the new Linn Unidisc is NOT close to the 24-bit version of the CD-12 on cd. i just sold my Linn CD-12 on Audiogon and it is still the best redbook player out there. no combo universal player with video will approach it. i heard the Unidisc at CES and it is not much better than the Ikemi on cd IMHO.
that said, my opinion is that the difference between very good redbook performance and the very best redbook performance is not that much.....which is why i switched to the Meitner. the Meitner is waaaay better than anything else digital on sacd, and very, very close to the CD-12 on cd.
here is another viewpoint
to answer your question.....all the Linn cdps are excellent and combine great performance and usability. also, in digital, a properly designed one-box unit has typically better performace than 2-box units. the fact that Linn is a bigger company than other high end manufacturers and is able to put more engineering and design into it's products in this case does seem to make a difference (it isn't always that way).
that said, my opinion is that the difference between very good redbook performance and the very best redbook performance is not that much.....which is why i switched to the Meitner. the Meitner is waaaay better than anything else digital on sacd, and very, very close to the CD-12 on cd.
here is another viewpoint
to answer your question.....all the Linn cdps are excellent and combine great performance and usability. also, in digital, a properly designed one-box unit has typically better performace than 2-box units. the fact that Linn is a bigger company than other high end manufacturers and is able to put more engineering and design into it's products in this case does seem to make a difference (it isn't always that way).