Tag Archives: Music servers and computer audio

World News

Vermeer Audio Model THREE D

Posted on by Alan Sircom

Here, we had been enthused concerning the Vermeer Audio Model TWO. But the Model TWO is a heavy hitter; not everybody wants that form of firepower of their methods. Perhaps you might have a smaller system with out the necessity for analogue inputs. Maybe all you want is a streamer or DAC. And you need this stuff with out compromising high quality. Say ‘bonjour’ to the Vermeer Audio Model THREE D streaming DAC!

The Vermeer apple doesn’t fall removed from the tree. Much of what went into the Model TWO trickled right down to the Model THREE D. This additionally means the Model THREE D pulls in an awesome deal from the late, lamented Audio Aero LaFontaine. I’d like to say this conclusion got here from painstaking listening, evaluating circuits and background analysis. But I can’t; Vermeer Audio makes this clear by itself website. “The Model THREE D is totally based mostly on the Model TWO and the parts which have made this uncompromising unit a hit.”

Lighter case

Like Model TWO, it helps 32bit, 384kHZ PCM audio and DSD128 by way of its USB and LAN connections. The Vermeer Audio Model THREE D goes as much as 24bit, 192kHz and DSD64 on S/PDIF and AES/EBU. The large variations between the 2 are eradicating analogue inputs and utilizing a far lighter case.

Vermeer Audio Model THREE

Let’s not underplay that ‘lighter case’, nevertheless. It doesn’t imply the DAC is light-weight or that its trio of armour-piercing cones don’t add as much as highly effective construct high quality in and of itself. However, not like Model TWO, something shy of ‘battleship construct’ is discovered wanting. The distinction is you may carry the Model THREE D out of its field with out visiting an osteopath.

Having no analogue inputs advantages the Vermeer Audio Model THREE D because it permits full Leedh integration. Leedh processing is an revolutionary all-digital quantity management. It happened as a result of digital audio nonetheless suffers from quantity controls that degrade the sound sign by modifying its form.

Circular logic?

A digital quantity management’s downside sounds round however is misplaced info brought on by itself. That misplaced info is expounded to modifying the amplitude of a digital datastream, often called ‘truncation’ and even ‘bit chopping’. How this truncation seems to the listener is a drop in low amplitude sign, making the sound seem ‘flat’ and ‘missing heat’; among the baseline normal criticisms of ‘digital audio’ typically stated by analogue music lovers.

What if a few of these limitations of digital audio had been purely capabilities of attempting to make a no-noise digital quantity management? This would go some approach to clarify the peculiar facet of high-end audio that whereas good digital gamers typically have digital quantity controls, many audiophiles nonetheless desire passing the sign by way of an analogue preamplifier. This intrinsically provides noise however is made as a result of pragmatic determination that it merely sounds higher.

Vermeer Audio Model THREE

Leedh makes an attempt to deal with this well-documented downside by making a quantity algorithm to minimise the variety of further bits in a datastream to cut back truncation loss. This is an awfully intelligent – and very advanced – means of modifying the amplitude with out altering the waveform utilized by among the brightest stars within the digital heavens, reminiscent of Lumin, Métronome, Soulution… and Vermeer.

Hushed tones

So, why is it Vermeer Audio isn’t spoken of with the identical hushed tones folks apply when discussing the very best of these different Leedh sign-ups? If you advised a fellow audio traveller you owned a type of different three names, you’d get a nod of recognition and respect to your discerning alternative. Do the identical with Vermeer Audio, and you’ll in all probability get a ‘who?’ Partly, it’s for all the suitable causes; even in an trade with a popularity for a bespoke construct, Vermeer Audio’s merchandise are resolutely hand-made. The firm is sufficiently small to make sure one engineer can observe a product from inception to ultimate sign-off, testing and aligning exactly alongside the best way. Where different corporations of Vermeer’s dimension normally have one or two folks in advertising and marketing and gross sales, it’s all about constructing the very best they’ll.

In that means, Vermeer Audio operates like Henry Poole & Co. This small Savile Row tailor is famously understated (it doesn’t even have its personal label to stitch into its clothes), but invented the dinner swimsuit and had Winston Churchill, Napoleon III, and lists quite a few Kings, Queens, Emperors and Princes as purchasers. Personally, I’d take timeless craftsmanship and understatement over flashy and trashy!

Of course, simply as a tailor is simply pretty much as good as its final sew, so Vermeer Audio depends on the standard of its two merchandise, and the Model THREE D is greater than ok. However, there are a few operational ‘quirks’ such because the rear-mounted headphone socket. From an aesthetic perspective, I approve because it makes the entrance panel’s strains look clear and uncluttered, however from a logistical place, having to succeed in across the again of the Model THREE D – particularly if it isn’t on the highest shelf of your system – isn’t the most suitable choice.

Decisions, Decisions

I’m cautious of going over outdated floor right here, however a lot of what applies to the Vermeer Audio Model TWO applies to the efficiency of the Model THREE D. It makes use of the identical high quality boards, substantial PCB tracks and high-grade parts. I didn’t have each merchandise at hand, so counting on a long-standing aural reminiscence of essentially comparable merchandise is troublesome. Still, I believe the variations in efficiency are comparatively slight. Model TWO largely provides weight and line inputs… and makes an even bigger gap within the financial institution steadiness. This is an excellent achievement for Model THREE D as a result of Model TWO was a stellar digital replay system, and this will get inside “a midge’s minim” or “a gnat’s crotchet” (thanks, Humph, and the I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue staff) of the Big Boy’s efficiency. In specific, Model THREE D retains that ‘drawing you in’ property that pulls you nearer to the music, just about no matter file sort or musical style. I discovered myself listening to a variety of listening pleasures and having fun with and understanding them completely.

Mentioning ‘Clue’ above was for a purpose; it’s a deep pool of a long time of foolish, freely out there and readily streamable half-hour slices of fried gold through BBC Sounds, and I discovered myself chuckling alongside to some traditional early night stupidity (singing the lyrics of ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’ to the tune of ‘The Muppet Show’) and double entendre (“Samantha has to nip out now as she’s received a brand new job working within the sound archive because the supervisor. It’s her first day, so apparently she’s going to present a speech within the again room and hand jobs out within the workplace”). Toward the top of his life, former host Humphrey Lyttleton’s voice grew to become just a little vague. Model THREE D helps deliver out sufficient vocal high quality to hear joyously. You really feel as in case you are a part of the viewers and much more celebration to the jokes.

Vermeer Audio Model THREE

I learn by way of the Model TWO assessment and did the identical factor; I hung out discussing a BBC broadcast. There’s a great purpose for this and one which I didn’t essentially discover the primary time round. The Vermeer simply stayed on on a regular basis. You play Model THREE D at each alternative. It accompanies your digital music and makes a really fluid, participating and engaging sound. This digital replay system is on the complete aspect somewhat than stark, with an easy rhythm and loads of element. Still, finally none of these issues is as vital as simply what number of hours you log with the Model THREE D. And this listening in the course of the demise (pronounced ‘dem-EEZ’ as an alternative of ‘de-MIZE’) of the Crown, the place all issues British went maudlin.

Good instances dangerous instances!

There’s solely a lot of that one can take, and periodically one’s pipes want a great cleanout. Nothing appeared extra applicable than taking part in the entire first eponymous Led Zeppelin [Atlantic] album from one finish to the opposite, beginning with ‘Good Times Bad Times’… and it sounded prefer it was the primary time I had ever heard it. Wow!

