News

Linn calls for action to secure surround sound's future (23/3/2005)

More than 30 years ago, Linn was founded with a clear purpose; to reproduce, through superior sound, the thrills and emotion of a live performance. Linn and its range of products have grown because this commitment to quality and accurate performance has remained constant. As a manufacturer of performance music, home theatre and multi-room systems, and also as an independent record company with an extensive and rich repertoire of performing artists and their catalogue, Linn is at the cutting edge of global music technology and its application in the recording studio.

Managing Director, Ivor Tiefenbrun MBE is aware of the responsibility Linn has to help its customers find the highest quality sound reproduction. "High quality formats are an essential pre-requisite for better sound and the HiFi industry relies on quality formats to enthuse customers who seek the most involving systems and the most accurate music reproduction," explains Ivor.

He is certain that music's future lies in surround sound. "I believe surround sound will become an essential aspect for all home entertainment systems for music and cinema. I believe it will eventually become universal," remarks Tiefenbrun. "Compatibility with 5.1 cinema systems is very important for all music formats. SA-CD's surround capability also lets us record music in more authentic ways. Much of the music we enjoy today was originally performed and enjoyed in the round. The modern concert hall stage and 'stereo presentation' is not the only, nor the best way for music to be presented. It is just one that we have grown accustomed to over the last 100 years as technology made the construction of cheap, large span concert halls possible and widespread."

Linn Records was one of the pioneers of the SA-CD format, and in 2003 Linn Products launched its first universal player with SA-CD compatibility. Subsequently, the company has introduced a further two SA-CD compatible players. "SA-CD as an 'audio only' format is important because of the quality and focus on music it offers," explains Ivor Tiefenbrun. "If the same quality was available on movie soundtracks this would also be desirable. DVD is not here for ever so Linn as a specialist company with a commitment to quality follow format developments with interest."

"Sound quality and security together with compatibility with CD make SA-CD very attractive," explains Ivor. "A high quality multi-channel music format is what our industry needs to secure its future. We hope that the SA-CD market will continue to grow but it depends on on-going support and enthusiasm from the format champions and the record industry. There is a limit to the commitment a small company like Linn can make no matter how committed we are. I believe the audio industry will support SA-CD if we can demonstrate that the format is attractive, secure and reliable."

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