89%
Lehmann Audio Linear II
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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Professional Reviews 89/100
Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
89/100
Build Quality
95/100
Features Usability
83/100
Value for Money
91/100
Highly transparent and impressively neutral, the Linear II serves up a clean, open, detailed presentation with full bass, crisp treble, and excellent separation. Marc Rushton of StereoNET United Kingdom praises its quiet operation, strong build, and natural imaging, making it a refined choice for listeners who want precision without sterility.
What Reviewers Are Saying
Pros
Highly revealing, clean, and neutral sound with excellent detail retrieval and natural imaging.
Full, extended bass and treble that stays sharp without becoming bright or edgy.
Very good build quality with high-quality components and quiet, hum-free operation.
Useful gain-switch flexibility and enough power to drive demanding headphones confidently.
&
Cons
The minimalist feature set omits extras like USB, balanced output, and remote control.
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 89/100
Reviewers describe the Linear II as highly revealing, very clean, truthful, lucid, and highly detailed, with a broad, natural presentation and strong separation. Its tonal balance is praised as neutral and faithful, with full, extended bass and treble that is sharp but not bright or edgy. It also gets credit for drive and headroom, though the reviews say less about ultra-low-noise behavior with sensitive earphones.
Transparency Resolution
95/100
Marc Rushton calls it 'highly revealing,' 'very clean,' 'truthful,' 'lucid,' and 'highly detailed,' and says it sounds like a 'straight wire with gain.' The descriptions of a clear, open, focused presentation and strong separation point to excellent resolution.
Tonal Balance Musicality
91/100
The Linear II is described as a faithful neutral component, with the tonal balance staying consistent and the top end sharp but not bright or edgy. Bass is reported as full and extended, which supports a balanced, easy-to-live-with presentation rather than an etched or thin one.
Dynamics
90/100
The amp is said to have more power than the comparison unit and to drive the reviewer’s AKG headphones about 6 dB louder. The comments about immediacy and no softening of transient detail suggest good snap and authority.
Noise Floor
83/100
The reviews do not mention hiss or a noisy background, but they also do not directly describe the amp as silent or especially IEM-friendly. It appears clean in use from the language provided, yet there is limited explicit evidence about performance with very sensitive headphones.
Headphone Compatibility
84/100
The amp is shown driving AKG headphones confidently, and the selectable gain settings add useful flexibility. At the same time, the review evidence is limited to a small number of headphone pairings, and the 5-ohm output impedance suggests it may not be ideal for every sensitive load.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
95/100
Build quality is described as very good, with high-quality components throughout, including a magnetically shielded toroidal transformer and Mundorf capacitors. The reviewer goes further, saying everything is of the highest quality inside and out and beyond reasonable criticism.
Features Usability
83/100
This is a deliberately simple design: volume control, rear power switch, RCA inputs, preamp output, two headphone jacks, and gain switches. The dual headphone sockets and selectable gain are practical, but there is no built-in DAC, remote, balanced connectivity, or other modern extras.
Value for Money
91/100
The review explicitly calls it 'excellent value for money' and presents it as a strong choice at its asking price. That kind of praise is especially meaningful here given the fairly high price, since the reviewer still feels the sound and build justify it.
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- A/V Solutions — in-store — Pleasanton, California, United States (website)
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- Alpha High End — online and in-store — Brasschaat, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium (website)
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