THREE D by identify, THREE D by nature. The Vermeer Model THREE D produces an especially holographic soundstage. If that had been all, it could in all probability be sufficient, however because it follows carefully within the footsteps trodden by its larger brother, at a fraction of the fee and one-third the burden, it’s a tough factor to not love.

Technical specs

  • Digital inputs Asynchronous USB, AES/EBU (XLR), S/PDIF (optical and BNC coaxial)
  • Analogue outputs Single-ended RCA, Balanced XLR
  • Digital precision to 32bit, 384kHz PCM (utilizing Vermeer Audio resampling module), DSD 64/2.8Mhz
  • Output Voltage 2, 3 or 4Vrms in mounted output mode. Up to 7Vrms in variable output mode
  • Output Impedance 100Ω
  • Signal-to-noise ratio 129dB
  • THD < 0.1%
  • Dimensions (W×H×D) 450 × 130 × 440mm
  • Weight 9kg
  • Price £13,995

Manufacturer

Vermeer Audio

vermeeraudio.com

Manufacturer

The Audiophile Club

theac.co.uk

+44 (0) 20 8882 2822

Back to Reviews

The submit Vermeer Audio Model THREE D appeared first on Hi-Fi+.

World News

Vermeer Audio Model THREE D

Posted on by Alan Sircom

Here, we have been enthused concerning the Vermeer Audio Model TWO. But the Model TWO is a heavy hitter; not everybody wants that sort of firepower of their programs. Perhaps you have got a smaller system with out the necessity for analogue inputs. Maybe all you want is a streamer or DAC. And you need these items with out compromising high quality. Say ‘bonjour’ to the Vermeer Audio Model THREE D streaming DAC!

The Vermeer apple doesn’t fall removed from the tree. Much of what went into the Model TWO trickled all the way down to the Model THREE D. This additionally means the Model THREE D pulls in an awesome deal from the late, lamented Audio Aero LaFontaine. I’d like to say this conclusion got here from painstaking listening, evaluating circuits and background analysis. But I can’t; Vermeer Audio makes this clear by itself website. “The Model THREE D is totally primarily based on the Model TWO and the elements which have made this uncompromising unit successful.”

Lighter case

Like Model TWO, it helps 32bit, 384kHZ PCM audio and DSD128 via its USB and LAN connections. The Vermeer Audio Model THREE D goes as much as 24bit, 192kHz and DSD64 on S/PDIF and AES/EBU. The large variations between the 2 are eradicating analogue inputs and utilizing a far lighter case.

Vermeer Audio Model THREE

Let’s not underplay that ‘lighter case’, nevertheless. It doesn’t imply the DAC is light-weight or that its trio of armour-piercing cones don’t add as much as highly effective construct high quality in and of itself. However, not like Model TWO, something shy of ‘battleship construct’ is discovered wanting. The distinction is you’ll be able to raise the Model THREE D out of its field with out visiting an osteopath.

Having no analogue inputs advantages the Vermeer Audio Model THREE D because it permits full Leedh integration. Leedh processing is an progressive all-digital quantity management. It took place as a result of digital audio nonetheless suffers from quantity controls that degrade the sound sign by modifying its form.

Circular logic?

A digital quantity management’s downside sounds round however is misplaced data attributable to itself. That misplaced data is said to modifying the amplitude of a digital datastream, referred to as ‘truncation’ and even ‘bit chopping’. How this truncation seems to the listener is a drop in low amplitude sign, making the sound seem ‘flat’ and ‘missing heat’; a few of the baseline common criticisms of ‘digital audio’ typically mentioned by analogue music lovers.

What if a few of these limitations of digital audio have been purely features of attempting to make a no-noise digital quantity management? This would go some solution to clarify the peculiar facet of high-end audio that whereas good digital gamers typically have digital quantity controls, many audiophiles nonetheless choose passing the sign via an analogue preamplifier. This intrinsically provides noise however is made as a result of pragmatic choice that it merely sounds higher.

Vermeer Audio Model THREE

Leedh makes an attempt to handle this well-documented downside by making a quantity algorithm to minimise the variety of extra bits in a datastream to scale back truncation loss. This is an awfully intelligent – and very complicated – manner of modifying the amplitude with out altering the waveform utilized by a few of the brightest stars within the digital heavens, corresponding to Lumin, Métronome, Soulution… and Vermeer.

Hushed tones

So, why is it Vermeer Audio isn’t spoken of with the identical hushed tones folks apply when discussing one of the best of these different Leedh sign-ups? If you informed a fellow audio traveller you owned a kind of different three names, you’d get a nod of recognition and respect to your discerning alternative. Do the identical with Vermeer Audio, and you’ll in all probability get a ‘who?’ Partly, it’s for all the proper causes; even in an business with a popularity for a bespoke construct, Vermeer Audio’s merchandise are resolutely hand-made. The firm is sufficiently small to make sure one engineer can comply with a product from inception to closing sign-off, testing and aligning exactly alongside the way in which. Where different firms of Vermeer’s measurement normally have one or two folks in advertising and gross sales, it’s all about constructing one of the best they’ll.

In that manner, Vermeer Audio operates like Henry Poole & Co. This small Savile Row tailor is famously understated (it doesn’t even have its personal label to stitch into its clothes), but invented the dinner go well with and had Winston Churchill, Napoleon III, and lists quite a few Kings, Queens, Emperors and Princes as shoppers. Personally, I’d take timeless craftsmanship and understatement over flashy and trashy!

Of course, simply as a tailor is simply nearly as good as its final sew, so Vermeer Audio depends on the standard of its two merchandise, and the Model THREE D is greater than adequate. However, there are a few operational ‘quirks’ such because the rear-mounted headphone socket. From an aesthetic perspective, I approve because it makes the entrance panel’s strains look clear and uncluttered, however from a logistical place, having to achieve across the again of the Model THREE D – particularly if it isn’t on the highest shelf of your system – isn’t the most suitable choice.

Decisions, Decisions

I’m cautious of going over previous floor right here, however a lot of what applies to the Vermeer Audio Model TWO applies to the efficiency of the Model THREE D. It makes use of the identical high quality boards, substantial PCB tracks and high-grade elements. I didn’t have each merchandise at hand, so counting on a long-standing aural reminiscence of basically related merchandise is troublesome. Still, I believe the variations in efficiency are comparatively slight. Model TWO largely provides weight and line inputs… and makes a much bigger gap within the financial institution steadiness. This is an excellent achievement for Model THREE D as a result of Model TWO was a stellar digital replay machine, and this will get inside “a midge’s minim” or “a gnat’s crotchet” (thanks, Humph, and the I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue staff) of the Big Boy’s efficiency. In explicit, Model THREE D retains that ‘drawing you in’ property that pulls you nearer to the music, just about no matter file kind or musical style. I discovered myself listening to a variety of listening pleasures and having fun with and understanding them completely.

Mentioning ‘Clue’ above was for a motive; it’s a deep pool of a long time of foolish, freely out there and readily streamable half-hour slices of fried gold through BBC Sounds, and I discovered myself chuckling alongside to some basic early night stupidity (singing the lyrics of ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’ to the tune of ‘The Muppet Show’) and double entendre (“Samantha has to nip out now as she’s received a brand new job working within the sound archive because the supervisor. It’s her first day, so apparently she’s going to present a speech within the again room and hand jobs out within the workplace”). Toward the top of his life, former host Humphrey Lyttleton’s voice turned just a little vague. Model THREE D helps carry out sufficient vocal high quality to pay attention joyously. You really feel as if you’re a part of the viewers and much more occasion to the jokes.

