Digital Drive Upsamplers, DACs, jitter, shakes and analogue withdrawals, this is it.

---

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] Thread: [ Display  All  Email ] [ Digital Drive ]

---

[ Alert Moderator ]

---

Re: REVIEW: Linn Akurate DS DAC Processors

Posted by TBone (A) on February 4, 2009 at 12:50:55

In Reply to: REVIEW: Linn Akurate DS DAC Processors posted by juddl on February 4, 2009 at 11:07:52:

>>The most striking features are the low level detail extraction. I never realized how much low level detail is lost in what appears to be the noise floor. The Akurate lowers the noise floor to imperceptible levels.<<

IMO, most audiophiles don't understand how and why digital noise-floor characteristics negatively effect sound quality, how it routinely masks inner details while limiting overall dimensionality. It's something you really need to experience/hear first-hand within a truly low-noise system to really understand and/or appreciate.

Class leading transparency, IMO at least, has been Linn digitals biggest advantage/attribute for many years. As an example, one of the first Linn digital players I heard was the old Linn Genki some 10 years ago, and it amazed me how vanishingly low its noise floor was in direct comparison to some ultra-expensive digital products at that time (and even today). Unlike most players then (again, even today), details didn't get swallowed up by some weird background fog typical with many players, they're were allowed to linger & slowely disappear in a much more natural, dimensional fashion - even during peak moments.

Like the DS, the current Linn Majik CDP contends as one of the most transparent / clean digital players (regardless of format) I've ever heard, irregardless of price.

I've auditioned the Akurate DS a few times and was very impressed. To be honest, I'm still trying to decifer its overall sound quality compared to the better traditional transport based players. The DS series adds a very light'sh transparent touch to the music, one that I've not really heard before. Perhaps, at times, I think the music becomes too light in nature, too see-thru, yet it still manages to retain true instrumental impact with layers of dimensionality.

Therefore, I can certainly understand your enthusiasm for the DS, congrats.

BTW, speaking of low noise-floor musical products, I noticed that you use Ayre electronics. In my opinion, they're a perfect match with Linn players, (& Ayre players) simply because Ayre's biggest advantage, to my ears anyway, is again - above average transparency with truly superb noise floor characteristics.

TB1

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Schiit Audio

---

[ Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2025, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]

---

[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]

---