Linn, Kef, Rega...........and a friend.
Well, I spent the day doing what I love to do (sad git that I am) ie. pottering around one of my local dealers, listening to good music on a variety of different stuff, while drinking coffee and scoffing buns........and more importantly, spending somone else's money. 
My brief (on his behalf) was to put together a quality streaming system, that could act as media hub with a good variety of digital socketry including HDMI, and a pre-out for a sub......and all operated by iThingys / PDAs etc.
After several hours of intensive and exhausting research 
, I came up with a Linn DSM (Sneaky or Majik).
The speakers would be from Kef (LS50 / R300 / R500), Rega (RS5) and Linn (Majik 109).
We arrived shortly after 10am, where we immediately set about getting our priorities right.......and sorted cappuccino and cake. 
The following "sugar high" and "caffeine fix", stimulated the brain cells enough to put together a playlist from the extensive catalogue on the dealer's NAS.
The Sneaky DSM has been held back a week or two, so we used the DS version instead; and for comparison as to what extra money would get you, the MDSM was also used.
We started with the Sneaky, and alternated it with the MDSM through each speaker....so we could hear what the better streamer/amp would bring to the equation........
Let us know your impressions of the various combos. I've always been intrigued by Linn gear, though have only ever heard an older, fully active Linn system that was sold maybe 10 years ago.Yup........More tomorrow, after I've untangled my brain.
I also have enetered a period of vicarious spending! have just about got my mate ready to pull the trigger on a M6i / sneaky combo.
I also have enetered a period of vicarious spending! have just about got my mate ready to pull the trigger on a M6i / sneaky combo.
Good innit, this vicarious spending! 
Speakers?
This is my mate who trails along behind me and buys all my old gear as I move onwards & upwards.
He bought my speakers two sets ago Krix Euphonix:
http://www.audioreview.com/cat/speakers/floorstanding-speakers/krix/euph...
Nice big warm sound, rear ported.
I traded up to the neuphonix when they came out: http://www.krix.com.au/Product/Detail.aspx?p=44&id=1
Bigger & warmer again, still miss them to be honest.
Unfortunately he lamed out and didnt buy those, a decision he regrets. So I am guilt tripping him into buying a proper amp/source!!
What are friends for. 
Well, I spent the day doing what I love to do (sad git that I am) ie. pottering around one of my local dealers, listening to good music on a variety of different stuff, while drinking coffee and scoffing buns........and more importantly, spending somone else's money. 
My brief (on his behalf) was to put together a quality streaming system, that could act as media hub with a good variety of digital socketry including HDMI, and a pre-out for a sub......and all operated by iThingys / PDAs etc.
After several hours of intensive and exhausting research 
, I came up with a Linn DSM (Sneaky or Majik).
The speakers would be from Kef (LS50 / R300 / R500), Rega (RS5) and Linn (Majik 109).
We arrived shortly after 10am, where we immediately set about getting our priorities right.......and sorted cappuccino and cake. 
The following "sugar high" and "caffeine fix", stimulated the brain cells enough to put together a playlist from the extensive catalogue on the dealer's NAS.
The Sneaky DSM has been held back a week or two, so we used the DS version instead; and for comparison as to what extra money would get you, the MDSM was also used.
We started with the Sneaky, and alternated it with the MDSM through each speaker....so we could hear what the better streamer/amp would bring to the equation........
Blimey - Cappuccino, hey? 
Blimey - Cappuccino, hey?
Only highend was considered. 
CnoEvil
Could I hazard a guess, judging by your short list of equipment demo'ed, that you were waxing LYRICal, while drinking coffee, eating buns & listening to some hi-fi?
Sorry, forumites, for this Northern Ireland biased contribution.
CnoEvil
Could I hazard a guess, judging by your short list of equipment demo'ed, that you were waxing LYRICal, while drinking coffee, eating buns & listening to some hi-fi?
Sorry, forumites, for this Northern Ireland biased contribution.
Hobson.s Choice......and right next door to a good coffee shop.
(Been using them on and off since the very early 80s - which says a lot)
I have gradually come to hate listening to hi-fi in dealer's demo rooms and only visit them when I have to. (A few weeks ago to have brand new tweeters fitted into an old pair of JPWs for instance.)
For some reason they all seem to massacre the sound of what's playing and leave me with a headache. It's not the volume or the choice of music (my local dealer leaves all that to me) and it's not the instant coffee. It's not the (too low) leather sofa with no head support either because the same thing happens if I stand or use a hard chair whilst listening in these places.
The very idea of auditioning system after system for hours at a time in such a place now makes me uncomfortable just thinking about it!
The first time I got this badly was when listening to Naim, Rega and Arcam options a few years ago. It took another year ( at least) to discover that the Naim kit actually sounded really very good in my own living room (rather than painful as I had always experienced on all previous occasions in the shop).
So for me, it is now home demo or buy/try/keep or return from now on.
The chaps in my local Audio-T are blameless regarding my discomfiture with shop demos. They offer great service and are knowledgable and friendly and helpful. They have two different demo lounges and always set up demos with the correct stands, take care with speaker positioning and even leave stuff running in overnight when given sufficient notice (for customers to whom this matters).
It's a bit of a shame that something I used to enjoy as much as you do (a good trip to a hi-fi shop with cash on the hip) is just a pain nowadays.
