The Linn DS / DSM thread

Hi Gareth,

great news you were able to get your money back.

I would recommend adding the Electrocompaniet PD-1 & Musical Fidelity M6-DAC to your list before making any decision.

Both will add a bit to the cost of the NAD but do have inbulit streaming (no HDMI inputs though, do you really need this?)

Good luck, let us know wht you come up with.

The Renew could have been a duff unit, but I don't feel that it was, it would have been more glaringly obvious if there was a fault of some kind.

I also don't feel that it was anything to do with a preference for a certain sonic signature, per se. I loved the sound the Renew produced, it was thoroughly engaging, fluid and natural, and incredibly detailed, it was the best I had heard in my system (since the D2v left that is). As I said above, the only area where the sonic signature differed was in the lower mid/ bass region, where, although a little thinner than I like, did outperform the Sonos/SP32 combination.

More the issue I think, is that the M51 took everything the Renew did well, and improved on over the Sonos/SP32, and just simply did it all better, whilst at the same time getting that lower mid/bass weight spot on and in balance with the rest of the frequency range.

It is a strange one to be sure - I am an ardent believer in you get what you pay for, and if you want the best you have to buy the best (my system is a perhaps a little too representative of that!). My new processor (when it eventually arrives - the Primare is just on loan) should add a whole new level of resolution to my system, so I may well try and get a demo of a full fat Klimax DS/1 once that is installed and compare to the M51 just to be sure.

Thanks Neuphonix,

I will certainly consider those options - the MF M6-DAC in particular.

Cost is not so much of an issue if the streaming is built in, as I have to add this with a separate box to get hi-res files to the M51 in any case.

As for HDMI inputs, no, these aren't really necessary in my set-up, but I can imagine they would be beneficial to many people who have a stereo setup for both music and movies but lack a method to get the hi-res audio from a blu-ray player to a sufficient quality DAC in their system!

I'm pleased the experience hasn't put you off the DS.............If you do get a listen to a KDS/1, please me know how you get on, as it should put right any deficiencies (no promises though ).

The dealer that I bought my MF amp from is a well know boutique shop over here in Sydney.

When I was talking to him about my thoughts on buying the Linn DS he immediately recommended that I try the NAD. They don't stock NAD, so if they are recommending it with-out any profit motive it must be good. Sounds like a pretty good performer for the money.

Did the dealer who sold you the Renew offer to let you try an Akurate DS1 for a demo before refunding your money?

That's what I was told when I was recommended the M51, that it was found to perform better than DACs costing three times as much.

Without that recommendation I wouldn't have considered it on the basis of its price point etc.

No, the dealer, Krescendo Hifi - only deals in second hand Naim and Linn I believe.

Just disinstalled Kinsky from iPad...it really is a rubbish piece of software.  It is a shame that Linn didn't come up with a state of the art controller, especially considering the price tag of the DS range. 

I just installed Lumin (which is free btw) which was developed by a Linn competitor but it works a treat and it has a much better look. Considering is not around from long time is already a great step-up. It also allows the rescan of the entire library in case you add something on the NAS.

It has a research by artist/song/album/genre/year, it works with playlist. Not sure if the radio is implemented yet but I am sure it will be just a matter of time

Here the link on the Linn forum: http://forums.linn.co.uk/bb/showthread.php?tid=19429

A bit of instructions of needed: http://www.luminmusic.com/app.html

Thx for the info.

BTW Have you tried a power cord on the DS yet?

It's on now...the Siltech actually. 

and.............

Need to have a longer listening, I have just switched. But Diana Krall seems a bit more airy and focused. 

My tests were inconclusive, sometimes I though I heard a difference, and sometimes not.........so not a clear result......so as yet, it has the original cable on it.

Definitely ) and 9 from Damien Rice sound fuller and more solid. Not sure this is due to the speaker cable only or the speaker cable and the TQ ultraBlack interconnects I have on...I might switch back to the Linn and check. But I am really enjoying this configuration now...

double post...

Though I think there is merit in keeping the whole loom from the one brand, I think you are wise trying the mix and match approach. Jadis + SF + Siltech "might" prove a little too smooth. Introducing something like a TQ  I/C might work very well, giving a halfway house. You could also try it the other way round and have TQ  S/C and Siltech  I/C.