Audio T Verdict
The Linn 119 is a compact two-way passive loudspeaker designed to combine an entertaining, energetic presentation with the refinement and neutrality required for a wide range of music.
Its premium drive units, carefully designed passive crossover and rear-ported cabinet produce a performance that belies its modest dimensions, making the 119 particularly attractive for smaller and medium-sized listening rooms.
It is also unusually flexible. The 119 can begin as part of a conventional passive system before being converted for Linn Exakt operation as the system develops.
Linn 119 Passive Stand-Mount Speakers
Linn has a long history of developing compact loudspeakers capable of delivering a much larger musical presentation than their cabinet size might suggest.
The Linn 119 continues that tradition with a modern two-way design featuring a 160 mm bass and midrange driver, a soft-dome tweeter, a rear reflex port and a high-quality analogue passive crossover.
The speakers can be partnered with conventional Hi-Fi amplification from Linn or other manufacturers, while their Exakt-ready construction provides a clear future upgrade route through compatible Linn electronics.
Compact Two-Way Design
The 119 uses a straightforward two-way driver arrangement, with one bass and midrange unit working alongside a dedicated high-frequency tweeter.
A two-way design avoids the additional crossover point required by a separate midrange driver, helping Linn create a compact loudspeaker with a coherent presentation and relatively simple signal path.
The cabinet has an internal volume of 9 litres and measures just 191 mm wide, allowing the speakers to fit comfortably into rooms where a larger floorstanding design may dominate the space.
160 mm Nextel-Coated Paper Driver
Low and midrange frequencies are reproduced by a 160 mm driver with a Nextel-coated paper diaphragm.
The driver uses a large ferrite magnet system and is designed to provide high linear excursion. This allows the diaphragm to move through a useful operating range while maintaining control and consistency.
The drive unit is positioned at the front of the baffle without a conventional fabric grille obstructing it. This reduces material immediately in front of the diaphragm and allows the driver to move freely.
A magnetically attached decorative trim surrounds the unit and features fine etched arcs inspired by the appearance of a vinyl record.
Soft Sonomex Dome Tweeter
High frequencies are handled by a 19.55 mm soft Sonomex dome tweeter.
The tweeter uses a large ferrite magnet and a ferrofluid-cooled voice coil. Its compact diaphragm is designed to reproduce high-frequency information with speed and clarity while integrating smoothly with the larger bass and midrange driver.
An electro-formed Linn logo is positioned in front of the tweeter, providing protection without the visual bulk of a conventional grille.
Lower-Order Passive Crossover
The 119 is fitted with an analogue passive crossover designed to divide the amplifier signal between the two drive units.
Linn has used a lower-order design with an emphasis on component quality and signal purity. The aim is to minimise unnecessary complexity while preserving speed, dynamics and musical timing.
The crossover is also designed so it can be bypassed relatively quickly when the speakers are converted for Linn Exakt operation.
Rear-Ported Bass System
A rear-facing reflex port augments the output of the bass driver and helps the compact cabinet deliver useful low-frequency extension.
The 119 is designed to work successfully in normal domestic rooms and can be positioned relatively close to the wall behind it. However, the exact distance should be adjusted to suit the room, supporting furniture and listening position.
Moving the speakers closer to the wall will usually increase the amount of bass heard, while moving them further into the room can provide greater definition where the room is adding too much low-frequency energy.
Starting Position
- Place both speakers the same distance from the rear wall
- Keep the left and right speakers at equal heights
- Begin with little or no toe-in
- Adjust both speakers by the same amount
- Keep the rear ports clear of furniture and curtains
Fine Adjustment
- Move the speakers away from the wall if the bass is excessive
- Try gentle toe-in to improve central image focus
- Keep the speakers a similar distance from adjacent side walls
- Make one positioning change at a time
- Use several familiar recordings when judging the result
Optional Linn 119 Speaker Stands
The 119 can be placed on a suitable shelf or substantial item of furniture, but Linn recommends its dedicated pedestal stands for the best results.
The optional stands use a solid mild-steel base plate with adjustable floor spikes. Spikes on the upper plate provide firm support for the loudspeaker while helping isolate the cabinet from unwanted vibration.
Speaker cable can be routed internally through the stand column for a neater installation.
The stands are available in black or silver and are sold separately. Their dimensions are approximately 598 mm high, 250 mm wide and 320 mm deep, including the floor spikes.
Speaker Stands Are Not Included
This product covers the Linn 119 loudspeakers. The dedicated black or silver pedestal stands must be ordered separately.
Audio T can advise on stand availability, hard-floor protection and alternative mounting arrangements.
Passive System Operation
In their standard form, the 119 speakers work like conventional passive loudspeakers and require a suitable external power amplifier or integrated amplifier.
Their nominal impedance is 4 O and their sensitivity is 86 dB, so amplifier quality and current delivery should be considered alongside headline power output.
The speakers can be partnered with Linn electronics or suitable amplification from other manufacturers. Audio T can help compare different amplifiers and ensure that the system provides the required volume and control within your room.
The
Linn Majik DSM
provides a compact all-in-one streaming amplifier option for a conventional passive 119 system.
Single-Wiring and Bi-Wiring
Each speaker is fitted with two pairs of binding posts.
This allows the 119 to be used with a conventional single-wired speaker cable connection or with separate cable runs for the high-frequency and bass sections.
The terminal links and cable connections must be configured correctly for the chosen arrangement. The amplifier should always be switched off before speaker cables or terminal links are changed.
