Luxury hifi specialist Linn tunes back into profitability

High-end audio equipment specialist Linn has hailed “healthy” revenues and a return to profitability despite the challenges posed by coronavirus.

Linn MD Gilad Tiefenbrun, whose father Ivor founded the firm. Picture: Euan Robertson.

The firm, based on the outskirts of Glasgow, has reported turnover of £18.6 million, based on an extended financial year of 15 months, with operating profit coming in at £482,000. Additionally, £3.4m was invested in research and development (R&D).

The period ending September 2020 saw further expansion of Linn's product portfolio, with major launches in hi-fi, custom installation and lifestyle sectors that it said “will appeal to an even broader base of discerning customers”.

It also said its continued investment into R&D has resulted in the development both of new products and upgrades for existing products. These comprise the firm’s first all-in-one wireless speaker, which “marks a move into a new category where it set out to be known as the best-sounding wireless speaker in the world” – and an upgrade to what Linn says is widely regarded as the world's best turntable.

The business added that such innovations have helped it return to profitability.

Linn MD Gilad Tiefenbrun said: “It’s been an incredibly challenging year with many problems caused by the pandemic, including enforced lockdowns affecting our retailers around the world and massive disruption to our supply chain.

“Despite that, and thanks to the efforts of our skilled and motivated workforce, we are incredibly proud that we have continued to delight music lovers with world-class products, invest in advanced manufacturing capability and return to profitability.”

Linn was founded by Gilad’s father Ivor, who sought to “rethink” the turntable – and each of the firm’s products is made by hand just outside Glasgow.

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