Interim values for gain settings in AKTIV-mode?

Pedro · Post by **Pedro** » 2010-03-01 00:05

I’m using 2 Chakra 4200/D in AKTIV-mode for KELTIK-speakers.
I have a question concerning the adjustement of the gain of the individual channels.
There are 8 positions, where the control dial snaps into place.

Position: ---- 0 ---- 1 ---- 2 ----- 3*) ------ 4 ----- 5 ----- 6 ----- 7
Gain (dB): 25.6 - 26.6 - 27.6 - 28.6*) - 29.6 - 30.6 - 31.6 - 32.6

*) default setting

For one channel I would like to have an interim value.

My question: What do you get, if you e.g. adjust the interim value 2,5 ?

- 28.1 (would be nice! :D ) or still 27,6 or yet 28,6 dB :? ?

Thank you in anticipation

Peter

anthony · Post by **anthony** » 2010-03-01 07:37

There are only 1dB steps half way will not work.

Post by **lejonklou** » 2010-03-01 23:09

Yep. But if you change the resistors, you can get any step that you want!

Sadly the 1 dB steps are much too large and practically useless.

Pedro · Post by **Pedro** » 2010-03-01 23:51

lejonklou wrote:Sadly the 1 dB steps are much too large and practically useless.

Thats absolutly what i have experienced, Fredrik!

position '2' - to less gain
position '3' - to much gain

I fear, that i have to buy a small soldering tip in order to change the resistors. A friend of mine will download shemes of the circuit board from LINFO.

Kind regards

Peter

ThomasOK · Post by **ThomasOK** » 2010-03-02 19:18

There are several of us who feel it is sad that the level of precision adjustment designed into the Linn Aktiv crossovers seems to have been reduced with each generation. On Isobariks the included parts allowed crossover adjustments of .25dB (and you could even adjust it finer if desired). I did find when replacing original Isobarik tweeters with new Ninka tweeters that they sounded best with a .75dB increase in level.

Then the crossovers went to .5dB and now to 1dB. It really isn't a fine enough adjustment to allow you to get the best performance. And when a different driver is introduced, as in the case of the Ninka tweeter, it can be quite a ways off.

I noticed in the instructions for updating the Artikulat to the Klimax that Linn put the proper crossover settings for each 3K Array on the unit so that you can match them properly. With 1dB increments on the crossovers if you have to change the level from one 3K Array to the next there is too high a degree of variance for that level of speaker IMHO.

Tony Tune-age · Post by **Tony Tune-age** » 2010-03-02 21:28

ThomasOK wrote:There are several of us who feel it is sad that the level of precision adjustment designed into the Linn Aktiv crossovers seems to have been reduced with each generation.

Thomas, is this change an effort to reduce manufacturing time and costs, or is it a change in the Linn music philosophy?

ThomasOK · Post by **ThomasOK** » 2010-03-02 23:13

I don't think it is a change in their music philosophy but I doubt there is any real manufacturing cost reduction either. To be honest I can't really fathom why they have decided to go this way. It might be a good question to ask on the Linn forum.

Post by **lejonklou** » 2010-03-02 23:29

There is one explanation that I can think of: It seriously reduces the time for retailers to install aktiv systems. With really big steps, you only need to consider changing them in extreme circumstances.

I have spoken to several retailers who have thought the performance is good enough anyway, without the need to fine tune filters. They've seemed quite happy with having one thing less to worry about.

ThomasOK · Post by **ThomasOK** » 2010-03-02 23:37

I had thought about saying something like this but felt I might get chided for being too cynical.

Ah, modern society. Where quality gets sacrificed in the name of efficiency.

anthony · Post by **anthony** » 2010-03-02 23:52

Must admit I have normally found default settings work best.

I think the old keltik momo bass cards were in 1dB steps.

The only cards I had to adjust were kabers usually needing more bass and less treble.

anthony · Post by **anthony** » 2010-03-02 23:56

I think too many adjustments create paranoia, you have a good session and are convinced setting are perfect. Then you are stressed or bad mains and the system no longer sings......reflex reaction adjust settings.
Good old passive systems!

rowlandhills · Post by **rowlandhills** » 2010-03-03 10:04

I've been told by a couple of well respected UK retailers that current chakra amps and cards "rarely need adjusting from the default setting unless you have a really strange room"....

Post by **lejonklou** » 2010-03-03 13:14

rowlandhills wrote:"rarely need adjusting from the default setting unless you have a really strange room"....

That's a very positive way of putting it. More truthful would be that they "aren't beneficial to adjust unless you have a really strange room". Due to the large steps, that is...

Anthony, I agree with you that simple systems are preferable. There's less to adjust, less to go wrong and less to break down. It's also possible to optimise them more thoroughly.

I have never associated "paranoia" with aktiv filter settings, however. And from my experience, people over here don't fiddle with them (or speaker position) when they are dissatisfied.

Tony Tune-age · Post by **Tony Tune-age** » 2010-03-03 13:25

ThomasOK wrote:I had thought about saying something like this but felt I might get chided for being too cynical.

Speaking the truth isn't always perceived as being cynical, sometimes it's just relaying the facts, for the benefit of others

.

anthony · Post by **anthony** » 2010-03-03 16:13

I have never associated "paranoia" with aktiv filter settings, however. And from my experience, people over here don't fiddle with them (or speaker position) when they are dissatisfied.

It must be us lot over in U.K. then!
When I owned Keltiks, more so with the klimax crossovers, I definitely suffered from the occasional "too much bass" days. It did correspond to mains quality, not sure if an industrial unit shared the same supply.
The problem was the temptation to alter the crossovers.
I find using 242s with solos for 3 years now, I seem to experience a much better consistancy now, and on bad nights there is nothing to adjust.......