linn klimax ds/ hificritic review

Just pulled out my copy - 

Its excellent build quality and finish is complemented by a high resolution and wide dynamic range digital volume control which was a joy to use.Sound quality approaches highest class. 

 Such high performance deserves a HIFI CRITIC Audio Excellence rating

Very positive review but far from NDS/555ps levels of performance.

Hand

james n posted:

Just pulled out my copy - 

Its excellent build quality and finish is complemented by a high resolution and wide dynamic range digital volume control which was a joy to use.Sound quality approaches highest class. 

 Such high performance deserves a HIFI CRITIC Audio Excellence rating

and vs nds/555dr?   can you telll me.

The only mention of Naim in the article was a reference to placing the KDS on the top of a Naim Fraim. 

james n posted:

The only mention of Naim in the article was a reference to placing the KDS on the top of a Naim Fraim. 

curious that Martin Colloms have not compared it to his nds/555ps.....The objectivity of this magazine is perhaps not ideal....  ( is it the last hificritic magazine number ?)

HansW posted:

Very positive review but far from NDS/555ps levels of performance.

Hand

James say that there is no reference to the naim nds?  are we talking about the same review ? last number of hificritic magazine ?

The Linn KDS (Katalyst) review is in the latest issue of HiFiCritic. There is no mention of the Naim NDS but Martin Colloms has awarded the Naim NDS/555DR 300 points on his sound quality rating scale. The KDS wasn't rated in the review but on the HiFiCritic forum he has posted a KDS rating of 160 points shortly after the review was published.

Hans

HansW posted:

Very positive review but far from NDS/555ps levels of performance.

Hand

Really?

HansW posted:

The Linn KDS (Katalyst) review is in the latest issue of HiFiCritic. There is no mention of the Naim NDS but Martin Colloms has awarded the Naim NDS/555DR 300 points on his sound quality rating scale. The KDS wasn't rated in the review but on the HiFiCritic forum he has posted a KDS rating of 160 points shortly after the review was published.

 

Hans

thanks HansW.  For this points i have never understood the rating and 160 points to linn kds vs 300 to nds seems ridiculous :  their performance must be very near and more a matter of preference, for what i read on the forum or other reviews.   I am glad finally to not have invested 17GBP on this last number, because there is no argumented comparison of both units.

It must be very difficult to be a reviewer and stay completely unbiased. I know what I like and what I will pay for........even if it as my pay check I would find it difficult to keep unbiased.

French Rooster posted:

HansW posted:

The Linn KDS (Katalyst) review is in the latest issue of HiFiCritic. There is no mention of the Naim NDS but Martin Colloms has awarded the Naim NDS/555DR 300 points on his sound quality rating scale. The KDS wasn't rated in the review but on the HiFiCritic forum he has posted a KDS rating of 160 points shortly after the review was published.

 

Hans

thanks HansW.  For this points i have never understood the rating and 160 points to linn kds vs 300 to nds seems ridiculous :  their performance must be very near and more a matter of preference, for what i read on the forum or other reviews.   I am glad finally to not have invested 17GBP on this last number, because there is no argumented comparison of both units.

I appreciate his ratings as it forces him to put his foot down regarding  his findings. The points awared means he likes the NDS more than the KDS not much more. If you want more detail you should read both the NDS and KDS reviews or better still audition both yourself. 

I have the KDS but find that I can still live with it, it still sounds great after the review but I will probably make an extra effort to check out the NDS replacement when it has been launched.  I have subscribed to HiFiCritic from the start and find it much better than any other publication. That said, it is hardly perfect and the Linn KDS review was not as revealing as I would have hoped. 

Hans

take what reviewers say with a pinch of salt ,