LINN UNIDISK SC/KS/P HDMI OUTPUT

I purchased this unit in January of 2012 on Audiogon from the original owner for $1400.  The unit has been unused since.  It works flawlessly (I tested the unit when I bought it and just now.) and it is in absolutely excellent condition.  I no longer have the original box.  The owner’s manual is available online for your perusal (http://linfo.linn.co.uk/binaries/3F99CDC4-2F6E-4726-85682087E8DF227B/ENGLISH_UNIDISK_SC_manl_rev3.pdf) and the original owner’s manual is included (see below).  Power cord and remote control are also included.  The unit was manufactured in 2004 and sold for $10,000 when new.  Serial Number:  1135845

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION/FEATURES: 

The Linn UNIDISK SC player is a complete pitch-accurate, high fidelity AV source and control component. The UNIDISK SC player automatically recognizes and plays high quality audio and video disc formats, quickly configuring playback.  Uniquely amongst universal disc players, the Linn designed SILVER DISK ENGINE identifies source material and outputs signals in their native format for optimized audio performance. The UNIDISK SC player is designed to be the central component within a multi-channel entertainment system, offering control and decoding for a wide range of external sources.  2 SPDIF inputs and 2 TOSLINK inputs interface to four digital sources, and four additional analogue inputs enable the UNIDISK SC player to decode a total of eight secondary sources.  With both fixed and variable audio outputs the UNIDISK SC player can be connected to a conventional 5-channel pre-amplifier or connected straight into multi-channel amplification.  Video switching is also supported allowing the user to link audio and video streams.

What makes the Unidisk SC so good?  At least part of the credit must go to Linn’s proprietary "Silver Disk Engine" (SDE) technology, first developed for the much more expensive Linn Unidisk 1.1 (which is roughly twice the price).  A joint development with Sony and ESS, the SDE is different from the majority of multi-format decoder/processor boards found in competing universal players in that it offers dedicated processing for SACD, DVD-Audio, CD and DVD-Video.  Don’t all universal players do this? No.  It’s a dirty little secret that the vast majority of today’s universal players convert the DSD digital data stream of SACD to PCM before the signal is converted to an analog waveform.  While this doesn’t necessarily preclude SACD from sounding better than conventional CD (or DVD-A for that matter), every audiophile knows that unnecessary signal conversion is to be avoided like the plague.  (It’s worth noting that dedicated audio-only SACD players such as those from Sony and Marantz do not undergo this DSD to PCM conversion process).  This is Linn’s unique digital processing that keeps each format in its native form and uses dedicated signal paths for each format instead of the more common approach of converting the different audio formats to a single common form (PCM) and using a single processing path.

Also note that the Unidisk SC’s transport uses two lasers in a single optical assembly:  infrared for SACD/CD, and shorter-wavelength visible red for all the DVD formats.

Unidisk SC also benefits from ’silent power’ from an evolved version of Linn’s Switch Mode Power Supply which delivers power to the internal circuitry and minimizes the effects of noise from the mains supply on the product performance.

Product Summary:   This is an amazing sounding piece of Linn equipment which is a DVD, CD and SACD player and also acts as a 5.1-channel preamp, source selector and DAC.  It also plays discs with mp3, mpeg-2 and jpeg files.  Formats supported: CD, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, SACD, VCD, SVCD, MP3.  Multichannel schemes supported: AAC, DTS, Dolby Pro Logic II, SACD 5.1. Output level: variable, up to 2.0V RMS.  Audio output impedance: 300 ohms.  "Red Book" D/A conversion scheme: 24-bit delta sigma, 12x oversampling.

Dimensions: 13.5" (345mm) W by 3" (75mm) H by 15" (385mm) D. Weight: 9.5 lbs (4.3kg).

•Advanced universal multi-channel source and control component

•Unites all quality disc formats including Super Audio CD & DVD-Audio

•Features proprietary Linn SILVER DISK ENGINE technology for optimized audio performance

•Fixed and variable audio outputs

•Decoding and control of up to eight secondary sources

•Supports all current analogue video standards

•Bass re-direct in all multi-channel modes