Out of curiosity, does SBL stand for 'Single Box Loudspeaker' or 'Separate Box Loudspeaker"? (I happen to own a pair.)
Does NBL stand for 'No Box Loudspeaker' or 'Nested Box Loudspeaker"? (I may aspire to a pair one day.)
Do Naim suggest a minimum amplifier (eg 180 or 250) for powering SBLs? If so, what is it?
N.B. The above three questions are intended to prompt an answer, rather than a debate!!
Now, one other question:
My new CDS2 arrived the week before Christmas and sounded great 2 hours out of the box. Since then, it has averaged about 5-6 hours playing per day (and always remains switched on). However, I have not noticed a significant change in sonic quality over this three weeks or so. Could it infact be run-in already, or is it suddenly going to deliver me 'more music'? I am not expressing concern - just interested in other people's running-in experiences with CDS2s.
Cheers,
Rob
PS My system = CDS2, 52, 250, SBLs (with dedicated mains and spur, plus 'Soundstyle' tripod).
Posted on: 09 January 2001 by Paul Stephenson
SBLr 'Separate Box Loudspeaker"
NBL 'Nested Box Loudspeaker"
Do Naim suggest a minimum amplifier (eg 180 or 250) for powering SBLs?.
150 should be fine, but source fisrt!
Posted on: 09 January 2001 by Martin M
Decoupled Box Loudspeaker.
Trevor, how are you getting along with the DBLs (they were mentioned in your old profile) I'm going to make the same move soon.
Any advice other than buy the wife some flowers when they arrive?
Posted on: 10 January 2001 by Martin M
Thank you Trevor. I've got 135s.
How big is the room you've got the DBLs? I found that I needed a fair distance away from the speakers for the sound to coalesce when I demmed them. BTW I much prefered 135s/DBLs to 500/NBL. Maybe I'm weird or deaf, I don't know. I liked the scale of DBLS sound. Which dealer did you buy off. I live by Fareham but most dealers in the area looked at me as if were mad when I mentioned DBLs and tried to steer me in the direction of some other rather dull products.
Posted on: 10 January 2001 by Andy S
quote:
Any advice other than buy the wife some flowers when they arrive?
Take a couple of days off to rediscover your vinyl/CD collection again :-)
I upgraded from SBLs to DBLs (with a 250) and was gobsmacked at how much better the system was. It was just like when I got my first Naim kit, several hours of playing track after track - just to see how it sounded.
quote:
I do not know what amps you are using, I am using a 250.The scale and weight of the sound is superb, but a 250 is a good place to start.
I started with a 250 but about 9 months into my "affair", I had some cash burning a hole in my pocket. I demmed a CDS2 vs my CDS1 and 2x135s vs my 250. Even after a week of warming up, the 2x135s was CLEARLY the better option over the CDS2. The 250 sounds dull and uncontrolled, especially in the bass department, in comparison to the 135s. The 250 doesn't have enough grunt (or could be separation) to keep the bass lines clear without the treble becoming a little overpowering (as you describe).
quote:
BTW I much prefered 135s/DBLs to 500/NBL. Maybe I'm weird or deaf, I don't know. I liked the scale of DBLS sound.
Same for me every time I hear NBLs (with or without 500s). I have always preferred my DBLs (even with the 250...).
Andy
Posted on: 10 January 2001 by Andy S
quote:
Thanks very much for your input regarding DBL's. I know my amp is the very weak link in my system, but I was interested to hear you prefer
135/DBL to 500/NBL.Can you be a bit more specific as I have very little listening time with the 500.
I've never demmed a 500/NBL system seriously in my own home but I have heard them on at least 3 occasions (once 6x135s, twice 1x500) and they have always struck me as very hi-fi. For me, they sound like a fairly full range hi-fi speaker but they have consistently failed to deliver that elusive magic that the DBLs can do (when I first heard DBLs, I KNEW I was listening to something special...). For me, this takes about 10 seconds every time I hear them.
Having heard CDS2/52/500/DBL a few minutes before CDS2/52/500/NBL, I am pretty confident that for me, DBLs are the way to go, even with lesser amps.
Of course 500/DBL is something pretty special ;-)
And
Posted on: 10 January 2001 by Andrew Randle
Andy,
Will you be joining Trevor, me and Jonathan Ribee on the front row at Bristol then?
Andrew
Andrew Randle
2B || !2B;
4 ^ = ?;
Posted on: 10 January 2001 by Andrew Randle
Andy,
I'm going Saturday. Probably arrive at the show just after lunch. A colleague is travelling with me and taking his daughter to check out Bristol (he's interested in the show and she may be checking out Bristol University).
Best do the university first or we may never get round to seeing it.
Andrew
Andrew Randle
2B || !2B;
4 ^ = ?;
