Linn Forums

Nomoneyleft · 2012-07-29, 00:52

Hi

Am new to forum & looking for advice. Have just changed to new aktiv keilidhs with 3x lk100's and kairn. Using Cambridge audio azur cd, lp12 is being serviced and not yet tried with new system. Sound is great, lovely timing and very musical. Am struggling a bit with vocals, sound quite far back and gets lost slightly. Cabling is lk600 which has been split, linn black IC's all through. Demo'd fine (but with lp12 & euphorik), can open the vocals up a bit with moving speakers forward but then start to lose bass. Is it just a bad source match (or just not a good enough source)? Any advice welcome........

Ps previous system was naim 12s 120 trying to drive sara's. (still have the sara's)

Warren · 2012-07-29, 01:09

Active Keilidhs are very revealing, and are probably just revealing the limitations of your Cambridge CD player.

Do you get your LP12 back soon? If you do this should show you how good this Keilidh setup is.

I had a Cambridge CD2 for years, then got an LP12, and it took a Linn digital source (Ikemi CD player) to get CD to sound half decent next to my LP12.

Your next upgrade might be a digital source upgrade that your Keilidhs can do justice to.

Warren · 2012-07-29, 01:21

Welcome to the forum, by the way.

Let me also give you some more info on my experience - and a friend who had a LP12/Ekos/Arkiv into Naim52-250 into Saras and then went for aktiv Keilidhs.

I had LP12/Lingo/Trampolin/Akito/K18, Naim62-140 and Kan 2s. The LP12 was vastly better than the CD2, and upgrading to 62-140-Kans from Linn Intek and Celestion 3s revealed this much more.

So yes, sources first, upgrade your CD.

Worst case scenario sell your CD and one LK100 to help fund the upgrade.

Or just listen to LPs a lot on your new aktiv speakers until you can afford an appropriate CD upgrade.

Nomoneyleft · 2012-07-29, 09:54

(2012-07-29 01:21)Warren Wrote: Welcome to the forum, by the way.

Let me also give you some more info on my experience - and a friend who had a LP12/Ekos/Arkiv into Naim52-250 into Saras and then went for aktiv Keilidhs.

I had LP12/Lingo/Trampolin/Akito/K18, Naim62-140 and Kan 2s. The LP12 was vastly better than the CD2, and upgrading to 62-140-Kans from Linn Intek and Celestion 3s revealed this much more.

So yes, sources first, upgrade your CD.

Worst case scenario sell your CD and one LK100 to help fund the upgrade.

Or just listen to LPs a lot on your new aktiv speakers until you can afford an appropriate CD upgrade.

Hi warren, lp12 back hopefully next week (can't wait), suspected it may have been the cd. Used a linn genki in the shop as well as the lp12 - sounded nice. Think I'll listen to lp's until eBay sales of loft junk start to add up enough.....

Many thanks.

Dr_Eddie · (This post was last modified: 2012-07-29 12:05 by Dr_Eddie.)

(2012-07-29 00:52)Nomoneyleft Wrote: Hi

Am new to forum & looking for advice. Have just changed to new aktiv keilidhs with 3x lk100's and kairn. Using Cambridge audio azur cd, lp12 is being serviced and not yet tried with new system. Sound is great, lovely timing and very musical. Am struggling a bit with vocals, sound quite far back and gets lost slightly. Cabling is lk600 which has been split, linn black IC's all through. Demo'd fine (but with lp12 & euphorik), can open the vocals up a bit with moving speakers forward but then start to lose bass. Is it just a bad source match (or just not a good enough source)? Any advice welcome........

Ps previous system was naim 12s 120 trying to drive sara's. (still have the sara's)

If you used to have Saras, no wonder you are missing the vocals ( and the drums I bet ) with an LP12 in its fully loaded state there are very few speakers ( yours included ) that can touch them for sheer musical insight and drive. Forget hifi start seeking out the Party Factor. Get those Saras out NOW. !!!

DaveBarth · 2012-07-29, 12:49

Hi Nomoneyleft,

Welcome to the club (and forum).

Have you tried adjusting the DIP switches on your Aktiv treble cards?

There is a series of switches numbered 1 through 8 on each card. Start with 1-4 switched on and 5-8 switched off; this is flat-line. Then to increase the treble 1 db switch 5 to on, increase 2 db switch 5 & 6 to on, and so forth. A wood toothpick make a great tool.

After any change to my system, I leave the treble LK100 cover off for a day or two and try different settings until I am happy with the result. If you do this, be sure to put something under the amp so it does not scratch you rack (the rubber feet are on the cover). Personally, I increased the treble from 4 to 6 when I added the third LK100. With so much bass power, I needed to increase the treble to accordingly.

As treble delivers most of your vocals, adjusting these switches could solve the problem. Let us know how it works out. Good luck!

Dave

Nomoneyleft · 2012-07-29, 22:26

Hi dr eddie

My partner won't let me.... Too ugly Apparently, until we move and I get my own play room my dad's borrowing them. (they were a bugger to drive - 12s / 120 never quite did them justice).

Hi Dave

Not sure if prev owner changed them from default, will definitely give it a go. Have also now got system in living room with a wood floor, proving difficult acoustically. Does seem to be bass/mid that tends to overpower.

Have an empty house over the weekend so will try the dip switches and let you know...

Martin

sunbeamgls · (This post was last modified: 2012-07-30 23:06 by sunbeamgls.)

Whilst your Keilidhs should be kept level from side to side, I found vocals to be more clear by setting the rear spikes as short as I could get them and then winding out the front ones as high as I could get them whilst still having thread in the bases (the head of the spike level with the top of the metal thread in the bases when viewed from the top). Do this, then level the speakers side to side and you should find vocals becoming more distinct. Once tilted up and levelled side to side, make sure there is absolutely no rocking possible - they benefit a good deal from being solid to the floor.

As it just takes about 15 mins of effort its certainly worth a try - you can put them back to level if you don't like it. You can experiment with the amount of toe-in too - my Keilidhs only had 10mm of toe-in, but I am a good 5m back from them in my listening room.

I think I'd do this before twiddling with the active cards.