Apparently money can buy you musical happiness. Like all Linn products, the Exotik isn’t cheap, but it’s also, well—not cheap.

This pre-amp may sound familiar, but it’s new, improved and also a little more expensive. Unless you’re a serious audiophile, you may scoff at the price, but this unit packs the power of 25 $200 pre-amps—and sounds a lot better too. So it’s almost a bargain!

The multichannel digital and analog unit offers eight channels of audio, even to your game console or satellite receiver. Surround sound options abound. The only sad part: If you want to add a turntable or digital audio source, that’s going to cost you extra.

It may not be as pretty as some of Linn’s other products, but it’s what’s on the inside that counts. You’d think for the money though, they could paint some flames on the side to show you how smokin’ it actually is.

• $5,670
• Digital audio upgrade module: $2,100
• Phono stage upgrade module: $520
• Fully configurable for different speaker set-ups from stereo to 7.1 surround
• 6 analogue inputs (including a 5.1 group)
• Inputs: 3 electrical, 3 optical

Rachel Cericola - Contributing Writer

Over the past 15 years, Rachel Cericola has covered entertainment, web and technology trends. Check her out at www.rachelcericola.com.