Lehmann Audio Linear II
The Linear II delivers lucid neutrality, pinpoint detail and a broad, naturally proportioned soundstage, bringing full extended bass and crisp, non-edgy treble to quality headphones. StereoNET United Kingdom found it exceptionally clean, powerful and smooth enough to reveal recordings without turning clinical. Flexible gain, dual headphone outputs and preamp capability complete a beautifully engineered analogue hub.
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Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
89/100
Build Quality
94/100
Features Usability
84/100
Value for Money
91/100
Pros
Exceptionally clean, detailed and neutral presentation, with clear focus and preserved transient precision.
Full, extended bass and sharp but non-fatiguing treble, alongside a broad soundstage with natural perspective.
Strong build quality, including a shielded toroidal transformer, premium internal components and quality Neutrik connectors.
Useful drive for difficult headphones, adjustable gain and line-level preamp output add versatility.
Cons
Basic analogue connectivity only; the standard model has no USB or other digital inputs.
No remote control, which is less convenient when used as a line-level preamp.
Preamp users may find the single RCA input limiting.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 89/100
The Linear is described as exceptionally clean, lucid and revealing, with a faithful neutral presentation rather than an overtly coloured one. Review listening also found full, extended bass, clear and focused mids, and a sharp but non-edgy treble; commentary on residual noise with sensitive earphones is limited.
Transparency Resolution
95/100
StereoNET calls the Linear “highly revealing,” “very clean,” and “truthful,” likening its presentation to a straight wire with gain. It was also praised as lucid, highly detailed, open and focused, with transient detail preserved rather than softened or smeared.
Tonal Balance Musicality
92/100
The reviewer found its tonal balance precise and unchanged across listening, supporting its neutral and faithful character. Bass was full and extended, while the treble was sharp without becoming bright or edgy, making the presentation controlled rather than sterile.
Dynamics
89/100
The Linear drove the reviewer's AKG headphones around 6dB louder than the Auralic comparator, indicating useful headroom. Music was reproduced with immediacy, and the reviewer expected clean maximum-volume operation from a standard 2V source without clipping.
Noise Floor
82/100
The review repeatedly describes the sound as clean and clear, but does not directly assess hiss, hum, or use with highly sensitive IEMs. Its low-noise behaviour with demanding sensitive loads therefore remains largely undocumented in the available listening report.
Headphone Compatibility
87/100
The reviewer found ample output for AKG headphones and specifically noted greater available level than an Auralic alternative. Selectable gain settings broaden its practical range, although the review offers limited pairing evidence across sensitive IEMs, planars, and high-impedance headphones.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
94/100
StereoNET describes build quality as very good and says the unit is of the highest quality inside and out. The review highlights the shielded toroidal transformer, Mundorf power-supply capacitors, and quality Neutrik and gold-plated connectors.
Features Usability
84/100
This is a deliberately straightforward analogue headphone amplifier with two 6.35mm headphone outputs, RCA input, preamp output and adjustable gain via underside DIP switches. It lacks USB or other digital connectivity in the basic version, and the rear-mounted power switch plus underside gain adjustment are less convenient than front-panel controls.
Value for Money
91/100
At around $1,300, the Linear sits in a serious desktop-amplifier segment, yet StereoNET explicitly calls it excellent value for money. That conclusion is tied to its clean, detailed sound, strong construction and useful preamp capability rather than feature abundance.
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Specifications
- Input impedance
- 47 kohms
- Maximum gain
- 0 dB, 10 dB, 18 dB, 20 dB selectable via DIP switches
- Frequency response
- 10 Hz (-0.3 dB) to 35 kHz (-1 dB)
- Signal to noise ratio
- > 100 dB at Gain 0 dB
- THD
- < 0,001 % at 6 mW/300 ohms
- Channel separation
- > 70 dB at 10 kHz
- Output power
- 400 mW/60 ohms\n200 mW/300 ohms
- Output impedance
- pre-out 60 ohms\nphones out 5 ohms
- Connectors audio
- Neutrik headphone jacks with gold plated contacts\n1 x pre-out\n2 x phones out\ngold plated RCA sockets with teflon insulation
- Power consumption
- 10 W
- Outer dimensions W x D x H
- 110 mm x 280 mm x 50 mm
- Weight
- 1.5 kg netto
Manufacturer's Description — Lehmann Audio
Everything which has made the Linear headphone amplifier a legend already since 2004, has now become even better: the Linear II lifts the qualities of our reference model to a new standard.
Experience detailed lucidity when playing your music, effortless lightness even with high signal levels and the low-artefact reproduction of complex music pieces. The Linear II redefines vividness in the reproduction completely. That way you can enjoy even the longest listening sessions without fatigue and with greatest pleasure.
Powerful, spirited, sovereign
In connection with the elaborately designed pc board in Low-Z copper technology the powerful class-A output stage plays even more dynamically and takes you a big step closer to the music. Mundorf capacitors in the power supply and in the signal path deliver an impressive room imaging and transient response. 3S device feet ensure maximum mechanical quietness for the Linear II.
Not only while enjoying music with one or two headphones, but also when connected to active speakers or a power amplifier, the Linear II delivers its ultimate performance. Allow yourself to be surprised by a punchy, authentic sound which is unique for a device of this size!
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Authorized dealers for Lehmann Audio Linear II
- A/V Solutions — in-store — Pleasanton, California, United States (website)
- ALAIN CHOUKROUN — online and in-store — Paris, Île-de-France, France (website)
- Alpha High End — online and in-store — Brasschaat, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium (website)
- Analogue Seduction — online and in-store — Whittlesey, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Arizona Hi-Fi — in-store — Phoenix, Arizona, United States (website)
- Art & Voice — online (website)
- AUDIO 2000 — in-store — Wuppertal, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany (website)
- Audio Affair — online and in-store — Deritend, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Audio Art Cable — online and in-store — San Diego, California, United States (website)
- Audio Creativ — in-store — Riedenburg, Bayern, Germany (website)
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