SNEAKY MUSIC DS
Tone, New Zealand
Jul 2008
Read the synopsis or view the full review here.
Synopsis:
'Linn created a real stir in 2000 when it released its Kivor/Tunboks hard drive-based music server system, which in a roundabout way may even have started the extinction of physical media such as the CD.
Fast forward to 2008 and the rout is well and truly underway, with sales of digital downloads snapping on the heels of CD.
And that's just where Linn's new network music player, the Sneaky Music DS, fits in, offering extreme bang for buck and most of the sound quality of its more illustrious hard drive-based brethren.
Essentially it's a very superior form of upsampling DAC. And unusually for a source component, the Sneaky has a 2 X 20W amplifier built in and as such offers an almost complete hi-fi solution. Just add loudspeakers, connect to a local network, load the Ripstation Micro DS (for copying your collection) and custom Linn Twonky software (internet connection a must) and you're ready for action.
When connected to my Castle Richmond speakers, the Sneaky worked flawlessly and sounded great from the outset.
In terms of sound, all the hallmarks of Linn's ethos were there in spades. The music moved along with remarkable pace and timing, while the little 20W amp proved a good match for the Richmonds. There was a distinct improvement in terms of acoustic 'space' over my tube CD player; each instrument on tracks such as 'Clowns' from the latest Goldfrapp album was easy to pick out and place along the soundstage, and there definitely seemed to be more height to the recording. And this was at Redbook 16/44.1 quality, let alone the lofty 24/96 resolution of tracks downloadable from Linn's website.
I downloaded the new Nine Inch Nails album from the band's website as a 24/96 FLAC file...the music had awesome drive and tight, punchy and realistic bass definition.
The Sneaky monstered my treasured CD player in just about all aspects of the audio spectrum, especially with its superior pace, rhythm and timing. Transients were more dramatic through the Sneaky DS, especially with rock and pop music, and while the tube-based Raysonic produced a warmer sound, it was also slightly cuddly and soft. Moreover, the Sneaky revealed hitherto unknown detail from the depths of each recording, while the noise floor was dramatically reduced, so much so that silent passages during tracks were totally inert.
The Sneaky Music DS is a hugely impressive product...it manages to offer a real taste of the high-end future at a price I'd consider a bargain.
Pros:
+ Superb hash and glare-free sound quality
+ All your favourite music at the touch of a button
Verdict:
The future of high-end audio'
