I used to own a full active Keltik system (which at the time cost an absolute fortune), but if I was totally honest, it didn't really offer much more than the Keilidh's that it replaced. I later changed it to ATC SCM50ASL active speakers and SCA2 preamp and found that the ATC system was superior in every respect - but retained my Linn Ikemi CD player
Since Linn no longer support their CD players, I have decided that it is time to invest in a digital streamer and NAS etc
I recently compared the Akurate DS to the Naim NDX and ND5XS players.
To be honest, whilst the Akurate was perhaps very slightly more detailed in some areas, it didn't really sound as enjoyable to listen to than the Naim kit - which was much funkier sounding (bass) and less 'laid back' compared to Linn.
The actual cost was irrelevant; I was looking for night and day differences - much like the days when a Linn LP12 turntable could easily see off a Rega 3. If the Akurate sounded far superior, then I would buy it – but I’m not convinced that it does.
In this digital era, the differences are simply subtle and at times perhaps people simply convince themselves that there is a massive difference between products – when in reality, there may not be. It almost reminds me of the children’s story about the Emperors Clothes ...... where the loyal subjects would not admit that the Emperor was actually stark naked, for fear of being made to look stupid and it took a child to get them to 'wake up' to reality.
This isn't a pop at Linn (who served me well for many years, ever since my first LP12) but goes to show that you must be totally honest with what really does sound better - and not because you convince yourself that it must be better because someone else says it is and that’s why it costs more
Trust your ears and remember that a few percentage point 'improvement' in digital sound quality will cost thousands. It definitely is the law of diminishing returns.
My hearing is absolutely fine(just in case you wondered) and the ATC's play music warts and all - as it was intended in the recording studio
Hopefully this will not have upset too many who invested in much more expensive equipment, but it really is too easy to get caught up in the HiFi upgrade obsession. I too fell into that trap with my previous system.
Posted on: 18 January 2012 by hego99
Best. post/thread. ever.
Very wise words.
Posted on: 18 January 2012 by Guido Fawkes
Good post
I wasn't impressed with the Linn Akurate DS I heard (I have heard it more than once). It doesn't in the least surprise me that you prefer the Naim kit, but I would suggest the Naim DAC is Naim's standout digital product. I preferred the CD5i to the Linn Akurate DS by quite a margin, which is not what I'd expect given the price difference. There is something about the way Naim does digital that few others can match irrespective of price. One non-Naim digital component that did impress me was the BAD Alpha DAC, but I have never seen it sold at a UK dealer (not that I've looked very hard).
The Linn DS series sound like the majority of offerings in this area, as you say it is a new set of
ATC certainly do play music warts and all - uncompromising is a word that comes to mind. It is certainly a very different kind of presentation from what I'm used to.
As for Linn, the LP12 is where they excel. I do own a Linn Classik too, but it gets almost no use these days as Naim's UnitiQute is much more enjoyable to listen to.
Digital music does not sound better than a record played on the LP12 or a top notch cassette deck for that matter, but that is not why I invested in computer audio. I felt I had no choice if I wanted to continue to collect music. I do buy vinyl release when I can, but they are getting fewer and fewer.
Posted on: 18 January 2012 by sktn77a
This is why the much-maligned blinded testing is so important. It's amazing how "golden ears" can get plugged when they don't know what they're listening to! Unfortunately, it's rarely in the best interests of most retailers (or individuals with vested interests of one sort or another) to do this.
Posted on: 18 January 2012 by Simon-in-Suffolk
Hi Mr Frog. I agree with your observations. You need to audition equipment at home to make your own mind up and not follow the herd. Recorded music reproduction is a compromise - eversince Edison did his Tone tests at the dawn of recorded msuic and replay, a lot of what you hear is what you want hear, and once you know what you like to listen out for, that becomes your persoanl trait, which is why we 'hear' things differently - becasue each of us is decodng that recorded music a particluar way. Its a bit like Scotch - how many children like the taste of Scotch? Not many.. but develop the taste as an adult and expierience different whiskeys and savour the subltties in the distilling process - and you could end up spending a fortune on a particular single malt.
