Organik for Akubarik

[Moomintroll]

To clarify - SO+ doesn’t apply TOF. That’s down to Exakt - https://www.linn.co.uk/uk/technology/exakt

Dave

But it needs to know relative positions. To do that it needs a room profile through SO.
There's correction in the speaker itself which is SO independent, but between speakers and listening isn't. You can only have that with the room filters.

True. I’m pretty sure that if you switch SO off (ie don’t use a room optimisation) then you still get the benefit of TOF.

[vincent]

Having given the electronics some time to settle, I have had the chance to listen to a range of music from QNAP, Qobuz and vinyl. I am consistenly surprised with the amount of additional detail I am hearing in familiar tracks and vocals in particular have become so much more realistic. I have found that the biggest leap forward is with vinyl replay, and I have the feeling that I shall be playing much more vinyl going forward. Interestingly I have left SO off for all sources and feel no need to tweak. I think that the combination of the Utopik in the KSH and the Organik in the Akubariks have brought more control and clarity to the music. I am pleased with this upgrade.

[akamatsu]

To clarify - SO+ doesn’t apply TOF. That’s down to Exakt - https://www.linn.co.uk/uk/technology/exakt

Dave

But it needs to know relative positions. To do that it needs a room profile through SO.
There's correction in the speaker itself which is SO independent, but between speakers and listening isn't. You can only have that with the room filters.

True. I’m pretty sure that if you switch SO off (ie don’t use a room optimisation) then you still get the benefit of TOF.

This is from LinnDocs under the Space Optimisation topic:

Space Optimisation+ is for Exakt speaker. This is used for loudspeakers fed via the Exakt-link AND used with as a digital crossover.
The "plus" is to signify the more musical detail that is capable within the Exakt system and Space Optimisation due to timing control of each individual drive unit etc. (This is not possible with non-Exakt systems as the loudspeaker is only driven by one common audio feed per channel.)

[Moomintroll]

I’ve asked what the differences are on the Devt Forum.

Dave

I look forward to their reply. I would think that during an update the appropriate Exakt filter would be selected. But again, I found mine on not the latest (v4).

Not in my experience, I’ve (always?) had to specifically change the filter in use.

Good to know. So a customer could be using an older filter when a more recent, and presumably better one is available.

I’ve had a reply to my question on the Linn Development Forum:

“ Our fault for the confusion. Akubarik Organik should only have had the V5 Extended Drive Unit filter available for selection. This is basically a modified V4 version, created specifically for the Organik dac.

This should now be fixed in manage systems so only V5 is available for selection for Akubarik Organik and V1-4 for non Organik Akubariks. For anyone with an Organik upgrade, that previously selected a different version, should now select V5.

Regarding the other question in the forums, we don't explicitly change the filter version during any kind of firmware or other updates on the exakt device. Although objectively we aim to make the latest filter version the best, some customers prefer earlier filter versions so we let people decide which version to stick to and don't change this unless they wish to. Firmware is a bit different as newer versions of firmware mostly aim to improve stability and rarely change anything about the signal, so we always aim to put the latest firmware on the exakt device.”

Many thanks to Andrew Hollis for this reply.

Dave

[akamatsu]

I’ve asked what the differences are on the Devt Forum.

Dave

I look forward to their reply. I would think that during an update the appropriate Exakt filter would be selected. But again, I found mine on not the latest (v4).

Not in my experience, I’ve (always?) had to specifically change the filter in use.

Good to know. So a customer could be using an older filter when a more recent, and presumably better one is available.

I’ve had a reply to my question on the Linn Development Forum:

“ Our fault for the confusion. Akubarik Organik should only have had the V5 Extended Drive Unit filter available for selection. This is basically a modified V4 version, created specifically for the Organik dac.

This should now be fixed in manage systems so only V5 is available for selection for Akubarik Organik and V1-4 for non Organik Akubariks. For anyone with an Organik upgrade, that previously selected a different version, should now select V5.

Regarding the other question in the forums, we don't explicitly change the filter version during any kind of firmware or other updates on the exakt device. Although objectively we aim to make the latest filter version the best, some customers prefer earlier filter versions so we let people decide which version to stick to and don't change this unless they wish to. Firmware is a bit different as newer versions of firmware mostly aim to improve stability and rarely change anything about the signal, so we always aim to put the latest firmware on the exakt device.”

Many thanks to Andrew Hollis for this reply.

Dave

Thank you for handling this Dave. Peace of mind is so valuable. So I'm on v4 with Katalyst. Was thinking about @The Twins and the sound quality issues with their Organik Akubariks. Maybe it was the filters.

I am still seeing v5 as an option for my Katalyst examples.

[Moomintroll]

“ I am still seeing v5 as an option for my Katalyst examples.”

But can you select it to be applied? Perhaps you need to log out of your account and back in?

[vincent]

I’ve had a reply to my question on the Linn Development Forum:

“ Our fault for the confusion. Akubarik Organik should only have had the V5 Extended Drive Unit filter available for selection. This is basically a modified V4 version, created specifically for the Organik dac.

This should now be fixed in manage systems so only V5 is available for selection for Akubarik Organik and V1-4 for non Organik Akubariks. For anyone with an Organik upgrade, that previously selected a different version, should now select V5.

Regarding the other question in the forums, we don't explicitly change the filter version during any kind of firmware or other updates on the exakt device. Although objectively we aim to make the latest filter version the best, some customers prefer earlier filter versions so we let people decide which version to stick to and don't change this unless they wish to. Firmware is a bit different as newer versions of firmware mostly aim to improve stability and rarely change anything about the signal, so we always aim to put the latest firmware on the exakt device.”

Many thanks to Andrew Hollis for this reply.

Dave

Just checked in Linn Account: v5 is now the only Extended Drive Unit filter available for Organik Akubariks. So this new filter - not available with Katalyst - presumably contributes to the improvement in SQ.

[The Snug]

I too have an explanation from Linn:

I have spoken to an engineer who advises that the drive unit modelling numbers 1 - 4 are scheduled to be removed as an option shown for Organik (non-Organik Akubariks would use options 1 - 4 and each number represents the most up to date Akurate modelling) and as such option 5 is indeed the correct and best one to use for Akubarik Organik.

So it looks like Linn have made the changes. I also had it confirmed by my dealer when I spoke to them today that whether or not you use SO, you still benefit from Exakt.

[timster]

Curious to know, if there are drive unit models specific to Organik for the 'bariks are there similar for other speakers (both Linn and non-Linn eg. Kudos)?

[Moomintroll]

Unlikely, I would think, that Linn would spend time making a better filter for a competitor’s product. Anyone with Exakt Kudos etc able to advise?

I’m not aware of them for any other Linn speakers. AFAIK, they’re for integrated Exakt speakers.

[akamatsu]

I can now confirm that for my Katalyst Akubariks, v5 is no longer an option. Only v1 to v4 show up in manage systems.

[timster]

Unlikely, I would think, that Linn would spend time making a better filter for a competitor’s product. Anyone with Exakt Kudos etc able to advise?

True, but there's some logic in making the best possible filters for other's speakers as well as their own. Especially 2 and 3 way as Linn don't do them. It would draw more people into the exakt ecosystem potentially.
How about 350s, 360s, doriks driven by an Organik Exaktbox.