Note: It should be noted that this upgrade information may at times be out of date and should not be used as a current list of what upgrades are available.
Initial Configuration
Considerations before installation, make sure that you have
A mains power socket
Stable mains supply
100-120V rms 50~60Hz,
220-240V rms 50~60Hz
An Ethernet/LAN connection to your broadband Router. (You may need to connect it to a wired network connection to allow setup and configuration.
The HDMI connection from your TV is not too long and is the correct specification of cables.
EARTH GROUND - For connecting the unit to an earthing terminal if no mains earth is available or for joining the earths of other products in the system to improve performance in areas of poor/noisy electrical earth conditions.
UNBALANCED OUT RIGHT, LEFT - To connect to a preamplifier (or power amplifier when internal volume control is enabled) with unbalanced (RCA) analogue inputs.
BALANCED OUT RIGHT, LEFT - To connect to a preamplifier (or power amplifier when internal volume control is enabled) with balanced (XLR) analogue inputs.
Web-browser App called Manage systems that can also be used on your Tablet:
Before you do anything you will need to have a Linn Account. This is a simple process and can only be performed using the Kazoo App or Linn App.
Details on how to create your Linn Account and how to use Manage systems can be found in the Manage Systems page.
Space Optimisation
Linn Space Optimisation is a digital room-correction and acoustic modelling technology built into all Linn network music players and systems. It removes the unwanted distorting effects of your listening environment to reveal cleaner music.
How It Works
Acoustic Modelling: Instead of using a calibration microphone, it uses mathematical and physical modelling to analyse how your speakers and room interact.
Room Parameters: Scan your room using LinnDAR or enter your room dimensions, construction materials, ceiling shapes, and features like windows, doors, and furnishings into a web tool.
Speaker Matching: Select your specific speaker model from a large database (supporting hundreds of models from both Linn and third-party brands).
Low-Frequency Control: It targets frequencies below 80 Hz where room boundaries and dimensions cause energy peaks, muddy bass, and prolonged decay, cutting down that distortion.
Practical vs. Ideal Placement: It allows you to place your speakers in practical positions for your living space while making them sound as though they are sitting in their acoustically ideal locations.
Controlling your Linn DS/DSM using an infrared handset
To control your Linn DS/DSM you can you the infra-red handset supplied with the product as well as the Linn App, Kazoo. This can be downloaded & installed
The infra-red handset supplied has;-
* Volume control, Mute
* Input control with PIN selection
* Radio station selection using the handset joystick,
* Playlist navigation using the handset joystick,
* Transport control (Play, Stop, Pause, Skip & Search) &
* Music information.
The Technical Specifications of the IR handset can be found HERE
Control of the Linn DS/DSM using a PC/MAC/Tablets & Phones
Initial installation
Linn App
Linn DS/DSM is best controlled using the Linn mobile app
These manuals should only be used as a basic guide for what the buttons can do. We would recommend just using the App/Software and only using the guide if you are having difficulty or want to see what more features are available.
These guides may show some features that are not available, or not have not been configured to work in your system. If you're required additional information, then please contact your Retailer or Linn Support Site
Spotify Connectcan now be used on Linn products using firmware Davaar59 (Aug 2017) or later firmware. (That is, if your Linn Klimax DSM has had a software update after Aug 2017 then you can use Spotify connect)
This allows you to select and play your Spotify music on your Linn DS/DSM players and use the internal volume control on the Linn DS/DSM.
To connect your Spotify account to the Linn Klimax DSM :
On your control device, iPad/Android/PC/MAC etc, connect to the same computer network as your Linn DS/DSM
Start your Spotify app, (if it is already open then close the App, wait a few seconds, and open the App)
Now check the Spotify Speakers icon to find your Linn DS. (In some cases you may have to power cycle your Linn Klimax DSM before this is seen)
Select your Linn product, and you can now play to the Linn Klimax DSM from the Spotify account and control the Linn Klimax DSM volume.
This is web controlled and if your Linn Klimax DSM has already been paired with your Spotify account you will be able to control even if you are not on the same ethernet network.(So be careful that if you accidentally select the Linn Klimax DSM as a Spotify speaker and put the volume up high, and you are not at home)
September 2025:We do intend to support Spotify Lossless: This requires non-trivial firmware changes, also involving third-parties, so we don't have fixed timescales for the work completing.
Future Notes:
Spotify does NOT support lossless for all Linn hardware variants; Linn DS/DSM variants, which were launched before the Selekt DSM (in 2018), cannot be updated to Spotify lossless due to hardware limitations. However, they will still support Spotify Connect.
(Click HERE for a list of the product groups before and after 2018 variants.)
If you have a Linn DS/DSM that supports Spotify Lossless, this will still Songcast/share the Spotify lossless to ANY other Linn DS/DSM
Currently, a solution for Spotify lossless on the Linn DSM's, or Amazon Music for older products, you can use a WiiM media streamer .