Vermeer Audio Model THREE

I learn via the Model TWO evaluation and did the identical factor; I frolicked discussing a BBC broadcast. There’s a great motive for this and one which I didn’t essentially discover the primary time round. The Vermeer simply stayed on on a regular basis. You play Model THREE D at each alternative. It accompanies your digital music and makes a really fluid, participating and enticing sound. This digital replay machine is on the complete aspect moderately than stark, with a simple rhythm and loads of element. Still, finally none of these issues is as essential as simply what number of hours you log with the Model THREE D. And this listening throughout the demise (pronounced ‘dem-EEZ’ as a substitute of ‘de-MIZE’) of the Crown, the place all issues British went maudlin.

Good instances dangerous instances!

There’s solely a lot of that one can take, and periodically one’s pipes want a great cleanout. Nothing appeared extra applicable than taking part in the entire first eponymous Led Zeppelin [Atlantic] album from one finish to the opposite, beginning with ‘Good Times Bad Times’… and it sounded prefer it was the primary time I had ever heard it. Wow!

THREE D by identify, THREE D by nature. The Vermeer Model THREE D produces a particularly holographic soundstage. If that have been all, it will in all probability be sufficient, however because it follows carefully within the footsteps trodden by its greater brother, at a fraction of the price and one-third the burden, it’s a tough factor to not love.

Technical specs

  • Digital inputs Asynchronous USB, AES/EBU (XLR), S/PDIF (optical and BNC coaxial)
  • Analogue outputs Single-ended RCA, Balanced XLR
  • Digital precision to 32bit, 384kHz PCM (utilizing Vermeer Audio resampling module), DSD 64/2.8Mhz
  • Output Voltage 2, 3 or 4Vrms in fastened output mode. Up to 7Vrms in variable output mode
  • Output Impedance 100Ω
  • Signal-to-noise ratio 129dB
  • THD < 0.1%
  • Dimensions (W×H×D) 450 × 130 × 440mm
  • Weight 9kg
  • Price £13,995

Manufacturer

Vermeer Audio

vermeeraudio.com

Manufacturer

The Audiophile Club

theac.co.uk

+44 (0) 20 8882 2822

Back to Reviews

The publish Vermeer Audio Model THREE D appeared first on Hi-Fi+.

World News

Lindemann Audio Musicbook Combo

Posted on by Alan Sircom

Trying to foretell the long run is inconceivable. The lack of lottery wins, flying automobiles, or dystopian post-apocalyptic hellscapes is a little bit of a giveaway. But, relating to audio, predicting the close to future is feasible, and a giant chunk of tomorrow’s audio is probably going Lindemann Musicbook Combo formed!

The Musicbook Combo addresses a niche in fashionable audio; the small, high-performance built-in amplifier with audio streamer. The audio world wants a small field to sit down on a bookshelf fairly than a devoted stand. It additionally requires a product that’s simple to put in and function. And it must sound good. The Lindemann Musicbook Combo does all these issues.

Does all of it

Lindemann’s elegant little field is a deceptively highly effective and versatile machine. Delivering a wholesome 70W into eight ohms, the amp features a community participant, DAC, MM phono stage, and two line-level analogue inputs. You can join it to A2DP-compatible Bluetooth gadgets, native networks, and on-line streaming companies by way of a router. You can play thumb drives or CDs from a CD-ROM drive inserted into the rear USB connector. There’s a good-quality headphone socket.

Lindemann Audio Combo

Everything is pushed from Lindemann’s iOS or Android app, and there’s a healthily sized yellow OLED read-out on the entrance panel. The amp’s management is minimal, only a energy button and a jog wheel, however this final double up as quantity and supply selector. There can also be a mini-remote with track-handling performance, however take into account this an adjunct to the app.

Once you go deeper, you start to see why the Musicbook Combo is so highly effective. First, it upconverts any PCM sign to DSD as customary (utilizing an AK4137 upsampler), however this may be deactivated, and any PCM alerts are saved bit-perfect to the dual AK4493 DACs and synchronised in opposition to an ultraprecise MEMS-Femtoclock. It might be run wired or wirelessly (inside 10m from a wi-fi router) into your Local Area Network. It’s fully Roon Ready and works with Tidal Connect, Qobuz, High Res Audio.com, Spotify Connect, Deezer and extra. If you just like the pitter-patter of tiny Lindemanns round the home, there may be additionally a multi-room characteristic.

Appiness is a heat iPad

While it’s notionally potential to function the Musicbook Combo with no smartphone or pill, it’s like asking a ballet dancer to bounce Swan Lake in leg irons. The absolute pleasure of the Lindemann design and why it justifies that ‘it’s the long run’ epithet is how nicely it really works with its app (and apps like Roon). This is one thing we sometimes battle to reconcile; a product just like the Musicbook Combo should dwell in that app-based ecosystem at present.

Sadly, too many audio corporations appear to be extra about ‘pivoting’ towards the place Lindemann already occupies. The trade is maybe universally responsible of being behind the curve right here; we, as audio writers, are extra wrapped up within the {hardware} than within the interplay between that {hardware} and the app. In the actual world, individuals care extra about how that app works and the way the product interacts with the app. In our defence, the app is usually nonetheless a piece in progress when the product will get into our fingers, however once more in the actual world, such a midway home is indefensible. Rant mode: disengaged.

Lindemann Audio Combo

Fortunately, the Lindemann app is a pleasure to make use of. It’s simply the appropriate steadiness of ‘informative’ with out being ‘busy’, and it responds shortly. Once arrange (no massive deal), the Combo additionally handshakes with different apps like Tidal or Roon, which means they do all of the heavy lifting, and the Combo reacts appropriately. I’d put this on a par with the higher company-made apps on the market; it’s not as intuitive as Sonos (few are), however it’s actually simple to navigate and extremely reactive.

Wired or wi-fi

I attempted connecting the Lindemann Musicbook Combo in each wired and wi-fi LAN settings, however in equity, my wi-fi router is simply about 1.5m from the Combo’s twin aerials. This means I may detect no sound high quality or latency variations between wired and wi-fi connections. If pressed, I’d go for the wired connection, however that’s extra to do with private desire than noticed variations. The Combo appears to make no distinctions both means.

Running Lindemann’s personal Streaming 4.0 platform and app, the Combo labored like a allure. The app gently guides you to constructing playlists in a extra thought-about means than monitor aggregation, however solely as a result of I discovered playlist creation is extra on reflection and made out of the last-played possibility. I favor this extra reflective strategy; it acts a bit extra like Roon. Streaming 4.0 and Roon work very properly collectively, and I discovered myself in that Roon area rather a lot right here.

Lindemann Audio Combo

The sound of the Combo is clear and clear, slicing a fragile steadiness and at all times staying on the appropriate aspect of ‘scientific’. Perhaps most noticeable is that this ‘spring water’ sound applies universally; there’s no level the place the sound warms up or blurs throughout the board. While that may sound like it might deter valve-amp customers and their seeming love of euphony, I believe they want the readability and focus of that Lindemann sound.

Go-to albums

My go-to albums for testing midrange readability and bass – Stella di Napoli by Joyce DiDonato [Erato] and The Last Resort by Trentemøller [Poker Flat] – highlighted exactly what the Lindemann Musicbook Combo does so nicely, as they delivered all of the element and perception required to make the previous album come alive and all of the precision and drive wanted to make the latter sound scary. But, in equity, what the Combo did proper, it did proper universally.

