Linn 500 Solo manual

Linn Klimax 500 Solo Single Speaker Power Amplifier[...]

Each Klimax po wer amplif ier is unique in its manuf acture. W ith its m achined and har d-anodised solid alloy casing, the Klimax is a referenced component which is as individual in its finish as it is in its phenomenal pitch-accurate perf or mance. Due to the highest quality of machined f inish, it is possible to see that the Klimax’ s natural [...]

Linn has used all reasonable endeavours to ensure that the software in the products m anufactur ed by it is capa ble of normal operation bef ore, dur ing and after 1 Januar y 2000 and in respect of past, present and future dates without replacement, alteration or upgrade (“Y ear 2000 Compliant”). Linn, how ever , gives no express w arranties, r[...]

i Explanation of symbols used in this manual and on the pr oduct. This symbol is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated dangerous voltages within the enclosure of suf ficient m agnitude to cause electric shock. This symbol is intended to alert the user to the presence of important maintenance and ser vicing information in the ins[...]

ii GENERAL SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS 1. Read instructions . Read the safety and operating instructions before operating the appliance. 2. Retain instructions. Retain the safety and operating instructions f or future reference. 3. Heed warnings. Obser ve all w ar nings on the appliance and in the operating instructions. 4. Follow instructions. Follow all [...]

iii 20. Ser vicing. Don’ t attempt to ser vice the product be yond that described in the operating instructions. All other ser vicing should be referred to qualified service per sonnel. UK USERS PLEASE READ THIS IMPOR TANT SAFETY INFORMA TION Fuse replacement This appliance is fitted with a non-rewireable 13 Amp m ains plug. The plug contains a 5[...]

iv 3. How does the Klimax w ork? CE Declaration of Conformity Linn Products Ltd. declare that this product is in conf or mance with the Low V oltage Directive 73/23/EEC and Electromagnetic Compatibility 89/336/ EEC as amended b y 92/31/EEC and 93/68/EEC. The conf or mity of the designated product with the pr ovisions of Directiv e number 73/23/EEC [...]

v Copyright © Linn P roducts Limited. Linn P roducts Limited, Floors Road, Waterfoot, Glasgow , G76 OEP , Scotland, United Kingdom. All rights r eser ved. No part of this publication may be r eproduced, stor ed in a r etriev al system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means , electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recor ding, or otherwise, wit[...]

1 Contents 1. Introduction ........................................................................................... 2 2. Wha t is it? .............................................................................................. 3 3. H ow does the Klimax work? ................................................................. 4 What is switch mod[...]

2 Thank you for buying the best power amplifier w e have ev er made. The result of years of experience, the Klimax uses the latest technology and ex emplifies our constant endeavour to make ev er better sounding products. W e are confident that the compact, elegant design and the exceptional, accur ate per formance of the Klimax amplifier will give[...]

3 The Klimax is a single speaker power amplifier designed for use in multi amplifier and multi channel audio and audio/video systems . The case is pr ecision machined from two solid sections of aluminium alloy . The machining is done on a computer controlled multi-axis machining centr e, with the final cut on the top face made by a Swiss SIP v er t[...]

4 3. How does the Klimax work? In most power amplifiers the pow er supply comprises a lar ge transformer , a r ectifier and r eser voir capacitors , often as lar ge as the transformer . The highest performance amplifiers also have v oltage r egulators which maintain the power supplied to the amplifier cir cuitry constant, regar dless of the input v[...]

5 In a switch mode power supply the incoming mains is filter ed then rectified to gener ate a very high v oltage dc (direct curr ent) supply . This is usually about 300 to 350 V olts dc, which is far too high to oper ate audio circuitry dir ectly , and is still connected directly to the incoming mains supply . Such a high v oltage is very dangerous[...]

6 The first problem is that this is a lot mor e complicated than a mains tr ansformer (a few kilos of copper and iron), a r ectifier and some lar ge capacitors . A switch mode design optimised for minimum part count will still hav e many tens of par ts , most of which ar e quite delicate but still have to oper ate reliably in a v ery electrically h[...]

7 The tr ansformer in the Klimax is less than 40mm (1.5 inches) cube. At 50/ 60 Hz it could deliver about 5 W atts . In the Klimax it can deliver 1000 W atts . The r eser voir capacitors in the Klimax ar e about the size of a thimble but giv e better filtering than ones the size of a beer can used in other v ery power ful amplifiers . The semicondu[...]

8 Inside the Klimax[...]

9 At Linn because we striv e for continuous improvement in ev erything we do w e use appropriate technologies to achiev e our goals . There hav e been many fine amplifier designs ov er the history of audio. Some use v alves (tubes), some use bipolar tr ansistors , some MOSFET s. Some manufactur ers swear by Class A, others by Class AB, one or two b[...]

