The right amplifier depends on which Linn 343 you own. The 343 Exakt Integrated has its crossover, DAC architecture and power amplifiers built in, so it is not chosen like a passive speaker. The 343 PWAB has a passive upper array that needs an external stereo power amplifier, while its Aktiv Bass section has a 700 W internal Linn Power DAC in each speaker.
Before comparing amplifier models, identify the version, establish how the upper array will be wired, and obtain the speaker’s electrical-load information from Linn or an authorised dealer. Linn’s public 343 information does not publish a recommended amplifier wattage, nominal impedance, minimum impedance or sensitivity, so a precise “use an amplifier of X watts” rule would be unreliable.
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Identify which Linn 343 you have
The rear-panel connections and amplification architecture matter more than the name on the grille. Linn sells two materially different 343 configurations.
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343 Exakt Integrated
Linn describes the Exakt Integrated as a four-way active speaker. Its Exakt digital crossover, DAC architecture and amplification are inside the speaker. Linn lists 700 W x2 and 170 W x3 of internal amplification per speaker.
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That architecture is intended to be used as part of an Exakt system rather than with a conventional external power amplifier connected to passive speaker terminals. If your label, invoice or system documentation identifies the speaker as “Exakt Integrated,” begin by choosing the compatible Exakt source and control electronics, not a separate stereo power amp.
343 PWAB (Passive with Aktiv Bass)
The PWAB combines a three-way passive upper array with an Aktiv Bass section. Each speaker has three pairs of banana-compatible binding posts for the upper array, a separate XLR connection for the bass section and a 700 W internal Linn Power DAC for that bass section.
The upper array is the part that requires external amplification. The three binding-post pairs mean the final wiring arrangement must be decided before you buy an amplifier: single-wire, bi-wire, tri-wire or a dealer-configured active arrangement are not interchangeable assumptions.
| Version | Speaker architecture | Amplification supplied by the speaker | External amplifier requirement | Published 2026 launch price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 343 Exakt Integrated | Four-way active with integrated Exakt crossover and DAC architecture | 700 W x2 and 170 W x3 per speaker, according to Linn | No conventional external power amplifier for the speaker’s drivers; use the compatible Exakt system architecture | £65,000, reported by What Hi-Fi? as a launch price |
| 343 PWAB | Three-way passive upper array plus Aktiv Bass | 700 W internal Linn Power DAC per speaker for the bass section | External stereo power amplification for the upper array | £45,000, reported by What Hi-Fi? as a launch price |
The prices above are launch figures reported in 2026, not a guarantee of today’s dealer price, regional tax treatment or package contents.
A practical decision sequence before buying an amplifier
- Confirm the suffix. Check the speaker’s documentation and rear panel for “Exakt Integrated” or “PWAB.” Do not infer the version from the cabinet appearance alone.
- Map the intended system. Record the room size, listening distance, expected peak level and whether the system will be used for near-field, domestic or very large-room listening. These factors affect the required headroom, but they do not replace the manufacturer’s load data.
- Choose the upper-array topology. Decide with a Linn dealer whether the installation will be single-wire, bi-wire, tri-wire or an active multi-amplifier arrangement. The answer determines how many amplifier channels and which cables are needed.
- Check the source and preamplifier. Confirm whether the control unit provides RCA, XLR or both, and check its output level, gain structure and available outputs. An amplifier that accepts the wrong connection type or has unsuitable gain can be difficult to integrate even if its wattage looks attractive.
- Obtain the load information. Ask Linn or the installing dealer for the current electrical-load requirements and the acceptable amplifier arrangement for your exact 343 PWAB installation. Linn’s public 343 page does not state nominal impedance, minimum impedance, sensitivity or a recommended amplifier wattage.
- Verify the complete installation. Have the dealer confirm amplifier channel allocation, cable termination, bass XLR routing, protection behaviour and ventilation before placing the order.
How to choose a power amplifier for the 343 PWAB
Use power ratings only with their test conditions
Do not choose by the largest watt number on a specification sheet. A meaningful rating identifies the load impedance, number of channels driven, frequency range and distortion limit. Because the 343’s relevant impedance and sensitivity figures are not published on the reviewed Linn page, no defensible article can translate the speaker into a universal wattage target.
