Linn Keilidh Versions

[Charlie1]

I was gonna get my passive Keilidhs serviced with new Alcaps, or possibly Solens. They are an early pair fitted with the final version of tweeter (SPKR 015/3), or maybe the seller said it was the Ninka tweeter.

Anyway, before spending out on that work, I wondered if I should first buy the final Keilidh version (Feb '97 onwards), but not sure how much difference the other drive units made. Does anyone recall the benefit of the later Keilidh mid/bass unit? And anyone know if Linn had to modify the crossover at any stage to accommodate newer drive units - something that my speakers units will be missing?

Here's the Linn info...

Treble Unit change (From SPKR 015/1 to SPKR 015/2) Oct 1994 23,647/8
Treble unit upgraded to SPKR 015/3* Dec 1996 39,727/8
Bass/mid units upgraded from SPKR 013/2 to /4 Feb 1997 40,657/8

Lastly, it appears that the SPRK 015/5 was used in the Ninka, so what about the 015/4?

[tpetsch]

I recall at the shop many many years ago we replaced both Keltik & Keilidh tweeters with the newer ones that Linn sent us, after I installed/played them into our Aktiv Keltik demo system we all looked at each other and asked what we heard and we all shrugged our shoulders, perhaps they slowly burned in over the weeks to perform slightly better but we never noticed. They definitely weren't worse.

[El Mero Mero]

The ”Ninka” tweeter is SPKR 038/2. Currently using them in my active Kabers.

[Charlie1]

Thanks both!

[Spannko]

The only change I have a clear memory of is the first tweeter upgrade, which I felt to be a significant upgrade in both sound and musicality. I’ve got a feeling that there was a cabinet upgrade too, which included the addition of a Kustone block.

The earlier tweeters looked like Scanspeak/Hiquphon derivatives, but the later versions looked like cheap tweeters cobbled onto expensive looking face plates. How this affected sound quality, I wouldn’t like to say, other than I haven’t found any of the later tweeters to be as musical as the Hiquphon’s.

[Charlie1]

Thanks Spannko!

[sunbeamgls]

015/1 mesh
015/2 mesh
015/3 curved inward bars
015/5 curved inward bars

All the above used in Keilidh. I tried 1, 2 and 3, marginally preferred the 2.
Not sure what became of 015/4 but it never seems to have appeared in a product.

Ninka, Katan, Ekwal and Espek used the 038 tweeter which is compatible with Keilidh and Keltik. 038/1 had a plastic faceplate and most failed due to overheating, it had a short shelf life. 038/2 is the same driver but with an alloy faceplate - this version is reliable. Most people who put a 038 in a Keilidh prefer them over 015, but not all, probably around 80-90% prefer 038.

[Charlie1]

015/1 mesh
015/2 mesh
015/3 curved inward bars
015/5 curved inward bars

All the above used in Keilidh. I tried 1, 2 and 3, marginally preferred the 2.
Not sure what became of 015/4 but it never seems to have appeared in a product.

Ninka, Katan, Ekwal and Espek used the 038 tweeter which is compatible with Keilidh and Keltik. 038/1 had a plastic faceplate and most failed due to overheating, it had a short shelf life. 038/2 is the same driver but with an alloy faceplate - this version is reliable. Most people who put a 038 in a Keilidh prefer them over 015, but not all, probably around 80-90% prefer 038.

Thanks Sunbeam - that's very helpful.