Rack effects on aktiv equipment

I do not know much about the wiring of the Ninkas, but have you checked to see if "jumpers"? on the speakers are set correctly? I would be suspicious of my dealer's ethics or intelligence if they suggested a new rack to solve your problem. I think the notion is ridiculous. BTW, I have heard a Linn rig including the 85s and Ninkas with the electrionics resting on a Quadraspire MDF rack, and there wasn't a problem with the midrange (or anything other range). Good luck.

I have heard a rack produce DRASTIC effects on what you heard. However, if it isn't doing it in passive mode, it isn't going to do it in active mode. My guess is that something is wrong in the active crossover section. The slopes may not be adjusted correctly, the hinge frequencies not be summed properly, etc... I would check into it, as my experience is that a well set up active crossover / multi-amped system is FAR superior to any passive crossover system. Sean
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linn aktiv cards *do* require break-in. might just give it a while.

I have an Linn Keilidh/LK140 system that I went aktiv with after the first 6 months. During the switch to aktiv I had all of the components stacked up on top of one another on the floor. When I switched to aktiv there was a noticeable improvement in sound; musicality, detail, transparency, tonal balance etc. I recently built a baltic birch cube of the same proportions as the footprint of the linn components that now serves as the base for the stack (2 near-perfect cubes on top of one another - the wood cube and the four Linn boxes which visually form a cube when stacked). This is mainly for aesthetic reasons - and to get to get the gear up off of the floor away from dust. I have heard my system set up in a showroom on an expensive rack (I don't know which brand). My system sounded better at home stacked up on the floor than it did in the showroom because my room is acoustically superior. When I put the components on the cube they looked better but there was little or no effect on the sound. When I first installed the new aktiv cards I think it did sound a little bright and etched at first - but it soon smoothed out - I guess it needed to break in because now it sounds excellent. In short, my experience would suggest that this 'Rack effect' that you speak of may in actuality be more of a 'crack effect' - did you ask your dealer if he does crack?