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May 29, 2008 - 9:13am
#1
New network music player enters the fray
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Unfortunately, the site you link to does not allow connection from US hosts. It's very interesting that Linn can intoduce a networked music player at an order of magnitude lower price than their flagship product. Are the specs (e.g. support for 24-bit/192kHz) similar?
Sneaky.
Thanks for the link Stephen! The Sneaky (what a name!) looks like a very interesting player in this market. The basic performance looks to be very similar to that offered by the Transporter and Olive boxes, and it includes 2 channels of amplification (20W into 4Ohms)! Also, you'll need a laptop or UMPC to control it as it has no built-in user interface. The UI application is same, very lame user interface included with their other networked music players.
Yes (to save everyone else clicking though) sources up to 24/192 are supported. The datasheet is available for download here although frankly it is far from forthcoming.
One really interesting aspect that I completely missed first time round is the very fact that this is being offered direct to the customer through Linn's online store, which otherwise only sells cables and suchlike. Currently this is UK-only which is presumably why they have disabled access from US domains. However I am in Sweden and it worked fine for me. Hmmmm. While I am sure Linn will not undercut their precious 'specialist retailers' I wonder how the latter will react to Linn going direct. Is this the top of the slippery slope?
But I can't help coming back to the same question again and again. How many houses (especially in the UK!) have CAT5 cabling installed? Not many is my guess! Especially at the low end of the market my guess is that Linn has misjudged this one badly. And yes, I do know about wireless gaming bridges and ethernet over powerline etc. Yeah, right!
Oh well, just Ivor ploughing his own furrow as usual I suppose...
It specifically supports 88.2 and 176kHz sampling rates.
Interestingly it includes optical and coax digital outs.
...no less than I would expect from what is just about the only company currently releasing 88.2 source material!