Linear HiFi has added the legendary Polish brand UNITRA to its portfolio. Good news for lovers of analogue audio.
Linear HiFi has announced that it is pleased to offer products from the Polish brand UNITRA in the Benelux. LINEAR is a young importer based in Leiden with a deep love of music, and collectively has more than 20 years of experience advising on high-quality audio solutions.
UNITRA will be carried alongside the British brand Cyrus, for which LINEAR (formerly One Hifi) has already been the appointed distributor for several years. “Both brands have their own identity and brand values, each with a unique proposition,” the announcement states.
The importer about itself: “LINEAR stands for clear communication, active brand support and strong stock management. In this way, we support our network of high-quality, knowledgeable specialists — the place where music lovers can go with a simple question or for an extensive demonstration of our products.”
UNITRA’s start in a new era
Linear HiFi provides some background on the brand: “For those not yet familiar with UNITRA, a brief introduction is in order. The brand has a rich history; many households in Poland and the former Eastern Bloc once owned UNITRA audio components. After the fall of the Iron Curtain, UNITRA — formerly a state-owned enterprise — disappeared from the Eastern European landscape in the mid-1990s.
For many, the UNITRA name remained etched in collective memory and evoked strong feelings of nostalgia. In 2021, a group of enthusiasts revived the brand, asking themselves what UNITRA would look like today with modern technology.
At the same time, they preserved the original core values and supplemented them with values that fit our time. Central to this is delivering outstanding quality for the price. Equally important today is the awareness that we must treat our environment responsibly and invest in sustainable products that are easy to maintain, without having travelled thousands of kilometres to reach our living rooms. UNITRA achieves this by producing entirely in Europe, in a responsible way, with respect for people and the environment.”
High End Munich 2023: a new beginning
In 2023, the first products from the reborn brand were shown at the High End Show in Munich. Its first product proudly introduced was a modern reissue of the WHS-205 integrated amplifier originally launched in the 1970s. The design of the modern WHS-805 is clearly a nod to that classic amplifier.
The 22-kilogram analogue amplifier is fully dual-mono in construction, with a switch allowing the user to choose between Class A and Class A/B operation. Naturally, thanks to modern components, noise and distortion figures are fully up to contemporary standards. The amplifier also features UNITRA’s patented toggle switches, which can be operated via remote control. “Pure ASMR for enthusiasts!” according to the importer.
Alongside the WHS-805, UNITRA introduced two direct-drive turntable models with a patented motor. The Fryderyk and Edmund are fitted with UNITRA’s own R10 tonearm, itself a further development of the R9 design from the 1970s.
CD player
To complete the range, a CD player with an e-ink display was introduced, visually matching the WHS-805 perfectly, along with two loudspeaker models: a floorstanding speaker and a bookshelf speaker. Slightly less analogue, perhaps, but still highly interesting.
About UNITRA’s history and revival
After the fall of the Berlin Wall, not only did a political border disappear, but so did many of the state-owned companies and brand names that had filled living rooms across Eastern Europe. UNITRA (founded in 1961) — once part of a vast conglomerate with more than 100,000 employees and dozens of production and research divisions — was one of those names. Under socialism, UNITRA products were widespread in Poland and across the Eastern Bloc: solidly built, locally designed and affordably priced. After the collapse of the Eastern Bloc, many divisions were dismantled or restructured and the UNITRA logo vanished from store shelves, leaving behind a sense of loss for what had once been a source of national pride.
Yet the brand name was never forgotten. UNITRA remained synonymous with reliability and the rituals of listening to music. Meanwhile, the market changed: compact, wireless speakers offered convenience, often at the expense of sound quality. In a consumer culture where replacement is often cheaper than repair, awareness has grown that sustainability and longevity are more important than ever. That awareness lies at the heart of UNITRA’s renewed vision.
In 2021, Michal Kicinski, Daniel Kostrzewa and Adrian Krupowicz recognised the potential in UNITRA’s brand values and in the revival of vinyl. They acquired the brand rights and established operations in the Ursus district of Warsaw. Their goal is not mere nostalgia, but a conscious stand against overconsumption. “It goes beyond reusing a name,” says Kostrzewa. “We want to create durable, repairable, high-quality audio equipment.”
Under the leadership of CTO Adrian Krupowicz, the new UNITRA focuses on repairability, solid materials and high-quality sound reproduction. Krupowicz emphasises that craftsmanship and care for the environment are central: products should last a long time and be easy to maintain.
Complete product line
In 2024, UNITRA presented a complete product range: integrated amplifiers, direct-drive turntables, CD players, bookshelf and floorstanding loudspeakers, plus accessories such as speaker cables and test LPs. The designs are inspired by the analogue era — clear, functional and timeless — with modern additions such as e-paper displays and precision machining. During development, original designs were studied and former employees were involved to ensure continuity with the brand’s heritage.
UNITRA’s return aligns with broader trends: the growing appreciation for vinyl and the demand for solidly built, durable consumer electronics. The relaunch shows how former Eastern Bloc brands can become relevant again by combining local craftsmanship with modern technology and international ambition.
In an age of mass production, UNITRA positions itself as an alternative: quality with substance. Krupowicz sums it up: “Let’s search for our own sound.” For anyone who wants to experience nuance in music, UNITRA underlines the importance of physical media and high-quality hi-fi. Visit a specialised audio retailer to experience the products for yourself.
Contact details
LINEAR HiFi
Korevaarstraat 2 E–F
2311 JS Leiden