Upgrade to Linn Exakt
A major advantage of the 119 is its ability to move from conventional passive operation to a Linn Exakt system.
In an Exakt configuration, the passive crossover inside each speaker is bypassed. Linn's digital crossover then divides and time-aligns the music signal before separate amplifier channels drive the tweeter and bass unit directly.
As the 119 is a two-way speaker, a stereo Exakt system requires four channels of amplification in total.
The necessary digital crossover, DAC and amplifier channels can be provided by a suitably configured Selekt DSM, or an Exaktbox can be used with compatible external power amplifiers.
Professional Exakt Conversion by Audio T
Converting the 119 for Exakt operation involves bypassing its internal passive crossover and configuring the connected Linn electronics for the correct loudspeaker model.
The conversion and system setup should be completed by an authorised Linn specialist. Traditional Linn Aktiv crossover cards designed for older power amplifiers cannot be used with the 119.
Contact your local Audio T store
to discuss Selekt DSM or Exaktbox configuration, amplification and installation.
Space Optimisation and Bass Augmentation
When partnered with a compatible Linn network music player, the 119 can benefit from Linn Space Optimisation.
Space Optimisation models how the loudspeakers interact with the dimensions, construction and layout of the listening room. It can then reduce the influence of problematic low-frequency room behaviour through digital processing.
A dedicated bass augmentation filter is also available for the 119 when it is used with compatible Linn electronics. This is designed to extend and improve low-frequency performance beyond the speaker's conventional passive response.
Audio T can measure the room layout, enter the speaker and listening positions and configure the optimisation profile as part of the system installation.
Choice of Four Finishes
The Linn 119 is available in four cabinet finishes:
Walnut
A natural medium-to-dark wood finish with visible variation in colour and grain.
Oak
A lighter natural wood finish that clearly displays the cabinet veneer.
Satin Black
A discreet dark finish designed to work easily with a wide range of equipment and room styles.
Satin White
A clean, contemporary finish that can help the compact cabinet blend into a lighter room.
Walnut and Oak are natural veneered finishes, so variations in grain, shade and pattern should be expected between individual pairs.
119 or 150?
Linn 119
- Compact two-way stand-mount design
- 160 mm bass and midrange driver
- Rear-ported cabinet
- Suitable for smaller and medium-sized rooms
- Optional dedicated pedestal stands
Linn 150
The
Linn 150
is the larger three-way floorstanding model.
- Greater cabinet volume
- Separate midrange and bass drivers
- Greater low-frequency extension and scale
- Better suited to larger rooms or higher listening levels
The right model depends on room size, placement, amplification and preferred listening levels rather than cabinet size alone. A comparative demonstration is strongly recommended.
Key Features
- Compact two-way passive stand-mount loudspeaker
- Premium Linn drive units
- 160 mm Nextel-coated paper bass and midrange diaphragm
- Large ferrite bass-driver magnet system
- High linear excursion capability
- 19.55 mm soft Sonomex dome tweeter
- Ferrofluid-cooled tweeter voice coil
- Electro-formed Linn logo tweeter guard
- Magnet-mounted drive-unit trim
- Lower-order analogue passive crossover
- Rear-ported bass-reflex cabinet
- Two pairs of binding posts
- Single-wiring and bi-wiring capability
- Passive crossover can be bypassed for Exakt operation
- Compatible with Selekt DSM or Exaktbox Exakt systems
- Space Optimisation available with compatible Linn electronics
- Optional bass augmentation filter with a Linn network music player
- Optional dedicated black or silver stands
- Available in Walnut, Oak, Satin Black and Satin White
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the Linn 119 speakers passive?
Yes. They contain a passive crossover and require a suitable external amplifier in their standard configuration.
Do the speakers include stands?
No. Linn's dedicated black or silver pedestal stands are optional and sold separately.
Can the Linn 119 be placed close to a wall?
Yes, but the rear port still needs clear space to operate. The final distance should be adjusted according to the room and the amount of bass produced.
Can the Linn 119 be bi-wired?
Yes. Each speaker has two pairs of binding posts, allowing correctly configured single-wired or bi-wired operation.
Can I use the Linn 119 with a non-Linn amplifier?
Yes. The standard passive version can be used with suitable amplification from Linn or another manufacturer. The amplifier should be comfortable driving a nominal 4 O load.
What is Linn Exakt?
Exakt moves the loudspeaker crossover into the digital domain and uses separate amplification for each drive unit. The 119 passive crossover is bypassed when the speaker is converted for Exakt use.
Can I convert the speakers to Exakt later?
Yes. The 119 can be converted for use with a compatible Selekt DSM or Exaktbox system. The conversion and electronic configuration should be completed by an authorised Linn specialist.
Can Audio T demonstrate and install the Linn 119?
Yes.
Contact your local Audio T store
for a demonstration, amplifier matching, positioning, Space Optimisation and Exakt system advice.
Why Buy From Audio T?
- Demonstrations with suitable Linn and non-Linn amplification
- Advice comparing the Linn 119 and 150
- Help selecting the correct cabinet finish
- Guidance on stands, placement and cable routing
- Amplifier matching for the 4 O load
- Speaker cable and bi-wiring advice
- Professional Selekt DSM and Exaktbox configuration
- Authorised Exakt loudspeaker conversion
- Space Optimisation setup for your room
- Home demonstrations and installation may be available
- Part exchange available on suitable existing equipment
- Ongoing Linn system and upgrade support
Contact your local Audio T store
to arrange a demonstration or discuss the ideal Linn 119 system for your room.