Systems

Information, hints and tips on operating a DS player in typical Linn systems.

Klimax DS & Klimax Kontrol (& CD12)

Prior to the Bute release, the Klimax DS would pass handset IR commands to the Klimax Kontrol. As this functionality is not available in Bute, Product IR must be enabled on the Klimax Kontrol and the unit must be visible to handset commands.

Akurate DS & Akurate Kontrol (& Akurate CD)

RS232 connection between an Akurate CD and an Akurate DS is not currently supported if the Akurate CD is being used in multi-channel configuration. Therefore, if adding an Akurate DS to a multi-channel Akurate CD and Akurate Kontrol system, do not make an RS232 link between the Akurate DS and the Akurate CD, or the Akurate DS and Akurate Kontrol. Instead, connect the Akurate DS to the Akurate Kontrol as an analogue source and add it as a new source. Use the Linn GUI or other device for controlling the Akurate DS, and a Linn handset for the rest of the system.

Akurate DS, Unidisk & Kisto system

The DS-Unidisk-Kisto system delivers the best of surround sound playback, AV disk players, and high-definition network sources in a single system. The Akurate DS provides access to high-definition networked audio, and brings IP-network control to the high-performance surround sound AV pre-amp, and Unidisk universal disk player.

The latest Bute software (Linn Config 1.3-0.5 or later, Akurate DS 1.1-0.8 or later)  now allows both the automatic stream-type selection feature of the Unidisk-Kisto system and the additional full system control from the LinnGUI. The automatic stream-type functionality automatically switches the selected source on the pre-amp based on the type of disk inserted in the disk player. i.e. Inserting a CD the system automatically selects the stereo inputs on the pre-amp, and inserting an SACD automatically selects the surround inputs on the pre-amp.

Klimax DS and Majik DS

The following setup will also work in a system with a Klimax DS (1.2-0.8 or later) or Majik DS (1.0-0.8 or later), but the photos and explanations are based on the use of the Akurate DS.

Physical Connections

• Linn RS232 cable from DS RS232 Port (ie 1) to the RS232 IN socket on the Kisto
• Linn RS232 cable from RS232 OUT socket on the Kisto to the RS232 IN socket on the Unidisk
  
• Phono cable from Kisto Remote Out to Unidisk Remote In
  
• Unidisk digital output to Kisto Digital Input (ie Tos 1)
  
• Unidisk analogue output to Kisto Analogue Input (ie Analog Group 1)
  
• DS Analogue out to Kisto Analog In (ie Analog 5)
  

Unidisk Setup

• Put Unidisk into Standby (hold down Play on front panel for ~2s)
  
• Hold down Ejecton the front panel to enter User Options mode
  
• Use Up/Down to select Front Panel IR Commands and use Rght/Left to change to Ignored
  
• Also insure RS232 Events are Enabled, correct handeset is selected (All Silver or Silver and Grey), and RS232 Buadrate is set to 9600
  
• Press Play on the front panel to exit the setup mode
  

Kisto Setup

• Press and hold Setup on front panel for ~5s to enter the Installer Menu
  
• Select +Edit Profile 1, 2, 3, or 4 using the navigation keys on the front panel
  
• Note: this step is not required, but recommended if you have 12 or more sources already setup, as the LinnGui can only handle 14 sources or less --- Select Source Setup/+Remove All Sources/+Remove All Sources (should display 'No sources available) followed by Save
  
• Adding the DS source: Select Add Source, name it, set the type to AUX, and set the Audio Input (ie analog 5), and Save
  
• Adding the Unidisk source: Select +Add Unidisk, select +Inputs and set the Analogue (ie analogGroup1), Digital (ie tos1), and Video Inputs and select Save (saves the inputs). Select Save again to save the source.
  
• Select Back to come out of Source Setup and select General Setup
  
• Select +Product IR and change to Enable
  
• Select Handset and choose the correct handset (All Silver or Silver and Grey)
  
• Select +RS232 IN Settings and select Function=None, Baud Rate=9600, Parity=Even, Data Bits=7, Stop Bits=1. Select Save once this is complete.
  
• Select +RS232 OUT Settings and select Function=Unidisk. Select Save once this is complete.
  
