The Linn Exotik+DA was an excellent preamplifier and processor. And yet we were surprised to learn from Linn that it has already been replaced with a component called the Akurate Kontrol.

The Kontrol forms part of a new range from Linn that includes the Kontrol preamp, 2200 power amplifier (2x 200 watts), Tuner and existing 242 loudspeakers.

However, the most interesting product from this suprise new range is this disc player, rather confusingly dubbed the Akurate CD. In fact, it's so much more than that, as it plays both the high-resolution formats - SACD and DVD-Audio, as well as DTS, in stereo and multichannel.

Also, if you look at Linn's current range, the Akurate is now the flagship music-only disc player that Linn produces - the three more expensive Unidisk machines offer video playback in addition to audio.

The range of formats the Akurate plays is, as far as we're aware, unique; there are no other DVD-A players that don't do video. This is a multichannel player too, with outputs for centre, surround and subwoofer channels alongside two sets of stereo/front left/right connections.

There's even a pair of XLR sockets to get the stereo signal in balanced form, as well as optical and coaxial digital outs. For some reason the output here is limited to what can be had from a CD; it won't deliver the 24/96 data rate from DVD-A that other machines do. It will, however, upsample CD's 44.1kHz, to 96kHz for a digital connection to the Kontrol preamplifier.

The Akurate CD is built around Linn's Silver Disk Engine - about the only SACD drive developed in this part of the world - and a component with a build quality that's echoed in the machined disc drawer that flows out of the player with a purr.

It's a very slick operator, albeit one that takes a little while to come to terms with SACD. If you discount the drawer, the Akurate is a rather plain-looking player for its price, and a small one at that. This is because Linn uses 'silent power' switch-mode power supplies that don't require large transformers.