Pistonik
Low-frequency drive unit motor system
Flawless Force
Our unique Pistonik motor system is the driving force behind Linn-designed low frequency drive units. Pistonik produces flawless linear force over its entire wide range of in-and-out travel—even when driven extremely hard with bass-heavy music—thanks to a very long-stroke motor topology with a specially extended magnet gap. Major innovations throughout Pistonik’s design engineer out magnetic, mechanical, and thermal factors which together conspire to defeat linear performance.
Eliminates Magnetic Drag
To stabilise the magnetic field inside the voice coil gap, and reduce the impact of eddy currents, we’ve immersed the whole Pistonik motor assembly in permanent magnetic saturation. This enhanced stability reduces distortion drastically, providing the drive unit with exceptional speed, agility and responsiveness by lowering magnetic drag.
Eliminates Acoustic Compression
Pistonik’s triple-layered ventilation network eliminates acoustic compression as a source of distortion and noise, allowing air to move freely and silently through the motor structure. This ensures the moving mass of Pistonik-equipped drivers maintains smooth, supple motion, with the absolute absence of audible air turbulence.
Eliminates Thermal Buildup
Untroubled by rising resistance due to thermal buildup, Pistonik’s performance remains steadfast after hours and hours of non-stop listening. The voice coil is kept cool by carefully designed ventilation paths; heat is drawn directly into the surrounding steel and aluminium structures, so that warm air is continuously exchanged for cool within the speaker cabinet.
Learn more about PistonikPistonik in Action
Our unique Pistonik motor system forms the core of the first-ever Linn-designed drive units – a 6" upper bass and 8" woofer. With it, these drivers achieve ultimate linearity across a prodigious excursion range, with dramatically lower distortion and greater accuracy than anything available elsewhere.
Ultimate Linearity
Linn Drive Units featuring Pistonik
The first-ever Linn-designed drive units deliver the widest truly linear excursion of any low-frequency drivers available.
Fitted to 360 Loudspeakers
Linn-designed upper bass and woofer units featuring Pistonik are fitted as standard to both the Exakt Integrated and PWAB variants of our flagship 360 speakers.
These drive units are also available as a retrofittable upgrade to pairs of 360 built before April 2026.
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Fitted to 343 Loudspeakers
343 Exakt Integrated and PWAB models are fitted with a Linn-designed 6” upper bass and single down-firing 8” driver, both featuring Pistonik.
Together, these drivers carry around 70% of the speaker’s acoustic workload, meaning the benefits of Pistonik are heard across the heart of its performance – from the deepest frequencies through the vocal range, and beyond.
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