LINA 2.0: A Major Performance Upgrade for the LINA Network DAC
The dCS LINA Network DAC and complete system are some of our top-selling products at Moon Audio - and rightly so due to its unmatched sound quality and premium offerings. Now it's getting even better with the recently announced major update with LINA 2.0. In March of 2023, dCS released the LINA 1.1 update giving the LINA system several performance upgrades and new features. Apart from the LINA 1.1 update, dCS has done a tremendous job this year releasing other updates to other products. They delivered a major firmware upgrade for the dCS Bartok and launched the next generation Bartok APEX. dCS also made their Expanse crossfeed feature available to dCS Rossini owners, and added digital volume control and volume lock to the dCS LINA Network DAC, allowing listeners to use the DAC as a pre-amplifier in two-channel audio setups.
The new LINA 2.0 update brings a range of new features, including new mapper settings, filter options, and balance controls to the LINA Network DAC. This upgrade is designed to enhance performance, aid the ease of use, and give listeners more control over their playback experience. It is available now to new and existing LINA Network DAC owners and is provided free to charge.
The update builds on dCS' vision to create a versatile DAC that excels in a vast range of audio setups - including headphone and loudspeaker-based systems - and deliver all the benefits listeners have come to expect from dCS. It is the result of extensive development and is made possible through LINA's flexible architecture. dCS will release more information on the 2.0 software update over the next few weeks - with features included in the upgrade, and more detailed information and insights into dCS filters and mappers. We hope listening take great pleasure in exploring all this upgrade has to offer, and the performance advantages that come with it!
The new LINA 2.0 update brings a range of new features, including new mapper settings, filter options, and balance controls to the LINA Network DAC. This upgrade is designed to enhance performance, aid the ease of use, and give listeners more control over their playback experience. It is available now to new and existing LINA Network DAC owners and is provided free to charge.
The update builds on dCS' vision to create a versatile DAC that excels in a vast range of audio setups - including headphone and loudspeaker-based systems - and deliver all the benefits listeners have come to expect from dCS. It is the result of extensive development and is made possible through LINA's flexible architecture. dCS will release more information on the 2.0 software update over the next few weeks - with features included in the upgrade, and more detailed information and insights into dCS filters and mappers. We hope listening take great pleasure in exploring all this upgrade has to offer, and the performance advantages that come with it!
LINA 2.0 Major Update for Network DAC Highlights:
- Two new mapper settings
- DSD128 Upsampling
- New PCM and DSD Filters
- Text size settings for distance listening
- Remote Control Support
- Balance Controls
LINA 2.0 Software Updates
Two new Mapper settings: LINA 2.0 brings two new mapper settings to the LINA Network DAC. These settings - first introduced in the dCS Vivaldi, Rossini, and Bartok ranges - enabled the Ring DAC to operate at double speed (5.6 or 6.14MS/s). These additional settings are the result of careful refinement and continuous development. Since releasing the original mapper (now MAP 2), dCS has continued to refine the process and improve jitter performance. They are now able to offer the option of a higher ring rate - a development which, in turn, allows dCS to move matching noise further out of the audible band - along with other improvements and refinements to their mapping algorithm. Listeners can now choose from double-speed settings or the original dCS Mapper to suit their preference.
DSD128 Upsampling: A new DSD128 upsampling feature, as seen in the dCS Vivaldi, Rossini, and Bartok DACs and players, allows the LINA Network DAC to convert PCM audio to DSD at a greater speed, pushing noise higher in the frequency range (to somewhere above 40kHz). This, in turn, allows the use of more gentle filters. Depending on the listeners' music choice, this can result in improved spatial presentation and a more natural, nuanced sound.
New PCM and DSD Filters: All dCS DACs provide a range of carefully designed filter options, allowing listeners to select the setting that best suits their music and preferences. The LINA Network DAC launched in 2022 with a choice of two filters, F1 and F2, for ease of use. The 2.0 update brings four new PCM filters, plus an additional DSD filter (F5), with a relaxed roll-off and smoother phase response. This brings the number of filters available with the LINA Network DAC in line with dCS' Rossini and Bartok DACs, and gives listeners even more control over their system's performance.