There’s a purpose we use these discs again and again. While vastly pleasant to listen to, I’m not going to extract review-grade data from a Half Man Half Biscuit album, however Achtung Bono [Probe Plus] wants one thing correct to serve up the lyrics of ‘Joy Division Oven Gloves’ with out it sounding too spikey and uncooked whereas retaining the fantastic belt-fed surrealist sarcasm dripping from each line. And Lindemann’s Combo makes quick work of strains like ‘Nero fiddles whereas Gordon Burns/In his Joy Division Oven Gloves.’

Everything I performed was given a good listening to by the Lindemann Musicbook Combo, which is extraordinarily uncommon at this degree. The clear, exact sound makes the Lindemann so musically versatile. I went from operetta to electro to sarky post-punk from the Wirral after which to Bach innovations, again by way of Dylan’s Desire [Capitol], over to some basic early Nineties Acid Jazz, and so it went on.

Class act

Getting that a lot from a small field with out it going into melt-down mode can solely imply one factor – Class D energy amp operation. And it will trigger some audiophiles to press the ejector seat on precept. More idiot them; they’re lacking a exact, correct, musically targeted, detailed, articulate and extremely dynamic sound, particularly when the goal loudspeaker viewers is taken into account.

Lindemann Audio Combo

With spiralling gas payments which means the working prices of a pure Class A amplifier start to get a bit noticeable, the good sound and funky working Lindemann makes a sturdy case for itself. I really feel what’s contained in the field is functionally unimportant so long as it really works nicely; the way it sounds and operates issues.

Don’t diss

So, are there any downsides to the Musicbook Combo? Surprisingly few, except you might be within the behavior of ‘dissing’ issues for being one thing they weren’t meant to be. It’s not meant to drive £300,000 tower loudspeakers with an impedance plot that eats amplifiers, however I used the Combo with KEF’s LS50 Meta, and the 2 labored collectively so nicely, so I felt no must look additional. I need shifting coil compatibility alongside shifting magnet, however not if it sacrifices the efficiency of the MM stage because it stands. I’d additionally favor if its Bluetooth connection included aptX HD (which may help as much as 24bit, 48kHz PCM) alongside A2DP, however that is removed from a deal-breaker. And realistically, that’s about it!

The Lindemann Musicbook Combo is among the methods good audio reaches these it can not. It’s sufficiently small to be domestically acceptable. It’s highly effective sufficient to drive the loudspeakers it can almost certainly companion with and sounds good. It’s made to be app-chummy and dwell fortunately in that area, and the app works exceptionally nicely. If that is the face of audio’s future, it’s vibrant and rosy!

 

Technical specs

  • Type streaming built-in amplifier
  • Power output 2×130W into 4Ω, 2× 70W into 8Ω
  • Analogue inputs MM cartridge (RCA), two line-level (RCA)
  • Analogue outputs one line-level (RCA), 6.35mm headphone jack, 2× BFA speaker terminals
  • MM specs 47kΩ, 150pF, 40dB acquire
  • Digital inputs Coaxial and optical S/PDIF, USB 2.0, 100Mbits/s RJ45 LAN, 2× antenna (Bluetooth, WLAN)
  • Bluetooth 4.2, A2DP
  • DAC decision as much as 768kHz, 32bit PCM and DSD 512
  • Supported codecs WAV, FLAC, AIFF, ALAC, MP3, AAC, Ogg Vorbis, WMA, DSD
  • Network UPnP and DLNA help
  • Dimensions (W×H×D) 28 × 22 × 6.3cm
  • Weight 3kg
  • Price £4,490

Manufacturer

Lindemann Audio

lindemann-audio.de

UK Distributor

Signature Audio Systems

signaturesystems.co.uk 

+44(0)7738 007776

Back to Reviews

The put up Lindemann Audio Musicbook Combo appeared first on Hi-Fi+.

World News

Lindemann Audio Musicbook Combo

Posted on by Alan Sircom

Trying to foretell the long run is not possible. The lack of lottery wins, flying vehicles, or dystopian post-apocalyptic hellscapes is a little bit of a giveaway. But, in relation to audio, predicting the close to future is feasible, and a giant chunk of tomorrow’s audio is probably going Lindemann Musicbook Combo formed!

The Musicbook Combo addresses a niche in trendy audio; the small, high-performance built-in amplifier with an excellent audio streamer. The audio world wants a small field to take a seat on a bookshelf relatively than a devoted stand. It additionally requires a product that’s simple to put in and function. And it must sound good. The Lindemann Musicbook Combo does all these issues.

Does all of it

Lindemann’s elegant little field is a deceptively highly effective and versatile machine. Delivering a wholesome 70W into eight ohms, the amp features a community participant, DAC, MM phono stage, and two line-level analogue inputs. You can join it to A2DP-compatible Bluetooth gadgets, native networks, and on-line streaming providers through a router. You can play thumb drives or CDs from a CD-ROM drive inserted into the rear USB connector. There’s a good-quality headphone socket.

Lindemann Audio Combo

Everything is pushed from Lindemann’s iOS or Android app, and there’s a healthily sized yellow OLED read-out on the entrance panel. The amp’s management is minimal, only a energy button and a jog wheel, however this final double up as quantity and supply selector. There can also be a mini-remote with track-handling performance, however contemplate this an adjunct to the app.

Once you go deeper, you start to see why the Musicbook Combo is so highly effective. First, it upconverts any PCM sign to DSD as customary (utilizing an AK4137 upsampler), however this may be deactivated, and any PCM alerts are stored bit-perfect to the dual AK4493 DACs and synchronised towards an ultraprecise MEMS-Femtoclock. It could be run wired or wirelessly (inside 10m from a wi-fi router) into your Local Area Network. It’s solely Roon Ready and works with Tidal Connect, Qobuz, High Res Audio.com, Spotify Connect, Deezer and extra. If you just like the pitter-patter of tiny Lindemanns round the home, there’s additionally a multi-room characteristic.

Appiness is a heat iPad

While it’s notionally doable to function the Musicbook Combo and not using a smartphone or pill, it’s like asking a ballet dancer to bounce Swan Lake in leg irons. The absolute pleasure of the Lindemann design and why it justifies that ‘it’s the long run’ epithet is how effectively it really works with its app (and apps like Roon). This is one thing we sometimes wrestle to reconcile; a product just like the Musicbook Combo should stay in that app-based ecosystem at this time.

Sadly, too many audio firms appear to be extra about ‘pivoting’ towards the place Lindemann already occupies. The business is probably universally responsible of being behind the curve right here; we, as audio writers, are extra wrapped up within the {hardware} than within the interplay between that {hardware} and the app. In the actual world, individuals care extra about how that app works and the way the product interacts with the app. In our defence, the app is commonly nonetheless a piece in progress when the product will get into our palms, however once more in the actual world, such a midway home is indefensible. Rant mode: disengaged.

Lindemann Audio Combo

Fortunately, the Lindemann app is a pleasure to make use of. It’s simply the correct steadiness of ‘informative’ with out being ‘busy’, and it responds rapidly. Once arrange (no huge deal), the Combo additionally handshakes with different apps like Tidal or Roon, which means they do all of the heavy lifting, and the Combo reacts appropriately. I’d put this on a par with the higher company-made apps on the market; it’s not as intuitive as Sonos (few are), however it’s actually simple to navigate and extremely reactive.