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Instead, ask for an amplifier that is stable with the 343 PWAB’s load and has sufficient clean headroom for your room and listening level. Compare continuous output at the relevant impedance, current delivery and the amplifier’s behaviour when protection engages. A lower-rated design with robust current capability may be a better engineering match than a higher-rated design whose rating is measured under easier conditions.
Decide between stereo and multiple-amplifier layouts
The basic requirement is a true stereo power amplifier, or a coordinated system of amplifiers, capable of driving the upper array through its three binding-post pairs. Whether one stereo unit is appropriate depends on the wiring topology approved for your installation.
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- Single-wire: one amplifier channel feeds each speaker using the dealer-specified terminal arrangement.
- Bi-wire or tri-wire: the upper-array sections use separate cable runs from the amplifier arrangement. Confirm the terminal links, channel allocation and cable requirements with the installer rather than guessing from the number of posts.
- Active multi-amplification: additional amplifier channels may be used when the system’s crossover and control electronics are configured for that purpose. This is an installation decision, not a consequence of simply adding more amplifiers.
Check current delivery and protection behaviour
Ask for the amplifier’s continuous output at the load the dealer specifies, its peak-current capability and its protection strategy. Protection that reacts prematurely can interrupt music; protection that is too slow or poorly matched can expose the amplifier to an unsuitable load. The relevant question is how the complete amplifier-and-speaker system behaves, not which product has the highest headline wattage.
Match the input and gain structure
Confirm whether the preamplifier or streamer output is RCA, XLR or switchable, and whether the power amplifier offers the corresponding input. Also check input sensitivity, gain and maximum input level. These details determine usable volume range and noise performance and can prevent a system from reaching full output or from overloading at a low control setting.
The PWAB’s separate XLR is the connection for its internally amplified bass section. It is not a replacement for the upper-array speaker terminals. The amplifier feeding the upper array still connects through the prescribed binding-post arrangement.
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Consider mono versus stereo topology carefully
Two monoblocks can be suitable only if the dealer’s wiring plan and the amplifier’s output configuration support them. A conventional stereo amplifier may be simpler, but a multi-amplifier system can change channel count, gain matching, cable routing, heat output and cost. Treat mono operation as a system-design choice rather than an automatic upgrade.
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High-power amplifiers require clear ventilation and a stable support. Check the manufacturer’s clearance requirements, mains capacity and the service arrangements available in your country. For a speaker at this price level, warranty coverage, local technical support and the ability to obtain replacement parts can matter as much as a small difference in a published power figure.
Understanding the PWAB connections
The three upper-array binding-post pairs
Each PWAB speaker provides three pairs of banana-compatible binding posts for its passive upper array. The posts are not evidence that every owner should use three amplifiers. They indicate that the speaker supports more than one wiring or amplification arrangement, and the correct choice depends on the system’s crossover configuration and the dealer’s installation instructions.
Before connecting anything, get a written channel map showing which amplifier output feeds which terminal pair and whether terminal links are fitted or removed. Never assume that a cable set supplied for a two-way speaker is correct for this three-way array.
The bass XLR
The separate XLR carries the signal for the Aktiv Bass section, whose 700 W Linn Power DAC is built into each speaker. Keep this connection distinct from the upper-array speaker cables. Confirm the source output type, pinout and cable length with the dealer, especially if the preamplifier offers both balanced and unbalanced outputs.
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Why cable and connector details matter
Use cables terminated for the banana-compatible binding posts and the specified bass XLR connection. Check polarity, left/right assignment and strain relief before powering the system. A wrong channel map can produce missing bands, weak bass or an apparently defective amplifier even when every component is functioning.
Are Linn Klimax Solo or Akurate amplifiers suitable?
Linn lists Klimax Solo and Akurate power-amplifier families in its current catalogue, but the reviewed Linn material does not publish a 343-specific pairing recommendation. They are therefore candidates for dealer verification, not guaranteed matches.
For either family, ask the dealer to confirm:
- that the exact model is stable with the 343 PWAB upper-array load;
- how many channels are required for your chosen single-wire, bi-wire, tri-wire or active layout;
- whether its input sensitivity and connector type suit your preamplifier or streamer;
- how its protection circuit behaves with the speaker; and
- whether ventilation, mains requirements and service coverage suit the installation.
