One benefit that I haven’t really touched on yet.
Humming.
Both the NAP 250s hummed, one being much louder than the other. You could actually hear them from the listening position, when they were not playing. As I always left the kit on 24/7, something needed to be done.
After some investigating, confirmed that it was DC Leakage. After further investigations into cures, I used two IFI DC Blockers to reduce the hum. Now it did not get rid of the hum completely, but sufficiently so, so that you only hear it if you had your ear close to the amps.
The other thing I checked was to see if they degraded the SQ and I’m pleased to confirm that it didn’t.
With the Selekt DSM however, things are completely different, being a Switched-Mode Power Supply (SMPS), it is absolutely quiet and, in conjunction with the Standby mode, it’s saving money on the electricity consumption.
Having had the Selekt DSM for three weeks now, how are we getting on with it.
Firstly, it’s a doddle to use. The Linn App is very stable and it’s easy to swap between the Radio (Airable) playing Jazz24, playing albums from Qobuz and the TV through the HDMI ARC socket.
Secondly, I still have a massive grin on my face. The sound is very clear and detailed, you pick up very easily the subtle changes and nuances, particularly, in the percussion, (in Jazz, which is our main genre, there is a lot of percussion). Bass is well pronounced and deep, but very controlled some of the strings from the double bass are just so delicious.
A couple of nice things that I’m enjoying particularly so with some of the live recorded Jazz albums, is that you get to feel some of the atmosphere, even when they play a bum note or the Sax sounds a bit raspy. Its engaging and draws you in, making you want to listen more. Additionally, when watching a drama on the TV which has some suspenseful music for what’s about to happen, really makes you feel it.
I could go on listing a number of superlatives to describe it, but I think that you get the gist of what I’m trying to say.
My overall one word description would be a simple; stonking.
There was nothing wrong with the previous system, it’s just that circumstances allowed us to make the change and I’m really pleased that we did so.
For us, the Organik / Utopik combo just swings.
Enjoy your music and Hi-Fi.
DG…