How many pairs of SL2s were made?
Posted by: hungryhalibut on 07 October 2015
I wonder if Naim would say how may pairs of SL2s were made? I remember reading that only 250 or so pairs of NBLs were made, which seems an incredibly small number. The SL2 was smaller and cheaper so I imagine that a lot more than 250 were made, though you rarely see them up for sale, unlike SBLs, of which there are clearly many more around.
OK, let's count... There are yours, mine, Chris's...
Hmmm... I'm up to 9 pairs so far.
But seriously, I'm sure if you contact Steve Hopkins and ask he could delve into the production logs and come up with a number
Thanks Richard. I've dropped Steve a line and will report back.
OK, let's count... There are yours, mine, Chris's...
Hmmm... I'm up to 9 pairs so far.
But seriously, I'm sure if you contact Steve Hopkins and ask he could delve into the production logs and come up with a number
don't forget mine Richard... ![]()
enjoy
ken
I counted yours Ken...
Regards,
Willy.
I wonder if Naim would say how may pairs of SL2s were made? I remember reading that only 250 or so pairs of NBLs were made, which seems an incredibly small number. The SL2 was smaller and cheaper so I imagine that a lot more than 250 were made, though you rarely see them up for sale, unlike SBLs, of which there are clearly many more around.
I thought I recalled reading that just under 200 pairs of NBLs were made? Perhaps Naim can confirm!
Either way, goes to show why they don't come up very often?
Eleven with mine + another cherry couple my dealer has for sale.
Regards
Roberto
Excellent, we're into double figures.
More than I thought then...
These comments, humorous though they may be, certainly explain why you never see them in the U.S. SL2's are one speaker I always wanted to hear......................well and maybe a pair of DBL's. No such luck.
Same here Clay.
Clay, I think the problem for the SL2 in the US was that they really needed solid walls (and ideally solid floors) to work properly. While this is a construction that's relatively commonplace in the UK (thank you Victorians), in the US wooden construction and stud/cavity walls are mostly what you get. As such a speaker like the SL2 just wouldn't work properly. Hopefully, if Chris West is reading he can chip in with more insight as to the SL2 in the USA...
Well, the rosewood pair sitting in his living room sounded pretty good to me ! Chris's pair are the only ones I have ever heard outside of a fleeting listen at ProMusica a long time ago...
ATB,
Mark
Bit confused here... The SL2 replaced the SBL.....? Or was different..?
I can find them listed at around £5k, when they were current - so they were not 'cheap'.
Eleven with mine + another cherry couple my dealer has for sale.
Regards
Roberto
12. ![]()
I wonder how many happy SBL/SL2 owners successfully transferred into Ovator ownership...
Very, very different ways to do speakers and to enjoy music.
I can find them listed at around £5k, when they were current - so they were not 'cheap'.
I recall them topping £6,000 before they were discontinued - but regularly being availble ex-dem at a significant reduction
I wonder how many happy SBL/SL2 owners successfully transferred into Ovator ownership...
Very, very different ways to do speakers and to enjoy music.
I chose not to but found the S400s not unpleasant
HH, going back to your original question, I suspect that regardless of the number produced, the reason there are so few pairs on the market is that there really is no realistic alternative. They are almost perfect for those who need close to wall placement especially in small to medium sized rooms. Their only disadvantage is how to move them without being an expert.
It would take something truly exceptional to induce me to want to part with mine.
I don't disagree, I'm just intrigued to know how many were made. I'm glad in hindsight that I sold my first (cherry) pair all those years ago, as the new maple ones look so much nicer in my room.
+1 for maple! If we get a #total, maybe we should go for a wood analysis ?!!
I'm hoping for a reply from Simon soon. I bet cherry was the biggest seller, and from memory the other colours were maple, rosewood and goth black.
+1

I can find them listed at around £5k, when they were current - so they were not 'cheap'.
I recall them topping £6,000 before they were discontinued - but regularly being availble ex-dem at a significant reduction
Thanks. From 1st April 2009, they were £6,020. There had gone, from the 2010 price list.
So-o.... Are the SL2's related to the Sibyl's.....? @ekfc63's pic suggests not - directly, as the drivers are in the same box. The SBL's are 3 separate boxes, I think.
The SL2 is the descendent of the SBL. The bass box is separated from the lower box by three thin spacers, giving a gap of about 2mm, which replicates the gap in the SBL. The tweeter is not actually in the bass box, though it looks like it is. The top part of the box, where the tweeter sits, is actually empty - the tweeter sits at the end of an arm that is connected to the metal stand at the bottom. The main speaker sits on a leaf spring which allows it to oscillate, but when it does so, the tweeter is unaffected. It's a rather more sophisticated arrangement than the SBL, and is somewhat tricky to set up, even without the need for a tube of sealant!
Ah. Thanks, was what I thought - that the SL2 was related to the SBL, but wasn't sure. Having Google'd them, I understand the construction now. Better looking than the SBL and more modern too. Hmm..... Wonder how much they currently go for....... ![]()
Yes, they are definetely tricky to level and sorting the tweeter.
For the record i just collected a few spares from my local service centre, they were pretty embarassed
telling me the price of the pin spacers @ 10 GBP each.
Regards
Roberto