Linn Introduces All-new Klimax Solo 500 Mono Amplifier

Published 6 hours ago• 5 minute read

Linn announces its Klimax Solo 500 – they say it's the best compact monoblock amplifier they've ever made.

Linn Klimax Solo 500 is a complete redesign from the fundamentals of the Scottish brand's Klimax Solo. While the company states it has created a product that is an improvement over its legendary predecessor in every conceivable way – it still boasts a compact form factor measuring just 88.5x350x364mm (HxWxD).

Boasting the manufacturer's "latest top-tier innovations", the Klimax Solo 500 Class AB monoblock amplifier features Adaptive Bias Control, a sophisticated hybrid cooling matrix, and precision-machined casework.

With a claimed max output of 250W into 8 Ohms (500W into 4 Ohms), Linn tells us that the Solo 500 is "an amplifier that can be driven hard for protracted listening sessions of wildly dynamic material." Moreover, we're told that this is an amplifier with huge available power, devastatingly low noise floor, and eighty-five times lower distortion measurements than the one it replaces.

Adaptive Bias Control (ABC) is Linn's proprietary tech, first encountered in 360 Exakt Integrated loudspeakers and then optimised for inclusion in the Applause Award-winning Klimax Solo 800. Now, it's a critical element of Solo 500's performance.

ABC ensures optimum output performance by establishing optimum real-time bias current within Klimax Solo 500. Conventional Class AB amplifiers require the application of bias current at their output stage to mitigate transistor crossover distortion. This is set once, manually, by the engineer who builds the product.

However, due to variations of individual transistors, fluctuating temperature during use, and component age, this estimated bias current begins to wander far from ideal – and continues to do so over the amp's life. This results in increasing levels of audible transistor distortion.

Linn combats this as the current supplied to each of the eight output transistors is measured, sampled and digitised continuously before being passed to a powerful FPGA processor, which calculates the requisite bias at that precise moment. The FPGA simultaneously implements a digital control loop to adjust and hold bias current at its measured optimum for the transistors.

This persistent self-measurement and adjustment ensures Solo 500's output is ideal at all times, at any temperature, regardless of volume or sudden dynamic changes in the music signal it receives, and for the entirety of its long life. Crucially, this alsomeans that Solo 500 will perform identically to its neighbours, thus ensuring flawless and consistently balanced performance between all amplification in the system.

Furthermore, Linn says that Active Bias Control also results in the Solo 500 measuring eighty-five times lower total harmonic distortion and noise than its predecessor under typical listening conditions.

Keeping things cool is a brand-new thermal management system—a hybrid cooling matrix—which ensures that the amplifier can adapt to varying demands while remaining whisper-quiet.

All internal electronics are mounted upside-down to a sub-chassis structure comprising a highly conductive block of hard-anodised aluminium mounted to a thermal plate. This sub-chassis draws heat away from the electronics beneath and is isolated from the amp's main casework.

The thermal plate is adorned with a series of machined fins, the placement of which has been optimised using sophisticated simulation software. This network of fins creates a labyrinth of precisely measured channels atop the thermal plate.

Under normal conditions, this natural convection and radiation system uses the fins to disperse heat upwards and out through precision-cut gills in the amplifier's upper casework. However, when the amp is pushed harder, this is where the Solo 500's hybrid cooling matrix gets really clever and switches to active cooling, employing two internal fans within the product.

The fans, controlled by an FPGA processor in real time, force cool air around the network of channels on top of the thermal plate. The fan speed is determined by the amplifier's measured internal temperature and the input audio signal. This ensures the fans run inaudibly at the lowest speed possible while providing ample cooling to avoid overheating and maintain ideal performance.

The hybrid cooling matrix's effectiveness is aided by a specially optimised Utopik power supply. Auto voltage rails ensure that output from Utopik also adapts to the audio signal itself, only delivering the necessary power dictated by what's playing and its volume. Efficiency is improved, baseline internal temperature is minimised, and Solo 500 consumes less electricity.

The Linn Klimax Solo 500's aluminium casement is a seamless construction composed of three precision-machined pieces—baseplate, enclosure and rear panel.

The shape of its face is new, a modern evolution of the signature Linn 'smile'. Below the smile is a completely flat face, whilst the top half is machined with a compound curve on two axes. Linn states this "precision-machined detail produces a pleasing variety of reflections" in different lighting.

A variable fillet cut in the aluminium grows towards a chamfered edge and eye-catching centrepiece; a back-lit Linn badge in the centre of a miniature roundel, with radial-grooved chrome trim and a steel outer ring.

Gentle animations of the LEDs behind the mini-roundel communicate the amplifier's status. When operational, white light diffuses, producing a soft glow around the outside of this attractive and fine detail. The badge assembly also has depth, reflecting light dynamically when viewed from different positions.

The rear I/O panel features RCA and Balanced inputs alongside RCA and Balanced passthrough connections. The speaker binding posts accept banana and spade connectors.

Three solid steel feet impregnated with rubber o-rings provide a supremely stable and isolated platform for the amplifier and are visually consistent with Linn's latest products.