Rather than giving a blow-by-blow account and bore your respective socks off - here is a synopsis of what I thought, which pretty much matches that of my compadre:
Sneaky DS vs Majik DSM
What a good piece of kit the Sneaky is, and when using it's own amp, it sounds way better than it has any right to (imo). With all the speakers tested, it always sounded accurate, detailed and fun; as well as loud enough if used with reasonably sensitive speakers and at sensible volumes.
It got a touch ragged at high volumes, with a slight loss of bass control and a little hardening of the sound. It would make a great second system, or even a temporary solution while making up one's mind on an amp. The more bass a speaker was capable of, the more one realized the control wasn't quite there. The front ported Rega RS5 highlighted this on bass heavy music, but being the easiest to drive it could achieve fairly high volumes. So overall, nothing to complain about for the money.
With the insertion of the MDSM, everything improved. There was a greater ease and naturalness. Gone was the slight flabbiness of the bass and hardening up at volume....the extra control was noticeable, along with poise and finesse. In fact, as a result of what I heard, I'm going to have to (somewhat) eat my words on Linn amplification. Matched with the right speakers, the slightly cold, lean and analytical presentation of the amps can be greatly mitigated.
Speakers (In reverse order)
1. Majik 109 - These were pleasant enough, but not exceptional in any area. The didn't do anything to annoy, but also didn't do anything to excite either...a bit Meh.
2. R300 - I have a strong feeling that these would have moved up a place if they had been properly run in. They were almost out of the box, but had around 24 hours of continuous use before we heard them. I could certainly hear the enormous potential in them, and the tremendous scale they are able to deliver (for their size). I would say they would be better all-rounders than the Regas. Being new, I felt they were not yet at full potential.
3. Rega RS5 - I liked these, but imo they worked better for certain types of music, like acoustic, vocal and chamber music. They can produce plenty of scale, have enough life to be fun, and seldom sound harsh or bright. Although they are easy to drive, it takes an amp with with a bit of current behind it, to control the bass.
4. LS50 - It will come as no surprise to anyone who has heard them, that we both loved them......these were the clear winner up to this point. They were superbly balanced, and just played music with consummate ease and insight......they just sounded "right"......a Reference speaker at affordable money, which had just the right touch of forgiveness.
5. R500 - These were the last to be connected up, as they had to be picked up from someone local, who had them out on dem.....and wanted to swap them for the R700s.
From the first note, we both knew that these were the ones we preferred......there was just no substitute for the scale they brought to the music. They sounded fine on the end of the Sneaky, but it took the MDSM to make them sound great...........what an exceptional match they (and all the R series) are with the Linn, as they complement each other beautifully.
IMO. The R Series are so good, that it won't be long till they will have to improve the Reference series.
Conclusion
The R500 was the preferred choice, with the LS50 pushing hard on its heels; but in the end it was the extra scale that won us both over (I have always liked floorstanders). It's just as well the R700s were removed, or his wallet might have suffered spontaneous combustion! 
As for amplification, we will wait to see how close the upgraded Sneaky DSM can get to the MDSM (it will be about £1k cheaper)........so we will be back in a few weeks to make the final decision.
So for me, it is now home demo or buy/try/keep or return from now on.
The chaps in my local Audio-T are blameless regarding my discomfiture with shop demos. They offer great service and are knowledgable and friendly and helpful. They have two different demo lounges and always set up demos with the correct stands, take care with speaker positioning and even leave stuff running in overnight when given sufficient notice (for customers to whom this matters).
It's a bit of a shame that something I used to enjoy as much as you do (a good trip to a hi-fi shop with cash on the hip) is just a pain nowadays.
I agree.
There is a fine line between having fun, and having a headache.
It makes it much less intense if there are two of you, and take regular time-outs to discuss what you've heard. It's also easier if the person you are dealing with is helping to get to the heart of what you want, and not pressure-selling you into something you don't.
I believe my friend had an enjoyable time and was pleasantly surprised at what could be achieved at each budget level.
FWIW His final choice will be home demoed before the final decision will be made.
Interesting write-up, Cno. Pity the R300s weren't run-in properly. But apart from bass what advatages (obvious size) did the R500 have over the IS 50s?
Thanks.
Interesting write-up, Cno. Pity the R300s weren't run-in properly. But apart from bass what advatages (obvious size) did the R500 have over the IS 50s?
Thanks.
In a word.......Scale.
The LS50 brought the advantages of a well conceived small monitor (speed / accuracy / imaging etc), but (obviously) just couldn't match the R500s on music that needed the extra bass to more realistically replicate the live experience.
It really is a matter of taste.....ie. what strengths matter most to the listener. I am used to listening to 205/2s, and miss the extra depth when it's not there. My friend obviously felt the same. For me, it's the difference between listening to a hifi vs getting closer to "real life".....the extra bass seems to bring greater excitement and give a better balance to the whole spectrum of the sound produced.
I hope I've answered your question somewhat satisfactorily.
So true about scale and perceived "live" sound. This is the ultimate wrestling match,hence why I sorted diverted away from the DB1is. In so many areas fantastic but that touch of bass missing just doesn't make them feel right.
I await the next Linn, Rega, Kef instalment. 
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Sounds like a great way to spend the day CnoEvil! I do the same on Saturdays and also recently helped a friend put together a system, though not of the calibre that you were looking at since he's more into home theatre setups. Still fun though!
Let us know your impressions of the various combos. I've always been intrigued by Linn gear, though have only ever heard an older, fully active Linn system that was sold maybe 10 years ago.