Best digital stream player

One of the big reason I post the thread is that I want to know how good my Linn Akurate Digital Stream player is when comparing to other brand.

Linn is well know for making good source like LP12 and CD12. Linn will stop making cd player this year and only making Digital stream player. Linn said my $6,800 Akurate DS sounds better than their $20,000 CD12 which was one of the best cd player in the world. The Klimax is Linn's top of line DS player now and there are some many great reviews. It almost make me feel that Linn Klimax DS is the best digital source out there and my Akurate Ds is the 2nd best.

HongKong is a tiny place, but they sell more high end audio gear than North America. I ordered a book called "CD bible" from HongKong which recommend 800 audiophile CDs. It also list the top 10 CD player for different price category.

1)DCS Scarlatti USD100,000.00
2)Simaudio Andromeda RS USD40,000.00
3)PlayBack Designs MPS-5 USD20,000.00
4)Naim CD-5X USD6,000.00
5)Shangling CD-T 300SE USD4,000.00
6)Audio Note CD 1.1X USD3,500.00
7)Micromega CD 30 USD2,000.00

It didn't mention Linn DS player, so I want to know how good Linn Klimax/Akurate DS comparing to DCS and Playback design.

As to Naim HDX, it seems to be a easier setup than Linn DS player.

At hte en d of the day, we are looking for people who has listened to, or owns both a DS (Klimax in my case), and another top end digital source, so he can provide feedback from listening experience.

Problem is there does not seem to be a lot of these people out there.

Don't get me wrong for this I'm going to say. I do want to buy a Klimax (provided it does sound at least as good as my Esoteric X01-D2), but I will need to be sure about it. Will not be buying blind, and without a home audition first.

Linn is a two extremes brand. Either you love it all over, like if there was nothing else out there, or you just dislike it. Among these last ones, it has a reputation of being quite overpriced, and that it never got the digital quite right. Like per instance the CD12, which was, for what I've read and hear, a good CD but quite inferior to other at the same price level. I tend to believe this about the CD12. Would they discontinue the best digital source in the world, even if the streaming DS's, which has still limited reach among hifi fans, was the only thing superior out there? My best economical based estimation is no way... My thinking is that they were falling behind on digital playback, and that was making them loose all time, all Linn system loyal customers that came to listen to other similar priced CDPs. That is why they probably came out with that (what seems to be marketing driven) decision that they discontinue CDPs cos streaming is just best than any other thing out there. I have to admit it is a quite agressive move, that time will tell if we can also call brilliant.

Now I would really doubt the Klimax (or Akurate for that matter) does sound better than a 100.000 USD or 60.000 USD CDP. Of course Linn will say it does. Can't blame them for that. And I would love it to be that way. But my thinking is that there is no way. Of course this is only my best guessing based on anything you name but listening to them, so not worth much.

Lets hope there is someone out there that has had a chance to listen to both, DS and some other top end digital, and is willing to share experiences.

Eelii08, The CD12 is a 10 year old design that was consided state of the art at the time. Linn has decided to focus on the DS instead of CD playback. Which I think more companies should do. Linn is just about 3 years ahead of most other highend companies in this regard. Digital streamers are lot harder to implement right than a simple cd player. So I think your logic that Linn is just trying to market the DS because they can't compete with other companies disc players is faulty.

Let your own ears decide.

You may be right. As stated, it was just a guess from reading and listening to what others, who are more familiar with Linn, say.

In reality, why they are only focusing in streaming is up to them. I can see an actual owner of a Linn CDP not being too happy. After spending big in a CDP -probably being told how good it was- he sees it is being discontinued cos the company, in brief, comes to say it sounds like crap compared to the DSs. Not the best to keep up the aftermarket value. But that is not my case so I don't really care. You are also right. What is important is how these things really sound and how good they are.

It is their claim that the Klimax is the best digital source out there regardless of price, that makes me doubt. I want to listen to one for sure. I don't even need it to be the absolute best (do not think there is an absolute best in audio components...). I just need it to be as good -or better- than my Esoteric to go ahead.

Listening to one is the way to go, I know. But it will only be of use if I can get to listen to one at my house, in my room and with my gear. Problem is that my dealer does not sell Linn. There is a Linn dealer at my hometown, but he does not know me. It will be hard to try to convince him to lend a 14.500 euros machine to a guy that walks from the door. I guess at the end I will be able to, but probably will need to leave a deposit of a big % of the asking price, have him come over etc, etc.

I can do that. But before going through all that trouble, I want to get as much info as possible. If feedback is positive, so chances are I will like it in relative terms to my actual source, I will proceed to that stage.

I did finally heard the klimax DS. TO ME, it was good... but not better than my Esoteric. This was a few weeks ago already, and I did post my views on a different post. However I will share my views with you here as well. Just in case they are of use to anyone. NOte as always, only my opinion to my ears, and in my sytem / room combo...

So how it was, and compared to the Esoteric X01-D2. Close in some aspects, equal in others, (very good soundstage, open and wide, nice separation and air and good dynamics). In all of the above, not better than the Esoteric, but not worse either. Very good player.

HOwever the Linn Klimax did felt short in the bass extension, Esoteric was warmer, and with deeper and nicer texture of instruments and voices. This was specially so in female voices and pianos.

Overall, a very good piece, but not better than my current CDP (actually, it felt behind to my ears and in my system.). I would define the soteric sound as more rich... sort of speak. Really don't think this is the better digital player out there... at least in my personal opinion, as Linn claims.

I decided to pass on it. It's a shame since I did want a ethernet streaming solution, but not willing to commit such an amount of money to end up probably listening most of the time to the CDP anyway.

I think I will go with a much cheaper solution for casual listening and to rip old Cds in bad condition. Eventually, other units will come to the market although this may take a while.