Linn Forums

Hi all,

I currently have an Exotik + LK100 + old MAjik-I (as power amp only) - both power amps have mono aktiv cards. Only driving Tukans at moment but looking to move to add a sizmik then some new front speakers and finally a centre speaker over time.

I have just seen a new AV5152 at a decent price. My questions are:

1. Can I bi-amp on the 1 AV-5125 only by daisy chaining between channels?

2. Any opinions on whether a passive bi-amped 5125 would out perform the current power amp set up which is aktiv?

3. How hard are aktiv stereo- cards to come by on ebay etc as the cost an arm and a leg in NZ. Presumably if the answer to 1. is yes then I'll need 4 cards (2 X treble and 2 x bass for the tukans/katan).

4. Do all katan stero cards fit the AV5125/Tukan pairing? and are the easy to fit (i.e. no soldering?)

look forward to any advice

Jonathan

I've been using AV5125s to drive my speakers for the last few years, and until earlier this year I was running bi-amped Keilidh's through a single 5125, which is pretty much equivalent to what you want to do.

To answer your questions:

1 - Yes, you can daisy chain the channels on a 5125.

2 - Not sure. Personally, I found going aktiv to be a massive improvement, but I'd been running biamped passive on the 5125 anyway. In your case, the 5125 is much better amp than the LK100/Majik-I so might be an improvement.

3 - They crop fairly frequently on eBay in the UK. Probably once a month or so. I had a pair until recently, as I've got a pair of Tukans I intended to aktivate as rears, but I then changed my main speakers to Kabers which meant that I didn't have enough spare channels! When I sold mine, they went for about £100, I think. You'd only need two cards, one stereo treble, one stereo bass.

4 - Yes, Linn have only ever made one type of stereo aktiv card, and the Katan/Tukan version (which are the same, by the way) will fit easily in the 5125. It's a simple, plug-in connection with no soldering required.

One thing to watch out for is that one of the cables for the 5125 is longer than the other. If you buy second hand cards which have been used in LK85 or LK140s, they'll have two short cables. This prevents you from putting the two cards in the right positions in the case, but it is still possible to fit them both securely, and you can ask a dealer for the right cable (in my case, they were happy to swap short cable for long cable at no charge when I was in for something else).

I'd definitely recommend the 5125, it's a great amp.

Thanks for that.

TW There is also the potential to buy a 2250 instead, at a bit more $$$ (a dealer clear out over here).

However, this would obviously limit me to 2 channels for the moment.

so any thoughts on how a passive 2250 would compare with passive 5125 (bi-amped)? I always thought going aktiv was more a change than bi-amping anyway?

Jonathan

I think passive 2250 would beat passive 5125 (even bi-amped) but that aktiv 5125 would beat anthing short of aktiv 2250s or passive klimax amps.