LINN speakers?

Airplay355 · December 2008

Anyone heard of this brand? My dad is considering getting new speaks (upgrading from some ancient DCM Timewindows) and wanted to know a little about them. I've never heard of them so I decided to see what people here think.

There's some kind of active crossover thing? What's that about?

TNRabbit · December 2008

Come over to http://www.carveraudio.com and talk to RainMan. He's completely sold on them. I've heard them and they do sound damn good.

engtaz · December 2008

Yes him and dyeraudio are good knowledgeable Lynn folk.

engtaz

shack · December 2008

I've heard them several times. I was blown away by a small set of bookshelf Linn Katan speakers. They are unique in that they are configured as passive or active with electronic crossovers with multiple adjustment combinations possible. Linn is one of those companies that you rarely hear of, but if you can ever find some of their gear to demo, realize they make great stuff. Their turntables and CDPs are legendary in some circles.

treitz3 · December 2008

LINN speakers are IMO very good speakers. I have only heard one pair in a not so good acoustical environment and they held there own quite well. They are expensive but if you wait long enough, you can find deals on some used gear. The imaging is very close to Tyler Acoustics Taylos 7U's. As Shack Daddy wrote, they do have many hook up configurations.

They are on my long list of things to purchase, without a doubt. Both Rainman and Dyeraudio over at the Carver forum are LINN owners but be forewarned. Once you get them started on LINN speakers..............

sucks2beme · December 2008

My favorite local dealer has both Linn and Rega. Linn is very well known for
their "Aktiv" systems. And stupid spellings. But going active takes their sytems
to a high level. And a very high price! Their CDP's are very good products.
I almost bought a couple of Linn speakers that came in on trade.
Read the review on Linn Keilidh in Affordable Audio. Many Linn fans
swear by the Keilidh after swapping out the tweeter for a newer style.

ViperZ · January 2009

Linn is a very well known UK company (http://www.linn.co.uk/).

I have heard a pair at one of my coworker's home and was simply blown away. A small pair of bookshelf speakers was putting out clean and deep bass, which you would never expect from such small speakers.

All I could afford from Linn so far is a pair of bi-wiring Linn K400 speaker cables

(http://www.linn.co.uk/music_systems_k400_loudspeaker_cable)

sucks2beme · January 2009

ViperZ wrote: »

All I could afford from Linn so far is a pair of bi-wiring Linn K400 speaker cables (http://www.linn.co.uk/music_systems_k400_loudspeaker_cable)

That's why I like the local dealer's trade-ins. That brings the price
down to where mere mortals could buy them. They normally show up
as VERY pristine trade-ins. There have been some really nice Linn
bookshelves and small towers show up. And used amps with Aktiv cards.
That's what really kills the wallet.

LuSh · January 2009

I would urge your father to listen to the Linn Speakers. I have heard many Linn Systems none of which I warmed up too.

The worse being Linn Kabers fully Aktiv with Linn power and pre. I spent two painful hours with this system and while bass was fast, tight and clean with surprising results for such small drivers I was let down by the etched higher frequencies and eventually tired of the overall sound quite quickly.

Last year I heard another setup (this time at a dealers) who was using a complete Majik setup. Again...completely un-involving...

Different strokes for different folks...I'd urge you too listen. Linn among other English Hi-Fi manufactures caters to a type of sound which may or may not appeal to the end user.

mantis · January 2009

Linn makes a full 2 channel system. We had one at tweeter right before we closed. It was 9k for the system. Very very nice.

Dan

treitz3 · January 2009

Airplay355 wrote: »

There's some kind of active crossover thing? What's that about?

I just got a PM from Rainman, the owner of a pair of LINNS. Here's what he sent me......

Rainman wrote:

Tom, here is a basic description of Passive and Aktiv for you to pass on to the guy over at the Polk Forum who was inquiring about the Linn speakers and was wondering what Aktiv was. Keep in mind that IMO the Aktiv set up can be a great thing in many situations for many people, but if you are looking for that warm, inviting, tube like sound that your TFM amps and tube CD delivers you will definitely not want to go Aktiv. You will probably want to do something like I did and feed them with an amplifier that has enough headroom that Shaq. can't hit his head. Most Linn speakers are like cats they only want the best that you can feed them as far as power, cables, and gear.

PASSIVE PLAYBACK
With a passive loudspeaker, the signal from the amplifier is divided into three frequency bands, (bass, mid and treble) by a passive filter built into the loudspeaker cabinet. This is powered by the signal itself, absorbing some of the amplifier power, and preventing the amplifier from accurately controlling the loudspeaker. Although the highest quality components are used in Linn loudspeakers, there are several fundamental limits to the performance of a passive loudspeaker system.

ACTIVE PLAYBACK
An active crossover frees the loudspeaker system from these limits. It accurately divides the signal from the preamplifier into three frequency bands, and feeds each to its own power amplifier. The loudspeaker drive units are directly controlled by the power amplifiers. The electronic circuitry of the active crossover makes it possible to control the drive units in the AKTIV speaker precisely and over an extended frequency range.

LINN speakers?

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