if we can convince others to do the same. :shifty:

It's like a warped version of the 4 Musketeers - "One in trouble, all four (or more) in trouble!" :twisted:

 

[CnoEvil]

You might also try the Klimax at mine if I go crazy :cheers:

You and Rob should get one on time share.....until you can get a second one!!!!! :bounce:

 

[Neuphonix]

[/quote]

I think if any one of our little group spends money, it makes us feel better (less guilty), if we can convince others to do the same. :shifty:

It's like a warped version of the 4 Musketeers - "One in trouble, all four (or more) in trouble!" :twisted:

[/quote]

I don't think there's can be much doubt as to who is playing the role of D'Artagnan now can there?

 

[Neuphonix]

You just changed your signature to include the Akurate & already you're thinking about the Klimax!

Stop it, or I might have to get them to hook the Klimax up when I demo the Scalas! NOOOOOO, when will it end!

 

[Neuphonix]

Amp section will stay the same Primo/AMS35P.

So if the 35P is not up to the job then they will not even be considered.

It should be OK though? Surely if the 35i can drive your Kefs Ok the 35p should manage the Scalas?

I know the AMS50 would have been more ideal but thats just getting plain ridiculous!

Or is it? Seen one for 6k the other day (RRP is 9k I think)

There are certainly deals to be had, I get the feeling that despite it being a fantastic amp it may not be selling too well?

The ridiculous side might be more the physical aspect rather than the money. I would need to buy a house big enough to fit in in! Stupid big.

But yes, even though the 35p will drive the Scalas well you'd think the 50p would be that much more acomplished.

Anyway that thought must not lodge itself in my brain......

 

[Macspur]

I want the black one :twisted:

and it's a lot dearer than the EMC1UP! unless you can get one of your remarkable deals.

Mac

 

[CnoEvil]

...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:

You are right to worry about buying blind, but digital sources (usually) noticeably improve as they get more expensive....and the Linn range, with which I'm more familiar, certainly do. It's a bit like saying that the MF M3i sounds so good at £1k, so how could the 35i be good enough to justify £6k.

Through a revealing system, it's quite amazing what detail a good digital source can dig up....there is more info on a CD than one realizes, and though not quite as dramatic as the difference a TT/Phono stage can make, it's still fairly dramatic....and usually takes good speakers (and amp) to show just to what extent.....as Neuphonix has clearly discovered. If (When!) you get the MDS, you need to try and hear it with Jadis + SFG, to get a proper assessment. IMO It beats most CDPs up to 3x its cost.

The old Akurate (ADS) was better than the MDS, but the ADS/1 was a good step up again. The same goes for the Klimax, where the old version (and Renew) is much better than the ADS/1; but the KDS/1 is, yet again, another step up and (imo) one of the best sources available.

The KDS/1 is the most natural and analogue sounding of the lot (hardly surprising)....CD quality on it, sounds as good as 24 bit on the MDS.

 

[Anonymous]

Have been using a Linn Accurate DS system for a year now. Sitting in your chair with an iPad in which to flick through your music collation or make up play lists is brilliant.The salesman at the Linn dealer explained Linn stopped making CD’s because it could not take the technology further ahead than it is. One of the main problems with CD is the spinning disk which suffers from jitter when spinning. Ok fine but for me sound quality is what it is all about not sales talk.Quite clearly there is a marked improvement on playback when you play a CD burnt to the NAZ on FLAC lossless compared to playing a CD through a dedicated CD player I did back to back tests with a ikimi CD player considered a high end unit.24bit recordings take digital music to a whole new level it really is a marked difference over CD 16 bit quality. However although music through a DS player is the way to go if digital music is your preferred format. I still purchase a lot of vinyl. Through a Michel turntable I prefer the sound of vinyl generally. You get the odd digital that sounds better due to production and engineering techniques.I’m no wizard when it comes to IT. The Linn dealer installed everything needed and set up the DS-NAZ- Computer-iPad. In no way could I have done that myself with my IT skills.Down loading to a system called BPpoweramp which in turn passes the music to the NAZ is a peach.The Linn online music store is starting to sell more and more main stream music in 24bit. I purchase 24bit also from HDtracks though an American IP address is needed for this – easy enough to set up. HD tracks has a superb choice available in 24 bit.Have down loaded a couple of hundred 24bit recordings so what stands out for me. The Doors LA woman is truly outstanding. Have played that album to a few visitors and they are all taken aback when they are told it is LA Woman by the doors. All think it is a recent recording.Go for it you won’t regret it.

 

[Helmut80]

Amp section will stay the same Primo/AMS35P.

So if the 35P is not up to the job then they will not even be considered.

It should be OK though? Surely if the 35i can drive your Kefs Ok the 35p should manage the Scalas?

I know the AMS50 would have been more ideal but thats just getting plain ridiculous!