Balance Controls: An additional balance control function allows listeners to adjust the left and right balance when listening with headphones or loudspeakers. This means LINA Network DAC owners can now adjust the volume of each channel in isolation, and compensate for volume differences between left and right channels - whether due to system challenges such as non-ideal speaker placement, or auditory imbalances - for a more natural presentation of sound.
Text Size Settings for Distance Listening: A user interface update offers the option to increase text size on the LINA Network DAC's LED display, making it easier to read track titles when listening to the product from a distance.
Remote Control Support: It is now possible to control the LINA Network DAC with a dCS remote control or generic remote. See the LINA Network DAC 2.0 release notes for more information.
Download LINA 2.0
The LINA Network DAC 2.0 Software update is available via the dCS Mosaic Control app starting October 17, 2023. You can download the latest version of the dCS Mosaic Control for iOS HERE and the Mosaic Control for Android HERE (or below).
The dCS Mosaic Control app has been updated to provide support for the LINA Network DAC 2.0, along with new features available for all dCS devices with network streaming capabilities. For more information, see the Mosaic 1.42 release notes. Find out more about the LINA Network DAC HERE or below in our Featured Products section.
Mosaic Control App v1.42
dCS MOsaic has been updated to provide support for the LINA Network DAC 2.0, along with new UPnP and internet radio features available to all dCS owners. The dCS Mosaic Control App allows you to access music from multiple sources and control playback on your dCS device through a single interface. Available on Android and iOS, it is designed to remove the complexities associated with multi-source streaming, making it easier to manage your music and adjust the settings on your dCS system.
Developing the Mosaic platform is a core focus for the design and engineering team at dCS. dCS spends a great deal of time assessing its performance, reviewing feedback from dCS owners, and exploring how they can enhance the Mosaic user experience. The app is updated on a regular basis and new versions are made available whenever dCS has new features to share. They also release new versions of the app to support upgrades to dCS products.
The latest version update is released in conjunction with LINA Network DAC 2.0. It also delivers additional features available to owners of dCS devices with network streaming capabilities, including the Vivaldi, Rossini, and Bartok DACs and players. These include new browsing options for listeners using MinimServer 2.2 and new Internet Radio functions.
What's New:
Find Internet Radio Stations using URLs: You can now look up internet radio stations using URLs, making it easier to access premium stations and broadcasts.
Find High-Quality Stations at a Glance: High-quality internet radio stations are now labelled as such in the Mosaic App, allowing you to easily identify quality broadcasts when browsing.
Explore New Browsing Options with MinimServer 2.2: Mosaic's 1.42's UPnP improvements bring a wider range of browsing options for listeners using MinimServer 2.2. It is now possible to browse via recently added, recently played and file format, making it easier to navigate your audio collection.
Developing the Mosaic platform is a core focus for the design and engineering team at dCS. dCS spends a great deal of time assessing its performance, reviewing feedback from dCS owners, and exploring how they can enhance the Mosaic user experience. The app is updated on a regular basis and new versions are made available whenever dCS has new features to share. They also release new versions of the app to support upgrades to dCS products.
The latest version update is released in conjunction with LINA Network DAC 2.0. It also delivers additional features available to owners of dCS devices with network streaming capabilities, including the Vivaldi, Rossini, and Bartok DACs and players. These include new browsing options for listeners using MinimServer 2.2 and new Internet Radio functions.
What's New:
Find Internet Radio Stations using URLs: You can now look up internet radio stations using URLs, making it easier to access premium stations and broadcasts.
Find High-Quality Stations at a Glance: High-quality internet radio stations are now labelled as such in the Mosaic App, allowing you to easily identify quality broadcasts when browsing.
Explore New Browsing Options with MinimServer 2.2: Mosaic's 1.42's UPnP improvements bring a wider range of browsing options for listeners using MinimServer 2.2. It is now possible to browse via recently added, recently played and file format, making it easier to navigate your audio collection.
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