dCS audio products are well known for their outstanding technical performance, exquisite craftsmanship, and profound musicality. The new Lina playback system was designed and finely tuned for the needs of the most demanding headphone aficionados and headfi enthusiasts. Individually or combined, these components represent cutting edge performance in headphone electronics, setting a new high bar for headphone systems.

Lina is a 3 piece high performance system, high power Headphone amplifier, Network DAC, and separate Master Clock for the DAC.

SHIPS IN ABOUT A WEEK TO YOUR DOOR

LINA HEADPHONE AMPLIFER

The headphone amplifier is the key to driving demanding high-end headphones to their fullest potential , and here we have one of the finest sounding headphone amps available. Smooth, detailed, harmonically rich, full range sound from the very bottom of bass notes to beyond audibility., The Lina headphone amplifier has a unique ability to bring out the best attributes of any top shelf headphone, as if it were made just for one.

Drives a vast range of headphones, particularly demanding IEMs and planars
Low output impedance ensures optimal sound with a huge range of headphones, including highly sensitive models
Unique design offers exceptional sonic and measured performance
Choice of inputs caters to a variety of digital sources and audio setups
Class AB design with DC servo system delivers high power efficiency and excellent linearity
Solid aluminium chassis reduces risk of electromagnetic interference
Transparent performance faithfully mirrors the sound of your chosen music and headphones.

Through exhaustive development, extensive testing, and creative thinking, dCS developed an all-new design that combines tried and tested features with novel innovations engineered to further enhance performance and efficiency.

The result is an exemplary headphone amplifier that delivers plenty of power and grip, while maintaining neutrality. With its low noise floor, wide dynamic range and excellent linearity, it delivers a compelling, dynamic experience that reveals the true sound and character of your music and headphones.

The Lina headphone amplifier is one of the best sounding solid state amps we've encountered. If it excites the likes of us here at ABYSS, imagine what it will do for you and your system. Top shelf design and performance, build quality second to none, and a sonic character that finds itself at ease with nearly any high performance headphone, this is a no brainer for those who seek the finest.

Highly recommend JPS Labs Superconductor 4 XLR interconnects, and Kaptovator Lite AC cable, for the best interface.

LINA NETWORK DAC

The heart of any good system is a high quality source, and with the Lina DAC you'll find you can have it all in one box. This well thought out component provides a stunning performance from nearly any source of digital audio, with conversion to what we hear as analog audio that's highly engaging and detailed, impactful and powerful, yet silky smooth and musical.

With the Lina Network Streaming DAC, dCS has taken their core playback technologies, including the dCS Ring DAC and Digital Processing Platform, and added new innovations developed for headphone listeners. These include first ever touch-screen display, a streamlined user interface for easier navigation, and a powerful flex-ridged circuit board, which allows them to deliver all of the features you’d expect from a dCS DAC in a much smaller chassis.

The result is a powerful, supremely capable product designed for use in a wide range of environments, from living rooms to studios and workspaces. With its wide dynamic range, crisp, clear playback, expansive soundstage, and tonal neutrality, it provides a deeply natural, highly detailed, and profoundly musical sound that encapsulates dCS singular approach to audio.

Add unique headphone optimisation technology, an elegant and tactile design, and a high-performance streaming platform, and you have a hugely versatile source that delivers spectacular sound, however you choose to listen. Designed to inspire, inform and entertain, it will give you a whole new perspective on the artists and recordings you love.

Use the dCS Mosaic app and bring mission control to the palm of your hand to control digital sources such as in-house music storage (NAS), streaming music services such as Today and Quobuz, Apple Airplay, internet radio, and much more. If you're a Roon subscriber, Lina ready to go with this amazingly easy to use musical interface. Regardless of where your music resides, connect the Lina Network DAC to your local area network to open up a whole new digital world with simple to use interfaces, and quite possibly for the first time play digital music in a most human analog way, The ABYSS Team is here to help set-up this exciting new digital interface.

dCS Ring DAC system and Digital Processing Platform ensure audio is reproduced with absolute integrity, for a highly detailed, musical and deeply natural sound
dCS Mosaic platform supports hi-res streaming via Roon, TIDAL, Qobuz, Spotify, Deezer, Internet Radio and Apple AirPlay
Flexible firmware provides unlimited scope for future upgrades, with new features and enhancements delivered via simple software updates
Patented dCS Expanse technology offers enhanced headphone optimisation, for a more natural and immersive experience when listening to a wide range of stereo recordings
Touch screen UI with customisable menu allows listeners to easily control playback and adjust system settings
All-new electronic and mechanical design delivers a vast range of features in a compact and elegant format.

Highly recommend JPS Labs Kaptovator Lite AC cable.

LINA MASTER CLOCK

The Lina Master Clock is a product inspired by our absolute dedication to achieving the highest possible standards of sound reproduction. It is informed by dCS 30+ years experience in developing master clocks for professional and home use, and the feedback we’ve received from listeners and audio experts who’ve experienced significant sonic benefits after adding a dCS master clock to their system.

Designed for use with the Lina Network DAC, it uses two crystal oscillators to deliver a precise and stable clocking reference for all audio formats and frequencies. When paired with the Lina DAC, it allows the DAC’s internal clock system to be locked to a master signal for even greater precision and enhanced audio performance.

Its standalone design ensures sensitive clocking components are protected from factors that can cause interference. Each crystal oscillator is also oven-controlled to ensure its performance remains consistent, even under changing conditions and temperatures.

