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Power amplifiers mono — Linn Klimax Solo 800
Description, images, technical data and specifications
Linn Klimax Solo 800
Image source - (c) Linn
The Klimax Solo 800 is a mono power amplifier built by Linn in Scotland, priced from USD 51,190 in its United States catalogue. Two units are required for a stereo pair. Linn states that its engineers returned to first principles with consistency and accuracy as the design targets, with the goal of an amplifier that can drive any given loudspeaker optimally under any conditions.
Key specs that matter
Maximum output is 400 W into 8 ohm, 800 W into 4 ohm and 1.2 kW into 2 ohm. Quoted THD+N at 1 kHz is 0.0004% at 400 W into 8 ohm, 0.0005% at 800 W into 4 ohm and 0.0006% at 1.2 kW into 2 ohm. Output impedance is 0.01 ohm at 1 kHz, and maximum input power is 2 kW. Connections are a single balanced XLR input alongside one RCA phono input, a matching RCA and XLR passthrough pair, and two sets of speaker terminals of the binding-post type, also usable with banana or spade connectors. The chassis is 350 mm wide, 268 mm high and 412 mm deep and weighs 27 kg, finished in silver or black anodised aluminium.
Engineering and use context
Bias in the output stage is handled by Adaptive Bias Control. The current supplied to each of the sixteen output transistors is measured, sampled and digitised, and a digital control loop then sets and keeps adjusting the ideal bias for every individual transistor in real time. According to the company this cancels crossover distortion at any temperature, volume or dynamic change for the whole life of the unit. Power comes from the Utopik switch-mode supply with precision-regulated rails, rated at 2 kW maximum. It uses soft switching, where a resonant tank circuit lets the voltage across the switch fall to zero before the switch is thrown, lowering switching noise and raising efficiency. The maker adds that the rail output stays steady when the mains input varies. The amplifier and supply circuitry are mounted directly on large machined heatsinks, so the design runs without any internal fan. A roundel on the front shows operating status through 100 cool-toned LEDs.
Pairing
The passthrough sockets let one source signal be looped from the first mono unit to the second, or on to further amplifiers. Linn recommends combining its power amplifiers with the Exaktbox intelligent crossover, where each drive unit of a loudspeaker receives its own channel of amplification and hardware and software filters align the system in phase and time.
Alternatives
Within the same mono range, the Klimax Solo 500 is billed by the brand as its reference compact mono amplifier, priced from USD 32,380.
Key specs that matter
Maximum output is 400 W into 8 ohm, 800 W into 4 ohm and 1.2 kW into 2 ohm. Quoted THD+N at 1 kHz is 0.0004% at 400 W into 8 ohm, 0.0005% at 800 W into 4 ohm and 0.0006% at 1.2 kW into 2 ohm. Output impedance is 0.01 ohm at 1 kHz, and maximum input power is 2 kW. Connections are a single balanced XLR input alongside one RCA phono input, a matching RCA and XLR passthrough pair, and two sets of speaker terminals of the binding-post type, also usable with banana or spade connectors. The chassis is 350 mm wide, 268 mm high and 412 mm deep and weighs 27 kg, finished in silver or black anodised aluminium.
Engineering and use context
Bias in the output stage is handled by Adaptive Bias Control. The current supplied to each of the sixteen output transistors is measured, sampled and digitised, and a digital control loop then sets and keeps adjusting the ideal bias for every individual transistor in real time. According to the company this cancels crossover distortion at any temperature, volume or dynamic change for the whole life of the unit. Power comes from the Utopik switch-mode supply with precision-regulated rails, rated at 2 kW maximum. It uses soft switching, where a resonant tank circuit lets the voltage across the switch fall to zero before the switch is thrown, lowering switching noise and raising efficiency. The maker adds that the rail output stays steady when the mains input varies. The amplifier and supply circuitry are mounted directly on large machined heatsinks, so the design runs without any internal fan. A roundel on the front shows operating status through 100 cool-toned LEDs.
Pairing
The passthrough sockets let one source signal be looped from the first mono unit to the second, or on to further amplifiers. Linn recommends combining its power amplifiers with the Exaktbox intelligent crossover, where each drive unit of a loudspeaker receives its own channel of amplification and hardware and software filters align the system in phase and time.
Alternatives
Within the same mono range, the Klimax Solo 500 is billed by the brand as its reference compact mono amplifier, priced from USD 32,380.
Specifications
Model name
Klimax Solo 800
Input sensitivity (mV)
N/A
Input impedance (balanced) (Ω)
N/A
Input impedance (single-ended) (Ω)
N/A
Output impedance (balanced) (Ω)
N/A
Output impedance (single-ended) (Ω)
0.01
Max current (A)
N/A
Output power (8Ω) (W)
400
Output power (4Ω) (W)
800
Gain (dBu)
N/A
Frequency response low +/- 3dB (Hz)
N/A
Frequency response high +/- 3dB (Hz)
N/A
Signal to Noise Ratio (dB)
N/A
Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise (0% global feedback) (%)
0.0004 (8 Ω), 0.0005 (4 Ω)
Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise (100% global feedback) (%)
N/A
Max power consumption (W)
N/A
Damping factor
N/A
Dimensions (mm)
350 × 268 × 412
Weight (kg)
27
Official link
More components
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