Grills on sbl?
Posted by: graphoman on 27 January 2002
It’s just me who is that lead-eared, I wonder. Or there are other ones as well? Any advice is wellcome – supposing it does really come from an sbl-owner.
graphoman
Rico - SM/Mullet Audio
Most other companies simply don't "get" how to make good speakers...this is why most other speakers sound broken compared to SBLs, NBLs, DBLs, ect...
Chris Bell
Naim Speaker Zealot
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Allan
[This message was edited by Allan Probin on MONDAY 28 January 2002 at 00:43.]
quote:
Originally posted by Allan Probin:
I noticed that in Naim's test room (NOT dem room) the use a pair of SBLs with the grill ON over the tweeter but OFF over the mid-bass unit.Allan
hmmmm... interesting. did u get a chance to ask why? perhaps they sound more "revealing" that way. sorry, couldn't resist that...
enjoy
ken
quote:
Elswhere on this forum I was adviced to use sbl with the grills on. Benevolent the advice was, it did not convinced me because I found that I liked every possible speakers with the grills off and the sbl was no exception.
If your SBLs are more than a few years old try washing the grills. I used to run Isobariks, which used the same foam material. This stuff can hold a hell of a lot of dust - when I bought my Briks the front grills looked a very dark grey and the top ones were far lighter. After a good soak in the bath, and a couple of days drying flat (don't hang them up, they will stretch) they were back to their original black, and sounding very much more transparent too. Its definitely worth a go.
Tony.
PS Hoover your tweeters once you have the grills off!
Hifi speak can be so rude!
quote:
Be more specific about the hoovering thing there is no way I am sticking the end of a hoover over my tweeters I don't care how well they are made they will be in the bag!
Hoovers are a great and underestimated hi-fi tweak. Just be careful (normal disclaimers apply). I have a Dyson DC01, which is one of the most sucky hoovers, so if anyone's going to have a tweeter out it should by rights be me.
I just stick my finger on the tweeter mounting plate between the nozzle and the dome, just to ensure there is a good gap between the two and that they can not possibly come into contact. Practice on something else that is less tweeter like first. The results speak for themselves, it is one of those few hi-fi tweaks that leaves you in absolutely no doubt that things are better. I am convinced that the dust that lodges itself around the base of the dome has a massive adverse impact on the sound. After a good sucking the top end is very noticeably freer cleaner and more extended. It sounds like a new unit.
Tony.
PS If you think that is mad, I do my cartridge every six months or so too. It makes a hell of a difference. The Dyson comes with a great attachment for this, it’s the thin slotted one which I think is designed for sucking the gunk out from the back of your sofa.
quote:
After a good sucking the top end is very noticeably freer cleaner and more extended.
Did I hit the wrong bookmark? Which forum is this?
“I noticed that in Naim's test room (NOT dem room) they use a pair of SBLs with the grill ON over the tweeter but OFF over the mid-bass unit.” Maybe I’m not as lead-eared, am I.
(Should it mean, Allan, that you use your SBLs that way?!)
So I think the best way is to get accustomed to the grills-on-sound, then to make all the upgrades I want to... en at the end to give another try the grills-off-method as well as the hybrid solution Allan suggested.
graphoman
quote:Nope, never tried it myself. Just noted that that's the way I've seen Naim do it.
Should it mean, Allan, that you use your SBLs that way?
Allan
Well worth washing and or vacuuming your grilles.
I've also 'done' my tweeters with a Dyson (with great care).
Shock/horror - I've even done the CDS disc tray with the Dyson. Sounds better when it's clean!