Template:FAQ:Linn DS/DSM FAQ

Music formats

What audio formats do the DS players support?

DS products support

• FLAC Up to 192k 24bit
• WAV
• AIFF
• AIFC
• MP3
• AAC
• WMA (lossy)
• OGG VORBIS
• OGG FLAC
• ALAC (Apple Lossless) upto 192K 24bit (If these ALAC files were generated by an early version of dBpowerAmp the Linn DS will not recognise these. Transcode these files to ALAC using the latest version of dBPowerAmp to fix this.)
• DSD - limited to some products in a certain configuration. Check DSD Support for more informaiton

Linn recommends FLAC.

Formats NOT supported

• MQA: Check HERE for more information

• DRM protected files cannot be played on the DS products

Why does Linn recommend FLAC?

1. FLAC is a free open format. It is non-proprietary, which means your music collection is safeguarded for the future, can be played through any open digital music player, and is not tied to a particular manufacturer or product. The specification is published for all to see. In contrast, SACD has failed to achieve significant success because it requires proprietary music content and disc players with proprietary hardware inside.
2. FLAC allows even better than CD quality encoding and decoding. Linn Records provides studio master quality downloads in FLAC, at the same quality as SACD.
3. FLAC supports metadata, or tags, so that useful information about a piece of music can be stored with the music; for example, album, artist, genre, cover art, sleeve notes, etc. User interfaces can make good use of these tags. Two examples of applications that support tag editing are: Mp3tag (Windows) and Tag (Mac)
4. Because it is open and free, there are an extensive set of players, tools, transcoders (to convert between other formats and FLAC), tag editors, and other programs for FLAC.

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Can the Linn DS/DSM play DSD music?

Products that will play stereo DSD audio:

• Linn DS/DSM players with Katalyst DACs, running firmware from Davaar 60, can play stereo DSD audio files.
  
• All ORGANIK DACs within the Linn DSM can play DSD audio files.
  
• Klimax DSM (2020 variant)
• ANYSelekt DSM variant with Organik, Katalyst or Standard DACs
  

> Only supported on SLOT #1 of the Selekt DSM. Selekt DSM slots 2 & 3 will not play DSD audio.

Some important points on DSD playback on the Linn DS/DSM:

• DSD audio is ONLY available on the analogue outputs
  

DSD audio is NOT supported on:

• Exakt-link to Exakt speakers or Exaktbox. That is, DSD files will NOT play on Exakt speakers or Exaktboxes.
  
• Digital outputs. (TOSLINK, SPDIF)
  
• Songcast to other Linn DS/DSM players

• Supports DSD64 (2.8224MHz) and DSD128 (5.6448MHz) sample rates.
  • DSD256 is only supported on Klimax DSM (2020 variant) and Selekt Edition.

These in the following formats:

• DSF - Sony format that supports ID3 tags
  
• DFF - old Philips mastering format (aka DSDIFF)
  

• DSD is NOT supported on external inputs such as HDMI, Toslink or USB

• No digital signal processing is possible.
  

This means:

• • No balance control is possible to DSD audio file playback.
    
  • No Space Optimisation is applied to DSD audio file playback
    
  • Maximum volume is restricted to 80 (unity gain) on DSD audio file playback. However if you have raised to volume to a higher level e.g. 90, this higher volume is applied to any tracks that are NOT DSD audio files.
    
    

• Linn DS/DSM volume control MUST be enabled
  • If the DSM volume control is disabled you will hear "click"s on the loudspeaker when Play/Pause buttons are pressed or a change in bit-rate on change in tracks

Linn Kazoo Server supports the index and serving of DSD files. Non-indexed DFF files that have no metadata can be browsed by file name using the Kazoo Server Removable drives option.

Asset UPnP server and Minimserver support DSD index and serving to the Linn DS/DSM.

Does the Linn DS/DSM players play MQA?

No, check this link "MQA is bad for Music" for more information

Can the DS player play multi-channel files?

No, the Klimax DS, Akurate DS, Majik DS, Majik DSI, Sneaky Music DS, Sekrit DS, Sneaky DSM, Sekrit DSM and Sekrit DSi are stereo audio only.

Klimax DSM, Akurate DSM & Majik DSM can play multi-channel audio from their HDMI inputs if they are using Davaar55 or later software.

Upgrading software

How do I upload new software into the Linn DS/DSM

1. First of all you need a PC or MAC and install the KONFIG app.
   
2. After you have installed KONFIG go to the ADVANCED tab. If your Linn DS/DSM requires an update it will be listed here.
3. If an update is available for that Linn DS/DSM then press the UPDATE' button

More detailed instructions are listed HERE

Input/Outputs

How do I add Music to play on Linn DS

If your Music is on a CD then this must be RIPPED from the CD first.

This can be using a PC or MAC with CD-ROM drive or from a Network attached Storage device/NAS with inbuilt ripper.

If you are using a PC or MAC you can use software listed HERE

The "Ripped" Music can be held on the PC/MAC of on a Network attached Storage device/NAS. The NAS is the better option as this is a low power device that can be left on all of the time.

The PC/MAC/NAS requires UPnP Media Server software to share the Music for the Linn DS/DSM to play.

Will downloaded music play on the DS players?

Yes, so long as it is not protected by Digital Rights Managemant (DRM) restrictions and is in one of the supported formats, or transcoded to such a format.

Can I Airplay from my Android device?

Without ROOTING the android device there is no way to stream to the Linn DS (Airplay AOA Service).

All other apps take the media file and stream it via UPnP.

Streaming local files can be done use Skifta and “Double Twist Player”

Media Applications

After Updating to Davaar55 I can only get audio from my Exakt outputs and not the Analogue Out

Check Konfig > Device > "Dual Analogue/Exakt Stereo Output" has been enabled.

If you have declared your Exakt speakers as 'Front Left'/'Front Right' and the analogue outputs to be 'Front Left'/'Front Right' (Stereo). ensure that this option in Konfig is enabled. The audio in the Exakt outputs will be out of sync by approx 45mS compared to the analogue outputs.

Are the Digital outputs (Toslink/SPDIF) volume controlled?

No, the digital outputs are ALWAYS full line level outputs. They are not Volume controlled or Mute-able from the standard Linn DS/DSM controls.

The Digital outputs will always products a front Left & Right of the audio source that is playing on the Analogue or Exakt outputs.

General Q's

Can I stop the kids from playing with the front panel buttons?

Yes, if you go into Konfig > Display settings you can define "Front Panel buttons" to be OFF. This will stop the front panel buttons from doing anything. You can still control the Linn DS/DSM by IR handset and the Kazoo App.

(Just remember if you have disabled the front panel buttons and think that the Linn DS/DSM is broken!)

How do I achieve gapless playback for live albums?

To guarantee gapless playback, you will need to rip your music tracks into a lossless format (i.e. FLAC). You must also ensure that you are using ripping software that does not add gaps between tracks when ripping (i.e. DBPoweramp). Most ripping software will offer the option to turn this feature off.

Also make that that you have selected the PLAYLIST input and NOT the UPnPAV input