Discover the inside story from the man who invented the Sondek LP12 and founded Linn forty years ago.

Ivor Tiefenbrun was recently invited to give the annual joint lecture for The Royal Society of Edinburgh and The Royal Academy of Engineering.

For anyone who was unable to make the event, grab yourself a glass of something nice, sit back and enjoy a personal and passionate tale of 'Extreme Engineering' - view film.

Source First

Born from a love for music and a refusal to settle for a dull and uninvolving hi-fi system, the idea for the Sondek LP12 grew from Ivor's home experiments with what was supposedly the best hi-fi available at the time.

With an open mind and the help of his father's engineering company, he quickly moved from a hypothesis to a working prototype, and succeeded in making a turntable that was immune to acoustic feedback from the loudspeakers.

Ivor's turntable, the Sondek LP12, could improve the sound of any system and he overcame industry scepticism to prove that the turntable - the source of the music - was the most important component in a hi-fi system.

The Linn Sondek LP12 evolved swiftly, with every component designed to recover more music from the groove of the record. Ivor's determination to continually improve the quality of music you could enjoy at home has stuck with Linn ever since.

By people for people

An engineering approach that favoured open systems and modular parts meant that a music system could be developed, upgraded and expanded over time - an LP12 manufactured in 1972 can still be repaired, serviced or even upgraded to the latest spec one step at a time. Which makes owning an LP12 a long-term relationship.

Ivor devised a single stage manufacturing process that replaced the conventional production line so that one skilled person performed an entire intelligible task from start to finish. This still survives today - look on the underside of a Linn product and you'll see the name of the person who assembled, tested and packed it for you.

By placing trust in individual responsibility and encouraging people to be enthusiastic about learning and craftsmanship, Ivor proved that people - working in teams and backed by the latest technology - make the best music systems.

The 'people first' analogy extends to choosing a music system - it sounds obvious now but Ivor's insistence on selling by comparative demonstration empowered people to choose for themselves. It wasn't about brand names and technical specifications - if it sounded better to you, it was better.

Think differently

Ivor knew very little about hi-fi when he started to experiment with his music system at home. An open and restless mind helped him think differently and work things through from first principles.

Ivor was told his intention to make a loudspeaker that could accurately reproduce very low frequencies was impossible. It took him less than a week to conceive a workable idea and prove it had potential with a prototype.

If Ivor hadn't been so uninspired by his first music system, he would never have made the Sondek LP12 and Linn would not exist today. He didn't set out to start a company, he just wanted to listen to better music at home. Inspire yourself.

Linn has been awarded the most prestigious accolade available to UK businesses: the Queen's Award for Enterprise.  

Linn's award in the Innovation category celebrates the success of our digital streaming technology - Linn DS.

Now with HDMI, the new Majik DSM is a genuine room-filling music system that improves everything you listen to at home.

Make music, movies, games, TV and radio sound incredible and connect all your sources together with Majik DSM.

Enjoy all the benefits of Linn DS from a music system that packs a powerful punch thanks to Dynamik and Chakra technology.

Making everything sound better

With all the inputs you need to connect your turntable, Blu-Ray player, HD TV, games console…just add speakers and anything you listen to at home will sound better.

Songcast simplifies how you listen at home, letting you listen to iTunes, Spotify, YouTube and Netflix from the comfort of your sofa and also share great sound all round your home.

As well as getting you away from your computer, Majik DSM plays nicely with AirPlay too - send any sound from your iPad or iPhone to your system to instantly enjoy your favourite music in glorious Linn quality.

When can I hear it?

Look out for the new Majik DSM coming soon to a Linn shop near you or contact your retailer for more info before the official launch later this month.

Be the first to hear by registering your e-mail address for Linn News updates.

Everyone has moments in their life when music makes the difference. It captures the moment perfectly, intensifies our emotions or changes the way we feel. 

In these moments, music and memory become linked forever, and it becomes impossible to think of one without the other.

We've created an interactive Music Moments wall to collect these special moments together for everyone to see, listen and add their own.

#MusicMoment

Check out the new Music Moments wall and explore the stories, photos and videos posted by music lovers everywhere.

Add your own favourite Music Moments and tell everyone how music has shaped your finest and most poignant moments. Post your story to the wall and help re-live those times when music makes the difference. 

You can join in and share your moments with Facebook or Twitter - use the hashtag #MusicMoment to add your moments to the stream and see what music is making the world spin right now.

Share your Music Moment

It could be your greatest music memory or it could have happened this morning on the way to work. Happiness or heartbreak (and everything in-between), tell us about the music, the emotions it stirs and the memory it evokes.

Words by themselves are fine but you can bring your Music Moment to life by adding a picture or movie. If you’ve got an original photograph or film clip, perfect. Or just find something that illustrates the moment perfectly for you.

You can add as many moments as you like and share them with the friends that helped inspire them. Add a Music Moment today and share those times when music made the difference for you.

To celebrate the launch of the new range of Linn DSM Systems and Songcast, we have a special promotion that lets you enjoy better sound from everything you listen to in more rooms of your home.

We’re giving away free Linn DS rooms* with Linn DSM Systems purchased between now and 17th February 2012.

• Buy a Klimax DSM System and get two free rooms
• Buy an Akurate DSM  System and get one free room

There’s never been a better time to move to Linn DS.

Contact your Linn Specialist to find out more or Try a System at a shop near you to hear the difference Linn can make to your favourite music, movies, TV and games.

*A free room comprises Sneaky DS player (black / silver) and Unik loudspeakers (black / white).

Linn Multiroom Promotion - Terms & Conditions

1. The promotion runs from 31st December 2011 to 17th February 2012 inclusive. Only orders placed during this period will qualify.

