Linn Selekt DSM – Modular Streamer

Many once famous and acclaimed brands have gradually been lost until they become extinct for good. This is true in all industries, not just audio. Just think of seemingly unassailable giants such as Kodak in photography or Nokia in telephony, which at the height of their development had no rivals, whose traces have now been lost. The causes may have varied, but one factor that all extinctions, whether commercial, technological or biological, have had in common has been the inability to adapt to change.

In contrast, an example of effective adaptation has been demonstrated by Linn, which over a period of more than fifty years has evolved with exemplary skill from analog to digital even ahead of its time.

Theory and practice of high-end evolution

The Scottish company was born in 1972, taking the baton from the production of the Ariston turntables that were the foundation of the Sondek LP12 lineage, still going strong and acclaimed. There has been no shortage of difficult times, junctures in which, however, the Glasgow-based company has been able to adapt. One above all was the advent of the digital age, which was fatal to many turntable manufacturers but was instead an opportunity for Linn to relaunch itself. Without stopping at the iconic Sondek LP12 turntable, it has been able to make some of the most musical reading systems of the “dark” era of 1990s CD players. With the arrival of the Internet, it was then one of the first companies to realize that the Net could be an ideal vehicle for high-quality music. Linn was even ahead of its time by being among the first to make devices that could interface with the network and distribute high-resolution music on its site. So, after more than fifty years, we can still experience a Linn device, and it is no coincidence that it is indeed a streamer. A Linn steamer, however, that goes beyond the box and is a universal component. All with the quality one would expect from a high-end product. We are talking about the Selekt DSM, a name that indeed evokes natural selection but in this case we could call it technological.

Selekt DSM: selection and technological inclusiveness

The term selection sometimes takes on the meaning of exclusion, the Selekt DSM on the other hand appears to be a very inclusive component. DSM stands for Digital Streaming and Music Player but Linn actually allows expansion to different functions and leaves the door open for future upgrades. This device was created as a modular hub where streaming is the starting point on which to build the system according to one’s sound needs.

Let’s go step by step and start with the base, the Network Music Player as it is defined by Linn. It comes in two versions, the Classic Hub and the Edition Hub. The former is the relatively basic version, while the latter has more refined aesthetic refinements, such as a billet aluminum top panel and glass front panel while on the other it is acrylic. The glass multifunction knob on the top also has mechanics that make it smoother. Utopik power supply is included for both.

The basic Selekt DSM is actually a platform that must be configured with boards and modules, referred to in English as cartridges . To start with, it has analog inputs, one line and two phono (MM/MC, respectively). Digital connections are two S/PDIF, two TOSLINK, two RJ45 Exact Link for direct interfacing with compatible Linn components, plus a third classic Ethernet. Then there is an HDMI-ARC socket for a TV and USB-B input for use as a computer DAC. As the only analog output there is a dedicated pair for subwoofers. The basic Selekt DSM can only be used to interface with Linn Exakt loudspeakers, so one must plan to install output modules for all other situations. The additional modules are enclosed within their own enclosure, designed to fit quickly into three special slides provided on the back. For a configuration as a streamer-DAC, the analog module with one pair of XLR and one RCA output should be included. The concept of modularity is so far-reaching that the analog cartridge itself can be equipped with different DACs. The D/A cards available are Standard, Katalyst and Organik, the latter also in mono configuration, so you would need two analog modules if you want the higher configuration. Two modules can be installed at the same time with Standard and Katalyst DACs, for example, but never in conjunction with the Organik, which must always be alone.

Power Amplifier modules are also available that transform the Selekt DSM into an “all-in-one” smart-amp of 100 watts into four ohms and 50 watts into eight ohms. The DAC board must also be installed on this module, which can be chosen as in the previous cases. The most ambitious evolution may be the one that opens the door to multichannel. The compositions can be countless if we consider that the Selekt can also turn into an A/V Receiver by installing multiple amplifier modules in the vertical slots and multiple HDMI inputs. You really are spoiled for choice and it is worth studying how you can best set up your Selekt DSM.