Linn Klimax Solo 500 mono amplifier
Klimax Solo 500 is a complete redesign from fundamentals of our most successful amplifier ever – Klimax Solo. We have maximised the potential of every cubic millimetre within its machined-from-solid enclosure to create a product that is an improvement over its legendary predecessor in every conceivable way – one that, crucially, still boasts a compact form factor.
With Solo 500, our latest top-tier innovations powerfully coalesce into the best compact mono-block amplifier we have ever made. The synergistic combination of Adaptive Bias Control, sophisticated hybrid cooling matrix, and precision-machined casework, results in a Class AB amplifier that is far greater than the sum of its parts, yet remarkably smaller than its counterparts.
We’ve expertly miniaturised and arranged our flagship amplifier and power supply technologies inside its sleek and minimalist casework to ensure that Solo 500 is a staggering upgrade. It’s the ideal drop-in replacement for existing systems which feature original Solo or 3rd-party amplification. Its neat size lends itself particularly well to active setups and scenarios where space is at a premium.
The holistic approach to its design has culminated in an amplifier that performs optimally from the moment it’s powered on for the first time, and throughout its long lifespan; an amplifier that can be driven hard for protracted listening sessions of wildly dynamic material, and yet remain silently cool; an amplifier with huge available power, devastatingly low noise floor, and eighty-five times lower distortion measurements than the one it replaces. Solo 500 is a small amp, with big credentials.
Adaptive bias control
Adaptive Bias Control is the groundbreaking in-house technology which first debuted in 360 Exakt Integrated loudspeakers, was then optimised for inclusion in Klimax Solo 800, and is now a critical element of Solo 500’s prodigious performance. It ensures optimum output performance from our latest crop of high-end amplifiers, under any conditions, and for the duration of the product’s life.
Conventional Class AB amplifiers require the application of bias current at their output stage to mitigate transistor crossover distortion. This remedial bias current is keyed-in only once, manually, by the engineer who builds the product. Due to variations in manufacturing tolerance 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 – resulting in ever-increasing levels of audible transistor distortion.
With Adaptive Bias Control, we solve this issue. At any given moment during operation, the optimum bias current is established intelligently within Klimax Solo 500 in real-time. 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.
Solo 500, therefore, is persistently measuring and adjusting its own output to be 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 means that Solo 500 will perform identically to its neighbours, thus ensuring flawless and consistently balanced performance between all amplification in the system — permanently.
Adaptive Bias Control is a key factor in Klimax Solo 500’s devastatingly low noise floor. As a result of its implementation, Solo 500 measures eighty-five times lower total harmonic distortion and noise than its predecessor under typical listening conditions.
Hybrid cooling matrix
Klimax Solo 500 features a brand-new thermal management system—a hybrid cooling matrix—which ensures that the amplifier can adapt in response to the demands placed upon it, remaining cool and whisper-quiet at all times.
All internal electronics are mounted directly, 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 bedecked with a series of machined fins. Designed and optimised using sophisticated simulation software, these fins form a labyrinthine network of precisely measured channels atop the thermal plate. At this stage and under these conditions, the fins naturally radiate heat upwards and out through precision-cut gills in the amplifier’s upper casework. This natural convection and radiation system is ideal for keeping Solo 500 cool during everyday listening sessions.
When the amp is pushed harder, however, this is where Solo 500’s hybrid cooling matrix gets really clever. In order for the amp to remain safely cool, and thereby maintain optimum performance, efficiency and preservation of electrical components, Solo 500 must now switch to active cooling by way of two internal fans positioned deep within the product. The fans force cool air around the network of channels on top of the thermal plate – the hottest part of the product.
The intelligent fan management system we have implemented in Solo 500, controlled by an FPGA processor in real-time, allows the requisite fan speed to be determined by a combination of both the measured internal temperature of the amplifier and the input audio signal. This ensures that the fans run inaudibly at the lowest speed possible at any given time, whilst providing ample cooling to avoid overheating and thereby maintain ideal performance, listener experience, and efficiency.
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. Less superfluous energy is generated, which would otherwise be wasted as heat. As a result, efficiency is improved, baseline internal temperature is minimised, and Solo 500 consumes less electricity in general.
Build quality & design
Solo 500’s overall aspect is one of minimalist and sophisticated beauty. Upon closer inspection, its machined-from-solid casework is punctuated by finely designed and characterful details.
With a seamless construction composed exclusively of three precision-machined pieces—baseplate, enclosure and rear panel—Solo 500 gives the impression of a congruous whole aluminium mass.
The shape of its face is new; a modern evolution of the signature Linn ‘smile’. Below the smile, a completely flat face, whilst the top half is machined with a compound curve on two axes. In different lighting there, this precision-machined detail produces a pleasing variety of reflections. 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.
Venting on the top of the enclosure features gills with catch-light surfaces. The actual cuts-through are subtle, hidden and invisible when viewed from the front. Three solid steel feet impregnated with rubber ‘o’-rings provide a supremely stable and isolating platform for the amplifier, and is visually consistent with our contemporary products.
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.
Klimax Solo 500 is available to order from today and costs £23,500 per amplifier. The first demonstration models have already been delivered to several of our retail locations worldwide.