Linn Akurate DSM Network player
Effectively a streaming DAC preamplifier, the multitalented Akurate DSM and digital music over a typical Ethernet network play, but it additionally adds digital conversion and control functionality. That makes it both hub for other sources and a digital music source. As with all other network music players, it additionally streams internet radio, podcasts and' listen' programs and it plays pretty much any format worth its salt up to 24-bit, 192kHz resolution.
There's also the excellent Kinsky control app. It's quite user friendly, and comes in PC, iPhone Mac and iPad flavours.
Sound quality
The Akurate DSM has an incredible knack of creating an uncannily 'live' sounding performance from a stream and noughts. When you do crank up the grade of the source files being played, things get more in-depth and focused, but not more gratifying - the fun comes as standard, regardless of what the resolution.
An excellent solution showing it is always to feed it a rent of a very low-fi song like Motorhead's eponymous album title track. Whereas most rival designs start telling you how badly recorded they are, reducing the recording and filleting it upward - the Akurate prefers have fun with the rhythms and dynamics and to present the tune as a homogenous whole. And unlike other streamers, you're not sat wondering why it was recorded in a cave!
Switch to better made, eighties rock and The Chameleons' Paper Tigers comes over with all of the power you can wish for, the Akurate showing exactly how much scale and reach it's. Suddenly the soundstage dissolves right out of the speakers, and drops back enormously. Inside this, in front, and cascading layers of heavily processed guitar ring near there's a huge vocal presence. So sure, it can do all the 'hi-fi stuff', but just as with all the heavy metal track, strangely enough your focus isn't on all this. Again, it's the mental purchase of the music - its capability stir it up a bit and to get right into your spirit. This is a powerful, moody track from a great album, along with the Akurate just makes me want to listen to more.
A hi res of Isaac Hayes' Bumpy's Lament finds this box of tricks obviously loving the way the brass is flirted together with by the strings, and really working on the syncopation between the drummer and bass player. Once again, timing is the top priority, but the excellence of the record means the Akurate is able give a lovely, natural, breathy quality to the flute and to carry the textural richness of the violins. It truly is a treat.
Really this holds whatever form of music you are listening to, as the Linn is transparent enough to leave everything it plays great fidelity, without really advertising its receptiveness or emphasising. Some rivals can also be incredibly detailed, but manage to seem blunt whereas the Akurate never does, and over analytical. Classical music is also great, as a hires David Chesky record shows - raspy and strings are super sinewy and brass is raw, but there's never a sense that you're listening to the record, as the music's natural purchase.
There are some exceptional rival streaming DAC preamplifiers accessible, but none appear to manage the natural nevertheless emotionally changing sound of this one.
