Interview with Wolfgang Linhard of MY SOUND
At MY SOUND, high-end audio is approached with clarity and restraint. Founded by Wolfgang Linhard and based in Starnberg, Germany, the company is built on decades of listening, practical experience, and a firm belief that music deserves time, focus, and honesty.
There is little interest in trends or constant change. Instead, the work revolves around long-term relationships, carefully built systems, and a deep respect for both sound and space.
Below is a conversation we had with Wolfgang, where he shares his thoughts on listening, system building, and what matters to him in high-end audio.
“...true high-end is not about owning equipment, but about living with music in its most authentic form”
Interview with Wolfgang Linhard
About your business
Q. Can you tell us a little about the history of your company?
A. My name is Wolfgang Linhard, and for more than 35 years my life has been shaped by high-end audio. What began as fascination became experience, and experience became responsibility toward sound, music, and the people who listen with care.
Twelve years ago, I founded MY SOUND with a clear conviction: passion should never remain a hobby, it should become a profession lived with integrity. MY SOUND was never meant to be a place of simple transactions, of buying and selling at higher prices. It was created to craft musical works of art, systems that speak to emotion, space, and individuality.
We work exclusively with manufacturers we believe in without compromise. Every product we represent is chosen because it meets our own standards of musical truth, craftsmanship, and longevity. This selectivity allows us to know our systems in depth, not superficially, but down to the smallest sonic detail.
At MY SOUND, experience is not measured in years alone, but in listening, understanding, and refining. Our goal is not to impress with technology, but to create lasting musical experiences that feel personal, authentic, and timeless.
Q. What is unique about your local market and your customers?
A. Our clients are not product collectors, nor are they high-end enthusiasts chasing specifications or endlessly rotating equipment while listening to the same handful of demo albums. They are not driven by trends, hype, or constant replacement.
Our clients are listeners in the truest sense. They seek musical reproduction that feels complete, natural, and emotionally convincing. For them, sound is not about showing what a system can do, but about what music can become when it is reproduced without distraction or compromise.
They value continuity over constant change, depth over novelty. What matters is trust, long-term partnership, and a system that evolves thoughtfully alongside their listening habits and living spaces. Personal care is not an added service, it is the foundation of everything we do.
We take the time to understand how our clients listen, what moves them, and what perfection means to them individually. Because true high-end is not about owning equipment, but about living with music in its most authentic form.
Q. How do you curate the brands you represent?
A. We do not select our products based on margins, test results, trends, or fashionable opinions. We choose them out of conviction. Every product we represent must stand for real, explainable technical progress and for musical performance that convinces immediately and sustainably. There is no voodoo in our world, no mysticism, no empty promises. Only engineering, physics, experience, and sound that makes sense.
We work with products we fully understand and deeply believe in, because only then can we stand behind them without compromise. Musical truth cannot be sold, it has to be built, measured, heard, and proven over time.
This philosophy is the reason why we work with Marten. Marten loudspeakers operate at the very edge of what is technically possible. Their design is driven by uncompromising engineering, advanced materials, and an obsessive pursuit of accuracy and coherence. Nothing is exaggerated, nothing is added, nothing is hidden. What remains is purity, control, and emotional honesty.
At the same time, Marten loudspeakers are far more than technical instruments. They are musical works of art, crafted with extraordinary precision and finished to a level that reflects true respect for materials and craftsmanship. Every detail serves a purpose, both sonically and visually.
Equally important is the professional distribution and service behind the brand. Reliability, competence, and long-term support are essential parts of any serious high-end product. Excellence does not end with sound, it continues in partnership, trust, and responsibility.
For us, Marten is not a brand choice. It is a natural consequence of our beliefs.
Q. What does a typical day look like in your showroom?
A. A day at MY SOUND does not follow the rhythm of a traditional retail store. There is no walk-in traffic, no background noise, no hurried conversations between shelves and counters. Our work begins with intention, not coincidence.
Every listening session is by appointment only. This is essential, because a serious demonstration deserves time, calm, and focus. When a client visits us, the space belongs entirely to them. No interruptions, no parallel appointments, no distractions. Just music, sound, and the freedom to listen deeply. This allows us to respond precisely to individual wishes, musical preferences, and questions, and to shape each session as a personal experience rather than a standardized presentation.
