Linn AV 5105 Stereo Power Amplifier

Name: Linn AV 5105
Brand: Linn

The Linn AV 5105 is a dual-mono stereo power amplifier from Linn's late-1990s AV 51 system range. It was designed to match the AV 5103 System Controller in style and performance. Linn's own material describes it as combining "high output power, ruggedness, and ease of use with our passion for quality," and positions it for high-performance audio and audio/video systems. It's a Class AB design rated at 100W per channel into 8 ohms and 200W into 4 ohms. It has fully regulated dual power supplies per channel, dual RCA line inputs, and two pairs of speaker outputs per channel. The rear panel has multiple banana sockets for bi-wiring. A signal-sensing auto on/off feature was included for energy conservation or remote operation.

Documentation on the AV 5105 is thinner than for its sibling models, and much of what circulates online comes from seller listings rather than period reviews. What is clear is that it was part of Linn's high-end home theater push in the 1990s and carried the same design language as the rest of the AV 51 stack. It was also recalled. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced a recall of the AV 5105 (all serial numbers, in black or silver) along with Linn Inc. The amplifier measures roughly 3 by 15 by 14 inches. A service bulletin on the main capacitors (6800uF 80V Dubilier units) circulates among owners, and many units on the secondhand market are described as freshly recapped or serviced.

The AV 5105 was also sold as part of complete Linn systems. One seller notes their unit came from a roughly $27,000 Linn system circa 2000. The manual is available from Linn's own documentation site and runs 22 pages. Buyers should check the capacitor service history and confirm whether any recall work or recapping has been done.

Known specifications:

Output: 100W/channel @ 8Ω, 200W/channel @ 4Ω
Class AB dual-mono design
Fully regulated dual power supplies per channel
Dual RCA line inputs; two pairs of speaker outputs per channel (banana sockets, bi-wire capable)
Signal-sensing auto on/off
Voltage selector: 115V / 230V
Dimensions: 3" H × 15" W × 14" D
Colors: black or silver