Power Amplifier/Klimax Solo 500

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Linn Klimax Solo 500 Mono power amplifier • Product Name: KLIMAX SOLO 500 • Date of Introduction: May 2025 • Type: Mono Power Amplifier Class A/B

Get Started Product information How to initially wire up the product Features Utopik Power Supply Adaptive Bias Control Cool running

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Technical Specifications |

FAQ's |

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Product information

• Product Name:	KLIMAX SOLO 500
• Date of Introduction:	May 2025
• Type:	Mono Power Amplifier Class A/B

• Features
  • Adaptive Bias Control
  • Utopik power supply
  • Good heat management
  • External power trigger

Description

With Klimax Solo 500, our latest top-tier innovations powerfully coalesce into the best compact monoblock amplifier we have ever made.

Klimax Solo 500 features novel and original Linn technologies which combine to produce staggeringly low distortion measurements, with superb signal-to-noise ratio and incredible efficiency (voltage rail control).

In a normal setup, one hears the accumulation of interactions between speaker and amp – a combination of non-ideal characteristics which result in artefacts heard in the music. Linn’s focus on relentless minimisation of distortion within the amp, and unilaterally consistent output, means that Klimax Solo 500 introduces negligible harmonics or background noise to the music signal.

Linn’s unique combination of digital and analogue expertise has allowed them to optimise and linearise every internal stage of the amplifier to consistently produce exceedingly high performance.

Manuals

Safety Information

Warranty Terms & Conditions

Linn Support Site

Installation

We recommend that your Klimax Solo 500 power amplifiers are unpacked, installed and adjusted by an authorised Linn retailer.

To get the best from your Solo 500 Amplifiers, it is important that they be positioned and wired correctly.

Unpacking

• We recommend that you retain the packaging in case you need to transport your power amplifiers at a later date.

• Take care when unpacking to avoid damage to the case.

Connections & Operation

Low power state

In normal operation, not using the 12V trigger, the power amplifier will go into low-power-state after 20 minutes of no audio. Any signal on the XLR or RCA will quickly bring the power amplifier out of low-power-state and start playing.

Front panel

1. POWER SWITCH - Switches the power ON/OFF 2. Linn Roundel - To show the current status of the Solo 500 power amplifier

Linn Roundel

Mains power OFF

Initial power on or programming state

Full power ON and operational

Going into low-power

Low Power state After 20mins of no audio (Waiting for audio signal or 12V trigger)

Waking up from low-power Going into low-power-state is the reverse of this motion.

Fault/Error state

Back panel

1. MAINS INPUT - To connect to the mains electricity supply.
2. EARTH TERMINAL -for use in countries without mains earth in power cable.
3. POWER OUTPUT - 4 mm terminals for connecting to the loudspeaker.
4. BALANCED INPUT/OUTPUT ¹'(XLR-Line level)
5. RCA INPUT/OUTPUT ¹ RCA-Line level
6. INPUT SELECT - To connect XLR or RCA inputs.
   
7. SERVICE PORTS ² - Covering Exakt & USB sockets (These are ONLY used for Service options.)
8. Brightness³ & Auto-Standby⁴, - Switched brightness levels for the front panel status roundel and auto-Standby options
9. # 12V trigger⁵,- To remotely bring the amplifier in/out of lower power state using a 12V control signal.
10. FALLBACK - T0 force the Solo 500 in to software fallback mode for programming.

Notes:

¹ The IN/OUT sockets are hard-wired together to allow amplifier daisy-chaining.

² Exakt sockets & USB-C sockets ONLY for Software update, configuration setup.

³ Check LED brightness control section below

⁴ Check Auto-Standby settings section below

⁵ Check 12V trigger section below

12V Trigger

The 12V Trigger input trigger interface, which can be linked with other devices to switch into / out of a low power state.

• When low, the power amplifier goes into a low-power-state.
• When 12V is applied to this input, this brings the power amplifier out of low-power-state and ready to play within 1second.
• However, if 12V has been applied, but there has not been an audio signal for an extended period of time, this will put the power amplifier into low-power-state.

Auto-Standby settings

This allows more settings in the Auto-Standby function and overall power used.

3: No auto-standby. (Never enters Low-Power mode)

2: "Shallow" auto-standby after 20 minutes without a signal. Almost immediate audio upon waking up.

1: "Deep" auto-standby after 20 minutes without a signal. Audio will take a few seconds before waking up.