10 The ar guments about the relativ e merits of tubes , MOSFETS and bipolar devices have filled many technical journals , and needless to say , most are ov er stated and ov er simplified to try to win the ar gument! It’ s possible to design a good amplifier using any of the av ailable technologies . T urning it into a gr eat amplifier takes more [...]

11 A commonly asked question about a power amplifier concerns its maximum output curr ent. There is some good r eason behind this question. There is always some tr ade off between output power , ‘specmanship’, protection and cost in a power amplifier . Output power specification (into 8 Ohms) can be increased simply by incr easing the amplifier[...]

12 If an amplifier can provide this amount of curr ent into the specified load while keeping safe and stable and not suddenly dropping its output v oltage, it is enough. The load cannot dr aw any more. The curr ent dr aw is the result of the voltage applied. If an amplifier protects itself by ‘current limiting’ it will drop its output v oltage [...]

13 The compactness of the Klimax makes it very easy to install and makes possible high power multi-amplifier systems which would be impr actical with conv entionally designed amplifiers of similar pow er , because of their size and weight. The unique wall mount system can be used to minimise the intrusion of the audio system into the living space w[...]

14 Restricting the air flow by stacking the amplifiers or putting them in an enclosur e may increase the oper ating temperatur e until the internal fan is switched on. This should only oper ate when the amplifier is being worked enthusiastically , or has r estricted ventilation. If the v entilation is very r estricted the amplifier will shut down u[...]

15 The Klimax has an automatic internal mains voltage switch. This allows it to oper ate from 90 V ac to 260 V ac. With a mains supply below 140 V ac two seconds after switching on the amplifier the power supply switches to low r ange , with a just audible click, and remains ther e as long as power is applied. F or all normal music or A V system op[...]

16 If it really bothers y ou that you may not simultaneously be able to melt ev ery driv e unit in your loudspeaker system, not to mention your ears , then lay in a 230 V mains supply just to provide power to your Klimax system. Y ou may want to consider this for the quality of mains supply r ather than only for maximum theoretical pow er . If you [...]

17 The Klimax contains two power supplies . The small, auxiliary one runs as long as the mains switch is on and power is pr esent. It powers cir cuitry which detects the pr esence of an audio input signal, and the blue front panel LED. The signal detector is v ery sensitive but waits about one second befor e pow ering up the amplifier to be certain[...]

18 The Klimax has both single ended and balanced inputs , selected by a switch on the back panel. Use the appropriate one to suit your choice of pr eamplifier and cabling. LEDs indicate which input is selected. Both signals ar e echoed out the single ended ‘line out’ socket to enable daisy chaining of amplifiers . This switch does not dir ectly[...]

19 This is the easiest bit. The blue light will flash for a few seconds when power is first applied, then r emain dimmed with the Klimax in standby mode. When a signal is detected the light brightens up as the main power supply and amplifier are enabled. If the amplifier needs to pr otect itself it will shut down entir ely for a few seconds and fla[...]

20 6. Specifications Input connectors: Single ended (switch position in) ......................... WBTphono socket B alanced (switch position out) ............................ XLR socket Pin connections: Phono ...................... Inner: Hot Outer: Cold XLR .......................... Pin 1: 0V Pin 2: Hot Pin 3: Cold Dimensions ...................[...]

21 Options and accessories: W all mount system Active cr ossover system Binding post output terminals Load toler ance .......................................................... Unconditionally stable into all loudspeaker loads Harmonic distor tion .................................................... <0.02% F r equency r esponse .................[...]

22 This product is guar anteed under the conditions which apply in the Country of pur chase. In addition to any statutory rights the customer may hav e, we undertake to r eplace any parts which have failed due to faulty manufacture. T o help us , please ask your Linn r etailer about the Linn warranty scheme in oper ation in your country . In the UK[...]

23 F or technical suppor t and product queries/informa tion: Our addr ess is: LINN P roducts Limited Floors Road W ater foot Eaglesham Glasgow G76 OEP Scotland T elephone: 44-(0)-141 307 7777 UK Helpline: 0500-888909 E-mail: helpline@linn.co .uk F acsimile: 44-(0)-141-644-4262 Website: http://www .linn.co .uk/linn America: LINN Inc. 4540 Southside [...]

24 A Acknowledgements ................................................... v Assor ted facts ......................................................... 7 Audio cir cuitry ........................................................... 9 C Copyright ..................................................................... v Curr ent limiting .................[...]

Linn Klimax 500 Solo[...]