SBL Set-up

Posted by: Larry on 13 August 2001

Can anyone give me the low-down on setting up a pair of the above.
I bought them new about 5 years ago, with the upgraded bass driver and run them with 72-hiCap-180/LP12-basik-K9/Sony 339ES CD player! (purchased before any naim stuff hit the shops).
The speakers were installed by the dealer, but I've always been disappointed by the assymetrical set-up. (Less than perfectly "square"). Armed with enough info, I might be tempted to start from scratch, Do the little pads that receive the spikes need to be replaced? They will already have indents in them from first set-up.
Thanks in advance
Larry
Posted on: 13 August 2001 by Rico
Oh wow - I have rarely met anyone else with experience of these Sony CD players with the teutonic build-quality and saphire bearings. I have a Sony CD-P338ESd back in storage. I'll bet your LP12 trounces it, eh? Still, great excercise for the back-muscles when one has occasion to lift the damned thing!

Sorry to not expound the full detail of SBL setup black art here - but there is none. SBL setup can be readily acheived with a modicum of patience and some attendtion to the details. If you try the patent search bicycle, you should find some recent threads dedicated to setting up your SBL's - I'd recommend that rather than regurgitating the lot again.

If Dev and I come up with some breakthrough gems in the next couple of weeks, we'll ensure they appear here.

In answer to your question, pads are included in the gasket kit - not everyone replaces them, as can depend on condition of the existing pads. Those subscribing to the "if a jobs worth doing, worth doing well" school, will likely replace every time...

Rico - let them eat Kans... the girlie wusses.

Posted on: 13 August 2001 by JohnS
Actually that's a lie, I watched closely and with interest as my dealer set up my s/h SBLs for me. He replaced the pads (included in the $25 gasket set), that part seemed fairly straightforward. The hard bit appeared to be getting the boxes all lined up just so, prior to pressing down on the bass unit to dent the pads. Also, it seemed tricky getting just the right amount of sealant on the gasket and then getting everything back in place without smearing silicon everywhere or running out of time.

My dealer made the whole process look relatively easy but I was still glad I didn't have to do it. After all, he's a professional, that's what he does.

Cheers

John

Posted on: 14 August 2001 by woodface
I believe the main factor in sbl set up is actually ensuring that the base is secured to the floor via its spikes (ie it does not wobble)and that the each unit is secured correctly with the relevant spacing etc. The actual gap between the top and middle box does not have to be dead level it just has to be a certain thickness. This is determined by the 'set up gig' which is actually a piece of cardboard! You will never get the gaps 100% even and will drive your self mad to do so! Do they still sound good - if so what's the problem?