Or is it? Seen one for 6k the other day (RRP is 9k I think)

There are certainly deals to be had, I get the feeling that despite it being a fantastic amp it may not be selling too well?

The ridiculous side might be more the physical aspect rather than the money. I would need to buy a house big enough to fit in in! Stupid big.

But yes, even though the 35p will drive the Scalas well you'd think the 50p would be that much more acomplished.

Anyway that thought must not lodge itself in my brain......

Interesting question (and I have absolutely no idea). I always wonder what profit margins and production numbers are like once you leave the mass market. I mean, the AMS 35i is 'only' £6k, but didn't Cno say MF need 50 new orders before they produce any more? makes me wonder what the proper high end market of 20K+ per component looks likem where a lot of the brands are much much smaller than MF.

 

[Neuphonix]

I'm only guessing here as well but I would tend to think that traditionally margins have been very healthy. But the last three or so years have been extremely challenging for the upper end of the market?

When I was going through my drama with my infernal 35i I rang and spoke to the sales manager at MF to seek confirmation of a few issues. I was told that the production run on the 35i (& presumably most/all of the other AMS range as well) was 50, & that in the current market 50 represented about 10 years stock?

This meant that I was unable to get my hands on a new replacement 35i which was pretty disapointing. However MF were great & supplied my a Primo/35p for a small additional cost which I am very happy with. She did offer me a 50p at the time but I felt this was overkill.

Not that I want to sound ungrateful at all but I did think at the time when the offer was made that their margin must have been significant. I ended up buying about $27k (RRP) of kit for $11k, so I don't know what you read into that?

I think in the next life that I would like to come back as a high end speaker cable manufacturer!

 

[CnoEvil]

Have been using a Linn Accurate DS system for a year now. Sitting in your chair with an iPad in which to flick through your music collation or make up play lists is brilliant.The salesman at the Linn dealer explained Linn stopped making CD’s because it could not take the technology further ahead than it is. One of the main problems with CD is the spinning disk which suffers from jitter when spinning. Ok fine but for me sound quality is what it is all about not sales talk.Quite clearly there is a marked improvement on playback when you play a CD burnt to the NAZ on FLAC lossless compared to playing a CD through a dedicated CD player I did back to back tests with a ikimi CD player considered a high end unit.24bit recordings take digital music to a whole new level it really is a marked difference over CD 16 bit quality. However although music through a DS player is the way to go if digital music is your preferred format. I still purchase a lot of vinyl. Through a Michel turntable I prefer the sound of vinyl generally. You get the odd digital that sounds better due to production and engineering techniques.I’m no wizard when it comes to IT. The Linn dealer installed everything needed and set up the DS-NAZ- Computer-iPad. In no way could I have done that myself with my IT skills.Down loading to a system called BPpoweramp which in turn passes the music to the NAZ is a peach.The Linn online music store is starting to sell more and more main stream music in 24bit. I purchase 24bit also from HDtracks though an American IP address is needed for this – easy enough to set up. HD tracks has a superb choice available in 24 bit.Have down loaded a couple of hundred 24bit recordings so what stands out for me. The Doors LA woman is truly outstanding. Have played that album to a few visitors and they are all taken aback when they are told it is LA Woman by the doors. All think it is a recent recording.Go for it you won’t regret it.

Thank you for your input, and you are certainly speaking my language......Btw. is it the ADS/1 that you own?

IMO It's the KDS/1 that goes to toe-to toe with the best hi-end TTs, as it's the most analogue sounding of the range.

Welcome to the club

Cno

 

[Anonymous]

Have been using a Linn Accurate DS system for a year now. Sitting in your chair with an iPad in which to flick through your music collation or make up play lists is brilliant.The salesman at the Linn dealer explained Linn stopped making CD’s because it could not take the technology further ahead than it is. One of the main problems with CD is the spinning disk which suffers from jitter when spinning. Ok fine but for me sound quality is what it is all about not sales talk.Quite clearly there is a marked improvement on playback when you play a CD burnt to the NAZ on FLAC lossless compared to playing a CD through a dedicated CD player I did back to back tests with a ikimi CD player considered a high end unit.24bit recordings take digital music to a whole new level it really is a marked difference over CD 16 bit quality. However although music through a DS player is the way to go if digital music is your preferred format. I still purchase a lot of vinyl. Through a Michel turntable I prefer the sound of vinyl generally. You get the odd digital that sounds better due to production and engineering techniques.I’m no wizard when it comes to IT. The Linn dealer installed everything needed and set up the DS-NAZ- Computer-iPad. In no way could I have done that myself with my IT skills.Down loading to a system called BPpoweramp which in turn passes the music to the NAZ is a peach.The Linn online music store is starting to sell more and more main stream music in 24bit. I purchase 24bit also from HDtracks though an American IP address is needed for this – easy enough to set up. HD tracks has a superb choice available in 24 bit.Have down loaded a couple of hundred 24bit recordings so what stands out for me. The Doors LA woman is truly outstanding. Have played that album to a few visitors and they are all taken aback when they are told it is LA Woman by the doors. All think it is a recent recording.Go for it you won’t regret it.