LED brightness control

Control for front panel roundel brightness

3: Maximum brightness.

2: Mid-level brightness.

1: Minimum brightness.

FAQ

What is Adaptive Bias Control

Adaptive Bias Control technology is the control of the ideal bias current for all the amplifier output transistors. This is established dynamically and in real-time by measuring, sampling and digitising the current measurement, then using a closed loop to set the output bias voltage through a DAC and novel analogue floating bias circuit.

A digital control loop then implements and persistently adjusts this optimum bias current for the transistors; negating crossover distortion at any temperature – regardless of volume or demanding dynamic changes in music – for the entirety of the amp’s life.

Utopik for Klimax Solo 500

Linn’s all-new, Utopik switch-mode power supply topology for Klimax Solo boasts precision-regulated power rails. It provides the best of both worlds, generating 2kW maximum power output whilst retaining speed, responsiveness and consummate efficiency. It maintains extremely steady output voltage; the rails perform consistently in the face of dramatic loading changes. What’s more, if the mains input varies, the output won’t – remaining stable and ultrapure at all times.

With Utopik, Linn minimise switching noise and improve efficiency by utilising a technique called ‘soft-switching’; a resonant tank circuit ensures that voltage across the switch falls to zero before the switch is thrown. Thanks to soft-switching, Utopik is cleaner, more efficient, and remains whisper-quiet over the full range of operating conditions.

Cool running

Klimax Solo 500 features a brand-new thermal management system—a hybrid cooling matrix—which ensures that the amplifier can adapt in response to the demands placed upon it, remaining cool and whisper-quiet at all times.

Designed and optimised using sophisticated simulation software, machined internal fins form a labyrinthine network of precisely measured channels. These fins naturally radiate heat upwards and out through precision-cut gills in the amplifier’s upper casework. This natural convection and radiation system is ideal for keeping Solo 500 cool during everyday listening sessions.

When the amp is pushed very hard, however, this is where Solo 500’s hybrid cooling matrix gets really clever… The amp switches to active cooling by way of two internal fans positioned deep within the product.

Linn has designed an intelligent fan management system for Solo 500. Monitored and controlled by an FPGA processor in real-time, the required fan speed is determined by a combination of both the measured internal temperature of the amplifier and the input audio signal. This ensures that the fans run inaudibly at the lowest speed possible at any given time, whilst providing ample cooling to avoid overheating and thereby maintain ideal performance, listener experience, and efficiency.

Is the Solo 500 Suitable for Any Speakers?

The Klimax Solo 500, like the Solo 800 is capable of delivering a lot of power on demand. The Solo 500 will deliver up to 500W into a 4 Ohm load. Like any standalone mono-block power amplifier, it can only protect itself from overload. It has no knowledge of the speaker load connected to it, so it is not able to protect the speaker from currents that may damage it.

To prevent damage to the speaker, the volume should be suitably limited unless the loudspeaker itself includes suitable protection circuitry. If there is any doubt then seek advice from the speaker manufacturer.

Technical Specifications

	Linn Klimax Solo 500 Mono Power Amplifier
Overview	• Product Name: KLIMAX SOLO 500 • Date of Introduction: May 2025 • Type: Mono Power Amplifier Class A/B
Dimensions	(H) 88.5 mm x (W) 350 mm x (D) 364 mm (H) 3.5 inches x (W) 13.8 inches x (D) 14.4 inches
Weight	10.6 kg / 23.4 lb
Mains supply voltage	(auto-ranging) 100–120 V AC (±10%) 50–60 Hz 200–240 V AC (±10%) 50–60 Hz
Power Supply	2kW Utopik
Power Control protocol	Music sensing trigger - go into low-power state if no audio for 20 minutes. Music will wake up the amplifier and start playing and/or 12V trigger to put into/out of low-power state
Amplier Class	Transistor power amplifier using Class A/B with voltage rail control (Class-V)
EXAKT	For Service communication. ONLY
inputs	1off RCA socket (Gain 28.6dB)
	1off Balanced XLR (Gain 22.6dB)
Passthrough (Daisy-chaining)	1off RCA socket,
	1off Balanced XLR
Speaker Outputs	1Pr Banana/Binding posts
Output Impedance	0.01Ω at 1kHz
Output power	250W into 8Ω 500W into 4Ω
THD+N	8 Ω - 0.0004% | 1kHz | 250 W 4 Ω - 0.0005% | 1kHz | 500 W