But our daily routine is not confined to the showroom. In fact, we are not there every day. Our clients are spread across Europe, and much of our work happens on the road. We travel long distances to set up systems, fine-tune acoustics, and conduct private demonstrations in our clients’ homes. These journeys are an integral part of what we do, because true high-end performance cannot be delivered from a box or explained from a desk. It must be built, adjusted, and experienced in the space where it will live.
This balance between focused listening sessions and extensive travel defines our everyday life. It is less about opening hours and more about dedication. Less about availability and more about commitment. At MY SOUND, each day revolves around one central idea: giving music the time, care, and respect it deserves.
Your philosophy
Q. What is your philosophy when it comes to customer experience?
A. When it comes to audio and customer experience, our philosophy is clear and uncompromising: the customer’s satisfaction comes first. Always.
We do not sell individual products in isolation. We deliver a result. A musical outcome that works reliably, consistently, and emotionally in the real world, not just on paper or in a showroom. Every system we create is shaped by decades of experience and by a deep understanding of how all elements interact with each other.
Sound quality does not end with the choice of components. It depends just as much on proper placement, room interaction, stable streaming solutions, and clean, well-managed power. These are often the challenges that define whether a system truly performs or merely exists. We take responsibility for all of them.
Our role is to guide our clients through complexity, to prevent frustration before it arises, and to translate technology into something intuitive and enjoyable. When the system disappears and music flows effortlessly, then we know we have done our job.
For us, success is not measured by what we sell, but by how satisfied our clients are living with the result.
Q. How do you guide clients to find the right speaker for their home and lifestyle?
A. Finding the right loudspeaker is often perceived as a complex and overwhelming task. For us, it is surprisingly straightforward.
We work with only a small number of loudspeakers, but each of them represents a true benchmark in its category. This deliberate reduction allows clarity. Instead of navigating endless options, we focus on solutions that have already proven themselves as references, both technically and musically.
Our approach is never about forcing a product into a system. We look at the complete picture. Sometimes this means finding the perfect match for an existing setup, ensuring coherence and balance with electronics already in place. In other cases, it means developing an entirely new system concept from the ground up, where every component is chosen to serve a shared musical goal.
The room and its acoustics are always part of the equation. A loudspeaker cannot be judged in isolation; it interacts with space, placement, and listening distance. Understanding these factors allows us to select not just a loudspeaker that sounds impressive, but one that truly works in its intended environment.
In the end, the right loudspeaker is not defined by size, price, or reputation. It is defined by how naturally it integrates into the system, the room, and the life of the listener.
Q. Do you have a particular way of demonstrating music to show off a system?
A. Guiding a client to the right loudspeaker is less about persuasion and more about listening, in every sense of the word.
If a client is a true music lover and listens attentively, the differences between loudspeakers become apparent very quickly. With well-prepared demonstrations and truly high-quality products, the contrasts in resolution, coherence, timing, and emotional impact are not subtle or theoretical. They are immediate and clearly audible. Only in poor demonstrations, or with products that do not reach a certain level, do these differences become blurred or difficult to recognize.
Our experience shows that clients usually hear the qualitative differences far sooner than they expect. Once this happens, our role changes. We do not push or influence the decision. The client decides for themselves how far they want to go and how high their budget allows the journey to reach.
We create the conditions for honest listening, provide guidance and context, and ensure that every comparison is meaningful and fair. The final choice, however, is always a personal one, shaped by musical priorities, emotional response, and individual expectations.
In the end, the right loudspeaker is not chosen because it was recommended, but because it was heard and understood.
Q. What role does craftsmanship and design play in your choice of brands?
A. Craftsmanship plays a defining role in everything we do. In the world of high-end audio, where products exist in a realm far beyond the ordinary, flawless build quality is not an option, it is a necessity. At this level, loudspeakers are not meant for short cycles or constant replacement. They are designed to last a lifetime, or more precisely, to play for a lifetime.
Such longevity demands uncompromising materials, precision in every joint, and a level of finish that reflects both durability and respect for the listener. A loudspeaker at this level is an investment in permanence, not only in sound, but in substance.
