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Review 2 of 2
Price Paid:
$4800.00
from Linn Dealer Summary:
The Unidisk SC is an expensive, but satisfying decision. CD audio replay is great and surpasses my previous reference-class T+A set. SACD replay is incredibly "natural" and "right", even with "only" two matched frontspeakers (Linn Akurat 212's). DVD-play and -sound shines, and all "original" modes have great width and depth of soundstage. There's also a number of DSP-modes ("phantom", "3-stereo") that don't add much to well-recorded originals.
Overall sound is somehow always *right*. No distractions, no fuzzy edges. Bad recordings still sound mediocre, good and greate recordings are thrilling. On my previous kit, I sometimes had the urge to use the loudness button. Not here. (It isn't there, so thats a good thing)
The DSP-modes *do* add, however, to less-than-audiofile sources. Yes, I run my Playstation-2 and my Apple airport express also via fiber through the Unidisk SC, and use it as a D/A converter slash preamp. And that's a big part of why I think it is a great piece of equipment: for the first time, I've got a well-designed control unit as the center of my A/V kit. Switching from room-rumbling Colling-Macgrae-Rally to SACD to TV-output is all on the remote. Nice touch: on a well-cabled scart-link, the SC can amp the TV sound and even extract dolby-prologic. No extra cables required, just the scart. Another nice touch: the display brightness dims with ambient lighting.
The remote requires some getting used to, it isn't exactly intuitive. RTFM. Once you get to know it, it works just fine. Glow-in-the-dark keys, too.
Important: make sure the player has had all upgrades. Mine got upgraded two weeks after installation, and after a couple of glitches. The upgrade solved the glitches, and added some features. Including remote on/off. I'm under the impression that Linn rushed this model a bit, and has to postfix some issues. Considering the fun I'm having with this unit and the speedy no-fuss upgrade, they're forgiven.
Upgrades? Lord, yes. I'm quite sure I'd like some more Akurat speakers (center, rear, sub), and another 5125 to drive them. Just got to rob a bank first. :-)
NB: price is in Euro's. I bought the SC and the 5125 5-way amp for 6600 EUR. Strengths:
Sound, Image, Design, Sound. Interoperability, Sound. Did I mention sound? Weaknesses:
Quality of out-of-the-box software (required update by dealer). Missing feature: lipsync. It's not a problem with my current CRT, but might be with certain plasma or lcd screens. Try before you buy. Similar Products Used:
Arcam alpha, Sony Q-series, T+A DVD1230 and PA1530 amp.
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