A dealer’s recommendation should identify the complete signal path and wiring plan, not merely name an amplifier family.
Do not confuse a general Linn amplifier specification with a 343 recommendation
Linn’s Selekt DSM documentation lists 100 W per channel into 4 ohms and 50 W per channel into 8 ohms in the metadata of the reviewed copy. Those are general Selekt amplifier specifications, not a published recommendation for the 343 PWAB and not evidence that a Selekt DSM should drive its upper array.
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|---|---|---|
| 100 W/channel into 4 ohms; 50 W/channel into 8 ohms | A general Selekt DSM amplifier rating in Linn documentation | That the unit is approved for a 343 PWAB, or that it provides the required channel count and load stability |
| 700 W x2 and 170 W x3 per speaker | Linn’s stated internal amplification for the 343 Exakt Integrated | A required external-amplifier wattage for the PWAB |
| 700 W internal bass amplifier per PWAB speaker | The built-in Aktiv Bass amplification | The power available to the passive upper array |
Budget for the whole system, not just the amplifier
The amplifier is only one part of a PWAB installation. Your budget may also include the preamplifier or streamer, the number of amplifier channels required by the chosen topology, speaker cables, the bass XLR cables, stands or supports if specified, installation and any dealer commissioning.
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Use the £45,000 PWAB and £65,000 Exakt figures only as 2026 launch-price context from What Hi-Fi?. They do not establish a current price in your country, and they do not state whether a particular amplifier, cable package or installation service is included.
Common selection mistakes and how to avoid them
Buying before identifying the architecture
Symptom: You are shopping for an external amplifier but cannot find ordinary passive-speaker specifications. Fix: Confirm whether the speaker is Exakt Integrated. Its internal amplification means the system decision is about Exakt-compatible electronics, not a conventional power amp.
Using a wattage rule copied from another speaker
Symptom: A seller recommends an amplifier solely because it is “100 W,” “300 W” or “1,000 W.” Fix: Request the rating conditions and Linn’s load information for the exact PWAB installation. Without impedance and sensitivity data, the number alone cannot establish compatibility.
Treating the bass XLR as the speaker input
Symptom: The upper array is silent while the bass section operates, or the installer has no cable connected to the binding posts. Fix: The XLR serves the internally amplified bass; the passive upper array still requires its specified external-amplifier connection through the three binding-post pairs.
Assuming three terminal pairs require three amplifiers
Symptom: You purchase extra channels without a confirmed crossover or wiring plan. Fix: Have the dealer specify single-wire, bi-wire, tri-wire or active operation first, then buy only the amplifier channels and cables that plan requires.
Ignoring gain and connector compatibility
Symptom: The system is noisy, reaches full volume at an impractical control setting or cannot connect directly to the chosen amplifier. Fix: Match RCA/XLR availability, input sensitivity, gain and maximum input level across the source, preamplifier and power amplifier.
A concise buying checklist
- Version confirmed: Exakt Integrated or PWAB.
- For PWAB, upper-array amplifier requirement acknowledged: external stereo power amplifier or dealer-designed multi-amplifier system.
- Wiring topology documented: single-wire, bi-wire, tri-wire or active.
- Three upper-array binding-post pairs mapped to amplifier channels.
- Bass XLR connection identified separately from the upper-array cables.
- Load data, current capability and protection behaviour verified with Linn or an authorised dealer.
- RCA/XLR inputs, gain and input sensitivity checked against the source electronics.
- Ventilation, mains supply, warranty and local service confirmed.
- Total system cost calculated, including cables and installation.
Bottom line
There is no single amplifier recommendation that applies to every Linn 343. An Exakt Integrated model is a self-amplified Exakt-system speaker; a PWAB model needs external power for its passive upper array but supplies 700 W of internal amplification for bass. For the PWAB, choose the wiring topology first, obtain the missing load specifications, and have a Linn dealer verify the amplifier’s power, current delivery, inputs, gain and protection behaviour. That process is more dependable than selecting by wattage or assuming that a particular Linn amplifier family is automatically approved.
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