Are Linn Tukans a bit on the bright side?

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.

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

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.

You will find that the amp in the Majik doesn't go very low in the base. Although biamping gives more punch, the overall frequency response suffers. In my opinion the sound is much better when using the Lk series amps by themselves. They are way better than the amp in the Majik.

Hello,
I have had a pair of Tukans and it must be the cabling that affects them because I had the opposite problem, not enough!

LINN can definitely sound a little live on the top. I just went active with my Ninkas, Genki source too, Majik as pre. Auditioned the latest Tukans with my Majik and thought they were a bit scratchy [AMC CD6 front at the time].

If you are using the LK as treble, there is a tweeter adjustment from the card that is accessible from the back panel of the amp. It is a little white dial. If you are adventurous, you can play with it.

I had Tara jumpers on my Majik when using it as an integrated. I replaced the Tara with LINN standard interconnects for a little while before adding the LK85s I aquired, and was blown away by the difference. The highs softened a little too.

I'm using Linn K400 wire and Linn analogue interconnects. The room isn't a padded cell, but it has a floor rug and is lined with books. Cable and interconnect upgrade suggestions welcome (within reason)!

Tukans CAN sound 'tin' in bright room, and it is interesting that nobody mentioned or asked about source component? If good analog or Linn's own Mimik or even better Karik CDP was used i believe that would alienate most of the problems. So, evaluate your room first, then source.

They sounded bright and a little dry when I heard them. I only listened to them once in an all Linn system.

I have an all Linn system including Tukans and I have used the Linn standard analogue interconnect as well as the Audioquest Python and Anaconda and found them all to be on the bright side. I found the Tara Labs Air series, especially the Air 1, work the best for me and helped with the brightness issue.

I'm listening to a pair right now in my office and yes they are bright

Tukans are a bit bright, especially if you are used to a larger speaker. There is a tweeter adjustment (made by dealer). I would suggest room treatment first, ie. something on the side walls and on the wall behind listening spot.

Tukans, as well as all Linn speakers, always struck me as bright. I believe that the Tukans do have an internal tweeter attenuator. Good luck.