• Select Save and Save again to return to the Profile setup page
  
• Select +Copy Profile and select the profile number you have just saved (ie 1, 2, 3, or 4) under the +CopyProfile setting. For +To Profile select User, then select +Overwrite Target Profile
  
• Select +Exit to come out of the installer setup menu
• Power cycle your Kisto device to insure the new RS232 settings are used
• Future setup (ie Adding new sources) should be done from the Main Menu (press and release Setup key) rather than the installer menu (press and hold setup key)
  
  

Linn Config Setup

• Install the Linn Configuration Application. See main docs page for instructions and download locations
  
• Select your DS device and the Advanced Configure tab
  
• Set Linn Preamp Connected to Kisto
  
• Set Linn Preamp Connected to Com Port... to the RS232 port used on the DS (ie 1)
  
• Set Linn Disc Player Connected to your Unidisk variant
  
• Set Linn Disc Player Connected to Com Port... to the RS232 port used on the DS (same as the Preamp port)
  
• Click on the Reboot button to restart your system

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Integrating a DS and Akurate Music Server

In some larger systems it may be necessary to integrate a DS in an installation with an Akurate Music Server.

Network Infrastructure

You will need to select a NAS that supports both products,filing systems. (i.e. NFS and Twonky Media Server). (For example, QNAP TS409 Pro, or see other posibilities on the Recommended NASes page).

Installation is best approached in steps.

1. Set up the DS player from a clean network, exactly as described in the DS installation manual
2. Set up the Akurate Music Server (AMS) network settings
3. Attach the AMS to the network
4. Verify that the Linn equipment works
5. Attach any additional network devices such as routers and broadband modems
   

After completing step 1, take a note of the network sub-net address. In step 2 allocate a static IP address for the AMS. This address must be unique, and on the same sub-net as that used in step 1. Your network administrator will be able to allocate a unique address from the range dedicated to static IP addresses on your network. Before connecting the AMS, tell the AMS the chosen IP addresses of your NAS and the AMS itself; the AMS manual tells you how to do this. Move on to steps 3 and 4. Refer to the respective vendor's manuals to complete step 5.

Ripping

As of version 4.10-5 the AMS supports import of media from external (additional) rippers.

The AMS (Akurate Music Server)  supports automatic import of FLAC media into the AMS media library. FLAC files with valid meta-data can be copied into the Media Import directory on the NAS. The AMS will import these files and they will be available for playback via the AMS control interface.

• Ensure Media Import Enabled box is checked

Importing media from an external ripper, (eg, EAC or RipStationMicroDS) can be used with this feature.

• Configure your ripping software to copy ripped files to the Media Import directory on the NAS. Your ripping program should be configured to rip to the FLAC media format and contain valid track meta-data.

By default the Media Import directory is "/Media/import" on the AMS NAS.

Ripping options are configurable from the AMS web interface.

Warning

• You can edit the Tags and ANY file on the AMS NAS. The only restriction is that you CANNOT change the FILENAME or DIRECTORY of the Music. (The AMS database is built on the filename and locations. It does NOT use the Tags, thus these can be edited to whatever you want.)
• If you want to change the AMS media name, this can only be done via the LINNTEK software. When you edit the media name using the LINNTEK software, this changes the database information for that file in that directory. It does nothing with that Media file.
• When you rip a CD in to the AMS, if you have this configured (via the web-interface) to Rip as FLAC, it will rip the CD in FLAC with the metadata AGS added. This simplifies the process of adding Music to the AMS and DS.

Shared Media Library

As of version 4.10-5 the Akurate Music Server rips to the FLAC media file format by default. FLAC is the optimal media format to share your media library for playback on both your DS and AMS systems.

To allow playback of the AMS media library on your DS system you should configure Twonky UPnP Media Server to point to the AMS Media Library directory. By default this directory is "/Media/audio".  Add this directory to the list of directories scanned by Twonky Media Server.

Once the library has been scanned by Twonky, you will be able to select and play the content of the AMS media library from the DS control point software, (eg KinskyPDA).

AMS Media Library options are configurable from the AMS web interface. Twonky Media server options are configurable from the Twonky configuration page.