Усилители для наушников — Lehmann Audio Linear Pro

The Linear Pro is the studio variant of the Lehmannaudio Linear, produced in small numbers in Germany for recording studios, mastering rooms and broadcasters. The Cologne company lists it in its Studio/Stage group of headphone amplifiers, where the later Linear II Pro now sits beside it. The main difference from the domestic Linear is a balanced input stage, so the unit accepts signals from professional mixing desks and interfaces as well as from home sources. Lehmannaudio, founded in 1988 as Entec, builds its devices in low quantities under the motto High-end from the Sound Engineer.

Key specs that matter

Rated output is 400 mW into 60 ohms and 200 mW into 300 ohms from a 5 ohm output impedance. Frequency response extends from 10 Hz at -0.3 dB to 35 kHz at -1 dB. Gain can be set to 0, 10, 18 or 20 dB, and the maximum output level is +20 dBu. The balanced input has an impedance of 18 kohms. The maker specifies noise more than 90 dB down, RMS unweighted at 0 dB gain, a distortion figure of 0.003% at 13 mW into 300 ohms, channel separation above 70 dB at 10 kHz and a channel mismatch below 0.3 dB at full volume. Consumption is about 10 W. The case measures 110 x 280 x 50 mm, and the weight is 1.5 kg.

Engineering and use context

Inputs arrive on two Neutrik combo sockets, which take both XLR and jack plugs, so balanced and unbalanced sources can be connected without adapters. Because the noise figure is measured RMS unweighted, it is a stricter number than the A-weighted values often printed for consumer gear. A close match between left and right at the top of the volume range matters for engineers who judge placement in a mix over headphones. The internal supply is regulated and runs from 200-240 V mains at 50 Hz. Lehmannaudio sells the Linear Pro in silver or black aluminium and backs it with a six-year warranty.

Pairing

Two 6.3 mm stereo jacks on the front allow two people to monitor at once, for example an engineer and a performer in the same control room. The four gain steps cover in-ear monitors at the lowest setting and high-impedance studio headphones at the two highest settings. Suitable sources are mixing consoles, audio interfaces and converters with XLR outputs, while home players with unbalanced outputs connect through the jack side of the combo sockets.

Alternatives

The Lehmannaudio Linear II Pro is the newer studio model, rated at over 108 dB signal to noise with the same balanced combo inputs.