New Linn MajikDS or second hand Akurate DS

I would strongly advise you to get the Akurate DS, but from a trusted dealer in case anything goes wrong...you never know.

I would probably wait 3 to 6 months to get a new or even better ex demo Akurate DS from a proper dealer as I understand the one you found is sold by a private customer, correct?

my choice would be the Majik Ds. After having auditioned the Akurate DSM and the Majik Ds with Akurate amp I couln´t really hear any major difference, but the price is very much higher for the Akurate though.

TBH, it's often folks with '20 years experience in IT' who get in the biggest tangle with streamers by trying to be too clever

Dont worry, there won't be any "trying to be too clever" over here! Simple is good

it's got to be wife friendly as well.

Hi Alex,

good to hear from you.

I sort of feel that you're right about the new Akurate, but my wallet disagrees!

Yes the second hand unit is from a private sale, no dealer involved.

And as you may have read over on Roby's amp thread, my recent experience does make me lean towards a new unit through a dealer.

How's your Jadis going? Any closer to your Sonus Fabers yet?

I am glad to see you have sorted everything out with your amp/speakers! I have read indeed and that's the main reason why I would pick something through a proper dealer...even if I have to pay a little premium on the price.

I have just heard so far the Sneaky DS and the Majik DS and the difference was quite evident which would justify the price difference. I haven't heard yet the Akurate DS but that will be happening soon as I need to sort out my digital source as well. 

What I wouldn't do here is rushing to buy anything. I am sure that you always can find some good deals out there if you have the patience to look around. I would take carefully the time to demo the Majik and Akurate DS and if the difference is evident, I would start looking for a great ex-demo or second hand deal on the Akurate (always through a proper dealer)

Jadis...yes I keep loving this amp except a few days ago when I had a mystic crisis and was looking around to swap my Jadis with a Pathos Inpol 2! Now it's gone...the crisis of course as I still have the Jadis and couldn't be happier...I need to find now the perfect speakers mathing this beauty

Regarding the speaker hunting...I am starting now to look around and the SF are always on top of my list. Hopefully by the end of the year I will decide and buy something in January/February 2013... 

As long as the unit remains in the same country, Linn has a 5 year transferable warranty with proof of purchase date, so I don't see the problem buying used. 

This review might help you a bit...maybe 

http://audiophilemusings.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/linn-streaming-evening-chris-brooks.html

Neuphonix, it's really good to hear back from you, as I often wondered how you were getting on with your predicament......I'm truly pleased that your situation has resolved itself satisfactorily, as I can only imagine what it's like to watch your pride and joy go up in smoke!

Now to the matter in hand. First of all, a bit of history.....the Dynamik (switch mode) power supply made quite an improvement and is certainly worth having. It brought the Majik DS up to the level of the pre-Dynamic Akurate.
The Akurate has recently been upgraded to the DS/1 (old version was DS/0), and means bargains can be had for this old version. This has brought about a significant improvement, bringing it closer (but not matching) the Klimax DS/0....but the Klimax DS/1 has, incredibly, raised the bar again, and (imo) is one of the best sources out there.

Right, enough waffle....imo, the answer to your question is I agree with Alex. If you can get the Akurate DS/0 at the price of the Majik, from a reliable source and with the remainder of the warranty...then you should do it. The only thing better vfm (though it is dearer) is a Renew DS, which is what was born when Klimax DS/0 owners upgraded to DS/1s. ie They are basically Klimax DS/0s in a plain box, for a quarter the price.

Unlike CDPs, there are no moving parts, so there is very little to go wrong with them, but the back up of a dealer is comforting.....though if you are handy with networks, that is well over half the battle.

People's perceptions of what is "better," and what value they put on that improvement, is very subjective. Can you get to listen to the DS family, to hear what improvement you get, as you go up the hierarchy? You might also want to listen to the competition, just to confirm I'm not leading you astray. Try to use your own system for any demo, as it is truly revealing and will sound completely different to an "all Linn" system.

Hear is a Streamer league table that I posted some time back, in case it helps:
http://www.whathifi.com/forum/hi-fi/streamer-league-table

From memory, the Akurate DS/0 scored about 135, and the Klimax DS/0 145.

Anything else I can help with, just shout.

Cno

Hi Cno,

Thanks for your reply.

Yes indeed it is a feeling of relief to have everything back in place & working well.

As I said to Roby, it has almost been worth not having it for a while to appreciate how good it is.

I'm going for a listen to the DS'sssssss this weekend, so hopefully things will be a little clearer after that.

Could be accused of being impatient, but the second hand Akurate at this price is certainly tempting. It is the DS/O but does have the upgraded Dynamik PS. It won't have any warranty however as it is being sold in a different country.

I put this same thread up on the Linn site & the general consensus seemed to be that an older Akurate is probably better than the new Majik. Again, all very subjective. 

I spoke on the phone to the dealer that I am seeing on the weekend & talked about the price of the Akurate. He mentioned that he might have a demo unit that we could work a deal on. If the Akurate does sound vastly superior (& it would have to be pretty vast for an extra 3k) then even if I can't act immediately at least I will know which way to go. Can let him know that if any demos/trade ins come in I'm interested, & ring around all the dealers here in Oz to put the feelers out.

Will post my impressions after the listen this weekend.

thanks again,

Michael

I will be following the thread with a lot of interest as I was also thinking about getting a second hand Akurate DS...but never really managed to check if it is worth the price difference compared to the Majik DS. Don't forget to let us know

Michael, having read through your thread on the Linn forum, it mostly coincides with what I said (phew!).

The general concensus seems to be the ADS/0 is a worthwhile step up from the MDS, and the ADS/1 is a good step up again.

This I agree with, but wouldn't say it's huge, but very worthwhile in a subtle sort of way. Its the sort of improvement that you really start to appreciate after living with it for a while....ie. timing, detail, soundstage, accuracy and overall musicality. Sometimes the biggest change comes when you swap back to the cheaper model, and you realize what's now missing.

There are always people who find the difference incredibly subtle.....and they are not wrong, as for them, in their system, it is not worth the price difference. The Majik DS sets a very high standard, and heard in isolation, would be enough for most.....and it is (imo) further improved by Black Ravioli (buts that's a discussion for another day - he says as he makes a quick exit, before the ridicule starts).

I have an Akurate DS 2010 so current version before DSM, with XLR direct into Genelec 8040A active speakers, streaming from a Zone Ripper Mini with Kinsky on the Mac.

It is an amazing bit of kit - just do it, you will not regret it!!!

Good man!

Another DS owner on here (the only Akurate one AFAIK) is most welcome......especially as I've been trying to get across how good these streamers really are.

& that is another of the appealing features of the Akurate over the Majik, the ability to use balanced connection to my AMS.

So without wanting to prejudice the outcome of the upcoming session, the second hand Akurate seems like a pretty good option.

Patience grasshopper, patience

I'm still trying to work out how pasta can absord the vibrations from a source with no moving parts!? Do you soak it overnight before installation?