SL2 v. Allae - What are the differences?

Tom, any idea why? Your comments appear consistent with others in that the Allae is a good speaker, but perhaps not special like the SL2. Does the SL2 use vastly improved drivers? What is it that makes the SL2 that much better than the Allae? And is that why the SL2 is priced at far more than double the Allae?

Still confused. MBM.

Hi, the allae is a ported speaker (the slit between the mid/bass and the tweeter cabinet acts as a port).

The SBL is an unusual sealed-speaker design in that the mid/bass driver is in a cabinet that rests on another one, the latter being used for bass loading (I suppose this reduces cabinet resonance); the draw-back was that you had to seal the interface with silicon. The SL2 is a similar design, but with a user-friendlier interface between the cabinets (it's a slit so tight ... ooh, err ... that it is effectively a sealed speaker).

Also check out some pics of a naked SL2: You'll see that the tweeter doesn't actually touch the cabinet since it's fixed on an internal arm with suspension (incidentally, I like the SL2's treble a lot). I think this tweeter arrangement, the new interface and the curved cabinet are the three factors that set the SL2 apart from the SBL.

Thomas

[This message was edited by Thomas K on TUESDAY 08 July 2003 at 22:11.]

I have had the pleasure of having the SL2's in my house for six weeks.

The strength of the SL2 is the speed, detail, transparancy and sheer musicality of the speaker. Something I have not heard in speakers costing almost twice the price.

I have to say that in my opinion the SL2 outclasses the NBl in these area's.

Where the SL2 struggles is in the Bass department. Don't get me wrong it does bass and what it does is very good, but it cannot recreate the sheer size and scale of a bigger speaker.

Comparred to the Allaes, the SL2's are considerably better. Particularly in the upper regions.

I would suggest that you get the SL2's home and listen for yourself. If you can live with the bass output, the rest is simply stunning. Well worth the asking price!

Regards

NB

Thanks for the responses. I don't doubt the SL2s are special (albeit expensive) speakers. Although a Naim CD player is my next planned upgrade (alas not until funds have been replenished), I'll try to listen to the CD player through the SL2 when I'm at my dealer so I can hear for myself what all the fuss is about. Can't say that I fully understand why the SL2 is that much more expensive than the Allae, but then again, looks aren't everything (The 552 looks a lot like a 282 on the outside).

quote:

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I've had the pleasure of having the SL2's in my house for six weeks.

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NB, I know. I can't start my day without my daily fix of "My Jaw has just hit the floor"! Best of luck in your deliberations.

MBM

Quote:-

NB, I know. I can't start my day without my daily fix of "My Jaw has just hit the floor"! Best of luck in your deliberations.
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Compulsive reading eh?

I am having a great deal of enjoyment along the way!

One final point on the SL2's, make sure you have the very best electronics. The SL2's are very revealing and will shop up any shortfall in the front end. Get them right though and you wil get many hours of enjoyable listening.


Regards

NB

Naimed-in-NY

Although at first glance they may seem similar, there are a huge number of differences between the Allae and SL2.

First of all, the drivers: the tweeter in the SL2 is the one from the DBL. The Allae has a much lower spec tweeter. The bass/mid unit in the SL2 is very closely related to the one in the Allae. However, the SL2 sets are built to higher tolerances.

2nd of all, configuration:

the Allae places its tweeter unit in the bass box with the main unit in the top box. The units are directly in line with each other in the vertical plane. The SL2 has the tweeter above the main driver on a time aligned slope, as did the SBL.

3rd of all, and possibly most importantly, construction:

The Allae benefitted in its R&D from many lessons learned from the Intro and Credo construction. However, it remains a beefed up Credo in essence. This means it's a semi-ported design, with a minimal interface between the boxes (the pips) and a certain amount of bracing in the cabinet. Box colouration is minimised by having angled side walls - a major cost is incurred by doing this and hence the extra cost over Credos.

The SL2 is a complete rethink of the SBL. It benefits from the angled side walls of the Allae, but everything else in its construction differs from the Allae. The gap between the boxes is 0.2mm (as opposed to 2mm) and this is achieved by using tiny spacers between the top and bottom box.

Of course to do this you need to have two very finely machined plates to sit on and under the spacers. On the SBL you had upward facing spikes on an internal stand in the bass box. These located the mid-box in place but also required the mastik kit to couple the two together. The fine engineering in the SL2 allows Naim to achieve much the same effect without the kit (a boon to many).

The bass box of both SBL and SL2 has a filter at the top. This filter is designed to only allow bass frequencies through so the speaker makes use of the bass bin for low frequencies, but the filter does not allow mid-range frequencies through, thus effectively sealing the midbox and achieving a much faster response from the speaker. The SL2's is a redesigned filter (and bass bin) which provides much better and deeper bass reproduction over the SBL (although that remains a stunningly good speaker in this department in my view). The Allae has no filter.

The SL2 benefits from a folding wood technology (I forget the name) that gives the nicely radiused bass box. This is not simply an aesthetically pleasing shape. It has very positive sonic impact in the bass department in terms of cabinet colouration. The SBL occasionally suffered from a very mild mid-bass colouration. This was so mild as to be almost un-noticed in many systems but it was there, and in my view this contributed a slight warmth which was beneficial in the more upfront systems of yore. The SL2's bass bin was required to be much more neutral since the newer electronics such as the 500 produce a more balanced sound. It also gives the SL2 better bass contrast than the SBL. This folding technology is very expensive indeed and the SL2 is possibly the only speaker to use it on the market (perhaps there are one or two others - not sure). Apart from the folding technology, the bass bin construction is complicated further with specially shaped bracing.