2. Customers purchasing a full Klimax DSM or DS System (minimum Klimax DSM or DS player plus Klimax loudspeakers) will receive two free rooms each comprising one Sneaky DS player and one pair of Unik loudspeakers.

3. Customers purchasing a full Akurate DSM or DS System (minimum Akurate DSM or DS player plus Akurate power amplifier plus Akurate loudspeakers) will receive one free room comprising one Sneaky DS player and one pair of Unik loudspeakers.

4. This promotion cannot be used in conjunction with any other customer offer.

5. There is no limit to the number of systems that can be purchased as part of the promotion.

We get sound from so many places these days - music, movies and games; computers, tablets and phones. You need to be able to get the best from it all.

This new software update from Linn simplifies how you enjoy music at home, letting you experience all of it through your Linn DS System and share it round your home.

Make your computer sound better

Simply install the Songcast app on your PC or Mac and every sound you’d normally hear through your computer speakers can now be Songcasted to your Linn DS and enjoyed in glorious Linn quality.

From music accessed in iTunes, stored on hard-drives or streamed from online services such as Spotify and last.fm, to TV and movie content from Blu-Ray or DVD discs, downloads and web services such as YouTube and iPlayer - Linn DS makes it all sound great.

Make your phone or tablet sound better

Because Songcast is now interoperable with Airplay, any sound your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad makes can also be experienced in Linn quality.

Angry Birds has never sounded so good…and your friends can join in too, DJ’ing from their personal devices to your Linn DS System.

Songcast shares it all

And, of course, anything you listen to on your Linn can be shared with another room. With Songcast you can share it across your entire home network and listen anywhere without sacrificing quality.

How to upgrade

Every player in the the Linn DS family can be upgraded and the Songcast app is available here.

For help upgrading, please contact your Linn Specialist or follow our upgrade guide 

Hear the difference Linn can make to your favourite music, movies, TV and games at a special launch event near you.

Linn's new range of DSM Systems make anything you listen to sound better, from MP3 to Studio Master, from iTunes to YouTube.

Attend an upcoming Linn musical event for a first listen and a chance to try the new systems.

Find your nearest event below and contact the retailer directly for more info and to book your place.

Events

Linn's new range of DSM Systems is designed for the living room.

Available at Klimax, Akurate and Majik level, DSM Systems make anything you listen to sound better.

Anything you listen to

From MP3 to Studio Master, from music to movies and games, everything sounds better with Linn and it's easier than ever to enjoy great sound anywhere in your home.

There are options to connect your Blu-ray or DVD player, digital or satellite TV, so you'll hear the difference Linn makes to your viewing pleasure. 

 Anything you listen to on a PC or Mac can be enjoyed in higher quality through a DSM System. If you're using a computer to listen to iTunes, Spotify, iPlayer, YouTube, internet radio or streamed concerts, then you can send it over the network with Songcast and listen on your Linn.

Now imagine a friend comes to your home and wants to play their music collection from their mobile — they can, by sending music straight from their phone or tablet to a DSM System wirelessly. 

Anywhere in your home

With Songcast able to share any audio anywhere, you can stream music, soundtracks and live concerts from one room to another, and enjoy great sound throughout your home.

DSM Systems are built for the whole household — you can have shared or separate music libraries and everyone can choose music using their preferred app, whether that's iTunes or Linn's own Kinsky app. Listen to different music in different rooms, or have the whole house dancing to the same beat.

It's all in the family

As part of the Linn DS family, our new range of DSM Systems work on your home network alongside your existing Linn system and the products you already use every day.

Everything we make is open and modular, which gives you the flexibility to combine, swap and upgrade products as you go.

Try a DSM System

The best way to try the new DSM Systems is to visit a shop and have a listen. Contact your Linn Specialist to find out more or Try a System at a shop near you to hear the difference Linn can make to your favourite music, movies, TV and games.

Special DSM System events will begin in November — ask your retailer for details or sign up to our News e-mails to receive early notification.

Most Klimax DS owners have already taken advantage of our innovative Renew DS upgrade package. If you haven't yet, now's your chance.

Klimax DS owners can upgrade to the new Klimax standard and get a second Linn DS player for their home as part of the package. Renew DS re-uses your existing Klimax DS audio board in a custom-built enclosure.

With our popular +2 promo also drawing to a close, this is a good time to get along to your Linn Specialist and have a listen to our latest music systems.

Renew DS

Double your DS with our unique Renew DS offer and use Songcast to stream music from one Linn DS to another, sharing better sound all round your home.

Your Klimax DS (and Renew DS) will automatically receive a 5 year parts and labour warranty from the date it is upgraded.

Renew DS can be ordered up until 30th September 2011, after which date it will still be possible to upgrade your Klimax DS. Find out more.

+2 promo 

Add 2 extra channels of amplification for free when you buy any Majik or Akurate power amplifier before 16th September.

+2 means you can get a Majik 4100 for the price of a Majik 2100, or an Akurate 4200 for the price of an Akurate 2200, giving you +2 amplifier channels in each example.

Or if you’re thinking of buying an amplifier to go fully Aktiv, we’ll let you choose between the extra channels you need or free Aktiv cards. Find out more.

Linn's own DS control app, Kinsky, is now available as a free download from the AppStore.

Get wireless control of your Linn DS player from your iPad, iPhone or iPod touch. Browse your music collection by album artwork, select albums, artists or songs and change volume, all with your fingertips.

Discover new music from a wide selection of internet radio streams and podcasts. Create playlists to suit your mood or for special events.

Go Multiroom with Songcast

Get Kinsky

Classic Album Sundays

Bestival 2011

Add 2 extra channels of amplification for free when you buy any Majik or Akurate power amplifier during Linn’s +2 promo this summer.

Classic Album Sundays

Camp Bestival and Bestival