Linn or T+A

@kennyc 

+1

Yes. I was surprised as well. I never thought of Linn - digital… but they seemed to have gone all in and done a very good job of it. 

@lldd  are you saying the older style Kimax DSM with Organik upgrade was not as good as the new Klimax DSM? I prefer the look of the old Klimax, and its price+ upgrade is a LOT cheaper than the new DSM.

Linn have properly worked on the network board size of things for the new series, not just the DAC side.

@lldd 

thanks for sharing your observations. As I noted before, I would like to audition the T+A SD3100 against the Linn Klimax DSM/3 but have no way of doing so - so you’re findings are very interesting to me.

Question: the Klimax DSM is an integrated streamer and DAC. Did you also use the streaming client built into the T+A unit or did you source it with something else? And, were you using T+A music app or using Roon on both units?

Best,

mgrif104

agisthos: Yes, you have it correct. I was surprised at the difference between them. In retrospect, I think this makes sense. Those who purchased the new KDSM as a system hub (no included dac since this is for active speakers with dac included in the speakers) have also reported a significant improvement once installed. So there is more than just the organik dac going on here with the newer Linn.

mgrif104: I used the preamp, streamer and dac in both the previous Linn and with the current T+A. With the Linn I used their app until just a few weeks before I traded it in. I had moved to Roon in preparation for using it with the T+A, as the dealer said the T+A app was nowhere near as polished as the Linn app. That turned out to be true. It works, but it is rather crude and limited relative to the Linn app or Roon.

@lldd 

thanks much for the additional info and insight. The T+A dealer I’m working with said something similar about their app. But he also suggested that the streaming client built into the T+A, while very good, is still slightly bettered by a top end outboard streamer. So, if I go the route of adding an SD3100 HV, I might end up also getting a separate source - and use their native app (whether it be Aurender, Auralic, Innuos or other. 

FWIW - I’ve also gotten feedback from multiple people that the streaming client is the weak link in Linn systems. Apparently the organik DAC is quite good but held back by the streamer. I know of several owners of the new DSM/3 which are using Aurender’s W20SE or N30SA. 

Best,