Linn 119 Loudspeakers

The 119 is the smallest speaker Linn makes and the entry to its passive range. It pairs a 0.77-inch soft Sonomex dome tweeter, with ferrite magnet and ferrofluid-cooled voice coil, with a 6.3-inch bass/midrange driver whose Nextel-coated paper diaphragm sits on a large ferrite motor designed for high linear excursion. The drivers mount flush with the front of the cabinet and there is no grille, following the 360's approach of leaving nothing in front of the diaphragm. The passive crossover is deliberately simple to preserve speed and dynamics, and two pairs of terminals give separate access to tweeter and bass for bi-wiring, bi-amping or Exakt. The 9-liter cabinet is rear-ported. Its magnet-mounted trim, with record-groove detailing and an electro-formed Linn logo that protects the tweeter, uses the same design language as the 150 and 360.

Linn describes the 119 and 150 as speakers meant to be enjoyable with any recording rather than only with the best ones. Published figures are 86 dB sensitivity, a nominal 4 Ω load and bass to 50 Hz (±3 dB) from the cabinet alone; with a Linn network music player, bass augmentation extends that, and Space Optimisation corrects for the room and for placement near a wall or on a shelf. At 4 Ω it wants a proper amplifier rather than a lifestyle unit. We have not found a published review from a major outlet to cite; ask us to set up the 119 beside the 150 in our showroom.

The obvious system is a Selekt DSM with integrated amplification, which drives the 119 directly, applies Space Optimisation and bass augmentation, and can be configured with an Exakt module so the 119 runs fully active with its crossover in the digital domain. A Selekt DSM: Classic Hub or Edition Hub with an Exaktbox-I does the same with separate amplification, and Linn's Exaktbox Sub lets a subwoofer join an Exakt system. Mount it on Linn's 119 Stand (black or silver), on the 119 Brakit wall mount, or on solid furniture. It suits small rooms, desks and second systems.

The 119 sits at the foot of Linn's current speaker range, below the 150 floorstander, which adds a dedicated midrange driver, a 40-liter down-ported cabinet and bass to 38 Hz for roughly double the price. Above both, the 343 and 360 bring Pistonik drivers, carbon-dome tweeter and midrange, and fully integrated Exakt electronics. Finishes are Walnut, Oak, Satin Black and Satin White, the same four as the 150, so a 119 pair can serve as rear or second-room speakers in a system built around the larger model. Each speaker weighs 15.8 lb and measures 12.9 inches tall, small enough for a shelf or a desk while still carrying a full 6.3-inch driver.