BTW I love ATC as well- though I have passives - SCM19s - my personal trait is accuracy and listening into the music / recording process - warts and all - and those speakers help me with that.
Simon
Posted on: 18 January 2012 by spartacus
Great post. I agree with what has been said here so far. I just like music and some of the things I listen to are quite "low-Fi". I compare HI-Fi equipment to my memory of listening to a lot of bands live from all sorts of genres and operating the mixing desk for several bands during live performances. It really does help to know what instruments should really sound like especially nowadays when there are so many effects and tricks that can be applied to a straight performance/instrument to make it sound like something else.
I would hope that most people get the hi-fi bug because they love music and not the technology or equipment. Sometimes I think that people get into listening to the kit rather than the music. A single voice or instrument heard live without any amplification can sound absolutely amazing.
Posted on: 18 January 2012 by pcstockton
Originally Posted by spartacus:
I would hope that most people get the hi-fi bug because they love music and not the technology or equipment. Sometimes I think that people get into listening to the kit rather than the music.
I think, for most here [in the forum], we don't find the two to be mutually exclusive. Although I fully agree it is all about the music, it is fun to play with the kit as well.
-Patrick
Posted on: 18 January 2012 by Simon-in-Suffolk
Spartacus, i don't think there is anything wrong in having an interest in the equipment and how it is engineered, ( in fact I think it would be healthier if more people did...) and of course for many hifi enthusiasts building, DIY and tweaking is popular ( although we dont talk of such things on this forum). I wouldnt say music *must* be the driver, after all you might use it for listening to plays and the spoken word and not listen to music at all, certainly a key part of my listening. Perhaps a sin is to buy hifi as lifestyle fashion accessory only, and care neither about the media nor the engineering, but this might be my personal prejudice ;-) Simon
Posted on: 18 January 2012 by spartacus
Yes understand the fun of the tech having been an electronics and computer engineer for all of my working life, nearly 40 years. Choosing new kit is exciting, doing the research, buying and tweaking is fun and I am not saying that music is the only thing that I or other people listen to.
What I am saying is that we ultimately want our systems to reproduce what the artiste and everyone in the production chain are trying to communicate to us whether it be music, a play, a sports commentary... No hint of mutual exclusion in that. However, I find that it can sometimes be the case that you can find yourself listening to characteristics of the system at the detriment of your enjoyment of whatever you're listening to.
Posted on: 18 January 2012 by Tog
Your post reminds me of the Smith & Jones sketch where the HiFi salesman do their pitch making the most of the jargon and mumbo jumbo - and talking absolute rubbish - which reminds me over at Computer Audiophile the arguments over which USB cable is best is still going - years after it started - I like the one cryogenicaly treated with quails eggs.
Mind you I do think the Linn Klimax Renew looks fantastic but Mrs Tog says ..... No :-(
Tog
Posted on: 18 January 2012 by Simon-in-Suffolk
Spartacus, I agree. Luckily I find once you get to a certain standard of equipment it allows you to enjoy the media without drawing attention to the system itself, but it was a long journey with a few dead ends. My Naim equipment, and interestingly by current BMW 'mid fi' music system achieves that for me. But I do find mastering quality sometimes a distraction... And that is less noticeable in the car... Not suprising if you think about it.. Simon
Posted on: 18 January 2012 by YanC
Originally Posted by spartacus:
...However, I find that it can sometimes be the case that you can find yourself listening to characteristics of the system at the detriment of your enjoyment of whatever you're listening to.
i am afraid I agree with that...
My view is that hi fidelity matters very little for most popular music, for which I can live with mp3s.
it plays a big role though, with music where a good part of what I'm listening to/for resides in the sound itself and not as much in the message conveyed by the song.
