Linn Forums

I know this has been asked before and the correct answer is "Listen and decide", however, many potential owners do not have access to local demos and depend on sale or return (and hence incur shipping charges, can't compare side-by-side etc.) ... so can anyone provide their subjective opinions on the sonic differences between Majik and Akurate DS? I'm particularly interested in detail and timing, my current CDP lacks somewhat in these areas! BTW, I'm not a current Linn user and own a somewhat muscle(ish) amp and somewhat clincal/open speakers!

Hi,

Recently, I have heard the Akurate ds two times, each time with Naim electronics.
The sound was very detailed, transparent and open, but also very precise, analytical and lean (computer-sound). I already sold my Majik cd, but I must confess I’ve still not decided yet to buy an Akurate ds or a Majik ds. What worries me is that the positive first experiences from people are fading away a little bit and the sound (timbre) is still very cd-like: very precise, but no warmth and no body.
The first time I compared the Akurate ds with the Majik ds. First the Akurate (30 minutes) and then the Majik (15 minutes). The Akurate ds had a bigger soundstage and was a little bit less colder sounding than the Majik. Both were very detailed and had good rhythm and timing.
I promise that I will try both machines again with Linn electronics, but in the end I still couldn’t listen for a long time to my Majik cd and that was also with Linn elektronics.

Peter

Thanks for the post Peter. Think I could live with a slightly smaller soundstage, but a cold/lean characteristic would concern me. It's good to hear that they both have good rhythm/timing. I'm getting the impression that the Akurate doesn't blow the Majik out of the water ... which makes me less afraid to audition both ... I might trust myself to listen to my head (and go for the Majik)

I considered the Majik Ds for a split second...I have had the Akurate Ds for 7 months now and the only thing I will eventually swap it for is a Klimax Ds...I would be surprised if it does not trounce the Majik Ds

I guess these things are all relative ... did you get a chance to listen to the Majik?

I spent about 90 minutes listening to the Sneaky, Majik and Akurate DS through an Akurate Kontrol, Chakra 2200 and Majik 140's a few months ago.

The sneaky wasn't a bad source, but didn't really draw me in at all. The Majik was really quite nice to listen to, easy to follow the tune and lots more detail and involvement than the Sneaky. The Akurate, on the other hand, was in a whole new league, which just made me want to keep playing more tracks through it. Makes me glad I didn't try the Klimax!

I definitely want to get an Akurate DS, but finding the cash is proving a little tricky. I might get the Majik DS and run with that for a year or so, then replace it with an Akurate once I've got the cash together...

That's not the answer I want to hear You're meant to say the Majik is magic and the Akurate is little better, but not really worth it unless you've got cash to burn! Damn ... my 2009 "gadget budget" might be in serious danger

I dont find eny of the DS players analytical or steril sounding at all infact its the other way around IMO.

I can say that im 99.9 % sure that whatever sharpness and analytical sound you heard came from from the linn speakers (and to some extend the cheaper amps and pres) and not the DS.

I have been around this hoppy for a decade now and im one of those that wanted to try everything before i made up my mind what was best , and in the presuite spend proberly 100,000 k , and take it from me the Ds players are some of the most analog and musical sounding players you can find and the klimax ds being in a class of its owen.

Haveer i am not a linn speaker fan because I find them analytical and thin i chose sonus faber , but thats just me.

A month back i visit a local linn shop that have just added a akurate Ds to there demo system and i had the oppotunity to hear it VS majik ds and LP12 ( have no idead what version but it was up todate but not the keel version) system was active akurate speakers and akurate kontrol.
The difference i heard between akurate ds and majik ds was a increased size of soundsatge and a much improved tune , espicialy in the bass with the akurate , the difference was large enough of me to concluded that its price increass was more then justified.

WE then A/b with the lp12 and then i realized that the akurate ds sounded almost the same, the both sounded well analog and played the tune and had that foodtaping bass i was a bit shocked because the vinyl mop alwasy talk about have much better vinyl will alwasy be but to my ears the akurate ds was giving the lp12 some serious competition.

An on a personal level i have bitch alaot about the userplatform with the ds players but the soundkvality from my current majik ds is so much more musical the other hardisk based sources i have had that im amazed by it every day i listen to it .


enyway just my two cent

I recently compared an Akurate and Klimax DS in my system against my Klimax LP12. The LP12 was way better than both DSes, no comparison at all. The DSes sound flat and lifeless in comparison. The difference between Akurate and Klimax DS is small compared to the difference between Klimax DS and Klimax LP12.
Obviously some dealers can't handle the LP12 properly (but it also depends on the record pressings you use).

You are proberly right but then it had to be the system i heard them through that was colorating the differences, or that the Klimax lp12 is ALOT better then the deck the shop had.

The dealers deck was his owen personal one and he explained me have much skill it takes setting it up right .
It even had ites owen special shelf on the wall and he is alwasy swarming around it so it quit sure it as perfectly set up.

It was HIFIFORUM in copenhagen great shop by the way.