Hi Deaf Cat, I have used a 5103 as my system controller for the last 5 years. My system is a full blown active Linn AV system (Espeks, Trikan, Katan, Seizmik - not top of the range but a very nice £15k system). I bought mine new for £3,250. It replaced a Linn Kairn.
I have the final spec dts version. It comes with a programmable/learning remote of battleship construction. The sound as a normal pre-amp is very good - clean with no nasties, fast, clean, tight and lucid. As an AV amp it is superb - only 5.1 but easily outperforms many other so-called high end AV controllers. I used the 5103 with a variety of v expensive CDP's (including a CD12) and it never sounded anything less than fine to me. It has coax (3 I think from memory) and one toslink digital inputs. Sound via either is great with AV - as for the DAC when an SB is connected...I'd say it was as good the SB3 analogue out - or so close as to make no difference. The 5103 DACS shine with AV (DD or dts) from a DVD/SAT/TV etc. For 2-channel audio they can be improved by (say) an MF X-dac3+PSU or a Benchmark et al - but you need to be in the £750 upwards bracket to get a real boost over the internal 2-channel DAC. The 5103 does NOT have 5.1 analogue inputs - no use for DVD-A/SACD except in 2-channel mode. I would not replace mine unless it died (unlikely - I've owned lots and lots of Linn gear for over 25 years and NEVER lost a unit - excluding 'Barik tweeters of course...) and I couldn't get it fixed. I've heard similarly configured Naim etc units and whilst they are certainly alternative choices I wouldn't swap. I presume yo are looking at a used model (the 5103 was discontinued) - make sure it is dts capable if you wan't to use AV...the early models weren't and some were never upgraded. Oh, and later models have a tweakable "Limbik" 5.1 synthesis from stereo mode - bit like prologic II - it's good fun but varies according to the source material. The ONLY thing I don't like about the 5103 is the stupid "dead flesh" buttons on the front panel - they are not exactly instantaneous and you often end up pressing them twice. However, I only ever use the remote whose buttons are more positive (but the delay is still there). In its day the 5103 was quite advanced - programmable inputs with naming , level memory , surround settings etc. It's a corker of a 2-channel pre-amp used with good analogue sources and a great AV controller (for 5.1). However, if you are looking for a DAC/pre-amp combo for an SB3, I don't think the 5103 will give you a boost over the internal DAC. Hope this helps, Regards Phil -- Phil Leigh ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Phil Leigh's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=85 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=24785 _______________________________________________ audiophiles mailing list [email protected] http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
