Linn Selekt DSM

It does a bit. It'd be interesting to hear what Linnites think of it, but Linn have shut their forum down specifically so people can't talk about it !

AndyMoss posted:

It does a bit. It'd be interesting to hear what Linnites think of it, but Linn have shut their forum down specifically so people can't talk about it !

Ahh was wondering. Why what do they fear ?

To truly compare it vs a Nova the price is £6750 (inc power amp) ????

Perhaps those with full width systems feel a bit put out and are moaning, not knowing where they stand? A lack of info as usual.

Obsydian posted:

To truly compare it vs a Nova the price is £6750 (inc power amp) ????

The £6,750 model comes with the power amp and Katalyst. Without the latter, it costs a mere £5,250!

“Available in 4 different configurations.
Linn Selekt DSM £4000
Linn Selekt DSM with Integrated Power Amp £5250
Linn Selekt DSM with Kataylst £5500
Linn Selekt DSM with Intergrated Power Amp & Katalyst £6750”

£5250, bet the Naim beanies are foaming at the mouth.

Hillarious I went to check out the forum and mentioned above it's down until the launch is over, mid October, as in the whole forum ????

What HiF I gives it a like warm review but mentions awaiting a hands on, even mention the Nova.

    ???? LATEST NEWS,...LINN SELEKT DSM ????                                                Part 1.

This information below,will be smoking fresh from a Dealer Event in the US.
The information landed here an hour ago,..so fresher it can hardly be ????.

The eminent Thomas OKeefe' (ThomasOK on forums),is the contributor to this information.
In the same way as in the "LP12-Radikal Problem" thread,it is okay for me to add this information here to you too.

This is Part 1,of the information,..there will be two parts to,a little later.
There may later be more parts,but these three are now in the first place.

It's good that we have an eye on the competitor ????.

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Below is Thomas OKeefe's information..????????

◾So as pretty much everybody knows Linn announced the new Selekt DSM platform, so named because you can select what you want it to incorporate. Initial configurations have the following US prices:

$5200 Selekt DSM
$6825 Selekt DSM with amp modules
$7000 Selekt DSM with Katalyst
$8775 Selekt DSM with Katalyst and amp modules

It should be mentioned that these amp modules are Class D amps with a custom control loop and are rated at 100W/channel 4 Ohms, 50W 8 Ohms. So Linn have taken a further step on the all digital, all the time path. All Selekts have the ability to connect either an MC or an MM cartridge (but reportedly not both at once, even though there are two sets of connectors so marked), one line level input, two each of toslink and SPDIF inputs, a USB input and an HDMI with ARC input (so you can hook up your TV and use the TV for switching the various HDMI sources). Of course Ethernet and two ExaktLink ports are featured as well.

Additional modules coming out sometime in 2019 are an HDMI/surround module with additional channels of amplification (I would guess not all 5 on that module), 4 HDMI in/1 out and Dolby Digital Plus and DTS support. Also a headphone amplifier module and Bluetooth/WiFi (although not clear if that requires a separate module).

From what we have heard you can't have an amplifier module and preamp outputs (RCA and XLR) in the same unit. Somewhat of a shame in terms of being able to do comparisons, maybe not that much of an impact on potential customers.

All modules will be able to be added on later but will cost more than when ordered with the unit (how much more has not been nailed down yet).

You've seen the photos, it is a new and more stylish look for Linn and has some things to impress potential customers like lighting up the dial when you approach it. Linn is mostly aiming this at new customers who like the convenience of an all-in-one unit, so in many ways it is a replacement for the Classik. As such I don't believe this is for the really serious videophile who would be looking to 4K BluRay with the latest codecs, more for those who want stereo or 5.1 with the other features like quality streaming, turntable connection, Tidal, etc.

One feature this unit is made to use is Linns new "Pin" interface which is coming soon to Kazoo. Pins are basically presets but can preset pretty much anything, from a specific input or streaming platform to internet radio stations or playlists. The front panel accommodates six of them through the silver buttons but many more can be handled through Kazoo with any Linn streamer. Also the big knob on the top can control multiple things, like scrolling through a playlist and selecting a track, not just volume.

