Linn Kustom DSM Multi-Zone Network Music Player

The Kustom DSM is Linn's custom installation streaming platform — a 1U rack-mount unit designed for multi-zone audio distribution at £3,155. It brings Linn's DSM streaming technology into high-end residential and commercial installations where the source needs to be managed centrally and distributed to multiple rooms, rather than operating as a single-room component.

It is a source-only product. It does not include amplification or speakers — it provides line-level analogue outputs for each zone, to be connected to whatever amplification the installation requires. That flexibility is part of the point: the Kustom DSM integrates into any amplifier-and-speaker combination the installer or customer specifies.

Within the Linn DSM range, it occupies a specific and distinct role — not a replacement for the Selekt DSM in a dedicated listening room, but the right tool when the requirement is whole-home audio managed from a single rack.

Two Variants: Z4 and Z8

The Kustom DSM is available in two configurations. The Z4 variant contains two independent streamers serving up to four zones. The Z8 variant contains four streamers serving up to eight zones. Both fit into a standard 1U 19-inch rack space.

Multiple units can be combined for larger installations. Each streamer within the Kustom DSM operates independently — sources, content, and volume can all be controlled per zone. Front panel indicators show the operational status and configuration of each zone at a glance, which matters in an installation context where visibility of system status is part of the brief.

From October 2023, all Kustom DSM units ship with the Utopik power supply as standard — the same Valley Switching supply used in Linn's standalone DSM components, bringing improved low-level noise performance compared to earlier production.

Connectivity and Control Integration

Each streamer within the Kustom DSM has its own input set: one analogue RCA, one SPDIF coaxial, one Toslink optical, and one HDMI ARC connection. Zone outputs are stereo RCA line-level, with independent volume, standby, and mute per zone. Ethernet (100Base-T) is required for network streaming; Wi-Fi is not fitted in the rack-mount format.

The Kustom DSM is Crestron and Control4 certified, with dedicated drivers available for both platforms. It also integrates with Linn's own Kazoo control application. For custom installation projects where a third-party control system is already specified, the Crestron and Control4 integration is direct and well-established.

Streaming service support covers Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify Connect, Deezer, and Roon Ready (from Davaar 106). AirPlay/AirPlay 2 is supported via Songcast and NetAux. Each zone is independently controllable from any of these sources simultaneously.

Technical Specifications

Who Is It For?

The Kustom DSM is for custom installation projects where Linn's streaming quality is the requirement across multiple rooms, and where the audio must integrate with a wider home control system rather than operating independently. It suits high-end residential projects, hospitality, and commercial environments where Control4 or Crestron control is already specified.

It is not the right product for a dedicated two-channel listening room — the Selekt DSM Classic Hub or Selekt DSM Edition Hub serve that requirement properly. The Kustom DSM's value is in the combination of Linn streaming quality, zone flexibility, and rack-mount format that integrates into an installation without compromise on either side.

Buying from Martin's Hi-Fi

Martin's Hi-Fi has been in Norwich since 1968, and the Linn range has been part of what we do for years. We are still family-run — Ted Martin's daughter Elizabeth runs the business today — and we stock only brands we have heard properly and stand behind.

The Kustom DSM is a product we supply as part of wider installation projects as well as direct to customers building their own rack systems — if you are specifying one, it is worth a conversation about the full system context to ensure the configuration is right.

Reach them at [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], call on 01603 627010, or WhatsApp Dave or Chris directly on 07554 687137. You can read more about who we are and how we work on our Why Martin's page. We are at 85–91 Ber Street, Norwich, NR1 3EY, open six days a week.

Contact: [email protected] | 01603 627010 | WhatsApp: 07554 687137 | 85–91 Ber Street, Norwich, NR1 3EY