An intimate hour with the LINN Klimax Solo 500 at the High End 2025.
So you think we had slept on the news about the new Linn Klimax Solo 500? It has been a good two weeks since the Scots unveiled their second-largest powerhouse and put it into circulation. For us, the 500 was already an “old acquaintance.” Shortly before High End, we received a call asking if we would like to attend a small, fine, but above all exclusive demonstration of the new monos. With an offer like that, you don’t think twice – you just say yes!
Atrium 4.1, Room F121, 5 p.m. – sharp
On the evening of the first day of the show (at 5 p.m.), we found ourselves in the Scottish room and, in the presence of Gilad Tiefenbrun and his team, were able to take a first look at the two beautifully shaped cuboids. Two black models were playing in the showroom, open for to all visitors to experience. So what was so exclusive now? Well, the LINN team had two compact, S-shaped racks made before the show. On top were the Klimax Solo 500, and hidden from view one level below were their predecessors, the Klimax Solo 500 in their classic flat aluminum enclosures.
The original plan had been to do an A/B comparison between the generations during the demo. But since the comparison and the associated plugging back and forth proved so cumbersome during the test run, the plan was scrapped. And so we (along with a few dealers during the course of the day) were the only ones to enjoy it.
A healthy dose of Solo 800s in there
But let’s first take a look at the technology of the power amplifiers. Since, just like their predecessors, they deliver 500 watts, the new models could be considered a mere facelift on paper – with the Klimax power amplifiers, the last monolithic relics of the old design are now also disappearing. This simplification, however, doesn’t even come close to doing the Solo 500 justice.
The core of the upgrade is an approximation of the bombastic, outstanding talents of the large Solo 800. Like the luxury power amplifiers, the new 500 series now relies on “Adaptive Bias Control,” which LINN first introduced with the active models of the 360 loudspeaker. To keep it simple: the power amplifiers constantly monitor the quiescent current and adjust it to the ambient variables (current level, power amplifier temperature, etc.). The benefit lies in the further reduction of noise, but above all in an extension of the service life.
Cooling the Klimax Solo 500
The “Hybrid Cooling Matrix” has a very similar effect, using its chimney effect layout to passively funnel fresh air through the housing. Should the Klimax Solo 500 ever break a sweat, two active coolers kick in – and don’t worry about noise pollution: the fans are likely to only ever kick in at volumes where you’ll definitely won’t be able to pick them out.
And as for the facelift mentioned at the beginning, we can only say that we really like the clean, modern design of the new monos. It’s almost a little confusing to say that, because the design of the predecessors was so iconic that no one would have asked for a change. However, the noticeably taller new housings were primarily a necessity in order to accommodate the cooling system.
And then there’s the price
At €27,960 per unit, the list price of the LINN Klimax Solo 500 is certainly not a bargain. But it should be borne in mind that a) it features the distilled technology of its €100,000 siblings and b) is therefore the finest the Scots currently have to offer. Also – c) – it bowled us over in the demonstration…
Time to listen to the Solo 500
Conditioning myself to actually give a damn about trade fair demonstrations was a bit of a rocky road. Sure, they’re fine if you want to get a rough (!) first impression of the sound of a new product or its innovative features. However, countless uncertainties do not allow for a deeper insight into the matter – and the unfamiliar listening room, suboptimal power supply, and sometimes questionable seating arrangement are just the beginning.
On the other hand, a deliberately critical approach to trade fair listening situations opens the door to real bursts of enthusiasm: if a component/system can impress in the drywall labyrinth of the M.O.C., then it can do so in any environment – things can only get better in a decent listening room.
The Solo 500 in good company
We had already assumed that the Linn combination wouldn’t scare us out of the listening room. After all, with a Klimax Selekt DSM (preamplifier/streamer) and the Klimax 360 (passive, of course), we were looking at a more than capable front end. Right from the very first notes, the inveterably musical system put a smile on our faces. The music came out of the speakers beautifully and flooded the listening room. If you really wanted to find a fly in the ointment, it would have been the odd subtlety in the bass. As I said, surrounded by three drywall walls and a continuous glass front behind the chain, you’ve got to be lenient in your judgment.
After a few selected tracks – we listened to a sequence of folk, classical and electronic music – we moved on to the new products at the trade fair: That’s right – only now has it been revealed to us that we had been listening to the “oldies” up to that point. After a three- to four-minute break for rearranging, the course was repeated – and we were instantly left speechless. In fact, we would hardly have thought it possible how clearly the effect could be heard in a trade fair environment.
As if the Linn employees had removed the speakers, the music now shone in the middle of the listening room. It was almost incomprehensibly clear, focused, and present. The “handful of technical optimizations” that were explained to us shortly afterwards seem to multiply in the Klimax Solo 500 to become “greater than the sum of its parts”: together with their luxury siblings, they offer a sound experience in which you can literally lose yourself.
Linn’s antithesis
After this first, albeit impressive, well, impression, I once again ask myself how the Scots manage to achieve this “antithesis” to much of the rest of the high-end industry time and time again. Like all of the Scots’ electronics, the Linn Klimax Solo 500 is highly integrated. Instead of high-quality electrolytic capacitors, we are talking standard microcomponents that are anchored to circuit boards in automatic placement machines. Added to this are solidly shielded switching power supplies that power Class D technology. In short: sober technology that creates pure magic with analytical planning, know-how, and an eye for detail …