Overall I think it is a pretty cool device based on photos and what I've read, although I haven't seen one in person yet. We do have a couple demos on order. I'm not quite sure why the headphone amp and Wi-Fi wasn't a built-in but the other options all make sense to me. Musically it is supposed to fall between the Majik and Akurate lines as it does on price. Forgive me if this is somewhat repetitive but I thought it might be helpful to gather most of the information in one place.◾ 

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Part 2 coming a little later.

/Peder???? 

I am sure that the Selekt range will be very good indeed. I wonder if Linn have had time to take their design cues from the new Naim range. Probably not, but it's remarkable how similar they look. Both ranges look very aesthetically pleasing to my eye.

However, I find the closure of the Linn forum to be more than a little strange and off-putting, and I suspect that a few things are happening in the background which will not be to the liking of Linn devotees. 

It does appear as though Linn is ditching the streamer only versions of their products (the DS versions) and will now exclusively offer streamers with built in pre-amps (the DSM range). Further rumours suggest that Linn will no longer offer the upgrade of DS units to DSM, or indeed the upgrade of existing Klimax DS streamers to DS/3 (Katalyst architecture) level. That will certainly be a loss from my perspective. I have no desire to purchase a streamer with built in pre-amp, but I was thinking of upgrading my 2nd generation DS/1 to DS/3, but I guess I will now be sticking with my own Klimax DS/1 (which after all is very good indeed), or jumping ship to another brand as and when (or if) funds become available,    

I wonder how long before a Linn devotee sets up a forum devoted to Linn, unmoderated by Linn of course. 

best

David

I like the modular aspect of it - that you can add in an upgraded DAC at some point, and I guess if they develop a better power amp you could switch the old one out. I'm always put off off up-grading as you either have to suffer a poor trade-in price or go to the hassle of a private sales, so being able to swap bits out sounds interesting. Or like Cyrus at any rate.

In general Linn seem to have decided people want fewer boxes (their Exact speaker systems are expensive but look real neat) rather than Naim's feelings that people would prefer a pile of black boxes. I'm sure they both know what they are doing and who their customer base is.

That looks pretty ugly to me in all honesty, though the options/modules sound interesting for AV enthusiasts.

It all depends on how it sounds......I have been disappointed when I heard a Linn system with amp and speakers. Others say the front end is good. It needs some hands on reviews, but with the website now out of bounds on launch, very little info will be available. Read into that decision what you may.

Gazza posted:

It all depends on how it sounds......I have been disappointed when I heard a Linn system with amp and speakers. Others say the front end is good. It needs some hands on reviews, but with the website now out of bounds on launch, very little info will be available. Read into that decision what you may.

It’s only their forum that’s down, the main Linn site is still operational afaik.

Hmack posted:

It does appear as though Linn is ditching the streamer only versions of their products (the DS versions) and will now exclusively offer streamers with built in pre-amps (the DSM range). 

Given the relatively large market for up-market network / multi-room systems, which is something Linn have done rather well, I would have thought it in their best interest to continue producing equipment such as the Sekrit or Sneaky DS or current Selekt DSM.

EDIT: I just re-read your post and see that you mentioned the built-in pre-amp. Sorry!

    ???? LATEST NEWS,...LINN SELEKT DSM ????                                              Part 2.

Below is a description of Thomas OKeefe',of other changes in Linn's streaming range.

◾ Interesting is what stands at the bottom,..that Linn uses a Naim Uniti product.
In this case,Naim Nova when they compare A against B to journalists.
As I wrote in another thread,..What use Linn then for speaker-cables,and how long has Naim Nova been turned on.
It is easy to demonstrate down a product if you want to.

And that Linn doesn't seem to be a "Source First" company anymore.
Linn Klimax DS that emanates,..plays better than Linn Klimax DSM that remains in the range.
This has been well known for a long time,for us who compared these two streamers against each other.

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Below is Thomas OKeefe's writing.. ????????

The other major part of the announcements is the realignment of the DS product line. No more just plain DS units, the Klimax DS, Akurate DS and Majik DS are gone after a last order date of September 30th. Along with this the pricing structure has changed with the reduction of the Majik DSM from $4100 to $3000! This makes it less than the Majik DS, which I don't imagine was selling all that well, and makes it a really good value as an entry level all in one unit that actually sounds quite good.

A few months back Linn lowered the Klimax DSM price from $27,500 to $23,380 - the same exakt price as the Klimax DS. At the time I figured that the KDS was likely not long for this world. It is too bad as most feel it is more musical as a source than the KDSM. Unusual for a source first company to discontinue its best digital source, I would think it would have been better to at least keep that one around, especially since it is also the first of its type. Then again, you obviously generally would use it with somebody else's preamp or a KK which Linn don't think is as good as the DVC in the KDSM. There is the advantage that you can connect a bunch of other things to it but I'm not sure that outweighs having the most musical unit of its type for the potential customer of a top level product.

As to the ADS I can see that a bit more as you would go Klimax level if you want the best sound so the bit of compromise for the extra functionality (which is also more expansive than on the KDSM) is likely to be less painful. I would guess that fewer of the ADS were sold in relation to ADSM compared to at the Klimax level but I could easily be wrong. Regardless, at least Katalyst upgrades will still be available for the KDS and ADS for the time being.

So the new lineup is (all US prices):

KDSM $23,380
ADSM $10,250
SDSM $7000 with Katalyst DAC
SDSM $5200 standard DAC
MDSM $3000

Plus you can add the SDSM power amp modules for $1775 to $1825 depending on which configuration you add it to. So a wide range of coverage in pricing and capability. I do find it amusing to read in the press that now Linn has four streaming platforms - what were/are the Sneaky/Sekrit DS/DSM, chopped liver? Although Linn does make them rather hard to find on its website, the Sekrit DS and DSM are still on the new pricelist at $1560 and $2275. I think that makes five?

Linn also renamed the Klimax Exakt DSM and Akurate Exakt DSM to the Klimax System Hub and Akurate System Hub, helping to alleviate the confusion the original naming caused from day one. Also more appropriate as they never were really DSM units.

Finally, probably mostly under the radar, Linn has renamed the Majik Exaktbox-I to the Akurate Exaktbox-I further reducing the Majik electronics box count. The case has been changed to the Akurate casework but the internals remain the same, then so does the price at $6320. Katalyst will come to this unit sometime in 2019 and those buying a new Akurate Exaktbox-1 will be able to upgrade for just the price difference between Katalyst and non-Katalyst versions.

So lots of changes at Linn, not the least of which was demonstrating the Selekt with non-Linn speakers (Wilson Audio in the US) ???? and doing direct A/Bs against a Naim Uniti piece (who could have imagined they were going after that line)!????

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Part 3 coming a little later.

/Peder???? 

I still think it is funny: 1-2 years after Naim launches the Uniti devices with the top-mounted volume control, Linn also introduces a line with a similar thing ????

Although I fail to see why the Nova should have  three volume controls. On the app, remotecontrol  and on top. Especially the one on top of the Nova is to , me a waste of space and financiel resources. 

Aaahh, Fred ... always complaining ????

Nova volume wheel is useless as in the amount of times I have used it, say maybe 6 in total, but the design with it is super sexy, I love it, makes that daft Linn effort look pitiful.

That said I would like to find a Linn/Naim dealer (do they exist) and do a head to head demo.

Yep Signals Hifi , felixstowe....have to agree on the wheel, great design, never use it.

Much as I love my Nova I have to agree that both the volume wheel and the proximity sensor are as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike.

They are very impressive at a dem when the salesperson is standing by the product putting it through its paces but sat several feet away on a sofa listening to music they are absolutely bloody useless!

Looks like ND5XS2 will be a big seller, then!!

When I run to answer the door/telephone, I love an accessible, physical volume control 

Pev posted:

Much as I love my Nova I have to agree that both the volume wheel and the proximity sensor are as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike.

Yes, I rarely use the volume wheel/dust trap, occasionally do but not often - if you could actually select local/NAS storage media via the in-built buttons and display then you could potentially use it without Remote or app.

It may work well for those who put a Nova/Atom etc on the top level of a support or sideboard but on the middle/lower shelf of a support the volume wheel on top is far less accessible.

The display too is under-utilised - it's ok in itself but could be put to so many other uses with appropriate software support.

I like the vol control on the muso with the touch standby button built in along with 5 favourite radio stations, pity they dident replicate that functionality with the unitis. I quite like having the nova volume dial though, often I will switch it on locally, select a radio station and adjust vol to suit without fumbling with ipad or phone, looks nice too!