Small Amplifier; Big Credentials

Klimax Solo 500 is Linn’s complete redesign from fundamentals of their most successful amplifier ever – Klimax Solo. They have maximised the potential of every cubic millimetre within its machined-from-solid enclosure to create a product that is an improvement over its legendary predecessor in every conceivable way – one that, crucially, still boasts a compact form factor. 

With Solo 500, Linn’s latest top-tier innovations powerfully coalesce into the best compact monoblock amplifier they have ever made. The synergistic combination of Adaptive Bias Control and sophisticated hybrid cooling matrix with intelligent fan management, results in a Class AB amplifier that is far greater than the sum of its parts, yet remarkably smaller than its counterparts. 

Linn’s engineers have expertly miniaturised and arranged their flagship amplifier and power supply technologies inside its sleek and minimalist casework to ensure that Solo 500 is a staggering upgrade. It’s the ideal drop-in replacement for existing systems which feature original Solo or 3rd-party amplification. Its neat size lends itself particularly well to active setups and scenarios where space is at a premium.  

The holistic approach to its design has culminated in an amplifier that performs optimally from the moment it’s powered on for the first time, and throughout its long lifespan; an amplifier that can be driven hard for protracted listening sessions of wildly dynamic material, and yet remain silently cool; an amplifier with huge available power, devastatingly low noise floor, and eighty-five times lower distortion measurements than the one it replaces. Solo 500 is a small amp, with big credentials. 

Adaptive Bias Control is Linn’s groundbreaking in-house technology which first debuted in 360 Exakt Integrated loudspeakers, was then optimised for inclusion in Klimax Solo 800, and is now a critical element of Solo 500’s prodigious performance. It ensures optimum output performance from their latest crop of high-end amplifiers, under any conditions, and for the duration of the product’s life. 

Conventional Class AB amplifiers require the application of bias current at their output stage to mitigate transistor crossover distortion. This remedial bias current is keyed-in only once, manually, by the engineer who builds the product. Due to variations in manufacturing tolerance of individual transistors, fluctuating temperature during use, and component age, this estimated bias current begins to wander far from ideal – and continues to do so over the amp’s life – resulting in ever-increasing levels of audible transistor distortion. 

With Adaptive Bias Control, Linn solves this issue. At any given moment during operation, the optimum bias current is established intelligently within Klimax Solo 500 in real-time. The current supplied to each of the eight output transistors is measured, sampled and digitised continuously, before being passed to a powerful FPGA processor, which calculates the requisite bias at that precise moment. The FPGA simultaneously implements a digital control loop to adjust and hold bias current at its measured optimum for the transistors. 

Solo 500, therefore, is persistently measuring and adjusting its own output to be ideal at all times; at any temperature, regardless of volume or sudden dynamic changes in the music signal it receives, and for the entirety of its long life. Crucially, this means that Solo 500 will perform identically to its neighbours, thus ensuring flawless and consistently balanced performance between all amplification in the system — permanently.

Adaptive Bias Control conclusively solves the primary performance and consistency issue otherwise attributed to Class AB amplifier design. It’s a key factor in Klimax Solo 500’s devastatingly low noise floor. As a result of its implementation, Solo 500 measures eighty-five times lower total harmonic distortion and noise than its predecessor under typical listening conditions. 

Klimax Solo 500 features a brand-new thermal management system — a hybrid cooling matrix — designed to keep the amplifier cool and whisper-quiet under all conditions. All internal electronics are mounted upside-down to a sub-chassis made from hard-anodised aluminium, which draws heat away from the circuitry and isolates it from the main enclosure.

This sub-chassis is connected to a thermal plate with a network of finely machined fins. These were designed using advanced simulation software to form a maze-like structure that naturally radiates heat upward and out through gills in the amplifier’s upper casework — ideal for everyday listening via silent, passive convection.

When pushed harder, the hybrid cooling matrix shifts into active mode. Two internal fans are triggered to circulate air across the thermal plate’s fin network — the amplifier’s hottest zone — maintaining safe temperatures for continued optimal performance and component longevity.

Unlike typical amplifier fans that ramp up audibly as heat rises, Solo 500’s intelligent fan management is controlled by a real-time FPGA system. It calculates fan speed based on both internal temperature and input signal, ensuring cooling is always sufficient yet near-silent, preserving both performance and listener experience.

The hybrid cooling matrix’s effectiveness is aided by a specially optimised Utopik power supply. Auto-voltage rails ensure that output from Utopik also adapts to the audio signal itself, only delivering the necessary power dictated by what’s playing and its volume. Less superfluous energy is generated, which would otherwise be wasted as heat. As a result, efficiency is improved, baseline internal temperature is minimised, and Solo 500 consumes less electricity in general. 

Solo 500’s aesthetic is one of minimalist elegance and refined engineering. At first glance, it presents as a sleek, understated block — but a closer look reveals intricate details that speak to Linn’s obsession with precision and design.

The casework is machined from solid aluminium and consists of just three seamless components: the baseplate, the enclosure, and the rear panel. Together, they form a unified and sculptural structure that feels both solid and sophisticated.

The front face introduces a fresh take on the iconic Linn ‘smile’, combining a smooth, flat lower half with a compound curve on the upper section — subtly catching light and creating shifting reflections depending on the angle and lighting.

One of the standout visual elements is the centre-mounted Linn badge. Set within a chrome-trimmed roundel, it features a radial-grooved finish, steel outer ring, and soft LED backlighting. The LEDs communicate amplifier status through gentle animations, adding both function and flair.

Viewed in situ, each amplifier reflects light in its own way, with dynamic shadows and soft highlights. Together, they form a cohesive visual statement — elegant, modern, and unmistakably Linn.

Number of Channels: One
Max Output: 500W into 4Ω, 250W into 8Ω
Max Input: 1 kW
Amp Technology: Adaptive Bias Control
Power Supply: Utopik
Inputs: RCA Phono x1, Balanced XLR x1
Passthrough: RCA Phono x1, Balanced XLR x1
Speaker Outputs: Binding-post / Banana / Spade x2
Output Impedance: 0.01Ω at 1kHz
THD+N, 4Ω: 0.0005% | 1kHz | 500W
THD+N, 8Ω: 0.0004% | 1kHz | 250W
Finishes: Silver or Black anodised

Dimensions:
Width: 350 mm
Height: 88.5 mm
Depth: 364 mm
Weight: 10.6 kg