Linn Nexus Speaker System Review

Glasgow-based Linn Products, Ltd., is best known for its record-playing components, but it also produces a line of high-quality loudspeakers. The latest addition to the Linn speaker family is the Nexus, a two-way ported system using a 1-inch soft-dome tweeter and a new 8-inch woofer featuring a carbon-loaded polypropylene cone. Both of these drivers were developed by Linn, and the same tweeter is also used in its top-of-the-line speaker system.

The Nexus specifications include a frequency response of 50 to 20,000 Hz ±2.5 dB and a sensitivity of 88 dB sound-pressure level (SPL) with a 1-watt input. The crossover, at 2,500 Hz, uses a fourth-order Linkwitz-Reilly network designed to give maximum phase coherence through the crossover region. The crossover network can easily be converted for bi-wiring (using separate cables to connect the tweeter and woofer to the amplifier). The necessary connectors are already mounted on the back of the cabinet, and the conversion consists of cutting a link on the crossover circuit board. In the bi-wired configuration, the system can also be used with bi-amplification (separate amplifiers for the bass and treble drivers).

The Nexus speaker measures 21-1/4 inches high, 10 inches wide, and 11-1/2 inches deep. Its internally braced cabinet is made of medium-density fiberboard, and the front baffle, which has an integral molded port, is made of polypropylene. The baffle is bonded to the wooden cabinet with stuctural adhesives to form a highly rigid assembly. The drivers are mounted flush with the front of the baffle (a trim ring around the woofer rim makes a smooth transition to the baffle plane).

To reduce diffraction effects even further and minimize the possibility of rattling or vibration, Linn has done away with the conventional grille structure. Instead, the Nexus has an elastic-edged black cloth grille that simply stretches over the baffle and hugs its edges to form an attractive and acoustically transparent covering. The cloth can be removed or replaced, though not quite as easily as the usual wooden or plastic grille frame.

The Nexus has an integral stand, about 15 inches high, that places the tweeter close to ear level for a seated listener. The stand is rigidly fastened to the bottom of the speaker cabinet with two steel tie rods, and the metal upright section (through which the connecting wires can be passed) is acoustically damped with foam and plastic. Adjustable pointed mounting feet are also supplied. The speaker and stand weigh about 36 pounds. Price: $1,195 a pair.

Lab Tests

The uniformity of the room response of the Linn Nexus was outstanding. Spliced to a close-miked woofer response curve, the resulting composite frequency response was within ±2.5 dB from 57 to 20,000 Hz, impressively close to the manufacturer’s rating. The low-frequency output fell at 12 dB per octave from 90 to 20 Hz.

The system’s impedance reached its minimum of 6 ohms at about 450 Hz and remained between 6 and 7 ohms from 150 to 700 Hz. The impedance reached its maximum of 20 ohms at 73 and 20 Hz, and it varied between 6 and 16 ohms from 80 to 20,000 Hz. The sensitivity measured 86 dB SPL at 1 meter with a 2.83-volt input of pink noise. We measured bass distortion with a driving level of 4.5 volts, equivalent to a 90-dB output, and were pleasantly surprised to see how low it was. The total harmonic distortion was between 0.4 and 1 percent from 100 Hz to about 55 Hz, rising to only 5.5 percent at 25 Hz.

Quasi-anechoic FFT response measurements, on the system’s axis, showed an output variation of ±3.5 dB from 200 to 20,000 Hz. The horizontal dispersion over a 45-degree angle was reasonably good up to about 14,000 Hz, where there appeared to be a tweeter resonance. Except for a minor jog at 14,000 Hz, the group-delay variation through the tweeter range was less than 0.2 millisecond.

The Nexus showed itself able to handle considerable power input on brief peaks without damage or serious distortion. At 100 Hz the woofer cone reached the limits of its travel with a loud “crack” with an input of 670 watts into its 9-ohm impedance, but there was no audible evidence of distress until we reached that level. At 1,000 Hz the amplifier clipped at 760 watts into a 9.5-ohm impedance, and at 10,000 Hz the amplifier clipped at 940 watts into 7 ohms. In neither case was there any indication of serious nonlinearity in the speaker’s output.

Comments

The Linn Nexus demonstrated unequivocally that not all small speakers with 8-inch woofers and 1-inch tweeters sound alike. Our measurements hint at its special qualities of smooth, wide-range frequency response and very low distortion, but only listening can reveal the audible benefits of these qualities and a host of others that cannot readily be measured.

As always, we listened to the Nexus speakers for some time before making any measurements. Also as always, the first few moments of listening established their true qualities, which include a total ease and lack of strain and harshness, a balanced output across the audible spectrum, and a clean, nonboomy bass. The Nexus stood up well in comparison with some much larger and more expensive systems—in fact, it tended to sound much larger than it really is, thanks in part to its low level of bass distortion, which sets it apart from most speakers of comparable size.

When the Linn Nexus speakers arrived, I did not know their price, although I expected it to be considerable in view of Linn’s dedication to high quality regardless of cost. After I learned their price, I had to ask, “Can a pair of small two-way speakers be worth $ 1,200?” Of course, everyone must answer that question in the light of his own tastes and budget requirements. What I can say about the Nexus is that its sound is very much in line with its price. If you heard these speakers without seeing them, the price would not seem at all unreasonable.

Hear them if you can. You may find, as we did, that you can listen to the Linn Nexus system for extended periods without any urge to switch to another speaker. In fact, you may find yourself forgetting about the speakers and simply enjoying the music.

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