View Full Version : Potential issue with Linn LK100 active system
I wonder if someone can help with a ‘daft’ question? I’ve got an old Linn system - karik CD player, Majik 1 integrated amplifier (being used as control amp) with two LK 100 amplifiers in active mode on bass and treble hooked up to Keilidh speakers. I’ve only just noticed that the system plays without the bass LK100 amp switched on, which can’t be right? When I switch it on, there is no noticeable difference to the sound. I wonder if the interconnects might not be correct? Ive searched for a diagram just to check this but there’s nothing obvious online. If anyone has any pointers, that would be much appreciated.
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An obvious question Brian, but have you removed the links between the treble and bass driver terminals?
An obvious question Brian, but have you removed the links between the treble and bass driver terminals?
Thanks Barry, yes no links are present between the terminals. I’ll maybe post a pic up tomorrow when I revisit the issue.
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Ok, here are a few pics of the interconnects between the pre-amp and two bi-amped LK100 amps on treble and bass:
Pre out from Majik to LK100 on treble
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200425/b763447e63092fc748217019315040e9.jpg
Interconnect between LK100 treble and LK100 basshttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200425/ff2c5bd5829239644dce8164f604008d.jpg
Pic of active speaker connects for reference
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200425/cf2a720561a131461950e9236c1f07ed.jpg
I’m just confused as to why the system sounds exactly the same when the bass amp is not switched on. I only discovered this by accident when I mistakenly put the system on without switching this amp on.
Maybe I’m missing something really fundamental - quite possible! Thanks.
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When you switch off the bass amp you just have one amp driving the whole speaker - as you are still running the signal from the first amp through the second amp to the bass drivers, even with the second amp switched off.
The reason it sounds the same is because one LK100 is more than capable of driving the speakers on its own.
When you switch off the bass amp you just have one amp driving the whole speaker - as you are still running the signal from the first amp through the second amp to the bass drivers, even with the second amp switched off.
The reason it sounds the same is because one LK100 is more than capable of driving the speakers on its own.
Thanks Macca - That sort of makes sense now. It just made me wonder what contribution the aktiv bass amp made when there was no appreciable difference when it was off.
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I've got an LK100 and the ability to daisy chain them is pretty cool - but it seems not really necessary with the Keilidhs. With Isobariks or Kabers it might be a different story.
I've got an LK100 and the ability to daisy chain them is pretty cool - but it seems not really necessary with the Keilidhs. With Isobariks or Kabers it might be a different story.
Thanks for your input - that’s very interesting. Having had bass and treble cards installed in both amps, it leaves me pondering if they were really necessary? However, I did notice a decent difference from converting the Keilidhs to active, but still can’t get what benefit the bass active card in the bass amp actually provides when you don’t notice when it’s not in the system.
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It will still be working as a low pass filter even if the amp is not switched on. So you won't get the HF fed to the bass/mid. You just don't need the extra power from the second amplifier, that's all.
The LK100 is not a wimpy amplifier. Although I did use to clip mine on peaks but only at silly volume levels in a large room.
It will still be working as a low pass filter even if the amp is not switched on. So you won't get the HF fed to the bass/mid. You just don't need the extra power from the second amplifier, that's all.
The LK100 is not a wimpy amplifier. Although I did use to clip mine on peaks but only at silly volume levels in a large room.
Cool - understood, thanks. Every day is a school day[emoji106]
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ell-tell
29-04-2020, 14:10
Doesn’t sound right. I have 2 lk85s activ into ninkas, when l switch the bass amp off, I only hear the tweeters.
Doesn’t sound right. I have 2 lk85s activ into ninkas, when l switch the bass amp off, I only hear the tweeters.
That’s what originally made me wonder. I expected the individual amps with the mid/bass and treble aktiv cards respectively to only serve the respective bass/mid and treble elements of the Keilidh speakers.
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ell-tell
01-05-2020, 09:20
If you turn the treble amp off, do you still get a full range sound, if so it looks like the signal is still going through the speaker crossover?
The power amps are daisy chained so the signal will still go through both sets of active boards even with one amp switched off.
Apologies for having little knowledge about this set up but looking at the pictures I have a question . On the speakers it states they are set up for bi wire only . Have you had the speakers altered for active ? It seems that you have to do this to be able to get active bass and i presume your comments about boards are in the speakers and not in the amplifiers ? . If the active board has been installed in the power amp to change that does something in the speaker have to be altered too so that they will accept full active use ? As I say all this may be obvious to those of you that use this system but I am a little slow on the up take so not quite clear.
If you turn the treble amp off, do you still get a full range sound, if so it looks like the signal is still going through the speaker crossover?
No, there is no sound with the treble amp off, but I can see Macca’s point about how the signal will still go via the bass amp because the amps are daisy chained.
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Apologies for having little knowledge about this set up but looking at the pictures I have a question . On the speakers it states they are set up for bi wire only . Have you had the speakers altered for active ? It seems that you have to do this to be able to get active bass and i presume your comments about boards are in the speakers and not in the amplifiers ? . If the active board has been installed in the power amp to change that does something in the speaker have to be altered too so that they will accept full active use ? As I say all this may be obvious to those of you that use this system but I am a little slow on the up take so not quite clear.
Yes, the speakers have been professionally altered to Active operation - I think the passive crossover is bypassed, standard Linn option for these speakers. The circuit boards (aktiv cards) to separate the bass and treble signals are installed in the relevant amps.
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