LINN Akurate DS – Part I and Part II

Computer based music library and different ways to connect it to existing audio systems has been a hot topic for a while. I haven't been a forerunner on this area due to some skepticism regarding linking together the computer, software and my stereo system. However, after some initial tests and experiences it was now time to take the next step.

My goal was to find a music player / DAC, which would support Universal Plug and Play (UPnP), i.e. the DAC should have a network interface so that it can stream music over the home network without computer or network storage being in the same room. DAC should also take in native 24 bit / 192 kHz resolution and support following file formats, FLAC, Apple Lossless, WAV and AIFF. Just half a year ago there weren't many manufactures making DACs, which could fulfill all these conditions, but it looks like situation is rapidly changing and selection is already growing.

My biggest concern wasn't the amount of alternatives but how such DACs will compete in sound quality with topnotch CD/SACD players and how reliably they work. I had carried some tests in the past with a Squeezebox connected to my CD/SACD player's digital input so I already knew that convenience is a big selling point for different kind of streaming solutions. Call me lazy and impatient but to be able to search one’s music library and change "record" from your remote control just in seconds is appealing to me.

After searching information about possible options I decided to visit the local Linn dealer and asked them to demonstrate me couple of Linn DS players. I also asked about possibility to compare simultaneously  with same music samples played with a very good CD player. The demo was arranged with a top-of-the-line system where Linn DS players were the only Linn components and rest of the system consisted of Audio Research and Wilson Audio products. One visit lead to another and one day I had the Linn Akurate DS player in my listening room.

Installation

Linn homepage has good instructions on how to install and setup their DS player. However, one or two small details more would have saved me for some extra work. For example, your home network must have an active DHCP server because setting up a dedicated IP address for Linn DS player isn't possible. My DHCP server was disabled and it took some time before I found this useful piece of information from Linn Forums. This also made it clear that setting up a DS player requires some computer skills. Local Linn dealer kindly offered installation help but I decided to do the installation myself. After solving the IP address issue, rest of the installation was straight forward and it took less than hour. Player's technical details can be found from Linn homepage

What was tested? How does it work?

After the necessary software was installed on my computer and latest upgrades downloaded from Linn homepage it was time to focus on the essential: listening to music. For comparison purposes I had a CD/SACD/DVD-A player, which is cheaper than Akurate DS, but also a CD/SACD player, which is more expensive than Akurate DS.

To cut the long story short, I did three different kinds of comparisons:  First I compared CD quality 16 bit / 44,1 kHz files played with the Akurate DS to same the CDs played with both CD players. Second, I compared CD quality 16 bit / 44,1 kHz files played with the Akurate DS to SACD records played with both CD/SACD players. Thirdly, I compared high resolution 24 bit / 88 kHz, 96 kHz, 176,2 kHz and 192 kHz files played with the Akurate DS to SACD records played with both CD/SACD players.

Akurate DS and both CD/SACD players were connected to my Audio Research Reference 3 preamplifier. All three players have XLR outputs. Since I have two sets of similar Transparent Cable XLR interconnects, two of the players were connected at the same time to the preamp while the third one was having a "break". Even the power cords were similar between the players.

I own Ray Brown's Soular Energy both in hybrid SACD (Groove Note Records, GRV1015-3) and 24 bit/192 kHz format, so it was one natural choice to do comparisons between the players and formats. Another comparison was made with Ella & Louis SACD (Verve, 314 589 598-3)) and 24 bit/96 kHz files. However, most of the comparisons were between CDs and ripped 16 bit/44,1kHz files. In addition I got more high resolution material from HDtracks and Linn Records and when applicable compared them to CD or SACD.

I was expecting some kind of hiccups with streaming bigger high resolution files but it has been working very well with Ethernet over powerline adapters. As a Control Point/Remote Control Application I've been using iPod Touch and PlugPlayer software. With PlugPlayer there have been some occasional issues as it has somehow lost control over the server, after which the application requires restart.

