dCS Lina, the Ultimate Headphone System

Lina uses dCS Ring DAC technology for total black background
Lina Amp delivers power and dynamics with tonal transparency
Master Clock fixes timing inconsistencies caused by digital conversion and data transfer, enhancing the clarity of digital audio
Combined, the full dCS Lina system provides an unrivaled experience
Now available in Black and Silver finishes

Bloom’s Take

dCS has been at the forefront of digital audio, pushing the boundaries of evolving technology for over 30 years to deliver some of the finest DACs throughout the eras of digital to vinyl and back. dCS has reached the pinnacle of digital audio perfection with the Lina.

The Lina is comprised of three individual components: the Lina DAC, Lina Amplifier, and Lina Master Clock. Each is available separately, but the design intention is to combine all three into the ultimate trifecta of audio bliss. The package is intimidating, so prepare yourself for a bit more than a typical DAC / amp setup. The material design is rewardingly premium with high attention to detail, yet refreshingly simple. The features and specs are broad with compatibility and accessibility for today’s arsenal of modern audiophile solutions, particularly network streaming and high-quality sample frequency and format playback. And with the ability to increase the output gain, no worries driving the harder end of the headphone spectrum.

Sonically, the full Lina system sounds as if it’s not there at all: it’s simply the most transparent audio stack we’ve ever heard, like plugging your headphones directly into the studio mixing board. Every minute detail, no matter how small, is heard, and the perception is perfectly natural and neutral with detail and imaging, but without any exaggeration. It’s just so lifelike. After several comparisons and combinations of other DAC / amp setups, nothing we tried matched the simple balance of realism and transparency that Lina delivers.

We now get why dCS’s slogan is “Only the Music.”

Check out our full review here!

Mosaic 1.42 and Lina 2.0

dCS has further improved the power and capabilities of Lina with software update 2.0. Lina 2.0 adds two new Mapper settings, DSD128 Upsampling, and new DSD and PCM filters, and Balance controls. It also provides two important accessibility improvements: text size adjustment, and support for a broader range of remotes.

Mosaic 1.42 enables you to control these new features through the app, and improves support for online radio stations to give you more music discovery options.

Update Notes: Lina updates are facilitated via dCS Mosaic. Make sure Lina is connected to your network, and on Mosaic, navigate to Support -> Versions -> Check for Updates. Please allow 30 minutes for the update to complete. Do not power off Lina during the update.

A Bold Vision

Lina began with a desire to create a system that reveals the full potential of your chosen headphones, plus the full breadth of detail, artistry and emotion in your music. Drawing on their extensive experience of pioneering audio products like the award-winning dCS Vivaldi, Rossini and Bartók headphone DAC, Lina set out to engineer a new series that embodies their singular approach to sound reproduction.

Rooted in Heritage

Lina is made possible through 3 decades of innovation, a tireless pursuit to advance the standard of sound reproduction and bring people closer to the music they love. Tempered by 35 years of development, Lina combines state-of-the-art hardware and software with a technical lineage traced back to the advent of digital audio, and the creation of the world’s first ever high-res digital converters.

A Custodian of Sound

Offering technical precision, transparency, and musicality in equal measure, Lina reproduces each aspect of a recording, from the subtlest of sonic details, to the sense of rhythm, movement, and harmonic flow, with absolute integrity. Whatever track is chosen, it delivers a performance that feels vividly detailed, effortlessly natural, and emotionally compelling. Always faithful to your music, it brings a new level of realism and purity to playback.

Specifications

Full Stack Specs
Full Stack Dimensions: 14.5″ (H) x 8.7″ (W) x 13.4″ (D)
Finish: Black or Silver aluminum (DAC has crystal LED)
Power: 90-120v & 220-240v, 50/60Hz nominal

Lina Network DAC (Full DAC Specs Here)

Network: RJ-45 ethernet
Digital Inputs
- (x2) AES/EBU, 3 pin XLR
- (x1) S/PDIF BNC Coax
- (x1) S/PDIF, RCA
- (x1) Toslink
- (x1) USB-B
- (x1) USB-A (mass storage)
Streaming Compatibility: RoonReady, Tidal, Qobuz, UPnP, Deezer, Internet Radio, Spotify, Apple AirPlay 2
Sample frequencies and formats
- 44.1-384kHz
- DSD 64, 128
- Native DSD + DoP
- FLAC, WAV, AIFF, MQA
Analog Outputs
- (x1) Stereo pair 3 pin Balanced XLR
- (x1) Stereo pair RCA
Upsampling: Multi-stage DXD oversampling
Word Clock: (x2) BNC

Lina Master Clock (Full Clock Specs Here)

Word Clock Outputs: (x2) BNC
Clock Accuracy: Better than +/-1 ppm

Lina Headphone Amp (Full Amp Specs Here)

Analog Inputs
- (x1) Stereo pair RCA
- (x1) Stereo pair unbuffered Bal XLR
- (x1) Stereo pair buffered Bal XLR
Frequency Response: 1Hz-100kHz better than +0/-3dB
THD+N: <0.005% @ 1kHz 6Vrms
SN/R: 110dB 20Hz-20kHz A-weighted
Headphone Outputs
- Dual 3-pin balanced XLR, R and L channel
- (x1) Single 4-pin balanced XLR
- (x1) Single 6.3mm headphone jack
Power Output
- (x2) Bal 2W / 30Ω
- (x2) Bal 0.48W / 300Ω
- (x2) 1.6W / 30Ω
- (x2) 0.2W / 300Ω

In the Box

Network DAC
Master Clock
Headphone Amp
(x3) Mains cable
(x3) Power Link cables
(x2) XLR cables
(x1) Ethernet cable
(x2) BNC cables

dCS Lina System | Headphone DAC, Amp, and Master Clock