Since 2004 the Linear has thrilled all music lovers who expect their hi-fi amplifiers to perform at their best also with headphones. Can this success story still be surpassed? Yes, it can – and how!
The Linear USB II comes up with a digital-analogue converter of the latest generation and a fully revised analog board using the high-grade Low-Z Copper technology. Physical, punchy lows and a filigree resolution over the entire frequency bandwidth: you will never again consider your headphones just as a makeshift solution.
Best of both worlds
Keeping an eye on your needs at any time, the Linear USB II delivers an impressive listening enjoyment due to its three gain settings – even with the most diverse headphones on very different sound sources. As a headphone amplifier and preamp it joins the carefully selected components and sophisticated circuitry of our crowd favourite, the Linear, with the digital world.
Enjoy your musical treasures from PC, Mac or even your mobile phone in audiophile quality. The Linear USB II automatically detects an incoming USB audio data stream and does without an input selector switch. For double listening pleasure our new champion is ready to feed two headphones simultaneously and as a streaming preamp, it also spurs on your active loudspeakers to play with amazing vigour.
SSC damping feet decouple the Linear USB II from its base and bring about quietness. In every situation a fabulous sound, always striving for perfection – that’s our Linear USB II.
| Analogue section | |
| Input impedance | 47 kohms |
| Maximum gain | 0 dB, 10 dB, 18 dB, 20 dB selectable via DIP switches |
| Frequency response | 10 Hz (-0.3 dB) to 35 kHz (-1 dB) |
| Signal to noise ratio | > 100 dB at gain 0 dB |
| THD | < 0.001 % at 6 mW/300 ohms |
| Channel separation | > 80 dB at 10 kHz |
| Output power | 400 mW/60 ohms 200 mW/300 ohms |
| Output impedance | pre-out 50 ohms phones out 5 ohms |
| Connectors audio | Neutrik headphone jacks with gold plated contacts 1 x pre-out 2 x phones out gold plated RCA sockets with teflon insulation |
| Power consumption | 15 W through internal, regulated power supply |
| Special feature | PC board in Low-Z Copper technology vibration-absorbing SSC feet |
| Outer dimensions W x D x H | 110 mm x 280 mm x 44 mm (4.3 x 11 x 2 in.) |
| Weight | 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs.) net |
| Digital-analogue converter | |
| Digital inputs | 1 x USB B |
| Sampling rate | up to 384 Khz |
| Resolution | up to 32 bits |
| Formats | PCM, DOP, FLAC, MP3, WAV |
| Chipset | ESS Sabre K2M |
| Analogue filter | Silver Mica capacitators |
| Max. output level DAC | 1.8 V eff. |
| Special feature | The analogue input is automatically activated, when no digital signal is recognised |
