Linn 119 Bookshelf Speakers

The Linn 119 is the entry point into Linn's passive loudspeaker range — a 2-way rear-ported standmount whose engineering discipline, upgrade architecture, and cabinet construction reflect the same uncompromising approach that defines the 150 and the 360 above it in the range. At £2,500 per pair, the 119 is not a starter speaker in any pejorative sense. It is a precisely engineered compact loudspeaker designed from the outset to work correctly as a passive speaker today and to be transformed by the introduction of Exakt technology later — without replacing the cabinet, without starting again, and without any of the compromises that conventional passive loudspeakers accept as permanent. The 119 is a speaker with a future built into its architecture from the first day of ownership.

The passive crossover fitted to the 119 in standard operation is not a permanent feature of the signal path. It is a bypass-ready circuit — present when Exakt is not, and cleanly stepped aside when it is. When an Exakt module is introduced, filtering moves to the digital domain inside the Linn network player, time alignment is applied, and Space Optimisation is brought to bear on the 119's interaction with the room. The speaker that was already good becomes something that no passive speaker at any price can replicate — because no passive speaker, however excellent, can receive a signal that has been digitally aligned, filtered, and room-corrected before it reaches the drive units.

Drive Units — A 160mm Bass Driver and a Sonomex Dome Tweeter

The 119 uses a 160mm Nextel-coated paper-diaphragm bass driver in a rear-ported 9-litre cabinet, and a 19.55mm soft Sonomex dome tweeter. The Nextel-coated paper diaphragm is a material choice that prioritises controlled, consistent behaviour over the extended frequency range the driver must cover — paper provides the mass and damping characteristics that a bass driver requires, and the Nextel coating controls the surface to ensure that energy is absorbed rather than stored and returned as colouration. The Sonomex dome tweeter is a soft dome material specifically selected for its combination of high-frequency extension and low stored energy — reproducing the upper frequencies of the recorded signal with the resolution and freedom from metallic resonance that a hard dome introduces.

The rear port is tuned to work correctly within the 9-litre cabinet volume — compact enough for a bookshelf position or a dedicated stand, sufficient in volume for the 160mm driver to load correctly in a typical room. Bass extension is appropriate to the cabinet's dimensions: the 119 does not attempt to produce bass that its physics cannot support, and it does not introduce the port colouration that an improperly tuned reflex alignment creates.

Two pairs of binding posts allow biwiring — and are present as a consequence of the Exakt upgrade path's architecture, which introduces separate amplification channels to each driver pair when the Exakt module is fitted.

The Exakt Upgrade Path — What the 119 Becomes

The 119 is Exakt-ready — a term whose significance is architectural rather than merely promotional. In passive operation, the analogue crossover divides the signal between tweeter and bass driver, introducing phase shifts, insertion loss, and component colouration that no passive crossover, however well designed, entirely avoids. When an Exakt module is fitted to the 119, connected to a Linn Selekt DSM or compatible Linn network player via Exakt Link, the passive crossover is bypassed entirely. Filtering is performed digitally inside the DSM, at full digital resolution, with no insertion loss and no phase shift. Each drive unit receives its own amplified signal, time-aligned to compensate for the physical distance between the tweeter and bass driver.

The transformation is not marginal. The removal of the passive crossover from the signal path between the DSM and the drive units is audible as a fundamental change in resolution, timing, and the coherence of the presentation across the frequency range. The 119 in Exakt operation is not a better version of the 119 in passive operation. It is a different instrument — one whose engineering fully reveals itself only when the last passive component has been removed from the signal path.

Finishes and Stands

The 119 is available in Walnut, Oak, Satin Black, and Satin White. Dedicated mild-steel pedestal stands are available from Linn in matching black or silver. The speaker includes threaded inserts for stand mounting — proper stand selection is a genuine performance consideration, not a cosmetic one, and is worth discussing at the point of purchase. A speaker of this engineering calibre deserves the correct mechanical coupling between cabinet and floor.

Technical Specifications

Who Is It For?

The 119 is the right choice for listeners who want a compact, properly engineered Linn loudspeaker that works immediately in a passive system — paired with a Linn LP12 Majik Turntable or Linn LP12 Selekt Turntable as the source, or with a Majik DSM or Selekt DSM as the network player — and can be upgraded to Exakt operation without replacing the cabinet. It is sized for rooms and positions where a floorstanding speaker is not appropriate, and its bass performance is proportionate to its dimensions — honest, controlled, and unexaggerated. Those who know they intend to go Exakt should factor the Exakt module cost into the overall system budget from the outset — the 119 is designed for precisely that kind of long-term planning, and the upgrade path it offers is one of the most compelling arguments for choosing it over any passive-only alternative at this price.

Buying from Martins Hi-Fi

Martins Hi-Fi has been in Norwich since 1968. Elizabeth Gould runs the business today, and we stock only brands we have heard properly and stand behind.

The 119 can be heard at our Norwich showroom — in both passive and Exakt configurations, which is the only way to properly understand what the Exakt upgrade path delivers. When buying the 119, stand selection and Exakt upgrade timing are both worth discussing at the same time — both affect how the system is configured from the outset, and getting that right from the beginning saves cost later.

When you get in touch, you'll be speaking with Dave, Chris and Tim — experienced specialists who can advise on this product and your whole system.

Contact us at info@martinshifi.co.uk, call 01603 627010, or WhatsApp on 07554 687137. You can read more about how we work on our Why Martins Hi-Fi page. We are at 85–91 Ber Street, Norwich, NR1 3EY.