Wired or wi-fi

I attempted connecting the Lindemann Musicbook Combo in each wired and wi-fi LAN settings, however in equity, my wi-fi router is simply about 1.5m from the Combo’s twin aerials. This means I may detect no sound high quality or latency variations between wired and wi-fi connections. If pressed, I’d go for the wired connection, however that’s extra to do with private choice than noticed variations. The Combo appears to make no distinctions both means.

Running Lindemann’s personal Streaming 4.0 platform and app, the Combo labored like a appeal. The app gently guides you to constructing playlists in a extra thought-about means than monitor aggregation, however solely as a result of I discovered playlist creation is extra on reflection and produced from the last-played choice. I want this extra reflective method; it acts a bit of extra like Roon. Streaming 4.0 and Roon work very properly collectively, and I discovered myself in that Roon area so much right here.

Lindemann Audio Combo

The sound of the Combo is clear and clear, chopping a fragile steadiness and all the time staying on the correct facet of ‘scientific’. Perhaps most noticeable is that this ‘spring water’ sound applies universally; there’s no level the place the sound warms up or blurs throughout the board. While which may sound like it will deter valve-amp customers and their seeming love of euphony, I believe they want the readability and focus of that Lindemann sound.

Go-to albums

My go-to albums for testing midrange readability and bass – Stella di Napoli by Joyce DiDonato [Erato] and The Last Resort by Trentemøller [Poker Flat] – highlighted exactly what the Lindemann Musicbook Combo does so effectively, as they delivered all of the element and perception required to make the previous album come alive and all of the precision and drive wanted to make the latter sound scary. But, in equity, what the Combo did proper, it did proper universally.

There’s a motive we use these discs time and again. While massively pleasing to listen to, I’m not going to extract review-grade info from a Half Man Half Biscuit album, however Achtung Bono [Probe Plus] wants one thing correct to serve up the lyrics of ‘Joy Division Oven Gloves’ with out it sounding too spikey and uncooked whereas retaining the fantastic belt-fed surrealist sarcasm dripping from each line. And Lindemann’s Combo makes brief work of traces like ‘Nero fiddles whereas Gordon Burns/In his Joy Division Oven Gloves.’

Everything I performed was given a good listening to by the Lindemann Musicbook Combo, which is extraordinarily uncommon at this degree. The clear, exact sound makes the Lindemann so musically versatile. I went from operetta to electro to sarky post-punk from the Wirral after which to Bach innovations, again through Dylan’s Desire [Capitol], over to some basic early Nineteen Nineties Acid Jazz, and so it went on.

Class act

Getting that a lot from a small field with out it going into melt-down mode can solely imply one factor – Class D energy amp operation. And this can trigger some audiophiles to press the ejector seat on precept. More idiot them; they’re lacking a exact, correct, musically centered, detailed, articulate and extremely dynamic sound, particularly when the goal loudspeaker viewers is taken into account.

Lindemann Audio Combo

With spiralling gas payments which means the working prices of a pure Class A amplifier start to get a bit of noticeable, the good sound and funky working Lindemann makes a sturdy case for itself. I really feel what’s contained in the field is functionally unimportant so long as it really works effectively; the way it sounds and operates issues.

Don’t diss

So, are there any downsides to the Musicbook Combo? Surprisingly few, until you’re within the behavior of ‘dissing’ issues for being one thing they weren’t supposed to be. It’s not meant to drive £300,000 tower loudspeakers with an impedance plot that eats amplifiers, however I used the Combo with KEF’s LS50 Meta, and the 2 labored collectively so effectively, so I felt no must look additional. I would like transferring coil compatibility alongside transferring magnet, however not if it sacrifices the efficiency of the MM stage because it stands. I’d additionally want if its Bluetooth connection included aptX HD (which may help as much as 24bit, 48kHz PCM) alongside A2DP, however that is removed from a deal-breaker. And realistically, that’s about it!

The Lindemann Musicbook Combo is among the methods good audio reaches these it can not. It’s sufficiently small to be domestically acceptable. It’s highly effective sufficient to drive the loudspeakers it can probably accomplice with and sounds good. It’s made to be app-chummy and stay fortunately in that area, and the app works exceptionally effectively. If that is the face of audio’s future, it’s shiny and rosy!

 

Technical specs

  • Type streaming built-in amplifier
  • Power output 2×130W into 4Ω, 2× 70W into 8Ω
  • Analogue inputs MM cartridge (RCA), two line-level (RCA)
  • Analogue outputs one line-level (RCA), 6.35mm headphone jack, 2× BFA speaker terminals
  • MM specs 47kΩ, 150pF, 40dB achieve
  • Digital inputs Coaxial and optical S/PDIF, USB 2.0, 100Mbits/s RJ45 LAN, 2× antenna (Bluetooth, WLAN)
  • Bluetooth 4.2, A2DP
  • DAC decision as much as 768kHz, 32bit PCM and DSD 512
  • Supported codecs WAV, FLAC, AIFF, ALAC, MP3, AAC, Ogg Vorbis, WMA, DSD
  • Network UPnP and DLNA help
  • Dimensions (W×H×D) 28 × 22 × 6.3cm
  • Weight 3kg
  • Price £4,490

Manufacturer

Lindemann Audio

lindemann-audio.de

UK Distributor

Signature Audio Systems

signaturesystems.co.uk 

+44(0)7738 007776

Back to Reviews

The put up Lindemann Audio Musicbook Combo appeared first on Hi-Fi+.

World News

Denon Unveils the DNP-2000NE Network Player

Posted on by TAS Staff
The following is a press launch issued by Denon.
May 2, 2023 – Denon, a world-renowned chief in high-quality audio gear, publicizes the DNP-2000NE Network Player—a state-of-the-art music participant that delivers superior sound high quality and versatile connectivity.
Designed to work completely with the Denon PMA-1700NE Amplifier and DCD- 1700NE CD Player, the DNP-2000NE is full of superior options to supply an immersive music expertise like no different.
  • HEOS integration for seamless music playback permits customers to stream music wirelessly from their favourite on-line providers resembling Spotify, Pandora, Tidal, and others. This characteristic offers entry to thousands and thousands of songs with excessive constancy sound high quality capabilities.
  • Unmatched sound high quality utilizing Denon’s Ultra AL32 Processing Plus and DAC Master Clock design. The participant additionally includes a excessive precision quad digital-to-analog converter configuration which delivers clear and detailed sound.
  • Maximum connective versatility that includes quite a lot of choices, together with Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB, and Bluetooth. It additionally helps AirPlay 2 and DLNA for seamless wi-fi streaming of music from appropriate units. Additionally, the participant is provided with two optical and one coaxial digital inputs, in addition to a USB-DAC enter for direct connection to a pc.
  • Directly hook up with your TV by way of a single HDMI ARC connection to manage the amount together with your tv or amplifier distant, offering a extra immersive music expertise. 
The DNP-2000NE Network Player might be accessible on the market at Denon.com and approved Denon retailers starting May 26, 2023.

The publish Denon Unveils the DNP-2000NE Network Player appeared first on The Absolute Sound.

World News

World unique preview: Moon North 791 and 761

Posted on by Alan Sircom

Canadian audio electronics knowledgeable Moon by Simaudio has revamped its top-end vary. We have unique pre-Munich Show entry to the brand new Moon North 791 streaming DAC preamplifier and 761 200W stereo energy amplifier.

The new North vary by Moon is a six-strong line of electronics. The 791 and 761 are the primary two North designs out of the beginning gate. They will ship in September. The 125W 641 built-in amplifier and 681 Network Player will comply with in October. Finally, the highest 891 streaming DAC preamplifier and 300W 861 stereo energy amplifier are anticipated by the tip of the yr.

