About The Linn Selekt DSM Organik Music Streamer
The Linn Selekt DSM sits in the middle of the Linn streamer range, between the entry level Majik DSM and the flagship Klimax DSM. As usual with Linn, the Selekt DSM is a fully configurable product with connectivity and performance upgrades available. Here we have the Classic Hub with the top of the range Organik DAC and Analogue RCA & XLR outputs for connection to an amplifier.
The Classic Hub features powder-coated, folded aluminium casework mounted atop an 8 mm thick, machined aluminium base. It is available in either a subtly textured black or flat silver finish.
Classic Hub possesses a tactile and eye-catching central control dial, and contains hidden LEDs that shine through with a silken glow to indicate volume. There is an array of six machined stainless-steel 'smart' buttons for one-touch access to favourite playlists, artists, albums, or inputs. With their intuitive operation, these interfaces encourage physical interaction with your system.
A broad range of connectivity ensures that Classic Hub can receive and deliver audio from any source imaginable; with a high-performance, integrated, analogue-to-digital conversion stage accepting anything from turntables to CD players, and a host of digital connections allowing connection to video streaming devices, games consoles, and Blu-ray players – ensuring you get tremendous sound quality from anything you connect to your Selekt DSM.
Classic Hub has outputs dedicated to providing bass reinforcement to a subwoofer. There is also an integrated headphone amp with 1/4" jack output for personal listening sessions at home.
Organik DAC: "Is this better than what's available elsewhere?" At Linn, nothing progresses beyond the prototype stage if it can't answer this question with a resounding 'Yes!'.
Designing and building their own DAC, completely from scratch, was no exception. It was only worth doing if the result would be significantly better than Linn's previous designs utilising 3rd-party chips.
Designed without compromise, and engineered entirely in-house, Organik is the culmination of over thirty years of digital technology expertise.
There are many different types of 'discrete' DAC. Although simply making something 'discrete' does not necessarily result in high performance. The performance advantage of Organik comes from its unique combination of:
- Modulation Method – Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) Delta-Sigma
- Conversion Stage – Discrete Analog Finite Impulse Response (AFIR)
- Implementation – Ultra-stable power, precision clocking, and expert PCB design
When employed together, the PWM modulator and AFIR conversion stage are immune to many of the problems that affect other discrete designs — where small errors in switching times or resistor values can generate distortion.
However, in order to realise the full potential of this conversion method, great attention must also be paid to other factors such as power supply, clocking, and perhaps most importantly, the physical layout of the circuit board.
Organik uses an 8-layer circuit board, facilitating optimal delivery of power and clocks to the DAC. Power for the conversion stage is generated by a discrete regulator, and delivered using multiple internal power planes.
Clock traces are matched to within fractions of a millimetre, to ensure that every part of the DAC receives its clock at precisely the same time. All these elements work in harmony to create an analogue signal with incredibly low levels of noise and distortion — far lower than anything Linn's engineers have ever achieved before.
Powered by Utopik: Utopik describes the all-new generation of exceptionally efficient and highly responsive Linn power supplies. Featuring intelligent Valley Switching, Power Factor Correction, and with precision-regulated power rails – these power supplies are Linn's cleanest and best yet.
Configure Selekt DSM: The breadth of possibility within the Selekt DSM ecosystem is vast. Start with your choice of chassis – either Classic Hub as featured here, or the deluxe and higher-performance Edition Hub. Then select your desired DAC performance level – whether Standard, upgraded to Katalyst, or the peak performance of Organik – before considering how your Selekt DSM will be tailored to your own specific application.
Whether you're working your way towards the separates system of your dreams with Selekt DSM as source-only, the highest-performance all-in-one box product available with on-board amps, the heart of your home entertainment in partnership with your TV, or you seek a fully integrated 5.1 Surround Sound receiver; whether your wish is to bi-amp, tri-amp, or even go Exakt with your loudspeakers from a single, luxurious, silver-anodised or black box – Selekt DSM accomplishes all with alacrity.
Selekt DSM is the most configurable digital music player ever. It's a fully customisable and future-proof product ecosystem for hi-fi enthusiasts; a unique, high-performance offering unlike anything else on the market. Make it your own…
Our Take
The Linn Selekt DSM Classic Hub with flagship Organik DAC sits comfortably at the top of Linn’s Classic lineup, slotting in between the Majik DSM and the top-tier Klimax DSM. It’s a well-thought-out music streamer that brings together solid engineering and a clean, modern design. The chassis is made from folded aluminium with a powder-coated finish, resting on a machined base — available in either textured black or a flat silver, depending on your taste. Up top, you’ll find a central dial surrounded by soft-glowing LEDs and six stainless-steel smart buttons, all designed to make everyday use easy and intuitive.
Connectivity-wise, the Classic Hub covers a lot of ground. It can handle just about anything you throw at it — turntables, CD players, or video gear — and passes it through with great sound quality, no fuss.
The real star under the hood is Linn’s Organik DAC, which they’ve designed and built entirely in-house. It uses a combo of Pulse Width Modulation and a unique analogue conversion approach to reduce distortion and keep the sound clean and accurate. The 8-layer circuit board helps with consistent power delivery and timing, keeping everything tight and low-noise. It’s all backed by Linn’s Utopik power supply, which uses some clever tricks to deliver stable, efficient power throughout the system.
The end result? A natural, detailed analogue signal that’s a joy to listen to — making the Selekt DSM Classic Hub with Organik DAC a top-notch choice for anyone looking to really step up their streaming game.
Main Features & Specifications
- Design: High Performance Network Music Streamer with Organik DAC
- Aluminium Construction with Acrylic Fascia
- Cut-Glass Control Dial
- Six Programmable Machined Stainless-Steel 'Smart' Buttons
- Wide Range of Inputs Accept Virtually Any Source
- High-Performance MM/MC/Line-In Analogue Phono Stage
- Powered by Utopik – Linn's Best Power Supply Design Ever
- Support for FLAC, Apple Lossless, WAV, DSD (64/128/256), MP3, WMA (except lossless), AIFF, AAC and OGG at up to 24-bit/384kHz resolution
- Wireless Streaming via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and AirPlay 2
- MM/MC Phono Stage
- Analogue Input (RCA Pair)
- Space Optimisation
- Exakt Ready
Inputs
- Ethernet x 1
- HDMI ARC x 1
- Toslink x 2
- SPDIF (1 x configurable in/out) x 2
- USB Type-B (Audio Class 2) x 1
- Line Level Phono (RCA) x1
- MM Phono (RCA) x1
- MC Phono (RCA) x1
Outputs
- Exakt Link x 2
- SPDIF (configurable in/out) x 1
- RCA Subwoofer Out x 1
- 1/4" Headphone Jack x 1
General
- Available Finishes: Black, Silver
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 355 x 122.5 x 355mm
- Weight: 5 kg
- Manufacturer's Warranty: 5 Years
Note: Features & Specifications Subject To Change Without Notice. E&OE.