KDSM/2 as a DS

[pidge22]

Having recently bought a KDSM/2 I currently have the digital volume disabled & have it into my KK/1 through a pair of Sarum Supers & it sounds superb...My question is a KDSM/2 with the volume disabled is it going to be identical to a DS/3 ?

Any advice appreciated....

[Wolfie]

Apparently not, going by what I've heard. If true, the KDSM is still unlikely to be very far from a KDS so I'd not worry if I were you.

Mick

[Avalon]

Hi,
I have heard a back to back comparison between the KDSM and the KDS3, There is a small improvement to be gained by owning a KDS3, but Linn and many owners are going for the extra connectivity and flexibility that the KDSM offers.

I would not worry about the small difference between them, especially as you have a nice pair of solos.

Now if you want to really hear extra from your system and you decide to stay with Linn speakers, you really should hear a pair of Akubariks . Pity the Linn forum is down as you could have read my journey with 242's, going Exakt with them and finally changing to Akubariks

Avalon

[sunbeamgls]

If you're not using the inputs, use Konfig to turn off the HDMI inputs, it takes you a small step closer to KDS/3.

Note that, as Avalon has said, whilst KDS/3 might still be the best digital source from Linn, KDSM/2 is within shouting distance and is still a big step up from the Akurate DS. Just enjoy.

[Wolfie]

Just enjoy.

This.

[Starman]

Hi,
I have heard a back to back comparison between the KDSM and the KDS3, There is a small improvement to be gained by owning a KDS3, but Linn and many owners are going for the extra connectivity and flexibility that the KDSM offers.

To clarify, are you saying that the non Katalyst KDSM/2 is virtually on par with the Katalyst KDS3?

[Wolfie]

Hi,
I have heard a back to back comparison between the KDSM and the KDS3, There is a small improvement to be gained by owning a KDS3, but Linn and many owners are going for the extra connectivity and flexibility that the KDSM offers.

To clarify, are you saying that the non Katalyst KDSM/2 is virtually on par with the Katalyst KDS3?

KDSM/2 is the Katalyst version. DSM is one ‘number’ behind the DS equivalent, so both KDSM/2 and KDS/3 are Katalyst.

Mick

[Starman]

Thanks for clarifying, makes sense now

[DavidHB]

DSM is one ‘number’ behind the DS equivalent, so both KDSM/2 and KDS/3 are Katalyst.

True for Klimax, but not for Akurate. ADS/3 and ADSM/3 are the Akurate Katalyst model numbers. The difference arises IIRC because, when the HDMI 2.0 board was introduced, the KDSM with this board did not get a new designation, but the ADSM with the new board became the ADSM/2. To complete the picture, the ExaktBoxes with Katalyst are the KEB/1, the AEB 6/1 and the AEB 10/1. I think that this naming system was devised just so that Linn could have a laugh at our expense ...

David

[Wolfie]

DSM is one ‘number’ behind the DS equivalent, so both KDSM/2 and KDS/3 are Katalyst.

True for Klimax, but not for Akurate. ADS/3 and ADSM/3 are the Akurate Katalyst model numbers. The difference arises IIRC because, when the HDMI 2.0 board was introduced, the KDSM with this board did not get a new designation, but the ADSM with the new board became the ADSM/2. To complete the picture, the ExaktBoxes with Katalyst are the KEB/1, the AEB 6/1 and the AEB 10/1. I think that this naming system was devised just so that Linn could have a laugh at our expense ...

David

Good point - thanks for that.

[timster]

DSM is one ‘number’ behind the DS equivalent, so both KDSM/2 and KDS/3 are Katalyst.

True for Klimax, but not for Akurate. ADS/3 and ADSM/3 are the Akurate Katalyst model numbers. The difference arises IIRC because, when the HDMI 2.0 board was introduced, the KDSM with this board did not get a new designation, but the ADSM with the new board became the ADSM/2. To complete the picture, the ExaktBoxes with Katalyst are the KEB/1, the AEB 6/1 and the AEB 10/1. I think that this naming system was devised just so that Linn could have a laugh at our expense ...

