KLIMAX DS
Kankyu Ohkoku, Japan
May 2008
Read the English translation below or view the review in the original Japanese here.
Translation:
'The new generation player that synchronises with your PC to play back music data ripped from CDs or studio master grade data from the internet – its variation in expression is breathtaking.'
By S Koreeda
'Let me first say that Linn’s Klimax DS which requires a PC environment is completely different from standard audio products. It also requires a large storage hard disc drive (NAS) that connects straight to the network and a wireless LAN: yes, it is an audio computer system.
DS has two functions. One is reading digitally encrypted music signal in the CDs as file format and recording onto NAS, then turning it back into analogue signals and relaying it to the amp. This is the same role as a CD player. The second is downloading music tracks from the internet and playing them back. This of course is the same process as Apple’s iTunes, but what is remarkable is that downloading the original music source itself, which is normally used to create CD or SACD (LINN calls this ‘Studio Master Grade’) or in CD level has already begun.
Presently downloading studio masters is only available at LINN Records and Onkyo, but it seems that EMI UK will start a CD level downloading service by the end of the year. CD sales, especially classic music CDs, is dropping at a devastating speed worldwide.The major labels and major record companies are headed towards net distribution.
Digital technology has always been closely tied to error correcting technology. Audio CD was born 30 years ago when tech-talk was a big deal. Its correction is said to be more of ‘filling in the blanks’. So, audio CD is a dated, elementary technology. It goes without saying that in data recording on PCs etc, the information precision of its recording methodology is 100%. Because if it wasn’t, it would not be used for storing data that requires precision down to the last yen, if not 1/10 of yen.
But as you know, when playing back an audio CD on a CD player, depending on the difference of reflection due to the variation in the material used for the disc, or variation of the mechanics, the precision in reading the data varies greatly. That left room for master clock generator and such. But even with help, a CD player required to read data and playing it back simultaneously has its limits.
The information on an audio CD is not stored in PC’s file format, but due to recent appearances of iTunes etc has proved that extracting almost 100% (depending on physical state of the disc such as scratches) information (called ripping) is possible, and has become ever so popular. For a computer fanatic who was into audio, accurate ripping of audio CD was nothing new.
The storage space of a PC has grown tremendously in the past 10 years. If you have a 1 Terabyte hard disc, you will be able to store information of 1500 CD discs (44.1i kHz/16bit). Number of tracks will be less if you us studio master level music source.
I listened and compared the original CD and its ripped version, and the difference in the sound quality was quite shocking. The sound of CD ripped music source on a pair of speakers that can reproduce the slightest change in the air, was both open and precise. Both digital and analogue recordings left an elegant impression without being harsh. You could also feel the cold steel and the detailed surface; the variation in its expression made me hold my breath.
And the studio master source, used as a source for making SACD, left me in an unbelievable awe on the deepest level. You feel the existence of the space between sounds, and layers of utmost energy pouring out. It is a sound I have never heard before.
The impact was so huge, it made me wish that I could replace all my CD/SACD players with this.
Even with this system the type of cable or the NAS seems to make a difference in sound, which somehow was a slight relief to me. There is still more depth in the audio world.'
