SL2s, anyone had a proper demo yet?

Dunno what a "proper dem" is - I have listened to them though.

I've listened to them many times over a few weeks. here's a quote from an e-mail I sent to a fellow forum contributor, which might help...

"the SL2's are like the SBLs in that they are very uncoloured.
Thats about it. Take *every* strength of the SBL's and multiply it by about
4.6 and you have the SL2. Seriously, seriously good. "

OK so I was listening with 552 and 500 (the 500 I know pretty well). Made allowances for the 552. The SL-2 is great listening - and it looks like great furniture to boot!

Rico - SM/Mullet Audio

It's very pretty indeed. I don't know if it's bigger than the SBL, as the review I read didn't give any measurements, but it's the best looking speaker I've seen in a while. I wonder what the mighty DBL would look like with similar curvacious treatment.

Mickey.

and compared them to my SBL's.

They are a bigger, better sounding, more sophisticated SBL, with a less 'peaky' tonal balance.

I don't like the appearance personally. The 'tall' foam front detracts from the beautiful curved top.

Are they worth £5,000?

That's up to you.

I've seen a pair at a dealer's shop but didn't hear them. I must say that they do look odd with the oversized foam grille and I also agree that it spoils the overall shape of the speaker. Lovely finish though.

Phil Craddock

John

Easily the best speaker I've ever heard in my limited experience.

Then again the fraimed CDS2/552/500 front end was the best system I've ever heard........I certainly enjoyed it a lot more than the CDS2, 52, 3x500, DBL system on Mana I heard a year or so back.

Jay

Yabba, dabba, doooooo

They are talking about...yes even I have to buy them, I think I can say in a qualified way (ie I have qualifications) that the SBL's which I have owned since 1989 are now for sale...... Does that tell you any thing???

Chris.

quote:

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They are talking about...yes even I have to buy them, I think I can say in a qualified way (ie I have qualifications) that the SBL's which I have owned since 1989 are now for sale...... Does that tell you any thing???

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Ahh...yes...but you would say that wouldn't you. You with the LP12, 52, 500.......hmmmm.....OK, I'll get my coat

Jay

Yabba, dabba, doooooo

quote:

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Originally posted by JPO:
Well, I hope they are good because yesterday I went to my dealer and ordered a pair without listening to them! Talk about trust to your supplier (NAIM).

Seriously, I think its amazing that they (NAIM)built a reputation so strong that their loyal customers buy their costly products without testing them. I take my hat of for them!

I think I will have them in a couple of weeks, will give you a full description about the sound.

JPO

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I doubt you'll be dissapointed. I had SBLs for a couple of years prior to upgrading to NBLs. The NBLs were aesthetically too big for the living room - but I had grand plans for a seperate listening room. It turned out this wasn't possible, so the NBLs had to go. I now have SL2s, and I have to say I'm ecstatic with the results. The story is a little complicated as the transition from NBL to SL2 was accompanied by 250 -> 135s and CDX/XPS -> CDS2. so I can't give a balanced comparision of SL2 to either NBL or SBL, but suffice to say this is the first system I've had in place which I really have no desire to upgrade for quite some time (never say never ~;-) ).

I did however (prior to home deming the SL2) compare SBL to SL2 on the end of CDS2/52/135s at my dealer. My expectation was that the differecne would be too little to justify the price, and I fully exepected to be going back to SBLs (which I loved). However, the SL2s are better in three key ways :

1/Treble qaulity is streets ahead.
2/Overall balance at ALL meaningful volume levels is better. This is important when you have to consider neighbours or children asleep upstairs ! Generally the SL2s in this system just sound "right".
3/Imaging is way better. This may or may not appeal depending on how flat your earth is, but I do place some value here.

BTW - to whoever asked - they're bigger than SBLs, particularly in height, but don't take up significantly more floor space from what I remember (sorry don't have exact measure to hand).

but it isn't a fair comparison because the SL2 is significantly bigger than the SBL. The challenge is to match or better the SBL with the same size or smaller speaker. Now that would be worth the money.

quote:

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Originally posted by Michael Dale:
I wonder what the mighty DBL would look like with similar curvacious treatment.

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Wonder no more, but don't puke on the carpet...



For the record, I think the SL2 looks great. Not as nice as the DBL of course, but still great.

Best;

Mark

(an imperfect
forum environment is
better than none)

Because of the interaction between speakers and listening room, the only worthwhile dem would be extended listening at home with the speakers spiked and settled down. How practical is that, and how many different pairs would you try?
I doubt if many (any?) dealers are offerering home-dem SL2s yet anyway.
Give the guy a break.

quote:

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Originally posted by Rockingdoc:
... I doubt if many (any?) dealers are offerering home-dem SL2s yet anyway.