Design carries an equally important weight. A loudspeaker does not live in a laboratory or a showroom, it lives in a home. It shares space with daily life, with architecture, light, and personal taste. In many ways, it is a piece of furniture, a visual statement that must feel natural and harmonious within the living environment.
This is why aesthetics cannot be separated from performance. Beauty creates acceptance, and acceptance creates long-term enjoyment. Personally, I could never bring a loudspeaker into my own home that lacks elegance, refinement, and a sense of timeless design.
True high-end is where sound, craftsmanship, and design meet as equals. Only then does a loudspeaker become something more than a product. It becomes a companion for life.
Personal touch
Q. Can you share a memorable experience of a client discovering Marten?
A. There was a moment with one of our clients that perfectly describes what true high-end audio can mean. He is a medical doctor, analytical, highly attentive, and searching for nothing less than the perfect loudspeaker. His musical taste spans an unusually wide range, from delicate acoustic recordings to complex, demanding productions.
We installed a pair of Marten Parker Trio Diamond loudspeakers. What followed was not immediate enthusiasm. Quite the opposite. From the very beginning, he was dissatisfied. Almost every piece of music revealed something he perceived as a flaw. Imperfections appeared everywhere. For many dealers, this would have been the point to step back and suggest a more forgiving, softer loudspeaker, one that smooths over problems, sounds pleasant, but ultimately sacrifices truth and detail.
That is not how we work.
What became clear very quickly was that the Marten loudspeakers, especially with their diamond tweeters, were doing exactly what they are designed to do. They revealed everything. Not only the beauty of the recordings, but also the weaknesses of the entire system surrounding them. The loudspeakers were not the problem. They were the mirror.
What followed was an intense and demanding process. Network structure had to be rebuilt properly. Power supply issues were addressed. Cabling was reconsidered and optimized. Every step required patience, precision, and trust. It was challenging, exhausting at times, and anything but convenient.
Then came the turning point.
Once everything was right, the frustration disappeared. The sound opened up. Music became effortless, coherent, and emotionally convincing. Today, this client tells me that he constantly discovers new details in recordings he has known for years. Not because the system exaggerates, but because it finally tells the truth.
Moments like these remind us why we do what we do. True quality does not always comfort at first. Sometimes it challenges. But when you stay the course, the reward is a musical experience that keeps giving, again and again.
Q. Which recordings or genres do you personally love to hear?
A. Music has always been the reason behind everything I do. On our music server alone, more than 12,000 albums are waiting to be discovered, explored, and rediscovered. Add to that the vast worlds of TIDAL and Qobuz, and it becomes clear that repetition is not part of our listening culture. We do not play the same ten tracks over and over again. Music deserves more curiosity than that.
If I did not truly love music, I would never have become a high-end audio dealer. Equipment, technology, and perfection only make sense when they serve something greater. And that is music in all its forms. We listen to anything that feels honest, emotional, and meaningful, whether it is a finely recorded jazz trio, a powerful symphony, or contemporary artists like Billie Eilish or Coldplay. Good music is not defined by genre, era, or reputation, but by the way it connects.
This openness also shapes how we work with our clients. We deeply respect their musical preferences, because music is personal. A system should not force taste into a narrow corridor. It should open doors, encourage exploration, and allow every style to unfold naturally and authentically.
For us, high-end audio is not about showcasing equipment. It is about honoring music in all its diversity and creating systems that let it breathe, speak, and move the listener, no matter what album is playing next.
Q. Outside of audio, what inspires you in your work or life?
A. Beyond high-end audio, there are two passions that shape the way I see and experience the world: traveling and photography.
I love to travel because it expands the horizon in the most literal and emotional sense. New places, different cultures, changing light, unfamiliar sounds, and unexpected perspectives constantly reset the way we perceive things. Traveling keeps curiosity alive and prevents routine from narrowing the view. It reminds me that perfection is never static, it is always contextual.
My second great passion is photography. Whenever possible, I travel with my Hasselblad camera. Photography, for me, is not about collecting images, but about observing carefully, waiting patiently, and recognizing the right moment. It demands the same concentration and honesty that listening to music at the highest level requires.
Good images and good music are deeply connected. Without correct color, transparency, and neutrality, neither can truly exist. If colors are distorted, the image loses its truth. If tones are colored, music loses its soul. Both rely on balance, precision, and restraint to allow emotion to emerge naturally.
