Linn Owners

External preamp with Klimax DSM

lldd

Newbie
New Wammer
Jun 5, 2022
22
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18
Seattle, WA
HiFi Trade?
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Does anyone have experience using an external preamp with a Klimax DSM? Was the overall experience an improvement or did it take away from the sound of the DSM?
 
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dol

Newbie
Wammer
Feb 3, 2019
110
86
33
Should be the same as Preamp with KDS, many people feels it improved the sound, esp on lower volume levels. However, I have ran my KDSM, KDSM/2 and now running KDSM/3O without preamp and enjoy it.
 

quinn_t

Wammer
Wammer
May 21, 2022
264
281
83
San Francisco
HiFi Trade?
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Should be the same as Preamp with KDS, many people feels it improved the sound, esp on lower volume levels. However, I have ran my KDSM, KDSM/2 and now running KDSM/3O without preamp and enjoy it.
I am using the NG Organik DSM/3 w/o any pre-amp, works and sounds great (to me). Before that I used the Naim NAC 552+NAP 500 with the Klimax DSM/2, can't compare them side by side now, but I gain a fewer box count.
 
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wildwildWes

SciLinntologist
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Jul 24, 2020
308
356
83
Ottawa, Canada
HiFi Trade?
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@rjinaz86323 would you post a full review of the MDSM4 and give your sound quality perceptions against your previous system? I can't be the only one who would want to read it...
 

rjinaz86323

Wammer Plus
Wammer Plus
Jul 27, 2021
265
304
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Chino Valley, AZ
AKA
Rick
HiFi Trade?
  1. No
Ok here goes. Not sure if it is relevant for most here as previous system was not Linn. What I replaced was a McIntosh Mx130 pre, McIntosh MC7150 amp, Parasound XRM phono amp, and a Bluesound NODE N130. I have a newly built LP12, Cirkus, Trampolin, Akito, Adikt. When I had Steve Carroll of LMC (Scottsdale) set it up, he demoed it to me using a Linn DSM ( I believe a Selekt). I was blown away with the sound. It got me thinking (dangerous & expensive, I know). The McIntosh is a very warm smooth sound, while the Linn seems much cleaner and a little more detailed. I have a lower-end set of SF Chameleon Towers for speakers in a small but very lively room. Steve is coming up this week to tweak it all, and I am sure will make it even better. I find the sound to be just as satisfying on my speakers, in my room, as I did in their demo room in Scottsdale. I do not regret my decision in the least. I went from 150 watts to 100 watts class D, which is still more than enough for my speakers (efficiency 90 db). The Majik DSM/4 streamer is a joy to use (bought a new iPad to control it). I downloaded both Linn Kazoo and the Linn App to try. While I am still learning my way around Qobuz and Tidal, I am favoring the older Kazoo software. This morning I was streaming (qobuz) some Clapton & BB King, 'Riding with the King'. There sound stage was fantastic, I think possibly owing to the fact that some of the architecture from Katalyst made it's way into the Majik. I also listened to some vinyl (Nora Jones), and again the clarity and soundstage was outstanding. I am not sure if this has to be due to the fact that again Linn used some of the design of the Urika II in the Majik or if I am just now getting comfortable with the LP12. At any rate I am over the moon with my upgrade. I hope this helps.
 

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