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As I mentioned above, mine (Audio-T, Reading) did. From Saturday morning to Tuesday morning !

quote:

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I actually ordered a pair of 5000 GBP speakers without even listening to them

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A very ill-advised strategy no matter which manufacturer made the speakers. Same applies for nearly everything in hifi - try before you buy...

Hope it works out for you, I really do...

TC '..'
"Girl, you thought he was a man, but he was a Muffin..."

...good move mate.

You will end up with a great system and you didn't have to faffle around for months listening to this then that at various dealers or carting speakers to and fro your place to hear them.

Well done - buy 'em, enjoy 'em, end of story.

- GregB

Insert Witty Signature Line Here

Am looking forward to hearing the SL2. If they sound as good as they look then they will be very impressive. I am also looking forward to hearing the new NAP 300. Even better a pair of SL2's on the end of the NAP 300.

I can feel myself drooling already!!

Regards

NB

I'm looking forward to tomorrow (Weds) when Derek from NAF in Loughborough arrives with the SL2's for me to hear at home!

I currently have:
LP12Lingo/Ittok + CDI/82/Supercap/2X250/SBL
There's a few other hi caps and a 140 involved somewhere for the dining room, study and hall - but I can't remember what does what etc. I tend to listen to it rather than remember what box is which.....

and I can't wait to give the SL2's a proper listening to.

I am so pleased with my SBL's which I've had from new since 1989 (now with upgraded drivers)that I find it hard to believe that the SL2's will be significantly better.

If I genuinely find them to excel, then I will buy some.

So, home demo - not sure how long I'll have the pleasure or if it's just for the day! I'm sure Derek told me but I probably wondered off into "dream mode" thinking about it!

I'll try and let you know my own experiences and what I think - full review coming!

Computers are supposed to work on 1's and 0's - in other words "Yes" or "No" - why does mine frequently say "Maybe"?......

Blythe,
You will be amazed, try them passive first and active after. Even passive they beat active SBL on all fronts (with 250's, I didn't compare active with other amps). They are easy to drive and more efficient than other Naim 2 way speakers. A single 250 is Ok for them.


Vincent,
Naxo and Snaxo 2/4 are the same for all Naim 2 way speakers including the SL2.
For the passive unit, i'm not sure; Ask Naim.

Emmanuel

All opinions are my own, and reflect those of the organisation i work for, even if not stipulated.

blythe

I too look forward to your findings. Out of curiosity what led you did you particularly target the SBLs for upgrade rather than 82-52/CDI-CDS/Ittok-Aro/LP12-W.Tempered ? As an SBL user I am also interested in which other speakers are on your shortlist

PS I note you a having a new DV fitted today, which one are you going for?

Good question - the SBL's were targeted purely due to asthetics - my other half commented that the SBL's "look a bit old fashioned" - well I suppose the slanted front is a bit 80's..........

That's the main reason - I really wasn't planning to upgrade anything.

I rarely listen to vinyl these days, so to spend a lot on an ARO or whatever isn't really worthwhile for me.

I can't remember which Dynavector it is (it wasn't fitted today - probably next week when the SL2's are removed from my home :-( but I think it's about £250?

When I bought the CDI it was 2nd best in the Naim line up, so I reckon still pretty good now.....

Anyway, the bottom line is, the looks of the SL2 are so much better than the SBL in my opinion - I just hope my other half agrees :-)

Computers are supposed to work on 1's and 0's - in other words "Yes" or "No" - why does mine frequently say "Maybe"?......

[This message was edited by blythe on WEDNESDAY 09 October 2002 at 16:47.]

Sorry, I forgot the shortlist part:

To be honest, I haven't thought too much about others yet.
What other active 2-way speakers could I use and should I listen to? I don't want to ditch the crossover and a 250 just yet!

The SL2's were set up immediately as active, so I haven't heard them passive execept at the shop when I first heard them. They were VERY new then.

First impressions:
The detail and smoothness is astounding. I always found the SBL brilliant but it's as though the cotton wool has been removed from my ears!

Also, I'm thinking the bass seems a little on the light side, but I'm hoping that running them for a few hours will run them in a bit more - I doubt they've actually had much use even though they have been demoed in the shop for a couple of weeks - not continuously of course. The SBL's at 9-10 O-Clock would seriously generate a wonderful bass, nice mid range and highs etc. The SL2's so far don't seem to do quite the same.
At 11.00 O-Clock (VERY LOUD) they do create a decent bass - but I don't honestly listen at that level very often.......... (The term 'earthquake' comes to mind)

Tim McGraw's "Set This Circus Down" is a great mixture of styles some with heavy electric guitars, slide guitars, piano, light ballads etc. and is beautifully presented, but, so far, except at VERY loud levels, is missing something. As I say, I leave them running and have a "proper" go tomorrow :-)

My listening room is quite large (about 25 feet by 25 feet) with the "listening chairs" not against a boundary, probably about 5 feet in.

