Many have noted that the Scottish manufacturer Linn launched a new concept around a year ago. The Exakt concept means that the signal is managed digitally up to power amplifier, with the accompanying possibility of digital crossovers. And digital DSPs which allows for room correction and adaptation to each speaker model. Linn has even started a major process of collecting response data for different speaker models from other manufacturers, to offer their Exakt consept to all those who prefer competing speakers. Very generously - or maybe just plain sense of business, upon further contemplation.
Anyway, this has been a bit distant and inaccessible to anyone who has not invested in a rather costly Exakt system. The past week has been announced an upgraded version of Linn's DS streamers, where compatibility with Exakt system has been an important factor, but still user must purchase a Exakt-box of some ten thousand, and before power amplifiers and speakers enters in the image.
Meanwhile Linn yesterday announced that their new concept SPACE Optimation is now available also for all pure DS streamers, also without Exakt. And not only that, it is also available in existing samples, by downloading firmware update. The pessimist in me thought that this course only applies to current models, and not for us who bought our Akurate DS 7-8 years ago. The pessimist turned out wrong - SPACE Optimisation is available for all models, including those from the dawn. Indeed it is still a more advanced edition that requires Exact - the one Linn called SPACE Optimation +.
SPACE Optimation trial run.
SPACE Optimation is installed and test run on my Akurate DS. The installation itself is intuitive and painless, and behaves more or less like any other upgrades that has been through during all those years when Akurate DS has been in my possession. An initial update of the configuration program Linn Konfig followed by firmware update of Akurate DS, managed in the same Linn Config.
After the update some new tabs pop up in Linn Config`s department Akurate DS. One is called the Speaker, and here you choose which speaker you have connected. In addition to all Linn`s models already either are- or will come in a short period of time, there is already several third party speaker models in place. It's mostly about British manufacturers, and apply many models from B&W, Spendor, KEF, ProAc and Monitor Audio, in addition to a model from Danish Dali is also in place.
What happens when you select the speaker model is that a DSP automatically adjust for frequency deviation of the selected speaker model. For those DSM models that include analog and digital inputs, the frequence correction will also apply to the input signal, but for the analog inputs is concerned, it will also depend on what kind of settings is selected for time delay.
It is also the speaker adaptation part that is greatly simplified in non-Exakt setup. With Exakt you get access to Optimation +, which also allows for digital active crossover in a multiamping system. In addition it is taken into account individual differences of each driver.
Under the Space Optimisation we find the true room correction. Here you're tasked to define room, listening position and speaker placement in a parametric style. You define distances between walls, floors and ceilings, and use of materials, including windows and doors. You also define exact position ov speaker and listening posision. This a very unusual method, differing strongly from the procedure we are accustomed to from AV receivers and processors.
The method calculates room nodes based on the input data, and corrects for these in the frequency range below 200Hz. All that is above the bass range, in other words remains untouched, and this appeals to a neurotic audiophile.
Basically this method seems somewhat more primitive than that found in AV receivers, where it is common is the use of measuring microphone. But the point is what gives the best results. And while I through my numerous attempts using room correction (not to be confused with auto setup of time delays / distance etc.) yet remain to prefere use of room correction for music in stereo, returns with Linn SPACE Optimisation an immediate improvement in the bass area. The pudding tastes simply better, and seems less colored.
Happiness rarely arrives alone.
As if it wasn`t enough with the total unexpected gift in the form of Linn SPACE Optimisation becomming available on my Akurate DS, there appeared an upgrade of Linn Kazoo today (Beta). This is the new user interface from Linn, which has enabled direct streaming lossless music from TIDAL. This has so far been in place for a while but had some limitations in that playlists and favorites have not been available. In the new update is also this place, and life is not just a game. It is is also a dance on a bed of roses.
Read more about Linn SPACE Optimisation here:
See video on SPACE Optimisation:
