Klimax DSM Organik Review With Non-Linn Speakers Using the Organik DAC’s
I have just returned home after auditioning the new Klimax DSM A/V with the Organik DAC’s, and have good news to report about my impressions of the new Organik DAC’s in a non-Exakt system
Just to refresh your memory, I listened to this same DSM in my system, but as a Klimax Hub, as my speakers already have the Katalyst DACs inside them, so I was not able to audition the Organik DAC’s with my Linn Exakt speakers.
‘Yesterday, I helped setup the Klimax DSM at my friend’s place that uses PMC Fact 8 Signature speakers, powered by a pair of Klimax Solos and an Akurate DSM/3 with Katalyst. After a few connectivity issues, swapping DSM’s and not finding the room, we got that sorted by removing Kazoo from my friend’s iPad and then reloading it through the App Store
‘We had an extensive playlist and started playing many of our reference songs, but it turns out that this DSM had not been used with non-Exakt speakers, and therefore had no burn-in time on the Organik DAC’s. Sound quality was fair but a bit harsh on the top end. We played a couple more hours of music, and decided to let it play music continuously, until I return back to his home this morning. He phoned me last night, after about 5 hours, and he said sound quality started to improve, but still had some harshness in the highs, but the music was smoothing out, with more dynamic presentation
‘Fast forward to this morning, and the DSM now has about 20 hours of burn-in time. It was a significant improvement compared to what I heard the afternoon before, by streaming music continuously since yesterday afternoon. As the hours went by, the music became smoother and easier to listen to.
His Linn system with the Akurate DSM/3 Katalyst is normally very detailed and highly engaging, with a sound quality I could easily live with. However, the Klimax DSM with Organik DAC’s takes that up many levels
We played many of the same reference tunes that we had heard on his system the day before, but added some exceptional sound quality tracks, which really revealed the capabilities of his system. I can highly recommend the following music if you want to show off your system:
‘Jesse Cook’s album Gravity, playing track 3 “Gravity“
Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio album Midnight Sugar, playing track 2 “Midnight Sugar”
Comparing the Akurate DSM/3 with Klimax DSM Organik DAC, the Organik music had much more presence and dynamic presentation, with a greater sense of being at the concert. The music seemed more immediate with the musicians performing right in front of you. The detail was exceptional and a whole soundscape unfolded in front of us that filled the room like I have rarely heard before. The DAC’s were still not fully burned in, and their was a faint touch of treble brightness on a few of the tracks. I expect that this will disappear with more playing time and burn-in.
Steely Dan’s Hey Nineteen was vibrant and alive, with brilliant rhythm and pace, every musician right there and upfront.
Boz Scaggs Dig album had King of El Paso with exceptional insight into the music. For example, the tambourine had such presence and dimensionality, you could hear it moving up and down, back and forth with crystal clear detail.
Some of the tracks felt like intimate performances, with the musicians right there. This was especially true of the Jesse Cook and Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio tracks.
Jesse Cook, Gravity has guitar and drumming that is incredibly fast, detailed and musical. It is hard to imagine how anyone could play the instruments with such speed and precision, and yet every note was clear and concise. It was an extravagance for the ears, and absolutely staggering. I thought to myself, this is why I became an audiophile and music lover, to hear music like this.
Tsuyoshi Yokohama Trio, Midnight Sugar starts off gently, with drums, bass and piano, but takes you on a journey that feels like you are floating along on a boat on a river, moving as the waves move the boat gently up and down. The sound quality is exceptional in every aspect. Drumming is so detailed and precise, and you can hear every beat of the drum sticks and bass drum as if you were standing next to the drums. Every pluck on the bass strings is taunt and jumps out at you. The piano is unreal, with the tinkle of the piano keys in the upper register exactly the way you would expect if you were playing the piano yourself. The leading edge of each note has immediacy and presence.
‘Linn has really delivered with Organik and the new Klimax DSM/3 AV
I have heard many different brands of music streamers, speakers and amplification. What I have been hearing with the new Klimax DSM is the best of the best, and am absolutely astonished at the sound quality that Linn has been able to achieve with this new Klimax DSM.
‘I found exceptional improvements in sound and picture quality, whether I was streaming music in stereo or 5.1, watching TV or movies, spinning 5.1 DVD-Audio, SACD’s or BluRay discs. Linn has really accomplished something astonishing and well worth a listen.
‘I highly recommend an audition at your dealers or an in-home demo.