So, I'm going to leave the tuner on and the amp turned up at about 9-O-Clock position and I'll just leave them running for another 24 hours before I seriously listen to them.

Lucky I don't have near neighbours!

Computers are supposed to work on 1's and 0's - in other words "Yes" or "No" - why does mine frequently say "Maybe"?......

Very interesting - thanks for the update, keep us informed.

Re: bass lightness - does the SNAXO perhaps need a slight tweak?

Re CD players: bearing in mind you listen mostly to CD it would be very interesting to see how a CDS2 performs in your system, twist Dereks arm for a loan of his

PS Know what you mean about the SBLs aesthetics

Having been out for part of the afternoon and all evening, getting home at 11.00 pm, and having left the tuner on all day at volume 9-0-clock, I have just played a variety of music including all or parts of:
Annie Lennox - Diva
Earth Wind and Fire - I am
Michael Jackson - Thriller
Talk Talk - Best Of
Lonestar - Lonely Grill
Tim McGraw - Set This Circus Down
Stereo MC's - Deep Down and Dirty
Vagner - (can't spell the name of the part of Tristan and Isolde - something like "Mild un Louise")
Travis - (the one with "Sing on it" - I forget the title off hand)
Thomas Dolby - Aliens Ate My Buick
Tim McGraw - Place in The Sun
The Borderers - Inspired!
Michael Peterson - Michael Peterson
Brooks and Dunn - Steers and Stripes
Pink Floyd - The Wall

First off, the bass seems to have improved immensely after the extra running in -- leaving them on all day.

Annie Lennox was simply breathtaking - the detail, the clarity - awesome.

Wanna Be Starting something (Jackson) really did start something! "Thriller" was gobsmacking. "Beat it" was staggering. "PYT" was when I realsised that I was so wrong about my earlier comment about the bass.

Lonestar had shivers down my spine during "Amazed" and the same happened BIG time with Tim McGraws "Please Remember Me".

I have NEVER listened at the 12-o-clock position on my 82 before but "Comfortably Numb" had me totally numb when I did.... It all just sounded so effortless and involving that I never realised just how loud I had turned up the dial! It was a near religious experience!

Stereos MC's were deep down and dirty, with a really good balance of sound with all their usual complex "bits" showing through.

Travis - this is actually the first CD I played tonight and was immediately impressed by the improvement in bass compared to lunch time when the SL2's were first installed. Travis really have some great songs and the bass lines always interesting with nice guitar parts, some acoustic etc. - very enjoyable.

Below 9-o-clock volume setting, as with most high end systems that I've heard, they do still sound a bit light weight. That all changes as you turn 'em up a bit. (SBL's are the same IMHO)

Overall, I could stay up all night listening. Instead, I've left the tuner on again with the volume at 9-o-clock so I can listen to them properly again tomorrow.

I don't really know about technical descriptions but the "stereo" is noticeably better than the SBL's and at ridiculous volume levels, the SL2's just keep the music flowing so well. Very involving - I can't wait to listen some more in the morning.

I am lucky to have the SL2's until early next week and based on what I've heard so far, I already have my hand in my pocket.... I will certainly consider a pair - unless you can suggest something else that will blow me away!

The active Naim crossover is the same one used on my SBL's and Derek (NAF Loughborough) did "tweak" it to better suit the SL2's.

I'm using NACA5 cable.

Summing up, I am VERY impressed.



By the way, re: Derek lending me a CDS2, are you trying to bankrupt me?

Computers are supposed to work on 1's and 0's - in other words "Yes" or "No" - why does mine frequently say "Maybe"?......

Bass light, NO.
They shouldn't. Agree with Bass, let them run-in, and try them passive, it will give you a hint of the balance (low/high). You will see if an adjustment is needed on the SNAXO.
For placement: very close to the wall, as close as possible; 7 feet apart.
The 3 little points of each PIP should be upward pointing: bass is lighter the other way. They should be perfectly leveled before installing the head.
We had a demo last week (passive with all new preamps and amplifiers), 25 people, no one complains about the bass.

Emmanuel

All opinions are my own, and reflect those of the organisation i work for, even if not stipulated.

Don't touch the setting in the snaxo. Let the bugger settle for about 5 days or so. The bass should be great after that. Mine does. Also, it is almost impossible to get back the factory setting by yourself.

david

I'm interested in the bass aspect of their performance - I've heard them a couple of times in less than ideal surroundings and this was my one reservation.

On "Deep Down & Dirty", do they growl?

Cheers

Dave