Finally, the SL2's tweeter is completely decoupled from the main speaker. The tweeter is housed in a very small mounting - it doesn't actually have a cabinet as such. This mounting is held on two poles which couple to the base of the speaker. No part of the tweeter assembly should be in contact with the main body of the speaker. The tweeter simply 'pokes through' a hole in the top box of the speaker. The base of the SL2 is suspended on a leaf spring at the back. When properly setup you should be able to tap the SL2 top box and set it oscillating. The tweeter should not move at all until the osciallation mode is slow. This is how to tell the SL2 is setup correctly.

The Allae has the tweeter directly attached to the main bass box.

I hope this summary helps understand the differences between the speakers.

Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.

[This message was edited by Frank Abela on THURSDAY 10 July 2003 at 13:05.]

And a follow-up if I may.

"The base of the SL2 is suspended on a leaf spring at the back. When properly setup you should be able to tap the SL2 top box and set it oscillating."

Is this true of the Allae as well? The Allae has a leaf spring base, but there is nothing in the instructions about being able to set it oscillating although it makes sense that it shouldn't be 'bottomed out' or otherwise defeated by the way it is set up.

"First of all, the drivers: the tweeter in the SL2 is the one from the DBL. The Allae has a much lower spec tweeter."

The Allae tweeter is the entry-level ScanSpeak I believe. I've wondered how the Allaes would sound with an up-spec'ed tweeter. Maybe when mine get shagged...

"The Allae has the tweeter directly attached to the main bass box."

Well, not exactly. It is mounted on a leaf spring to decouple it from the box.

Also, as to this slanted-baffle business, I know that it is a mantra of the phase-coherent crowd. But, honestly, does it only make a difference when the listener is at a specific height relative to the speaker (say, seated in a 'sweet spot') and not make a difference when the listener is standing up or elsewhere in the room?

- GregB

Insert Witty Signature Line Here

Frank - Thanks for taking the time to explain the differences between the SL2s and the Allaes. The differences you identified appear significant, which probably explains the large gap in price (and, it seems, performance) between the two speakers. That was exactly what I was looking for. I guess while at a superficial level the two speakers have many similarities, they are very different beasts "under the covers." Just goes to show how appearances can be deceiving. Your post really makes me want to listen to SL2s instead of going back to work

Naimed-in-NY, as they're local to you have you considered Shahinian? Over here the Arcs cost more than the SBL's did, but over there I suspect the Arcs will be better value. Same applies to the Obelisks. Both speakers work amazingly well with Naim amps.
Noel.

And what about neats....?





Regards


NB

Greg,

The Allae also has the leafsprung base. This is used to decouple the speaker cabinet from the floor, but of course it is more limited than the tweeter decoupling in the SL2. You are correct that it should not be bottomed out. The Allae benefits greatly from a having working suspension in the base. The problem is getting it just right so it's vertical and suspended when setup.

You're right about the Allae's tweeter having the sprung tweeter - I forgot about that!

Naimed-in-NY

You're welcome. I felt that that your question hadn't been answered.

NB

Facetious eh? Well, if you ask me, the Neats suck...
Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.

Noel,

I'm not sure what the Shahinians cost in the US. Since discovering this forum, I've been interested to read how Shahinian seemingly has a high profile across the pond and is particularly well regarded by many Naim users. In the US, it appears (to me at least) that Shahinians have a non-existent profile, and I don't think they have any dealers in the US. I think you have to go to the plant to hear their speakers. As tempting as the SL2 is sounding from this thread, I'm going to stick with my plan to save up for a Naim cd player and a Hi-Cap for my preamp before even thinking about speakers. However, while I'm helping to keep my Naim dealer in business, I think I'll try to get a listen to the SL2s as they sound like a great speaker judging from others' comments and experiences.

MBM

tweeter of SL" is the same of DBL it's true, but is an economic and performant Scan speak that cost about 60-70 €, the same used in ProAc, Spendor, Klimo, Sonus Faber and many more....

ciao
Simone

Frank,
you say: When properly setup you should be able to tap the SL2 top box and set it oscillating. The tweeter should not move at all until the osciallation mode is slow. This is how to tell the SL2 is setup correctly.

The cabinets of my SL2s are very exactly upright.

The tweeter suspension assembly has the same distance to the rear wall of
the lower cabinet over the whole length.

I turned out and in here a spike in very small turns.

Nevertheless, if I tap the SL2 top box and set it oscillating than the tweeter starts oscillating after aproximately a half second.

How did you set up your SL2?

Ulrich

Hmmm, similar to you. The important thing is that on the initial tap the tweeter does not move and only starts to move afterwards. This indicates that the decoupling is working correctly.

Also, Richard Dane said the following in the SL2 Setup thread:

quote:

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There is plenty of scope for adjustment with the SL2s but my advice woul be to get as close as you can to perfectly centering the tweeter (and centering the tweeeter surround plate) and getting it flush with the surround plate. Then try the top-box tap test. The tweeter should seems to move backwards and forwards a couple of times. If there is any lateral movement side to side then this is a clear indication that adjustment needs to be made at the base or the spikes are adjusted incorrectly.

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Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.