Many thanks for the insights here. I know what you mean about the Kabers. I have never heard a nicer sounding setup for their size, and the value per investment on the used market is very good for an Aktiv system of this caliber. You confirm my feeling that Espek Aktiv wouldn't be much of a step up from Kabers. And I really like the non-ported Kaber design.
It seems to me that the Keltik was perhaps the last of a breed of the 'hefty' Linn 2-channel golden age 'flagship' speakers. I am also partial to their monolithic industrial look. But looks aside, I have never really heard any terrible things about the Espeks either, just haven't found a local shop that has an Aktive pair to hear and compare. Both the Espeks and Keltiks seems to be a very good value on the used market, but I have a hunch that the Keltiks will become more sought after with age, as a bit of Linn history.
I will have to verify, but I believe that ANY of the Aktiv cards that would fit LK85 or LK140 amps, would also fit into the AV5125's... So given the reasonable price for AV5125's, it might be worth considering them over Klouts or even LK140's... finding 4 Klouts for a decent price isn't the easiest thing to do, and from what I have heard the AV5125 series sounds 'better' than the LK series did, but the Klout seems to be the exception. The cooler running AV5125's have an attraction, as I have had issues with LK100's overheating. (Solved with a computer ventilation fan)
Either way, it looks like pre-owned Kabers, Keltiks or Espeks all are bargains. The smaller Linn Kaber Klone offerings seem to be losing their value more quickly... A more likely problem with older Linn Speakers would be finding replacement drivers if needed. I recently had to replace a bad Kaber woofer and the dealer advised me that the supply from LINN was running out and that when they were gone, there would be no more.
It seems to me that the Keltik was perhaps the last of a breed of the 'hefty' Linn 2-channel golden age 'flagship' speakers. I am also partial to their monolithic industrial look. But looks aside, I have never really heard any terrible things about the Espeks either, just haven't found a local shop that has an Aktive pair to hear and compare. Both the Espeks and Keltiks seems to be a very good value on the used market, but I have a hunch that the Keltiks will become more sought after with age, as a bit of Linn history.
I will have to verify, but I believe that ANY of the Aktiv cards that would fit LK85 or LK140 amps, would also fit into the AV5125's... So given the reasonable price for AV5125's, it might be worth considering them over Klouts or even LK140's... finding 4 Klouts for a decent price isn't the easiest thing to do, and from what I have heard the AV5125 series sounds 'better' than the LK series did, but the Klout seems to be the exception. The cooler running AV5125's have an attraction, as I have had issues with LK100's overheating. (Solved with a computer ventilation fan)
Either way, it looks like pre-owned Kabers, Keltiks or Espeks all are bargains. The smaller Linn Kaber Klone offerings seem to be losing their value more quickly... A more likely problem with older Linn Speakers would be finding replacement drivers if needed. I recently had to replace a bad Kaber woofer and the dealer advised me that the supply from LINN was running out and that when they were gone, there would be no more.