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Linn Twin Klimax
Dual Speaker Power Amplifier
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Important safety information Explanation of symbols used in this manual and on the product. This symbol is intended to alert the user to the presence of insulated dangerous voltages within the enclosure of sufficient magnitude to cause electric shock. This symbol is intended to alert the user to the presence of important maintenance and servicing information in the instruction and service manuals. Caution To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not remove the cover. No user serviceable parts in
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General safety instructions 1. Read instructions. Read the safety and operating instructions before operating the appliance. 2. Retain instructions. Retain the safety and operating instructions for future reference. 3. Heed warnings. Observe all warnings on the appliance and in the operating instructions. 4. Follow instructions. Follow all operating and use instructions. Input impedance: 5. Water and moisture . Do not use the appliance near water, for example near a bathtub, washbowl, kitchen si
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UK Users please read this important safety information Fuse replacement This appliance is fitted with a non-rewireable 13 Amp mains plug. The plug contains a 5 Amp fuse. If the fuse has blown it can be replaced as follows: a) Pull out the red fuse cover/carrier. b) Remove and dispose of the blown fuse. c) Fit a new 5 Amp BS1362 approved fuse into the carrier and push the carrier back into the plug. Always ensure the fuse cover is fitted. If the fuse cover is missing do not use the plug. Cont
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CE Declaration of Conformity Linn Products Ltd. declares that this product is in conformance with the Low Voltage Directive 73/23/EEC and Electromagnetic Compatibility 89/336/EEC as amended by 92/31/EEC and 93/68/EEC. The conformity of the designated product with the provisions of Directive numbers 73/23/EEC (LVD) is proved by full compliance with the following standards. Standard number Date of issue Test type EN60065 1993 General requirements Marking Ionizing Heating under normal conditions Sh
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Copyright and acknowledgements Copyright @ Linn Products Limited. Linn Products LImited, Floors Road, Waterfoot, Glasgow, G76 0EP, Scotland, United Kingdom. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Printed in the United Kingdom. Klimax is a registered trademark of Linn Products L
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Contents 1. Introduction 2 2. What is it? 3 3. How does the Klimax work? 4 What is switch mode? 5 So what’s the problem? 6 Some assorted facts 7 Inside the Klimax 8 The audio circuitry 9 Output current and protection 11 4. Installation 13 Heat 13 Mains supply 15 Signal sensing 17 Inputs and Outputs 18 5. Operation 19 6. Specifications 20 7. Guarantee and service 22 8. Index 24 1
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1. Introduction Thank you for buying the Klimax Twin, the second member of the Klimax amplifier family and the best amplifiers we make. Like the Klimax Solo the Klimax Twin uses the latest technology and exemplifies our constant endeavour to make ever better sounding products. We are confident that the compact, elegant design and the exceptional, accurate performance of the Klimax Twin will give you many years of pleasure. If you wish to know more about this special product, read on. If you just
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2. What is it? The Klimax Twin is a two channel power amplifier designed for use in multi amplifier and multi channel audio and audio/video systems. The case is precision machined from two solid sections of aluminium alloy. The machining is done on a computer controlled multi-axis machining centre, with the final cut on the top face made by a Swiss SIP vertical jig borer, the stability and accuracy of which is unequalled. This compact but massive case protects and stabilises the internal electro
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3. How does the Klimax work? In most power amplifiers the power supply comprises a large transformer, a rectifier and reservoir capacitors, often as large as the transformer. The highest performance amplifiers also have voltage regulators which maintain the power supplied to the amplifier circuitry constant, regardless of the input voltage or the output load. The bulk of these components dominates the size of the amplifier and the 'tightness' of the audio path, and if voltage regulators are pres
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What is switch mode? In a switch mode power supply the incoming mains is filtered then rectified to generate a very high voltage dc (direct current) supply. This is usually about 300 to 350 Volts dc, which is far too high to operate audio circuitry directly, and is still connected directly to the incoming mains supply. Such a high voltage is very dangerous and is one reason why the Klimax case should never be opened by a customer or a non Linn Products employee. This high voltage is chopped up b
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So what’s the problem? The first problem is that this is a lot more complicated than a mains transformer (a few kilos of copper and iron), a rectifier and some large capacitors. A switch mode design optimised for minimum part count will still have many tens of parts, most of which are quite delicate but still have to operate reliably in a very electrically hostile environment. We have been designing and building switch mode supplies for our CD players, tuners, preamplifiers and multiroom compone
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Some assorted facts The transformer in the Klimax is less than 40mm (1.5 inches) cube. At 50/60 Hz it could deliver about 5 Watts. In the Klimax it can deliver 1000 Watts. The reservoir capacitors in the Klimax are about the size of a thimble but give better filtering than ones the size of a beer can used in other very powerful amplifiers. The semiconductor switches turn on and off in about 20nS (20 one thousandth millionths of a second). The overload protection for the switches can detect a pot
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Inside the Klimax 8
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The audio circuitry At Linn because we strive for continuous improvement in everything we do we use appropriate technologies to achieve our goals. There have been many fine amplifier designs over the history of audio. Some use valves (tubes), some use bipolar transistors, some MOSFETs. Some manufacturers swear by Class A, others by Class AB, one or two by Class D, and many others are somewhere in between. Two designs can use the same components, but achieve completely different results. We belie
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To achieve the performance and power output we use three chips per channel, and like the Klimax Solo the Klimax Twin is direct coupled with no capacitors in the signal path. Combined with a slightly modified Klimax Solo power supply we have achieved, as we know you will hear, true audiophile performance. 10
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Output current and protection A commonly asked question about a power amplifier concerns its maximum output current. There is some good reason behind this question. There is always some trade off between output power, 'specmanship', protection and cost in a power amplifier. Output power specification (into 8 Ohms) can be increased simply by increasing the amplifier power supply rails slightly. But what then happens with a 4 Ohm load ? Can the amplifier now supply the extra current a 4 Ohm load n
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The Klimax Twin, like all Linn amplifiers, is specified into a 4 Ohm load. We don't do this to claim a bigger output power, but to show that our amplifiers are intended and fully specified for operation into 4 Ohm loudspeakers. Most Linn loudspeakers have nominally 4 Ohms input impedance. The Klimax Twin has a simple decision making protection circuit. Either the output current is safe or it's not, in which case the amplifier is shut down instantly for a few seconds. An unsafe output current is
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4. Installation The compactness of the Klimax Twin makes it very easy to install and makes possible high power multi- amplifier systems which would be impractical with conventionally designed amplifiers of similar power, because of their size and weight. The unique wall mount system can be used to minimise the intrusion of the audio system into the living space while providing good ventilation, concealing the cabling and showing off the subtle beauty of the Klimax. Heat The Klimax Twin is a very
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When operating, the fan draws cool air in through the back of the amplifier, and blows it along the heat exchanger until it exits through the front, top and bottom. The amplifier is fully protected against over heating, but this is only for protection and should never operate in normal use, whatever your 'normal use' is. If you only ever listen at moderate level, you may never notice the temperature rise above idling. The high thermal mass of the case absorbs short periods of high power input wi
