There’s a certain kind of person you meet in high-performance audio. No matter where you are in the world, they listen a little differently. They don’t chase volume or spectacle. They chase connection.
Paul Carlin is one of those people.
On February 19th, Definitive will welcome Paul to our Experience Center for a special evening dedicated to the Linn Sondek LP12—an instrument that has quietly evolved for more than 50 years while redefining what great analog playback can be. Ahead of that event, we sat down with Paul to talk about music, obsession, and why the LP12 still matters so deeply today.
👉 Event details and RSVP can be found here:
https://definitiveslp12experience.rsvpify.com/?securityToken=bKI0glY5c3WPXZEE09Ve6vDGKxABzStD
A Life Shaped by Music
Paul’s relationship with music began long before hi-fi became a profession.
“I grew up in a house filled with music,” he tells us. “Nothing fancy in terms of gear, but incredible records. ELO, Joni Mitchell, Blondie, Jim Croce. Music was just… everywhere.”
Some of his earliest memories are physical ones—running around the kitchen table as a toddler, then later sitting alone in the mornings with oversized headphones, singing along to Kate Bush, INXS, and Def Leppard before the rest of the house woke up.
That curiosity turned into craft. Paul learned drums and guitar, went on to spend two decades at the BBC producing and engineering music programs, toured with an indie rock band, and eventually found his way to Linn—where all of those threads came together.
“Travelling the world, running music events, training Linn specialists… it’s as close to a dream job as I could imagine. Constantly discovering new music or rediscovering old favorites—it’s an addiction. I’m where I belong.”
Why Listening Rooms Still Matter
Even after years in the industry, Paul says the magic hasn’t faded.
“Walking into a listening room, tuning the speakers, optimizing the space—and then seeing someone get completely lost in a song—that never gets old,” he says. “That moment when a customer just feels it… that’s when you know you’ve done something right.”
It’s a sentiment that resonates deeply at Definitive. No two rooms are the same. No two listeners are either. And that’s where the LP12 continues to stand apart.
The Upgrade That Stops the Room
When asked if there’s a particular LP12 upgrade that consistently surprises people, Paul doesn’t hesitate.
“Klimax Radikal and Keel SE are astounding,” he says, “but doing an A/B with the Bedrok plinth versus a standard plinth… that’s jaw-dropping.”
He recalls an event in York, England, where the reaction was immediate and visceral.
“Watching people hear Pink Moon by Nick Drake on a Klimax LP12 with Bedrok in real time—seeing the room go quiet—that’s something I won’t forget.”
That moment captures the essence of the LP12 philosophy: evolution without replacement. Refinement without losing soul.
What the “Linn Sound” Really Is
Describing the Linn sound without technical language isn’t easy—but Paul gets close.
“It’s natural. Clean. Neutral without being clinical,” he explains. “We want to get out of the way of the music and let it speak for itself.”
He laughs remembering the first time he heard Linn’s 360 system.
“The first track I asked for was Beat the Clock by Sparks. I was gobsmacked. I was hearing parts of songs I’d known for decades as if for the first time.”
That rediscovery is the goal. Not hi-fi for its own sake—but music, revealed.
Why Definitive and Linn Work
Paul is clear about what makes the Linn–Definitive partnership special.
“The professionalism, the warmth, the care in demonstration—it’s world-class,” he says. “Everyone is locked in. The rooms always sound fantastic. Definitive has a real identity, and you feel it the moment you walk in.”
It’s a relationship built over more than 40 years, rooted in shared values: long-term thinking, craftsmanship, and helping systems evolve alongside the people who live with them.
What He Hopes You Take With You
When asked what he hopes someone carries with them after hearing a Linn system for the first time, Paul doesn’t talk about gear.
“I hope they leave happy,” he says. “Surprised. Maybe with a moment they’ll remember. For an hour, they can escape and just get lost in music.”
That, ultimately, is what the LP12 experience—and this upcoming event—is about.
Join Us February 19
On February 19, Paul Carlin will be with us at Definitive to dive deep into the LP12—its upgrades, its longevity, and what’s possible when the source is truly honored.
Bring your LP12.
Bring your questions.
Bring the records that matter most to you.
When the needle drops, the room changes.
👉 Reserve your place here:
https://definitiveslp12experience.rsvpify.com/?securityToken=bKI0glY5c3WPXZEE09Ve6vDGKxABzStD
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