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Best digital stream player

No matter how expensive any cd player is, it is just do a best guess of what is on the cd. I don't think cd player will be completely gone in a couple years because LP is coming back. But I feel the digital stream player have big advantage over cd player and all audio company will come up with their new digital stream player in the coming years. Digital stream player either use usb or network cable to directly read music file from PC/file server and are slowly adapted by audiophiles.

Digital stream player is still new to lots of people. Which one is the best digital stream player in the market?

1)DCS Scarlatti upsampler
2)PlayBack Designs MPS-5
3)Linn Klimax DS

Or is there any other newcomers better than those three?
yxlei

Showing 2 responses by yxlei

yxlei OP
31 posts
 
is it true DCS Scarlatti upsampler(USD80,000.00) is the best digital money can buy?

I have a Linn Akurate DS player. I see rave review for the Klimax DS(top of line) player in Linn forum. But that is Linn forum, so I am wondering if the Linn Klimax Ds sounds as good as DCS Scarlatti, Playback design MPS-5, or Naim HDX?
yxlei OP
31 posts
 
One of the big reason I post the thread is that I want to know how good my Linn Akurate Digital Stream player is when comparing to other brand.

Linn is well know for making good source like LP12 and CD12. Linn will stop making cd player this year and only making Digital stream player. Linn said my $6,800 Akurate DS sounds better than their $20,000 CD12 which was one of the best cd player in the world. The Klimax is Linn's top of line DS player now and there are some many great reviews. It almost make me feel that Linn Klimax DS is the best digital source out there and my Akurate Ds is the 2nd best.

HongKong is a tiny place, but they sell more high end audio gear than North America. I ordered a book called "CD bible" from HongKong which recommend 800 audiophile CDs. It also list the top 10 CD player for different price category.

1)DCS Scarlatti USD100,000.00
2)Simaudio Andromeda RS USD40,000.00
3)PlayBack Designs MPS-5 USD20,000.00
4)Naim CD-5X USD6,000.00
5)Shangling CD-T 300SE USD4,000.00
6)Audio Note CD 1.1X USD3,500.00
7)Micromega CD 30 USD2,000.00

It didn't mention Linn DS player, so I want to know how good Linn Klimax/Akurate DS comparing to DCS and Playback design.

As to Naim HDX, it seems to be a easier setup than Linn DS player.
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