As I mentioned earlier, a DS Player is a convenient way to listen music. On the other hand, you can't read liner notes without picking up the CDs. Hopefully one of the control point / remote control applications will soon introduce liner note functionality since for example HDtracks have them available with the downloads. Another "drawback" is that you discover music you haven't listened in long time and listening sessions may become long-drawn-out.

Part II: The sound and the software used.

Software:

It looks like Linn have had enough time to make their DS player software stable because all software issues I experienced were either on server or control software side. For the media server I have used the following software: Asset UPnP, Twonky Media Server and Squeezebox Server with Linn DS plug-in. I’m currently using Asset UPnP running on dedicated Windows Home Server with a folder duplication option. It will be interesting to see if PS Audio TagNPlay Server will offer new functionality what the competitors don’t yet have, when it will be released later this year.

For Control Point / Remote Control Application I’ve used PlugPlayer and PS Audio TagNPlay plus iPeng with Squeezebox Server.

To rip the CDs I am using dBpoweramp, which is utilizing AccurateRip technology to secure that ripped files are bit-perfect.

So how did the Akurate DS do against CD/SACD players?

There is no one simple answer, it depends. After a number of comparisons, I found that there is a bigger difference with a good CD player and Akurate DS with 16 bit/44,1kHz material than there is between different high resolution formats all played through Akurate DS. I listened and switched between the reference CD player and the ripped files via Akurate DS, and after a while ended up listening the ripped files. Not that Akurate DS would have added something new and special what clearly had stood out; but when I went back to CD I felt I was missing something. It reminded me of comparing 16 bit and 24 bit files and going back and forth between them. When the shoot-out was between the reference SACD player and Akurate DS then things got trickier.

Everything begins from the recording, and nothing beats good recordings. High resolution isn’t an automatic short cut to a better sound or more enjoyable music listening. A good recording is a good recording regardless of the bits and kHz. The situation resembles the one when SACD and DVD-Audio were released: some material weren’t any better than CD (sometimes even the opposite) because the original recording and master weren't good enough to demonstrate the difference between 16 bit/44,1kHz and high resolution data. On the other hand, good recording with high resolution done right sounded great. It is more lifelike, open and detailed than the 16 bit/44,1kHz version.

With some recordings the Akurate DS beats the very good SACD player, with some others it’s a draw and sometimes I preferred the SACD. Not that there were a huge difference but the presentation is varies. With the redbook material this is not the case: most of the time I clearly prefered the Akurate DS over the reference CD player.

If you want to try high resolution sound at it's best try Reference Recordings HRx and Linn or Channel Classics 24 bit / 192 kHz Studio Masters. You can also find good 24 bit / 96 and 88 kHz material from HDtracks.

I also made an interesting discovery with the files I downloaded a few years ago. Back then I read good reviews of a recording on Ray Montford's Shed Your Skin album. I tried to find the CD and soon found out that it was out of print. Fortunately I could download the disc as lossless 16 bit/44,1kHz files from the artist’s homepage. I burned a CD, but the recording didn't correspond with the reviews I read. I tried the CD over the years with couple of different CD players but the result was always the same. When I recently re-organized my music library I discovered the original files again and played them now with the Akurate DS. Now, for the first time I understood why the reviewers liked this recording. Maybe the software I used to burn the CD wasn't the best available or something else went wrong but what a change there was for the better when listening the files now through the Akurate DS.

Summing up

Akurate DS has a neutral, transparent and refined sound, and it is capable of giving the listener the famous feeling of “being there”. It has good dynamics and slam, a big and deep soundstage, not much different from my reference SACD player. The soundstage with my reference SACD player is slightly wider than with the Akurate DS, with the Akurate it is slightly higher. When the time went on I found myself listening more often to Akurate DS than doing comparisons between the players. I cannot pin point a few specific things what make the Akurate DS better than the CD player; it is the whole package that appears to be more truthful to the music and recordings.

The Akurate DS makes CDs sound better, and as a bonus it is convenient to use. It also plays high resolution music to take you to the next level, whenever the recording grants you that joy. Am I still skeptic about linking together the computer, software and audio system? The answer is No - this is the way I am going to listen most of my music from now on.