Product costs start at $/£11,000 for the Moon North 641 and $/£12,000 for the Moon North 681. The 791 and 761 previewed right here value $/£14,000 and $/£16,000, respectively. Ballpark costs for the 891 and 861 are $/£25,000 and $22,000/£23,000 respectively.

Moon North: The Joy of Six!

Moon’s North challenge comes with a whole lot of product consolidation. North’s sextet of merchandise change many units within the present Moon line-up. A number of specialist merchandise will doubtless be part of the road later. These ought to embody a top-end phono stage and an influence provide. However, a product just like the 791 acts as a line preamplifier, community participant, DAC and phono stage in a single.

This will not be distracting folks with a brand new look whereas slimming down the product line. North distils what was good from earlier designs whereas including new expertise and industrial design. Although probably the most seen distinction is the transfer to a color OLED display screen on the 791, the amps bristle with new tech.

All the merchandise within the North vary profit from the model’s new Moon Damping Base to cut back vibration. This resulted in a whole cupboard redesign, with the brand on the highest plate performing as a chimney. In the method, this made the entire high of the chassis screwless. The Moon North 791 additionally makes use of the corporate’s new Moon Distortion Cancelling Amplifier circuit. This is claimed to cut back distortion to ‘beforehand unattainable’ ranges. A brand new MoonHyperlink additionally connects every product, permitting extra clever management performance between merchandise.

The bars connecting Moon merchandise are surprisingly well-liked and retained right here. Different bars replicate the redesigned structure, that means you’ll be able to solely stack present Moon merchandise with Moon North merchandise when you use a rack. However, the North merchandise look good on a shelf with their redesigned ft and extra rounded look. The all-black and all-silver variants of Moon merchandise usually are not carried North; from right here on, it’s the ‘panda’ look of silver edges with black centre panels.

It’s all about quantity

In talking with Moon’s group, it’s clear there’s some obsession over quantity controls. Most engineers think about the quantity management a log jam in an amplifier’s design. Moon began from scratch, utilizing an optical encoder that sends quantity place knowledge to an analogue circuit on the splendid level within the sign path for attenuation. This leads to a claimed error of lower than 0.1dB between channels and between quantity steps. It additionally lets Moon distant management the quantity utilizing the Bluetooth-controlled BRM-1 handset.

Moon North 791 and 761

Moon’s MiND 2 app helps so much right here, and the North fashions construct on its strengths. Audio fans like obsessiveness, however these are merchandise for a broader enchantment. The Moon North vary is straightforward to make use of however not dumbed down. The person interface is an unlimited enchancment over the ‘Big Red LED’ of its predecessors. Installation is painless. Navigation is intuitive and fast. Operation is steady and bug-free. The solely strike towards the 791 and 761 is making an attempt to maneuver 36kg of energy amplifier round with out noticeable handles. This is why I’m scripting this hunched over in a chair, ready for the painkillers to kick in as an alternative of constructing a video. The video will comply with.

Don’t blame the Moon

I’ve at all times preferred Moon merchandise for his or her blamelessness. That’s not faint reward. Getting out of the best way of the music is extra sophisticated than it appears, however Moon does it nicely. The amps don’t exaggerate or underplay their hand. Music sounds good in all the proper methods on Moon with out accents and highlights. Stereo separation is nice. The dynamic vary is nice. Detail retrieval is great. Vocal articulation is first-rate. And all the things hangs collectively nicely in a musically entertaining method. And these perceptions appear hopelessly outdated 10 seconds after listening to what Moon North amps can do.

This is a change of drugs, a step change in efficiency. Moon North merchandise nonetheless have that honesty and integrity to the sound. They stay innocent. But now they take that efficiency to the subsequent degree. And about 10 seconds into enjoying the New Moon, you perceive the obsession with quantity management. From a whisper to a scream, the amplifiers have consistency. This, too, is uncommon; amps that play loud typically ‘crumble’ at decrease volumes.
Meanwhile, mild sonic souls typically lack the heart to wield a full orchestra enjoying Mahler or ear-bursting Motorhead. The precision of the Moon North 791/761 mixture means you’ll be able to play late-night jazz at conserving the neighbours’ candy ranges. It additionally means you’ll be able to ship your Apple Watch into noise-warning apoplexy.

We need all of it, and we would like it now!

Things could be good if the Moon North 791 and 761 had been merely final season’s fashions with higher quantity management. But that’s barely the beginning of issues. Everything is improved. Everyone has a sonic set off, whether or not soundstage, absence of noise flooring, dynamic contrasts, rhythmic precision, or what have you ever. Unless your sonic motivation is “I’d prefer it extra veiled and distorted”, what pushes your buttons is probably going handled right here.

Above all this, nevertheless, the Moon North fashions make music sound like enjoyable. They are extremely detailed, and exact and patently come from a spot of obsession. Yet, they don’t sound sterile or overly correct. Often, I discover amplifiers which are extraordinarily exact to be like that man on a quiz evening, the one which is aware of what model of footwear Miles Davis wore however is barely fascinated by music for its trivia. Like its predecessors, the Moon North 791/761 combo will not be that man.

I need to save a extra thorough dialogue of sound high quality for the video (when my backbone heals) and the assessment correct, however these amps dwell as much as what Moon needs to do with its North vary; these are merchandise that fulfill the hardened audio fanatic but have an effortlessness and ease of use that makes them attain far past conventional audio listeners. Finally, the informal and intense listeners have one thing they’ll take pleasure in on their phrases and with one another.

And lastly…

There’s one last item. Moon has a fame for lengthy, sluggish running-in instances. The electronics initially sound good however get a lot better over the weeks and months. Moon North adjustments that. They sound good out of the field, and 48 hours later, you’re about 99% there. There is perhaps some delicate enchancment over the subsequent few months, however Moon North settles shortly!

Moon’s North launch is spectacular. It combines flexibility and ease of operation with some intelligent design facets (each product and electronics), making a product that redefines the high-end much more than Moon did with the earlier vary. Unless you want a separate field for every operation and large crimson LEDs, I can’t see why you wouldn’t need to head North.

Contact Details

Manufacturer:

Moon by Simaudio

UK Distributor

Renaissance Audio

Tel: +44(0)131 555 3922

Back to Reviews

The publish World unique preview: Moon North 791 and 761 appeared first on Hi-Fi+.

World News

World unique preview: Moon North 791 and 761

Posted on by Alan Sircom

Canadian audio electronics knowledgeable Moon by Simaudio has revamped its top-end vary. We have unique pre-Munich Show entry to the brand new Moon North 791 streaming DAC preamplifier and 761 200W stereo energy amplifier.

The new North vary by Moon is a six-strong line of electronics. The 791 and 761 are the primary two North designs out of the beginning gate. They will ship in September. The 125W 641 built-in amplifier and 681 Network Player will observe in October. Finally, the highest 891 streaming DAC preamplifier and 300W 861 stereo energy amplifier are anticipated by the top of the yr.

Product costs start at $/£11,000 for the Moon North 641 and $/£12,000 for the Moon North 681. The 791 and 761 previewed right here value $/£14,000 and $/£16,000, respectively. Ballpark costs for the 891 and 861 are $/£25,000 and $22,000/£23,000 respectively.

Moon North: The Joy of Six!

