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Linn Klout - Playing Loud With Low Impedance Speakers

I have been using the wonderful Linn Klout amp to power Energy Veritas 2.3i speakers, with a Linn 5103 front end, in a medium size listening room. The Veritas' are 3-1/2 way speakers that dip down to 3 ohms or less. I notice when I play them loud, as I usually do, I start to notice a fair amount of distortion and listening fatigue. I am wondering if anyone else is experiencing this. I absolutely love my Klout, but I am starting to think I need more power or an amp with a stouter power supply. Any thoughts are welcomed. Thanks.
floridaudiophilia
5 responses Add your response
naimfan
166 posts
 
Klouts are old enough now that it probably needs to be recapped.  I don't believe Linn can service them any longer; so you might need to do it yourself or dig up someone who can do it (and who has done it before . . .).

The Klout doubled from 80 to 160 watts continuous into 8 or 4 ohms; and was built like a tank.  Get it recapped and see how it works then. 
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,567 posts
 
This speaker is low sensitivity; if you really want to play louder I recommend replacing the speaker as in the average room you will want 400-600 watts if you really want to make things move.

If your amplifier seemed like it did the job before, take a look at the woofer surrounds. They could be old enough now that the surround suspension material is perishing; if so the woofers can make quite a lot of distortion when pushed harder, stuff that is high enough in frequency that it could easily cause fatigue. 
lrsky
1,118 posts
 
Without knowing more, I'd say that the power supply of the Linn is not up to the current demands of a low impedance loudspeaker.
While I'm sure it's musical, it's simply running out of current when pushed.
As the impedance of a loudspeaker dips below four, some high current amps just provide the current necessary, and some double their output in to half the resistance. Not so with some amps.
When considering a new amp, look for amps that double, or almost double into 4 ohms.
Good listening.
Larry Staples

naimfan
166 posts
 
Larry -

The Klout does indeed double from 80 to 160 wpc from 8 to 4 ohms, and per Bill Miller of Linn doubled again to 320 wpc into 2 ohms.  It's also a fully regulated design. 

It probably needs to be recapped - it was introduced in 1992, and the type of use the OP is describing will stress the reservoir caps over a long period of time.
lrsky
1,118 posts
 
Naimfan.
I stand corrected. I shouldn't have assumed this was the problem.
Sorry to all.

Larry

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