This can also be used for other unsupported services such as CHROMECAST, Tidal Connect..., but check if your WiiM variant supports your service firstWiiM Support .
This setup will play at the quality of your Linn DSM – playback uses the Linn DSM’s audio clock, meaning that jitter from the source device’s clock will be removed.
Note: This will ONLY work with Linn DSM, not a Linn DS.
Plug a TOSLINK optical cable from the WiiM media streamer SPDIF OUT digital output directly into a Linn DSM TOSLINK digital input, and use the superior audio DAC of the Linn DSM. This will give you the full Spotify lossless, and any other WiiM supported streaming services into the Linn DSM.
Set up of the WiiM for use with the Linn DSM is easy
1. On the WiiM control app, go into Devices, select your WiiM and the select the gear cog on the bottom right, this will bring you into the WiiM setup page.
2. In the Sound submenu:
a).Audio Settings:
i) We would advise turning "Fixed Volume Output:"ON. This will give the Linn DSM full volume control options
ii) Optical Output Resolution: (Spotify Lossless is ONLY 44.1kHz but the higher sample rate will do other Streaming services)
set to "Sample rate:" 192kHz & Bit depth: 24bit for newer products
Linn Streaming: This allows you to share the audio to/from ALL Linn DS/DSM products. But will not allow you to share audio to non Linn Products.
DSD Decoding: This will also allow you to decide, if the Linn DS/DSM has a DAC that supports DSD playback, which products to decode the DSD. Either Roon decoding or Linn DS/DSM direct playback.
All Linn DS/DSM ARE ROON CERTIFIED devices
The Linn DS/DSM requires Davaar63 (May 2018) or later firmware to work with Roon V1.5 and above.(That is, if your Linn DS/DS/HUB has had a software update after May 2018 then you can use Roon)
This allows full hi-res audio, (384k/24bit) playback controlled by the Roon system
Songcast is used to share audio between Linn Products when using Roon. It does not use RAAT (Roon Advanced Audio Transport) for sharing Music, so cannot be set up as a Roon-Ready sharer.
Roon Tested Setup
On Linn DS proxy setups, Linn DS with Linn Kontrol preamplifier connected with RS232, the Roon volume control will not control the Linn Kontrol volume.
A Roon Core is required in your network system to allow Roon to control your Linn DS/DSM.
ENABLE the Linn DS/DSM player in the Roon - Settings - Audio - NETWORKED section.
In the Settings > Setup make sure that the "Subnet of Linn Streaming" is the same as the network that the Linn DS is on. Otherwise, they will not show in the Audio
Control
Primary control is through Roon.
Transport IR is disabled on the Linn DS/DSM when the Roon input is selected from Linn DS firmware release Davaar80 (Nov 2020)
Issues
Roon uses the Linn DS/DSM as a media player, the control interface IS Roon.
• I cannot see any Linn DS in the Audio list...
If you cannot see any Linn DS product in the Audio list then check that with the setup the correct Linn Streaming subnet (network address range).
E.g. if your Linn DS has IP address 192.168.1.34 then its subnet is 192.168.1.0
In the Settings > Setup make sure that the "Subnet of Linn Streaming" is the same as the network that the Linn DS is on. Otherwise, they will not show in the Audio tab. You can find the IP address by pressing the * button on the IR handset
• I am only getting Airplay quality audio from the Linn DS using Roon
In Roon: Settings - Audio setup page, you will have devices listed with "via Linn Streaming" and devices listed with "via Airplay".
Pressing this "ENABLE" button on "via Linn Streaming" will bring this Linn DS player alive.
When you press ENABLE, this will then allow you to rename this Linn DDS; otherwise it will be its default name. E.g. below the "Linn Akurate DSM" - "via Linn Streaming" has been enabled, and I have renamed it "Merlin Lounge".
The Linn DS/DSM products have to be declared as "Roon Tested", networked devices in the Roon Core settings. (The "AIRPLAY" option for the Linn DS/DSM must be disabled within the Roon Core).
Click on the Roon Ready - Enable and give a name to the Linn DS/DSM. (In the example below, this has been named Merlin Lounge)
• I press STOP and the Roon starts playing again...
Transport (play / pause / stop) and Volume can be controlled using Kazoo or Ir handset. Although later versions of Roon will counteract these commands. Only use the Roon controller software to control what is playing.
Linn DS Firmware Davaar80 onwards will disable transport controls whilst on the Roon input of the Linn DS/DSM
• If I select an external source whilst playing Roon, I need to re-select the source to get it playing.
This can be due to a confusion, as the Roon will send a stop command to the Linn DSM as you exit the Roon source. However, as the Linn DSM will probably have changed to this new source, then this new source is stopped by Roon. On external sources, this can only be recovered by selecting another source and going back to the originally selected source.
The solution is to Stop or Pause the Roon source BEFORE you change to a different input on the Selekt DSM.
This can also be reduced by going into Konfig or Manage systems and disabling the "AutoPlay" option.
