What Hi Fi Sound and Vision
19 SEP 2005
Linn Unidisk SC
This Linn combo is a fine real-world solution for those who want a quality multichannel performance combined with easy operation.
The Unidisk SC is a multi-format disc player, preamp and processor combined. This means essentially that Linn intends the player to perform all DVD, CD, DVD-Audio and SACD playing duties, and plug straight into the power amp of your choosing. The company supplies a matching power amp, the Chakra, which comes with anything from two to six channels to drive the number of loudspeakers of your choosing.
This player is squarely aimed at the less technical buyer. Front-panel controls on the Unidisk SC are few – only six – while the remote handset is neatly laid-out. On-screen set-up menus, too, are well designed and thought-through.
One of the finest manuals ever
Of course, home cinema is a complex subject, so there’ll always be adjustments and settings the uninitiated won’t understand. So guess what? Linn has produced one of the finest user manuals ever to be supplied with a box of electronics: pictures are large, there's a decent size of print, and it's all organised a logical manner.
Sounds so simple, doesn't it? But most manufacturers get it so wrong. The good news continues, with the Unidisk SC being well built and looking elegant in an understated way. So should Linn get a pat on the back? Not quite yet.
Those expecting the latest video technology such as HDMI are going to be disappointed, because the disc player doesn’t have it. You can have Scart or component – that’s either, not both. Our review sample was a Scart version, and, a little surprisingly, still produced a fine picture. There isn’t quite the resolution or colour rendition of the best DVD players, but the picture is still impressive.
Take a dark, moody film such as The Matrix: Revolutions, and the degree of insight is pleasing: skin tones are more natural than the poorly scripted dialogue, while black definition is competitive. Movement is tracked with a minimum of blurring, too.
No high-def multichannel decoding
Sound quality is strong, too, though it almost goes without saying that the latest high-def multichannel decoding isn't present. With standard-def sound the Linn player's onboard processing delivers a crisp, clean sound that trades some space and atmosphere for the ability to communicate more directly with the listener.
Voices are forthright and easy to follow, while large-scale action scenes are punched out with an impressive amount of force.
Music? Well, this is a Linn system, so it would be a shock if it didn’t deliver on this count. Once again, you have to accept a slightly dry presentation that trades some of the warmth and richness of rivals for a crisp, informative presentation that leaves no doubt as to the artist’s intentions.
The story is consistently positive regardless of whether it’s CD, DVD-Audio or SACD – each disc is delivered precisely as it ought to be.
Three grand is a lot of money, and we have no doubt better video and sonic performance can be had for the money. Equally, we haven’t come across another piece of high-end multichannel kit that blends into its environment so easily, is so simple to use, or does such a wide range of duties with such style. Despite looking out of touch compared with modern rivals, this Unidisk SC player deserves respect.