David

Sort of but not quite. KDSM and KDS variant numbers don't match because there was a board upgrade to the KDS and ADS to become the /1, and that was before the DSMs existed. The reason the KDSM has only got to 2 and not 3 (as for the ADSM) is coincidental - the HDMI board upgrade occurred at the same time as Katalyst. This wasn't true for the ADSM as Katalyst arrived later at Akurate level as we know. So it's pure coincidence that the current ADS and ADMS variant numbers happen to match.

[DavidHB]

KDSM and KDS variant numbers don't match because there was a board upgrade to the KDS and ADS to become the /1, and that was before the DSMs existed. The reason the KDSM has only got to 2 and not 3 (as for the ADSM) is coincidental - the HDMI board upgrade occurred at the same time as Katalyst. This wasn't true for the ADSM as Katalyst arrived later at Akurate level as we know. So it's pure coincidence that the current ADS and ADMS variant numbers happen to match.

Thanks for the reminders about the history, timster. Do I recall correctly that the original ADSM and the ADS/1 came out at the same time? I have no idea about the relative timings of the KDS/1 and the KDSM. As regards the KDSM/2, I had not picked up the point about it getting the new HDMI board and Katalyst at the same time, and, as you say, that does explain the numbering used.

I agree that the matching (or otherwise) of Akurate model numbers is purely coincidental - Linn just assigns the next number in the sequence when a new version of a particular model is released, without regard for the numbering of other models. And then there are the designations of software variants, which are different again. Trying to keep up has become something of a party game ...

David

[timster]

KDSM and KDS variant numbers don't match because there was a board upgrade to the KDS and ADS to become the /1, and that was before the DSMs existed. The reason the KDSM has only got to 2 and not 3 (as for the ADSM) is coincidental - the HDMI board upgrade occurred at the same time as Katalyst. This wasn't true for the ADSM as Katalyst arrived later at Akurate level as we know. So it's pure coincidence that the current ADS and ADMS variant numbers happen to match.

Thanks for the reminders about the history, timster. Do I recall correctly that the original ADSM and the ADS/1 came out at the same time? I have no idea about the relative timings of the KDS/1 and the KDSM. As regards the KDSM/2, I had not picked up the point about it getting the new HDMI board and Katalyst at the same time, and, as you say, that does explain the numbering used.

I agree that the matching (or otherwise) of Akurate model numbers is purely coincidental - Linn just assigns the next number in the sequence when a new version of a particular model is released, without regard for the numbering of other models. And then there are the designations of software variants, which are different again. Trying to keep up has become something of a party game ...

David

According to Linn Docs, Akurate DS/0 was 2007-2010, when it was replaced with the newer casing to DS/1. April 2011 was when KDS went from /0 to /1 with the board upgrade (so I was wrong to say that applied to the ADS too, sorry). The ADS change from /0 to /1 was only the casing (but probably other things too though).
KDSM/0 first appeared later in that year, November 2011 (after the KDS board upgrade). The ADSM/0 appeared at the same time.

These are of course the variant designations for new products as they left the factory. Field upgrades makes things more complicated, so it is possible there exists somewhere KDSM/1.5 - Exakt links with HDMI2.0 but non-Katalyst!

[DavidHB]

Thanks, timster. I only got into the DS(M) game in 2013, so the early history is outside my direct knowledge. Linndocs is a very useful resource, but it isn't a complete and internally consistent database (that would presumably require more effort than Linn can make available), so it is most helpful to have your interpretations to join up the dots.

David

[Defender]

ADS 0 was the first product which later got the Dynamic power supply upgrade (minor but noticable sound quality improvement)
ADS/1 got new casing and new board layout (especially clock changes and changes in the output stage or DAC power supply (that was a good improvement in sound quality)
ADS/2 clock improvements again (minor but noticable sound improvement)
ADS/3 move to Katalyst said to be the biggest sound quality improvement of all