![]() While you can connect to Lina DAC from a device connected to the WiFi, the DAC itself needs to be plugged in via ethernet. In our testing, the network DAC feature worked perfectly, and it was easy to connect via the local network as via USB. The Lina DAC is also chock full of features from the basics, like Crossfeed and DAC Filter options that are configurable through the UI, to more advanced options, like Roon connectivity over LAN. By integrating with the Lina DAC it can correct the smallest deviations in audio timing to deliver pristine sound. dCS Lina Master Clock is specifically designed to accomplish the same thing as a studio clock system, but for a HiFi audio listening environment. Because of this, most high-end digital studio recording is done with dedicated hardware to serve as a unified clock source outside of the CPU. While these differences aren’t big enough to pose a problem in most circumstances – even in competitive multiplayer games, factors like controller input lag would be much greater than the CPU clock timing inconsistency – this can make a difference in pro and HiFi audio performance as even very small inconsistencies in timing can make a big greatly impact dynamics and the sense of cohesion in music. When it comes to digital systems, any timing is based on the number of cycles the CPU performs, which can create small inconsistencies. The principles behind the Master Clock relate to machine-level computer programming. From the power linking setup, and the networking features of Lina DAC, to the almost mystical quality of the Lina Master Clock, getting everything plugged in is just the tip of the iceberg. While the Lina Amp is pretty straightforward, there’s a fair amount of complexity to the rest of the dCS Lina stack. The small touches – like the firmness of each jack, or the smooth feeling of the volume, add that extra bit of refinement that make Lina feel exquisitely premium. There’s just a little extra thickness, and clear attention to detail in how each Lina component is assembled. ![]() The physical material design of the units is simple, but highly premium. All of the provided cables are more workmanlike, with, I suppose, the expectation that you’ll want to upgrade the specific cables that you use. You also get a pair of XLR cables with the amp, and BNC cables with the Master Clock. ![]() The package for each includes a selection of regional power cables and an ethernet cable for the power link. No matter how you slice it up, this is quite the intimidating package, and will also require a bit more setup than your average DAC and amp. After getting everything unpacked, the recommended stacking order is amp on the bottom, Master Clock in the middle, and DAC on the top. Each is available separately, but the underlying design intention is for all three to be integrated together. The dCS Lina Stack comprises three components, the Lina DAC, Lina Amp, and Lina Master Clock. Is Lina up to the task of demonstrating the pinnacle of digital audio as potentially the best headphone system in the world? Build and Design Now with the Lina, they hope to deliver a blend of accuracy, transparency, and musicality that earns its price tag. Through all of this – for over 30 years – dCS has been at the forefront of digital audio, pushing the boundaries of the available technology to deliver some of the best DACs of each era. Now we’ve reached a point where high resolution digital has become the standard in HiFi audio, and it takes some of the best vinyl systems in the world to deliver sound that rivals digital systems that cost a fraction of their price. Even as CDs became the best selling music format, the “loudness wars” heated up through the 90s and into the 2000s driving many audiophiles away from digital and back to vinyl. Going back 30 or more years, early adopters of digital music found the sound to be sometimes grainy and brittle. The development of digital audio technology has gone through a number of stages to get to where we are now.
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