Linn or T+A

You pose an interesting question - one I share.  I own T+A gear and am just now upgrading to the reference HV integrated amp. I had their R series integrated and it was very good. But, I needed (wanted) a bit more.  I’ve heard their reference DAC and it’s very good, too. Better than what I have, but the Auralic stack I have (3 box: streamer, processor and DAC) is very good as well and I’m finding I need to spend $$$$ to better it. Which I may do as I’m again looking at the Klimax DSM/3 organic. Unfortunately, i don’t have room in my cabinet for another T+A HV box (they’re big and heavy). My impression (my view only) is that T+A’s HV amplifiers (preamp and amp) are world class and as good as anything out there and are better than Linn in this area and that on the digital side of things they’re roughly equal (i.e. excellent) but Linn’s UI is better.  Impressions only. I’d love to compare them side by side. Sadly, I know of no reasonable way to do this. 

Unfortunately I have only heard Linn in an evaluation mode. I had a Linn Select streamer / DAC (the middle priced version… three levels are available). I was comparing it to my Aurrender W20SE / Audio Research CD 9SE DAC. So $40K vs $12K. While it did not sound better than my Streamer / DAC… it sounded very good for the money… I have had a variety of streamers and DACs in my system. 
 

I have also heard the Klimax quite a bit… although not in my system. 
 

From these experiences I can definitely recommend Linn. Of course if I was buying I would be doing more auditioning. I know someone that carries both and seems to prefer the Linn. 

I had the opportunity to do some side by side listening, and the different units were very easy to tell apart.  First up, my old style Klimax DSM with Organik upgrade.  Driven by Luxman M10-x and Sonus Faber speakers (sorry, didn't catch the model).  

Listened to that set-up long enough to get acclimated to the dealers system/room, then switched to the new version of the Klimax DSM.  A rather surprising difference between them.  From the upper mid-range and up the new unit was a marked improvement.  More detail, less veil, less digital.  The bass tightened some, but the primary changes were in the top end.

Switched to the T+A unit (SD 3100 HV into the T+A integrated, but still using the M10x for the amp).  It completely matched the new Linn on the top end, but now there was a much fuller, more foundational level of bass.  Not big and boomy, but just enough to really complement the high end.  You could easily change the amp and build on the unit's bass.

While I've always enjoy the Linn sound, I also have found it a touch lean.  The T+A resolves that completely.  So I made the change to T+A.  Highly recommended and worth a listen.

My impression is T+A HV electronics sonically punch above their price point. I took a serious look at the HV integrated but went with Constellation separates.

I’ve been deeply researching the latest high-end audio components for the last 7 years to piece together my analog and digital audio chain and Linn didn’t cross my radar until the recent Stereophile review here  which led to my purchase- seemed like a sonic bargain. Until then I was unaware Linn was heavily into digital in addition to their long established turntable line.

@kennyc 

+1

Yes. I was surprised as well. I never thought of Linn - digital… but they seemed to have gone all in and done a very good job of it.