I don't like SBL's

Posted by: david needham on 20 March 2004

Hi

I've just ordered my next upgrade. Current sistem: CDX2/202/PSC/200/Flatcap2 into 15yr old Rogers LS6a2's on sand filled Target HJ15 stands.

I went to listen to an XPS2 - having been surprisingly underwhelmed when I last listened to it. I think the problem then was that I was upgrading from a CD5, and the dramatic difference between that and the CDX2 just blew me away Big Grin . I guess that for similar money I was expecting a similar earth-shattering difference when I added on the XPS2. This time however, I couldn't belive how wrong I'd been. Having had a few months to get used to what the CDX2 could do, I was aware of certain shortcomings, particularly with very complex music. The XPS2 sorted all those issues out, to the extent that when I went back to listening to the same piece of music without the XPS2, I couldn't quite accept how much I didn't like the bare CDX2 Confused . Do NOT do this dem if you can't afford the upgrade - it'll really p**s you off!

Next however we got on to talking about my speakers and the fact that £5K of CD player into £500 of speaker may not be the most balanced sistem, and I might be limiting what I could get out of upgrades with my old faithful Rogers. So we hooked up a pair of SBL's to see what that famous Naim synergy could do. BLEAUGH!! I couldn't belive what I was (wasn't) hearing. I'd not heard SBL's before and admittedly my expectation were high from reading about them on the forum. But these made the music flat lifeless and one dimensional. In fact they didn't make music at all. All the "grunt" had gone from the sound. OK so there was a definate improvement in clarity and separation of instruments, but I hated everything else about them.

As I couldn't afford a full blown speaker upgrade on top of the XPS2, I didn't start listening to lots of alternatives (the SBL's were £695 second hand). However I did briefly listen to a pair of Shahinian Compass's, and they were much more what I was looking for. Perhaps they're the way to go when I've saved up some more pennies Razz .

So what a surprise - "source first" wins out again over "balanced sistem".

David
Posted on: 28 March 2004 by Laurie Saunders
quote:
Only get them home on trial if you are seriously prepared to spend your money. They sound wonderful no matter what type of music you listen to!


that`s the problem....I`ve no doubt that if I fell in love with them, fiscal "good sense" would go out the window, and I might not be able to help myself...it happened when I had not long had an 82, and plugged a friend`s 52 into my system. It took all of 5 seconds to decide I desperately wanted one...to hell with the cost

Mr Tibbs

quote:
What about the 'statement' speakers you talked about building? Or do you think it's not possible to design and build a speaker at home, capable of mixing it with the elite?


It IS possible...whether for me is a another matter....perhaps I need some reassurance and guidance on this score. Any contributions here warmly accepted

quote:
So we are discussing a £9000 pair of speakers (Neats) in a thread about a £2500 speaker (SBLs).


How things develop.

Hope your rewire goes well Tom

Laurie S
Posted on: 28 March 2004 by Alex S.
James, it was the prospect of taking MF9s with me that had me worried, not the journey itself.

Mr Tibbs, following James's 1:7 rule - ie retail price tends to be about 7 times more than the cost to make - wouldn't the Ergo 3's cost about the same as MF9s retail? Perhaps James would also like to clarify. . .
Posted on: 28 March 2004 by Mr.Tibbs
"However, I'm not sure that our labour charges would be a whole lot less. We are talking about a hand-rubbed oil-finish, y'know."

They are labour intensive to build, that's for sure. Eek

Mr Tibbs
Posted on: 28 March 2004 by Laurie Saunders
quote:
Got in extra haggis, blackpudding & sausages for breakfast



wish I could have come with

Would be nice if you could send a sample back

Laurie S
Posted on: 28 March 2004 by Laurie Saunders
quote:
They are labour intensive to build, that's for sure


I`m only too well aware of this.
As I indicated some time ago, finding the time is the real issue for me

Laurie S
Posted on: 11 April 2004 by andy c
Ok yesterday done the full gasket re fit including the aluminium pads (right pain). Also reset the mana sb1's so as to perfectly level and also installed the gaskets exactly as per the supplied instructions, including siting thebass box before putting thebass unit theron.
Boy those boxes are heavy, but now they don't move an inch.

Result,
well a general tightening up of the sound and increased bass with no reduction in clarity.

Thanks to Tom Alves for his help in this by the way!

andy c!
Posted on: 12 April 2004 by andy c
quote:
Does this mean yo like the SBLs now? Hope so!


Was this one directed at me?
If so the answer has always been yes. The only problem I have at the moment is they do sound a little bright. But I have listened to them powered by a 250II and that cured it so you can get what the next upgrade will be (unless a supercap sounds better in my system).

andy c!
Posted on: 12 April 2004 by Dev B
quote:
Originally posted by andy c:
quote:
Does this mean yo like the SBLs now? Hope so!


Was this one directed at me?
If so the answer has always been yes. The only problem I have at the moment is they do sound a little bright. But I have listened to them powered by a 250II and that cured it so you can get what the next upgrade will be (unless a supercap sounds better in my system).

andy c!


Dear Andy,

I am a big fan of the new 250 Mk2 and I am sure it will work well, try the supercap also though. When I used Mana soundbases it made my system a little bright - but you also have a TV in between (and set forward?) of your speakers which won't help either - but every room is different, so the results I have achieved may not work with you.

Dev
Posted on: 12 April 2004 by andy c
Hi Dev,
As part of the gasket refit I tried the sbl's without the Mana. The sound lost focus and snap without the bases so they went straight back in.

With the addition of the mains and the Fraim I feel that after the summer either a supercap or 250II will be next. I'll do the usual and borrow both.

I just think now its time for the 250.... when planning permission is granted from my missus LOL

The Tv actually sits slightly back from the sbl's, but its a compromise i agree. I have thought about a plasma due to the lack of cabinet size. I'll explore that option sometime.

regards,
andy c!

andy c!