If you have a chance to hear a 20-year old Audio Note DAC 5, you will see how little the state of the art has progressed. It has been a while since I have heard the Linn CD 12, but I agree with the posting above that it is extremely good. It also doesn’t hurt that it is so pretty to look at too.
Old digital that still kicks butt
Not being a believer that time necessarily = progress, I would like to offer the following example of a sonic gem that has transcended time and can totally kick butt in a modern milieu:
1. Marantz CD5000 al la CD48, Philips Cd753, CDS751: what do these players all have in common:? the miraculous TDA1549 chip. As Lucas Ficas alias ’Lampizator‘ has described this chip is a killer and probably the best Philips has produced. If you take the output straight from the chip via high quality output caps the sound quality is still right up there. Add a cathode follower if you you wish for greater solidity and slam at the expense of ultimate clarity.
Add some chassis damping and you have something that plays real music.
1. Marantz CD5000 al la CD48, Philips Cd753, CDS751: what do these players all have in common:? the miraculous TDA1549 chip. As Lucas Ficas alias ’Lampizator‘ has described this chip is a killer and probably the best Philips has produced. If you take the output straight from the chip via high quality output caps the sound quality is still right up there. Add a cathode follower if you you wish for greater solidity and slam at the expense of ultimate clarity.
Add some chassis damping and you have something that plays real music.