Thank you for your input, and you are certainly speaking my language......Btw. is it the ADS/1 that you own?

IMO It's the KDS/1 that goes to toe-to toe with the best hi-end TTs, as it's the most analogue sounding of the range.

Welcome to the club

Cno

It’s the latest version of the Accurate DS with the Dynamik power supply.Never heard a CD12 but people on the Linn forum have told me the ADS is on par with it sound wise.The Linn dealer gave me a two hour audition with the KDS It’s on a different level to my Akurate DS it’s truly mind blowing. It was played through a whole Klimax Linn system. I was amazed truly amazed.Klimax is well out of my price range plus I wanted the system to look the same.If you can get your hands on a KDS/1 it’s what to go for no question you will love it.

Wee tip

You’re not allowed to sell equipment on the Linn forum. However if you write I would love to find a KDS/1 to purchase are they good ? You could end up with someone sending you a private message who is selling one

 

[CnoEvil]

It’s the latest version of the Accurate DS with the Dynamik power supply.Never heard a CD12 but people on the Linn forum have told me the ADS is on par with it sound wise.

The ADS/1 is good step up from the ADS/0.....and FWIW, I think the MDS/D matches the CD12.

The Linn dealer gave me a two hour audition with the KDS It’s on a different level to my Akurate DS it’s truly mind blowing. It was played through a whole Klimax Linn system. I was amazed truly amazed.Klimax is well out of my price range plus I wanted the system to look the same.If you can get your hands on a KDS/1 it’s what to go for no question you will love it.

Wee tip - You’re not allowed to sell equipment on the Linn forum. However if you write I would love to find a KDS/1 to purchase are they good ? You could end up with someone sending you a private message who is selling one

If I want to stay married, I can't afford tips like that! :wall: ........but appreciate the thought!

:cheers:

Cno

 

[Macspur]

A few of these Linn thingy me jigs going here;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l2736&_nkw=linn+ds

 

[pgoody]

Just wanted to share my thoughts..

I have lived with my Majik DSM for a couple of weeks and have experimented quite a lot. I have achieved the best sound with the internal power amps switched off and only using the DSM as a source and DAC fed into my Cyrus 8xpd with PSX-R. This sounds a lot better than using the internal amps. Plus the DSM's power supply then only needs to feed the Source and DAC.

So when funds revover I will really need to go audition some nice power amps... :dance:

 

[CnoEvil]

Just wanted to share my thoughts..

I have lived with my Majik DSM for a couple of weeks and have experimented quite a lot. I have achieved the best sound with the internal power amps switched off and only using the DSM as a source and DAC fed into my Cyrus 8xpd with PSX-R. This sounds a lot better than using the internal amps. Plus the DSM's power supply then only needs to feed the Source and DAC.

So when funds revover I will really need to go audition some nice power amps... :dance:

Yup, imo it's not until you go Active that Linn amps/speakers sound good, but then it's too expensive.

There are some nice power amps out there, especially the Class A (SS/Valve) ones or Electrocompaniet or Lavardin! :shifty:

 

[pgoody]

Question is if it is better to use the DSM as a preamp into a power amp or only as a source / DAC into an integrated or pre / power. Do you have any idea how good the preamp section is?

 

[CnoEvil]

Question is if it is better to use the DSM as a preamp into a power amp or only as a source / DAC into an integrated or pre / power. Do you have any idea how good the preamp section is?

That is very hard to answer, and is like asking "how long is a piece of string".

I suppose it depends on the quality of the Pre in the integrated, you are looking at. I suspect that the Pre in the DSM is reasonable.

When the time comes, it will be a matter of experimenting.....as the Pre makes quite a difference.....though I suspect the Linn will sound quite different into another carefully chosen power amp.

 

[Macspur]

Amp section will stay the same Primo/AMS35P.

So if the 35P is not up to the job then they will not even be considered.

It should be OK though? Surely if the 35i can drive your Kefs Ok the 35p should manage the Scalas?

I know the AMS50 would have been more ideal but thats just getting plain ridiculous!

Or is it? Seen one for 6k the other day (RRP is 9k I think)

There are certainly deals to be had, I get the feeling that despite it being a fantastic amp it may not be selling too well?

The ridiculous side might be more the physical aspect rather than the money. I would need to buy a house big enough to fit in in! Stupid big.

But yes, even though the 35p will drive the Scalas well you'd think the 50p would be that much more acomplished.

Anyway that thought must not lodge itself in my brain......

Thought you might be interested in this Nuephonix...

http://www.hifiwigwam.com/showthread.php?78934-FOR-SALE-Musical-Fidelity-AMS50&p=1428954#post1428954

Mac