Linn Komri Complete Exakt System

Overview
This is my fourth Linn system. All of them were very good, but this last system is by far the best. And it has only gotten better through a series of upgrades from Linn:

• All eight Solo 500 amplifiers have been upgraded in Scotland with Dynamik power supplies.
• The original Tunebox crossovers were upgraded to Exaktbox with Katalyst DACs.
• The Exaktbox crossovers were recently upgraded to the latest Organik DACs which took a very good sound and made it breathtaking.

My wife and I are working toward downsizing our living and listening spaces, so the time has come for someone else to enjoy this superlative audio system. Read on for brief introductions to some of Linn’s most innovative technologies. If you already know about them, just skip down to System Description.

Brief Linn History
The company, located in Scotland, is over 50 years old. Its first product was the Sondek LP12 phono turntable, still made today. Linn was also known for the Sondek CD12, a $20,000 CD player that many consider one of the best ever made. Then in 2009 Linn announced they were discontinuing all CD players to focus on digital streaming, a far better way to listen to digital music files.

Linn Aktiv Technology
Many loudspeakers use passive crossovers where a full analog audio signal is sent from a preamp and filters in the crossover separate low, mid and high frequencies and pass them to the appropriate driver in the speaker. Instead, Linn created active (Aktiv) systems that used much more sophisticated, powered circuits to more efficiently separate different frequencies. Early versions worked with just bass, midrange and tweeters, but this Komri system works with five discreet frequency ranges with a frequency response of 20Hz-28kHz:

• Super Tweeter
• Tweeter
• Midrange
• Upper Bass
• Lower Bass

The two Exaktbox crossovers (one for each speaker) deliver each of these five frequency ranges to individual power amplifiers which power individual drivers in the speakers. This is why the system uses eight of the Solo 500 power amplifiers to drive all but the Lower Bass drivers. These are powered by integrated bass servo amplifiers in the speakers themselves, thus the massive heatsinks on the back. The net of all this that while the system has enormous power, it doesn’t have to work very hard to deliver performance-level sound with amazing clarity.


Linn Exakt Technology
If you’re not familiar with Linn’s Exakt technology, the basic idea is this according to Linn:

“The lower the frequency, the more it’s delayed as it passes through the crossover. This means the different frequencies that make up each note are no longer synchronised. When the music is recombined, it’s a flawed version of the original and the instruments are distorted.”

“Exakt delays the higher frequencies so they line up with the lower frequencies. When the music is recombined at your ear, the fundamental of each note and all the harmonics arrive perfectly in time, preserving the true character of each instrument.”

The Exakt system requires that you have a Linn network player (not included in this package) equipped with Exaktlink ports. One of these will connect to the Exactbox crossovers with (believe it or not) a single run of Cat 6 network cable. Virtually any recent Klimax or Selekt DSM will suffice (a few are usually listed here on Audiogon).

Space Optimisation Technology
Linn says, “Space Optimisation uses sophisticated acoustic modelling to build up a complete picture of how your speakers, their placement, and the unique characteristics of your room interact to affect the sound you hear. It then precisely identifies frequencies that are artificially distorted by your environment, and reduces their energy, to reveal the music that would otherwise be hidden. Whatever speakers you use, and however you’ve designed your room, you’ll hear a performance that’s optimised uniquely for you.”

I have now used Space Optimisation in several rooms and it’s remarkable. It’s also easy to use and update if your listening room changes.

System Description

Pair of Linn Komri speakers in natural maple (45.8”H x 16.5” W x 20.5” D)

• I purchased them from a Linn retailer who used them in a demo room.
• The cabinets showed some scuffs so I had them completely refinished by a professional furniture restorer.
• The metal base corners were scratched so I had them sand blasted and nickel plated.
• Original retail price per pair was $40,000.

Eight Linn Klimax Solo 500 power amplifiers

• 500 watt monoblock units, each milled from a solid billet of aluminum.
• They weigh 20 pounds each.
• All were upgraded by Linn in Scotland with Dynamik power supplies.
• These amplifiers are still available from Linn for $14,670 each.

Two Linn Klimax Exaktbox crossovers

• The Komri speakers came with two Klimax Tunebox crossovers.
• Linn offered a trade-in for two Klimax Exaktbox with Katalyst DACs for $27,000.
• Most recently Linn offered an upgrade to Organik DACs for $14,000.
• New Klimax Exaktbox with Organik now list for $19,500 each.

Shipping and Setup

• I have original boxes for the Klimax amps and crossovers, but not the speakers, so regular shipping would be very expensive and require the speakers to be crated, and they weigh 175 pounds each.
• We can include delivery at a cost of $1.00 per mile based on your distance from downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico. So if you live in Denver, cost would be about $400, or about $850 if you live in Los Angeles.
• Included with this is full system setup, orientation and an initial Space Optimisation.

Pricing

• Total price is $95,000.
• Total MSRP price for all included components comes to $196,360.
• Total value according to Audiogon Bluebook used sales history is:

• Komri Speakers (pair): $23,000-30,000.
• Klimax Solo 500 amlifiers: $5,600-7,200 each, so $44,800-57,600.
• There is little data for Exaktbox, upgrades, etc., but if you could find them for 50% of list they would be about $10,000 each.
• Based on the above, total value of the system comes to $87,800-107,600.

Other resources

• For a detailed review of the Komri speakers, follow the link below. Remarkably, this was written before Linn introduced Komris in an active configuration and they were powered with just two Klimax 500 amplifiers, also long before Exakt or Organik.

positive-feedback.com/issue1/komri

• Here’s a Stereophile review that also has a lot to say about the Komri sound character, also while still in a passive configuration and a DAC from three generations ago.  stereophile.com/content/linn-komri-loudspeaker
• For a full explanation of Exakt, see linn.co/us/technology/exakt
• For a full explanation of Linn’s new Organik DAC, see linn.co/us/technology/organik
• For a full explanation of Space Optimisation, see linn.co/us/technology/space-optimisation

Warranty
I offer a one-year warranty on all the electronics. In the unlikely event that something stops working, I will arrange for the component in question to be repaired by Linn at my cost. I have been working with Linn for almost 30 years (and was a dealer for a time), so I know how the system works.

Questions?
I understand this is a significant investment and am happy to discuss by telephone, so feel free to contact me. Also, if you would like to see and hear the system firsthand, come to Santa Fe. Flights are not that expensive!

Photos

These are mostly to help understand how the system is put together, and they don’t include details of both speakers. If you would like to see all five sides of both speakers, let me know.