In the end, whether it is music, photography, or travel, it is always about the same pursuit: authenticity. Capturing or reproducing something as close to reality as possible, while still allowing space for feeling, interpretation, and personal connection.
Looking ahead
Q. What trends do you see in your market for the coming years?
A. When I look at the future of the audio market, I do so with both concern and hope.
More and more well-known audio companies are being taken over by investors. On paper, this may look like growth and success, but history has shown us what often follows. Decisions become driven primarily by turnover, scale, and efficiency. The love for music, the obsession with sound, and the patience required to build something truly exceptional slowly fade into the background. In many cases, the result is painful to witness: brands lose their soul, their identity erodes, and what once stood for excellence becomes interchangeable. Eventually, these brands are ruined, not because they failed financially, but because they lost their purpose.
True high-end audio and extraordinary music reproduction can never be created by spreadsheets alone. They require companies led by exceptional people, individuals with a clear ideology, deep knowledge, and an almost irrational desire to achieve something better than what already exists. These are people who are driven not only by profit, but by curiosity, pride, and responsibility toward music itself.
Of course, every company must be economically successful. Making money is not the problem. But money alone is never enough. Without passion, without dedication, without a genuine love for music, there would be no manufacturers capable of creating products that move us emotionally and intellectually at the same time.
Brands like Marten exist because of this mindset. They are the result of conviction, patience, and uncompromising values. They remind us that the future of high-end audio does not belong to those who are merely efficient, but to those who care deeply.
As long as there are people who believe that music deserves the highest level of respect, there will be a place for true high-end audio. And that is the future worth protecting.
Q. How do you see Marten fitting into the future of your business?
A. Marten fits into our product portfolio not by chance, but by conviction.
Marten is exactly the kind of manufacturer described above: a company shaped by people, not investors; by ideology, not short-term targets. It stands for a deep respect for music and for the belief that extraordinary sound can only be achieved through uncompromising engineering, patience, and integrity.
Beyond philosophy, Marten brings substance. The brand carries a long and respected history, built on consistency rather than trends. It is supported by a professional, reliable service structure and represents European craftsmanship at its finest. These aspects matter to us, because true high-end is not only about sound on the first day, but about trust and stability over many years.
We are extremely selective when adding a product to our portfolio. Every decision is considered carefully, because once we commit, we do so for the long term. We believe in partnerships, not in constant change. We do not switch manufacturers lightly or opportunistically. Consistency creates depth, understanding, and ultimately better results for our clients.
Marten is therefore not just a loudspeaker brand in our lineup. It is a natural extension of our values. A partner that shares our vision of what high-end audio should be: honest, uncompromising, and driven by a genuine love for music.
Q. What excites you most about working with Marten
A. What gives us the greatest joy in working with Marten is, quite simply, success. No product is truly enjoyable if it does not resonate with our clients, if it does not move them emotionally and, in the end, if it does not find its place in their homes. When a customer is genuinely happy, when music suddenly feels deeper, more alive, more truthful, that is where everything begins.
Beyond that, there is the shared and constant pursuit of perfection. Working with Marten means being part of an ongoing journey, where each new product opens fresh musical horizons. It is inspiring to experience how innovation is never an end in itself, but always serves a higher goal: bringing us closer to music, to realism, to emotion. This shared ambition keeps the collaboration alive, challenging, and deeply rewarding.
But there is another element that should never be underestimated: the human connection. Technology and excellence are essential, but they reach their full potential only when the people behind them truly connect. When the chemistry is right, collaboration becomes effortless, honest, and joyful. Ideas flow more freely, trust grows naturally, and challenges are faced together rather than avoided.
That combination of success, perfectionism, and genuine human connection is what makes working with Marten not just productive, but truly fulfilling.
Listening carefully, taking responsibility for the whole system, and giving music the time and respect it deserves are themes that run through everything Wolfgang describes at MY SOUND. It is an approach grounded in conviction rather than convenience, and in long-term relationships rather than quick decisions.
These are values we recognise and share. When sound is treated as something to be understood, not embellished, and when craftsmanship, integrity, and honesty guide every choice, the result is not just better systems, but more meaningful listening experiences. That common ground is what makes collaborations like this feel natural, and worth sustaining over time.
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