Moon’s North mission comes with a whole lot of product consolidation. North’s sextet of merchandise change many units within the present Moon line-up. A couple of specialist merchandise will doubtless be part of the road later. These ought to embody a top-end phono stage and an influence provide. However, a product just like the 791 acts as a line preamplifier, community participant, DAC and phono stage in a single.

This shouldn’t be distracting individuals with a brand new look whereas slimming down the product line. North distils what was good from earlier designs whereas including new expertise and industrial design. Although probably the most seen distinction is the transfer to a color OLED display on the 791, the amps bristle with new tech.

All the merchandise within the North vary profit from the model’s new Moon Damping Base to cut back vibration. This resulted in an entire cupboard redesign, with the brand on the highest plate performing as a chimney. In the method, this made the entire high of the chassis screwless. The Moon North 791 additionally makes use of the corporate’s new Moon Distortion Cancelling Amplifier circuit. This is claimed to cut back distortion to ‘beforehand unattainable’ ranges. A brand new MoonHyperlink additionally connects every product, permitting extra clever management performance between merchandise.

The bars connecting Moon merchandise are surprisingly widespread and retained right here. Different bars replicate the redesigned structure, that means you’ll be able to solely stack present Moon merchandise with Moon North merchandise if you happen to use a rack. However, the North merchandise look good on a shelf with their redesigned ft and extra rounded look. The all-black and all-silver variants of Moon merchandise are usually not carried North; from right here on, it’s the ‘panda’ look of silver edges with black centre panels.

It’s all about quantity

In talking with Moon’s crew, it’s clear there’s some obsession over quantity controls. Most engineers take into account the amount management a log jam in an amplifier’s design. Moon began from scratch, utilizing an optical encoder that sends quantity place information to an analogue circuit on the supreme level within the sign path for attenuation. This leads to a claimed error of lower than 0.1dB between channels and between quantity steps. It additionally lets Moon distant management the amount utilizing the Bluetooth-controlled BRM-1 handset.

Moon North 791 and 761

Moon’s MiND 2 app helps so much right here, and the North fashions construct on its strengths. Audio lovers like obsessiveness, however these are merchandise for a broader enchantment. The Moon North vary is straightforward to make use of however not dumbed down. The person interface is an unlimited enchancment over the ‘Big Red LED’ of its predecessors. Installation is painless. Navigation is intuitive and fast. Operation is secure and bug-free. The solely strike in opposition to the 791 and 761 is attempting to maneuver 36kg of energy amplifier round with out noticeable handles. This is why I’m scripting this hunched over in a chair, ready for the painkillers to kick in as a substitute of creating a video. The video will observe.

Don’t blame the Moon

I’ve all the time appreciated Moon merchandise for his or her blamelessness. That’s not faint reward. Getting out of the best way of the music is extra difficult than it appears, however Moon does it properly. The amps don’t exaggerate or underplay their hand. Music sounds good in all the fitting methods on Moon with out accents and highlights. Stereo separation is nice. The dynamic vary is nice. Detail retrieval is great. Vocal articulation is first-rate. And every thing hangs collectively properly in a musically entertaining method. And these perceptions appear hopelessly outdated 10 seconds after listening to what Moon North amps can do.

This is a change of substances, a step change in efficiency. Moon North merchandise nonetheless have that honesty and integrity to the sound. They stay innocent. But now they take that efficiency to the subsequent degree. And about 10 seconds into enjoying the New Moon, you perceive the obsession with quantity management. From a whisper to a scream, the amplifiers have consistency. This, too, is uncommon; amps that play loud typically ‘crumble’ at decrease volumes.
Meanwhile, mild sonic souls typically lack the heart to wield a full orchestra enjoying Mahler or ear-bursting Motorhead. The precision of the Moon North 791/761 mixture means you’ll be able to play late-night jazz at holding the neighbours’ candy ranges. It additionally means you’ll be able to ship your Apple Watch into noise-warning apoplexy.

We need all of it, and we would like it now!

Things can be good if the Moon North 791 and 761 had been merely final season’s fashions with higher quantity management. But that’s barely the beginning of issues. Everything is improved. Everyone has a sonic set off, whether or not soundstage, absence of noise ground, dynamic contrasts, rhythmic precision, or what have you ever. Unless your sonic motivation is “I’d prefer it extra veiled and distorted”, what pushes your buttons is probably going handled right here.

Above all this, nevertheless, the Moon North fashions make music sound like enjoyable. They are extremely detailed, and exact and patently come from a spot of obsession. Yet, they don’t sound sterile or overly correct. Often, I discover amplifiers which are extraordinarily exact to be like that man on a quiz evening, the one which is aware of what model of footwear Miles Davis wore however is just interested by music for its trivia. Like its predecessors, the Moon North 791/761 combo shouldn’t be that man.

I need to save a extra thorough dialogue of sound high quality for the video (when my backbone heals) and the evaluate correct, however these amps stay as much as what Moon needs to do with its North vary; these are merchandise that fulfill the hardened audio fanatic but have an effortlessness and ease of use that makes them attain far past conventional audio listeners. Finally, the informal and intense listeners have one thing they’ll take pleasure in on their phrases and with one another.

And lastly…

There’s one last item. Moon has a repute for lengthy, gradual running-in occasions. The electronics initially sound good however get a lot better over the weeks and months. Moon North modifications that. They sound good out of the field, and 48 hours later, you’re about 99% there. There is perhaps some gentle enchancment over the subsequent few months, however Moon North settles rapidly!

Moon’s North launch is spectacular. It combines flexibility and ease of operation with some intelligent design features (each product and electronics), making a product that redefines the high-end much more than Moon did with the earlier vary. Unless you want a separate field for every operation and large crimson LEDs, I can’t see why you wouldn’t need to head North.

Contact Details

Manufacturer:

Moon by Simaudio

UK Distributor

Renaissance Audio

Tel: +44(0)131 555 3922

Back to Reviews

The publish World unique preview: Moon North 791 and 761 appeared first on Hi-Fi+.

World News

Linn 360 preview

Posted on by Alan Sircom

Linn pitches the brand new 360 loudspeakers as ‘audibly invisible; visually exceptional’, and the corporate has a degree. This is Linn’s girthy flagship – roughly the scale of the outgoing Klimax 350, the previous head of the clan. It’s accessible in passive type with ‘Aktiv’ bass or Exakt digital energetic to fit in a Linn DSM system. We appeared on the latter in an unique preview.

The Linn 360 is an effective mix of the traditional and the progressive. It retains a number of necessary styling cues of earlier high-end Linn audio system. But look nearer, and also you’ll discover the complexity of the cupboard. Look even nearer; you’ll see that new Beryllium tweeter with a Linn emblem safety cowl. You may even see the trim items with concentric arcs minimize into them. These remind listeners of Linn’s place within the turntable hierarchy with its everlasting LP12. But intelligent curves and stylish grooves will not be sufficient.

An Exakt Science

Core to the event of the 360, the motive force array is a daring departure for Linn. The tweeter is a brand new 19mm Beryllium dome. The midrange is a thin-ply woven carbon fibre used on NASA’s Mars Rover. And the aluminium-magnesium alloy bass models permit double the tour of their predecessors. The loudspeaker driver array is met by Linn’s new ‘Power DAC’. This Exakt system retains the music sign within the digital area till simply earlier than the bass driver cones. It additionally options what Linn calls ‘Adaptive Bias Control’ amplification for mid and treble. This adapts to the speaker’s calls for, utilizing real-time correction. Think of it as an engine administration system… for loudspeakers.