Designed for maximum reliability and longevity, it is a silent but powerful component engineered to operate with absolute precision and consistency, so you can experience the best possible performance from your system. Combined with the Lina Network DAC and Headphone Amplifier, it delivers an even more profound and immersive listening experience, and helps ensure the audio you hear sounds exactly as it should.

Our Grade 1 Master Clock uses dual crystal oscillators to deliver a precise and stable clocking reference. Used as part of a complete Lina system, it enhances all aspects of sound for an even more immersive listening experience

Allows the Lina Network DAC to be locked to a master reference signal for enhanced audio performance
Minimises jitter and irregularities that can cause distortion
Dual crystal oscillators - one for 1kHz sample rates and one for 48kHz - ensure accurate clocking for all audio formats and frequencies
Standalone design with dedicated chassis and electronics minimises risk of clock signal interference
Oven temperature controlled oscillators ensure a consistent and stable performance, even under varying environmental conditions
Minimises risk of jitter and delivers a notable increase in sound quality when streaming or listening via USB
Delivers clock signal accurate to > +/-1 ppm.

The addition of the Lina Master Clock improves spacial cues, low level detail, and clarity. It requires and comes complete with two (2) basic 0.5 meter length BNC-BNC 75 ohm digital cables to get started. Highly recommend JPS Labs Superconductor 4 BNC digital cables (two required), and the Digital AC-X AC cable.

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SPECIFICATIONS

AMPLIIFIER

Analog Inputs:

• 1 x stereo pair unbalanced RCA, input impedance 48kΩ
• 1 x stereo pair unbuffered balanced XLR, input impedance 16kΩ • 1 x stereo pair buffered balanced XLR, input impedance 96kΩ

Headphone Outputs:

• 1 x dual 3-pin balanced XLR, right and left channel • 1 x single 4-pin balanced XLR
• 1 x single 1⁄4” (6.35mm) headphone jack

Frequency Response: 1Hz-100kHz better than +0/-3dB

THD + N: <0.005% @ 1kHz 6V rms balanced output into 30Ω (80kHz bandwidth)

Channel Separation: Balanced input to balanced output into 30Ω. Better than 100dB @ 1kHz. Better than 80dB, 20Hz–20kHz.

Signal to Noise Ratio: 110dB 20Hz-20kHz A-weighted

(referenced to 6V rms balanced input and output)

Power Link (synchronize on/off state with other products): RJ45 (CAT5 cable)

AC Power:

• IEC inlet & main power switch on rear panel
• 90-120v & 220-240v, 50/60Hz nominal
• Automatic voltage switching

Dimensions: 121.5mm (H) x 220mm (W) x 356mm (D) / 7.5kg

NETWORK DAC

Streaming capabilities supported:

• UPnP
• Qobuz
• Deezer
• Tidal
• Internet Radio
• Spotify
• Apple AirPlay 2 (support at 44.1 or 48kS/s)

• Roon Ready

Analog Outputs:

• 1 x stereo pair 3 pin balanced XLR • 1 x stereo pair unbalanced RCA

Digital Inputs:

• 2 x AES/EBU on 3 pin XLR 44.1-384kS/s • 1 x S/PDIF BNC Coax 44.1-192kS/s
• 1 x S/PDIF on RCA 44.1-192kS/s
• 1 x Toslink 44.1-96kS/s

• 1 x USB Type B 44.1-384kS/s, PCM and DSD, DSDx2 in Async Mode
• 1 x USB Type A connector for mass storage devices (navigated using Mosaic)

Sampling rates:

• 44.1-384kHz
• DSD 64, 128
• Native DSD + DoP (input dependent)

• FLAC, WAV, AIFF, MQA

Filters:

• PCM mode: 2 filters + MQA
• DSD mode: 4 progressive filters

Crossfeed settings:

• Standard crossfeed
• dCS Enhanced crossfeed (E1) • dCS Enhanced crossfeed (E2)

Upsampling: Multi-stage DXD oversampling with switchable DSD

Word Clock: 2 x Word Clock inputs on 75 Ω BNC connectors • Will lock to 44.1-192kHz

Certifications:

• Apple, Spotify, TuneIn, MQA & Roon certified

• CE / EMC • CCC
• KC
• FCC

Network Connector: RJ-45

Frequency Response:

• Fs = 44.1 or 48kS/s +/-0.1dB, 10Hz-20kHz
• Fs = 88.2 or 96kS/s +/-0.1dB, 10Hz-20kHz -3dB @ >38kHz
• Fs = 176.4 or 192kS/s +/-0.1dB, 10Hz-20kHz -3dB @ >67kHz
• Fs = 352.8 or 384kS/s +/-0.1dB, 10Hz-20kHz -3dB @ >100kHz • DSD64 +/-0.1dB, 10Hz-20kHz -3dB @ >90kHz
• DSD128 +/-0.1dB, 10Hz-20kHz -3dB @ >100kHz

L/R Crosstalk: Better than –115dB0, 20Hz-20kHz

Residual noise:

• 16-bit data: Better than –96dB0, 20Hz-20kHz unweighted • 24-bit data: Better than –113dB0, 20Hz-20kHz unweighted

Included with your Lina Streaming DAC:

• 1 x mains cable
• 2 x XLR [0.5m]
• 1 x Ethernet cable [2m]
• 1 x Power Link cable [0.5m]

AC Power:

• IEC inlet & main power switch on rear panel
• 90-120v & 220-240v, 50/60Hz nominal
• Automatic voltage switching
• Power synchronised with other dCS control link products (RJ45)