Deezer
Click for more....
caption This can now be used on Linn products using firmware Davaar82 (July 2021) or later firmware.
To create and add Deezer tracks to a Linn DS/DSM playlist you require the Linn App
This function is NOT available in the Kazoo or Kinsky apps.
Deezer streams from the internet directly to the Linn DS/DSM.
From firmware Davaar 110, Jan 2025, Deezer has been updated to the latest driver.
See the Deezer FAQ's for Linn DS/DSM for more information and assistance.
Amazon Music
Click for more....
caption To select and play CD & Hi-Res (192k / 24 bit) quality stereo music from your Free, Prime & Unlimited Amazon Music accounts. (The availability and playback controls vary depending on your account type)
Amazon Music service enabled on Linn App. See below for details open how to enable this service. (Linn DSM MUST have at least Davaar 118 installed first).
Products using the older PPC (Power_PC) hardware, from firmware Davaar 117, we have reached the capacity, of flash memory size, and incompatible modules for this Power PC hardware and therefore cannot support this service.
(Note: This does not stop you from SONGCASTING from a ARM-Linux_hardware Linn DS/DSM and ANY other Linn DS/DSM. That is, you can SongcastAmazon Music playing on a Linn Selekt DSM to say a Sneaky DS.)
Click HERE for Linn products that support Amazon Music
Presto Music service enabled on Linn App. See below for details open how to enable this service. (Linn DSM MUST have at least Davaar 118 installed first).
Products using the older PPC (Power_PC) hardware, from firmware Davaar 117, we have reached the capacity, of flash memory size, and incompatible modules for this Power PC hardware and therefore cannot support this service.
(Note: This does not stop you from SONGCASTING from a ARM-Linux_hardware Linn DS/DSM and ANY other Linn DS/DSM. That is, you can Songcast pestomusic playing on a Linn Selekt DSM to say a Sneaky DS.)
Click HERE for Linn products that support prestomusic
AirPlay2 is an Apple protocol that allows wireless streaming media.
It is only available in Linn DS products with CORE4, or higher, processors.
The Linn DSM/HUB can take the audio stream via the "NetAux" input.
Airplay2 allows you to Group multiple Airplay2 devices (including Linn DS HomePod, Apple TV) to play in sync using iOS, Siri, HomeKit, iTunes desktop (Windows & MacOS)....
From Linn DS/DSM firmware Davaar 108 this will no longer allow you to Songcast an Airplay stream to other Linn DS/DSM products. . (Airplay2 supports mixing and matching with other Airplay2 devices and not required to Songcast).
Note: MAC's running Tahoe, MacOS 26, has issues with Airplay volume levels being low. This is an Apple issue and not a Linn DS issue.
Products supporting Airplay2 from Davaar 110 (February 2025)
> Only supported in SLOT #1 of the Selekt DSM using aStereo DAC:: Selekt DSM slots 2 & 3 will not play DSD audio.(Exakt crossover and Space Optimisation only work with PCM.audio.)
Or
> Only supported in SLOTS #1 & #2 with Dual Mono ORGANIK DAC's: : Selekt DSM SLOT 3 will not play DSD audio.(Exakt crossover and Space Optimisation only work with PCM audio.)
Majik DSM (2025 variant)
Some important points on DSD playback on the Linn DS/DSM:
DSD audio is ONLY available on the analogue outputs
DSD audio is NOT supported on:
Exakt-link to Exakt speakers or Exaktbox. That is, DSD files will NOT play on Exakt speakers or Exaktboxes.
Slot 3 of any Linn Selekt DSM with Mono ORGANIK DACs
Supports DSD64 (2.8224MHz) and DSD128 (5.6448MHz) sample rates.
DSD256 playback is only supported on
Klimax DSM (2020 variant),
Majik DSM (2025 variant) and
All Selekt variants.
These in the following formats:
DSF - Sony format that supports ID3 tags
DFF - old Philips mastering format (aka DSDIFF)
DSD is NOT supported on external inputs such as HDMI, Toslink or USB
No digital signal processing is possible. This means:
On some DAC's there is NO balance control is possible to DSD audio file playback.
No Space Optimisation is applied to DSD audio file playback
Maximum volume is restricted to 80 (unity gain) on DSD audio file playback. However, if you have raised to volume to a higher level e.g. 90, this higher volume is applied to any tracks that are NOT DSD audio files.
Linn DS/DSM volume control MUST be enabled
If the DSM volume control is disabled you will hear “click”s on the loudspeaker when Play/Pause buttons are pressed or a change in bit-rate on change in tracks
Linn Kazoo Server supports the index and serving of DSD files. Non-indexed DFF files that have no metadata can be browsed by file name using the Kazoo Server Removable drives option.
Asset UPnP server and Minimserver support DSD index and serving to the Linn DS/DSM.
Linn recommend using Premium High Speed Certified HDMI cables for an optimal experience.
prestomusic Streaming CD and Hi-Res quality music
