Approached upon the subject, Lehmann explains that he’s still responsible for the high-class technology, but has also developed an understanding for the fact that in the high-end sector the eye also plays its part in the purchasing judgement. So he engaged designer Guido Gutenstein to style the Linear SE. A big compliment for this decision, the more so as other competitors in the market are either reluctant or unable to take this step which is so important for the product. Unfortunately there are of course also those producers who hide outdated or insufficient technology behind a posh front.

Behind a beautiful façade …

…the Linear SE reveals a reasonable technical recipe by contrast which apparently only the best ingredients were selected for. The volume level for the headphone and the equally present preamp output (!) is controlled via an Alps pot. From the PC board to the RCA input or output respectively we are spotting 5“ cables. Instead of cheap bellwire Norbert Lehmann uses the Mogami VW-1 with its excellent conductivity and, above all, sound properties. The fact that in quite some pretentious headphone amps with high ambitions and an adequate price their makers are very stingy with the material they use in this place, is commented by the designer from Bergisch-Gladbach: »This is a colossal cheek. First because it doesn’t comply with the pursuit of truly the best sound quality, and to my mind it’s also an inconceivable disregard for the customer.«

The components, too, are once more of the highest grade. For instance we can find some of the wickedly expensive MKP caps from Mundorf. »Not because it’s costly, but because it simply sounds better«, so the designer’s statement. And he continues to explain the next step: on the bottom side of the housing there are not the usual little rubber or plastic adhesive feet, but vibration-damping products from SSC. Who has ever determined the influence of microfuses on the sound quality, will not be surprised at the AHP type inside the Linear SE. Could it be that finally someone has thought the subject through to the end?

Yes, for Norbert Lehmann knows what really matters in headphone amplifiers. Most of the solutions built into pre- or integrated amplifiers are either totally unable or not adequately competent to meet the technical requirements set by the different headphone models. That’s the reason why there are indeed separate headphone amps. In order to run the headphones with the right level on the Linear SE, the level can be boosted in two steps of 10 dB each via DIP switches located on the bottom side of the housing – needless to say, individually adjustable per channel.