Linn 360 loudspeaker

Used with an acceptable Linn digital entrance finish just like the Klimax DSM, 360 takes benefit of a collection of bonuses. The most notable is Space Optimisation+, designed to dial the results of the room out of the music.

Few will get simply how important the adjustments are to the cupboard design. At face worth, the 360 seems like every other boat-backed, barely back-swept design. A more in-depth examination of the entrance baffle reveals complicated curves, with formed radii matched to every driver. This lets every drive unit dwell its finest life in dispersion phrases, every driver in its splendid baffle.

No biggie

So, Linn solely modified the cupboard, the drivers and the electronics within the 360; no large deal! But then there are the finishes. As effectively as traditional Piano Black and Alpine White, there are three ‘Glasgow Collection’ finishes. The virtually pearlescent gray of ‘Clyde Built’ is paying homage to Glasgow’s shipbuilding heritage. The darkish ‘Linn Heritage’ is a luxurious, virtually candy-apple end. And ‘Single Malt’ recollects a heritage in whisky distilling, stored alive by distilleries like Auchentoshan, the place I left my liver.

The sound…

This is merely a preview. The full assessment follows in hi-fi+ problem 220. But right here’s a little bit style of what’s to come back. I’ve recognized Linn loudspeakers for many years; I even used to promote them within the late Eighties. And they’ve come a good distance because the days of the Kan, Sara, and Isobarik. They retained the sense of enjoyable of these early fashions. But they grew to become extra correct and detailed with every technology. But there was at all times one factor lacking… imaging. Even the highest Klimax 350 was at most ‘pretty good’ in presenting soundstage.

Linn 360

It was as if Linn by no means thought-about soundstaging a precedence in sonic efficiency. Each technology of Linn loudspeaker would get successively extra detailed, extra refined, and extra succesful in so some ways. But not stereo imaging. The 360 adjustments all that. It has glorious imaging. Better nonetheless, it has glorious imaging for a couple of listener. The mixture of broad dispersion and Space Optimisation+ room cancellation work effectively collectively. They create the type of stereo soundstage extra generally related to omnidirectional designs.

The loudspeaker nonetheless has that traditional Linn ‘dry’ sound; dry like a Martini, not a desert. But with it now comes the power to pick devices in a sonic hologram. It also can go loud, deep and dynamic too. I performed tracks on the type of volumes that brought about my Apple Watch to fret about my listening to. And my ears and the room folded earlier than the loudspeakers did.

Get out of the way in which!

The loudspeakers are versatile sufficient to play any type of music and easily get out of the music’s means. And in its Exakt guise, it’s a very versatile design. This is a big loudspeaker, every weighing 70kg, or virtually as a lot as a middleweight boxer. And but, it’s versatile sufficient for use in rooms typically out of bounds for large loudspeakers. It can work in large rooms too.

The firm’s pithy ‘audibly invisible’ tagline lives as much as the hype. The Linn 360 is an enormous step ahead for the corporate. Many Klimax 350 house owners trying to improve may additionally discover {that a} large step up in worth. But that is Linn becoming a member of the high-end with a product that deserves to be taken significantly.

But for extra on that, you’ll simply have to attend for the assessment…

Technical specs

  • Type: Four-way floorstanding totally built-in Aktiv loudspeaker
  • Drivers: 19mm Beryllium dome tweeter, 64mm thin-ply woven carbon fibre dome midrange, 190mm aluminium/magnesium higher bass, 2x 220mm long-throw aluminium decrease bass
  • 360 Array: Class AB amps with Adaptive Bias Control
  • Bass System: Power DAC
  • Cabinet quantity: 60l
  • Dimensions (HxWxD, with stand): 114.1×41.1×48.4cm
  • Weight 70kg

Manufacturer

Linn

www.linn.co.uk

 

Back to Reviews

The submit Linn 360 preview appeared first on Hi-Fi+.

World News

Innuos Statement subsequent gen music server

Posted on by Hi-Fi+ Staff

Steve from Innuos talks us via their flagship music server, the following gen Statement.

For extra info on this product, click on right here.

There is much more audiophile content material to see on the hi-fi+ YouTube channel, together with dozens extra product critiques, present stories, Audio Basics and rather more.

If you haven’t seen our critiques of the Magnepan LRS+ or Magnepan Ultra-wideband Bass System woofer, cease what you’re doing and watch now!

You also can discover stories from totally different audio exhibits around the globe, together with Audio Show Deluxe, Bristol Hi-Fi Show, Florida International Audio Expo, Warsaw Audio Video Show, Capital Audio Fest and rather more. Soon it is possible for you to to see new product launches and in-depth info on merchandise featured at AXPONA 2023.

We don’t simply do stories at audio exhibits spanning the globe, we even have product launches and inside data on merchandise from many various producers, together with Focal Naim, Acora Acoustics, Schiit Audio, and Innuos, simply to call a number of.

There are informational collection like Tea Time with Alan and Pete, the place Hi-Fi+ Editor Alan Sircom and Publisher Pete Collingwood-Trewin discuss what’s occurring within the high-end audio world, and reveal the 2022 Product of the Year.

Another collection is History of Audio, which goals to show viewers a bit of concerning the History of Audio, which is perhaps a visit down reminiscence lane for a lot of. It additionally hopes those that watch will be taught from the various experiences of different audiophiles via their trials and tribulations with totally different tools.

While you’re on our YouTube channel, you should definitely try our Audio Basics collection. So far, this collection has lined what makes an incredible stereo system and the way to discover an incredible stereo system.

Be certain to subscribe to the YouTube channel so that you don’t miss any episodes!

Back to homepage

The publish Innuos Statement subsequent gen music server appeared first on Hi-Fi+.

World News

Innuos Statement subsequent gen music server

Posted on by Hi-Fi+ Staff

Steve from Innuos talks us by means of their flagship music server, the subsequent gen Statement.

For extra data on this product, click on right here.

There is much more audiophile content material to see on the hi-fi+ YouTube channel, together with dozens extra product opinions, present experiences, Audio Basics and far more.

If you haven’t seen our opinions of the Magnepan LRS+ or Magnepan Ultra-wideband Bass System woofer, cease what you’re doing and watch now!

You can even discover experiences from completely different audio exhibits world wide, together with Audio Show Deluxe, Bristol Hi-Fi Show, Florida International Audio Expo, Warsaw Audio Video Show, Capital Audio Fest and far more. Soon it is possible for you to to see new product launches and in-depth data on merchandise featured at AXPONA 2023.

We don’t simply do experiences at audio exhibits spanning the globe, we even have product launches and inside data on merchandise from many alternative producers, together with Focal Naim, Acora Acoustics, Schiit Audio, and Innuos, simply to call just a few.

There are informational collection like Tea Time with Alan and Pete, the place Hi-Fi+ Editor Alan Sircom and Publisher Pete Collingwood-Trewin speak about what’s occurring within the high-end audio world, and reveal the 2022 Product of the Year.

Another collection is History of Audio, which goals to show viewers a bit of concerning the History of Audio, which may be a visit down reminiscence lane for a lot of. It additionally hopes those that watch will study from the various experiences of different audiophiles by means of their trials and tribulations with completely different gear.

While you’re on our YouTube channel, make sure you take a look at our Audio Basics collection. So far, this collection has coated what makes an important stereo system and the way to discover an important stereo system.

Be certain to subscribe to the YouTube channel so that you don’t miss any episodes!

Back to homepage

The publish Innuos Statement subsequent gen music server appeared first on Hi-Fi+.