Linn Selekt DSM Edition Hub

The Selekt DSM Edition Hub is Linn's mid-tier streaming hub — the product that defines the Selekt's fundamental proposition most clearly, because the Hub configuration strips away the onboard power amplification of the Selekt DSM and focuses entirely on what a streaming preamplifier exists to do: receive the signal, process it with the greatest possible precision, and deliver it downstream in the best possible condition. At £9,950, the Edition Hub occupies a precise and deliberate position in the Linn range — above the Majik DSM, below the Linn Klimax System Hub — and its modular architecture ensures that the investment is in a platform that can be reconfigured and upgraded without chassis replacement, at any point in its working life.

The Edition variant distinguishes itself from the Classic Hub through its chassis specification: all-machined aluminium, mirrored spy glass panel, and a precision-turned stainless steel control bearing with 100-LED illumination. This is not cosmetic differentiation. The machined aluminium chassis is a more rigidly controlled mechanical environment than a pressed or fabricated alternative, and the Edition Hub's construction standard matches the internal ambitions of the platform it houses.

Modular Architecture — The Platform That Grows With You

The Selekt DSM Edition Hub's most consequential design decision is its modularity. Three cartridge slots accept a range of Linn-designed modules: stereo line-level outputs, stereo power amplifier outputs, mono line-level outputs, subwoofer outputs, and HDMI switching modules for AV integration. The DAC module — Standard, Katalyst, or Organik — fits independently of the output cards. The chassis accommodates different combinations without modification, and any combination can be changed at a future date without replacing the unit.

This is a genuine upgrade path and not a marketing abstraction. The Katalyst DAC architecture, introduced by Linn in 2016, represented a measurable and audible improvement over the standard DAC configuration — a more rigorous voltage reference design across each DAC element, reducing noise and improving low-level resolution across the entire frequency range. The Organik DAC goes further still: Linn's first entirely in-house DAC architecture, developed without a third-party DAC chip, with a dedicated precision reference for each individual DAC element rather than a shared reference across channels. The improvement at each step is audible to anyone who listens carefully, and the modular platform means neither step requires a new chassis.

The Edition Hub is typically purchased with a DAC module specified at the outset. The correct DAC choice depends on the system downstream and the budget available — a conversation worth having properly rather than defaulting to the lowest available option.

Space Optimisation — Room Correction Done Correctly

Every Linn DSM includes Space Optimisation — Linn's mathematically modelled room correction system, which accounts for room dimensions, surface materials, and speaker placement to address bass resonances and stereo imaging anomalies before they reach the listener. Space Optimisation is not a generic equaliser. It models the acoustic behaviour of a specific room and applies corrections derived from that model — a fundamentally different approach to room correction that addresses the causes of acoustic problems rather than their symptoms.

The practical effect is one of the more dramatic demonstrations available at our Norwich showroom. Bass tightens and becomes better defined; the stereo image becomes more stable and more precisely placed; music that was previously muddied by room acoustics acquires a clarity that passive room treatment alone cannot replicate. Space Optimisation is included at no additional cost and available to any Selekt DSM Edition Hub owner regardless of which DAC module is fitted.

Exakt Link — Digital to the Loudspeaker

Two Exakt Link outputs allow direct connection to Exakt-enabled loudspeakers — including the Linn 360 Active Loudspeaker — or to Exaktboxes such as the Linn Exaktbox Sub for extended bass integration in a larger system. In an Exakt system, the digital signal travels from the hub to the loudspeaker as a lossless bitstream — the DAC conversion happens inside the cabinet, immediately before the amplifier stage for each individual drive unit. There is no analogue interconnect carrying the signal between source and amplifier, no passive crossover in the signal path, and no point at which the converted analogue signal is exposed to the noise floor of any external component. The result is a system of exceptional resolution and coherence — and one in which the Selekt DSM Edition Hub, paired with appropriate Exakt speakers, requires no separate amplification.

Note: DSD files are handled by the internal DAC and output via analogue connections — they do not play back over the Exakt Link.

Connectivity and Streaming

The Selekt DSM Edition Hub provides a comprehensive connectivity suite. Analogue inputs cover two RCA line-level inputs, plus MM and MC phono — accommodating both a turntable and an additional analogue source. Digital inputs include two Toslink, two SPDIF coaxial, and a USB Type-B Audio Class 2 input for direct computer connection. HDMI ARC is provided for television audio integration. Bluetooth 4.2 handles wireless connection from mobile devices.

Network connectivity covers Ethernet (100Base-T) and Wi-Fi 802.11ac. Supported streaming services include Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify Connect, Deezer, AirPlay 2, Roon Ready, TuneIn, and Calm Radio. Maximum resolution is 24-bit/384kHz with the Organik DAC; DSD 64/128/256 is supported via the internal DAC.

Technical Specifications

Who Is It For?

The Selekt DSM Edition Hub is for the listener who wants to enter the Linn ecosystem at a serious level — with quality passive amplification and speakers already in place, or with a clear intention to move towards an Exakt active system using the Linn 360 Active Loudspeaker or other Exakt-compatible speakers. It is also the correct choice for those who want Organik DAC performance without the investment the Linn Klimax System Hub demands — the Edition Hub with Organik is a step closer to the Klimax than the price differential alone suggests, and the modular platform means the chassis remains relevant as Linn's architecture continues to develop.

Those considering a future move into active bass extension will find the Linn Exaktbox Sub integrates directly and seamlessly within the same Exakt framework.

Buying from Martins Hi-Fi

Martins Hi-Fi has been in Norwich since 1968. Elizabeth Gould runs the business today, and we stock only brands we have heard properly and stand behind.

The DAC module and output card combination that is correct for your system depends on your existing amplification, your speakers, and where you intend to take the system over time — and that conversation is worth having properly before ordering. We can demonstrate the Selekt DSM Edition Hub at our Norwich showroom and advise on the configuration that makes the most sense for your specific situation.

When you get in touch, you'll be speaking with Dave, Chris and Tim — experienced specialists who can advise on this product and your whole system.

Contact us at info@martinshifi.co.uk, call 01603 627010, or WhatsApp on 07554 687137. You can read more about how we work on our Why Martins Hi-Fi page. We are at 85–91 Ber Street, Norwich, NR1 3EY.