I own an original Linn Malik and owned a Uniti until a lightening strike took it out. I recall preferring the Naim, though that might have been as much because the Linn was Ethernet cable only…
I am now looking for my exit streamer and arbitrarily have chosen a $11,000 price point. So my question is, assuming my math is correct, has anyone compared the Naim NSS 333 to the Linn Selekt DSM with the Katalyst DAC and Utopik psu?
To answer one question perhaps, why not upgrade the Auralic, or go Lumin, Aurender etc…I am drawn to either Linn or Naim due to my positive experience with each company and a bit of Brit bias.
Same here, I would not buy any hifi stuffs except they are from Naim or Linn, and I was agonizing over a decision for a long time before I picked the Linn one, the reason was very simple - one box solution, ungradeable without switching to a new model.
It depends on the sound you like. So, I would listen to both carefully and then decide. Both great, but different sound signatures. I prefer the more rhythmic and engaging Naim sound (to my ears), but this is very personal at that quality level.
Clearly you have your preference, but there are other very good British brands! If you don’t knew exactly what you want a trip to a dealer, or several, would make sense if achievable.
Can’t comment on the Naim as I have Linn Selekt DSM: Edition Hub with Organik and Utopik which I got as I preferred the Linn presentation.
One thing to consider is if you are considering a Selekt, this will work well with your existing LP12.
Also as the Selekt is modular, you are future proofing and future changes, new DACs, etc. Plus, you could always upgrade to the Organik DAC and PX your Katalyst DAC.
That’s the nice thing about the Selekt, options, plus it sounds great.
I’m not entirely sure that the modular approach translates to future proofing, all manufacturers need their customers to refresh their products to a regular cycle, think Canon and Nikon changing their lens mounts for no real reason other than to render their previous, some very recently previous, products obsolete……
If looking for an end-game streamer for c$11k you should consider an Antipodes K22. I’m not so familiar with Linn (I’ve never cared for their sound signature) but the K22 is not a streaming DAC as per Naim so you’d need a DAC as well.
Other than a consumable like a stylus, or source in the event of introduction of a new music distribution medium, the only item in a hifi system that needs change/updating other than through failure is the ‘transport’ part of a streamer used for for online streaming. In my view that alone means it is most sensible to keep it as a separate component, especially as the DAC is such a critical component in a digital system such that it is worth the effort/money finding what sounds best to one’s ears, then sticking to it until or unless change is wanted, while a separate transport allows lower cost change if or when it needs physical updating or new features are desired. Otherwise it is purely personal choice, whatever the driver - and conventions generally standardising things like voltage levels and connectors provide some degree of interchangeability between manufacturers, though some have gone their own way making it more difficult to mix and match.
You might want to check the reliability of both the Naim and Linn control point app. Posts on this forum indicate that the Naim app might be problematic.
I’ve never compared the units you are interested in side by side, but I do know the differences in sound/ presentation between these two brands. Last year, I switched from Naim Uniti Nova to the Linn Selekt DSM Edition and back.
I think it all comes down on your personal preferences and the sort of music that you listen to. In my case, I think that the Naim presentation simply suited the rock music I listen to better.
Another thing to think about is that modern Linn (Organik DAC) and modern Naim (New Classics) are much more similar sounding than older versions, converging towards a high resolution rich timbred sound that preserves dynamics.
When I was looking to upgrade the Klimax DS/3 to Organik, the old Katalyst DAC could not be reused and had to be disposed of correctly as WEEE waste.
However, when you upgrade / change DACs and Cartridges on the Selekt, the old bits can be part exchanged and bought and used by someone else and, so on.
That is one of the good things about the Selekt, stops items going into the waste stream.
Not only sounds good, but good for the environment.
At least for Nikon you are totally wrong. They kept the F mount for 60 years and the flange distance and mount size was an issue for years. The new Z mount allows much more flexibility in lens design. So, (1) they kept the mount for 60 years (take that hifi brands ) and they were very good and documented reasons for changing the mount when they went to a mirrorless SLR system.
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