Are Linn Tukans a bit on the bright side?

IMHO, all the Linn speakers I've heard demonstrate this trait. Interestingly, I've found that bi and tri amping seemed to help with this issue. Are you using an active cross-over? I have a friend who uses Tara cables to good effect with Linn speakers. In as much as the Tara's helped he still resorts to using a thin sheet of tissue over the tweeters to make them less hot. Crude but effective. What ever negatives this approach has, seems to be worth the trade off to him.

That is the double-edged sword when gaining detail and resolution...recordings,equipment, and cables are very important in "revealing" speakers such as the Linns...I am in the same boat...and probably will go tube power to "smooth" out the top end of my new Quads...however...it is much easier to make a unforgiving speaker a more forgiving one...instead of the other way around...good luck

The Tukans are very lively and unforgiving on top. Set up is also tricky and must be spot on to give it's best, but when you get them right they are pure magic. The standard Linn analogue black cable is wonderfully neutral and lacking in sonic signature, however there is one trick. In stock factory form this cable can be just a bit edgey in the upper midrange which is often heard as high end brightness. The cure is simple. Go to the hardware store and buy a roll of teflon plumbers thread tape. Unscrew the barrel cover on the RCA connector and pull back away from the plug. Cut a piece of tape about 18" long and carefully wrap it around the threads and any exposed connection surfaces. Wrap everyting back to the uncut portion of the cable. Wrap the threads four to six times and the rest three to four, Carefully screw the barrel back on over the now tape covered threads. This may take a bit of practice, but the tape is cheap and the results are profound. The smoothest, most neutral cable I have heard on Linn equipment. Good luck.