Credos to Sl2?

I suspect you'll LOVE the SL2's with their simply STUNNING musical presentation and sublime treble and vocal presentation.
The SBL's are a notch up from Credos and the SL2 will take it further still.
I've only ever heard them on the end of Olive amps, so know you'll not be disappointed!

I have SL2s on the end of my 52 & 135s. Well detailed and musical  sound on all types of music I listen to. Be aware, they do require careful set up, sound does vary, particularly the bass with different rooms (I moved house whilst owning them) but playing around with room furniture/acoustics does bring rewards. I’ve not heard any speakers since buying my pair that would tempt me to swap (within my budget) - not a bad recommendation

If you can buy then, get them. They are quite wonderful speakers and a couple of classes above the Credos. The degree of musical involvement they can deliver is quite astonishing. They need a solid wall to sit in front of, whereas the Credos are ported and more flexible in placement. My SL2s sit about 10cm in front of the wall with very slight toe-in: the outsides are 5mm further from the wall than the insides. 

If you get them, make sure you follow Richard’s excellent guidance on setup, which you will find in the FAQ. 

Thank you. I’m sold!

Sourcing a pair might be your biggest problem. While I actually prefer SBLs I admit to being in the minority. However, they will be much cheaper and more available. I would be tempted to buy a pair if you end up waiting for months/years for SL2s. In my view with that system you can’t really go wrong. Slightly easier to source spare parts too with SBLs.

I would also hang on to the Credos for a time. You obviously like them and they work in your room, just in case you don’t get on with their replacements. I doubt it though.

Stu

Hungryhalibut posted:

If you can buy then, get them. They are quite wonderful speakers and a couple of classes above the Credos. The degree of musical involvement they can deliver is quite astonishing. They need a solid wall to sit in front of, whereas the Credos are ported and more flexible in placement. My SL2s sit about 10cm in front of the wall with very slight toe-in: the outsides are 5mm further from the wall than the insides. 

If you get them, make sure you follow Richard’s excellent guidance on setup, which you will find in the FAQ. 

I have the credos about about 7in from the rear wall. A while back I change the room walls to sound proof gib with sound batts in them. Brings a good deal of solidness to the bottom end. Main spur helped a bit too 

i have a couple of opportunities at moment for sl2 speakers. A 2004 cherry set and a 2008 black set both in excellent condition. The later are about £600 ish more expensive. The cherry set are from a good friend of mine but I have to wait till he finds a replacement for them. The black set are on a local auction sit and will probably go fast. Not sure what the secondhand market in the Uk is for them but over here’s around £2500 to £3500. Then when you look at the secondhand s600 and s400 just pocket money compared to sl2 speakers.

I paid £2,100 for my 2008 maple pair. 

I sold mine last year in UK,  '08 vintage in cherry  for 2500 euro.

Regards

Roberto

I have both Credos and SL2s. Credos in a smaller Naim system, and SL2s in the main 500 system. The Credos are extremely good, but the SL2s are in a totally different class and utterly involving. I can listen to them for hours. I paid £3400 for my maple pair (they are extremely handsome speakers) in absolutely mint condition about four years ago, but SL2s are very difficult to get hold of these days.

Rest assured that if you do find a pair, I'm sure you'll love them to bits.

There is a Cherry Pair showing online at a dealer in Seattle, Wa if you are okay with buying sight unseen

I was at Hawthorne last weekend and gave them a glance in passing. They appeared to be in good condition with nice foam grills and lovely cherry cabinets. Hence the premium price.

Ok update. I’ve made a deal for the 2008 black SL2’s for £2500.  I’m very excited as you can imagine. I was lucky enough to get the history of the said set of speakers from the dealer who sold them when new. It’s  kinda cool as he is good friend mine, he mentioned that the SL2’s where his very first sale when he open the shop up way back then. A lawyer was the first owner then a  hospital surgeon. Guess going to a truck driver Is kinda funny but hey I have ears too

Should get them in the next few weeks going to be hard to get sleep. 

Not many people get to experience these speakers, I loved my SBL,s, and everyone says these SL2,s are just as wonderful, if not more so. Lucky you.

That’s wonderful. Just ensure you set them up really, really carefully. And of course, if you have any questions, you only have to ask. 

Thank you very much I have become very aware of setup issues as a phased mana acoustics  user. I can see how people get things wrong then go to hating if only they tried again........

One quick if I may. In what year did naim stop making the SL2 speaker. I have looked at Naims site, it just relays 2002 start then just continued with no year?

From lawyer to surgeon to truck driver - sounds like 2 upgrades there as well!

DrMark posted:

From lawyer to surgeon to truck driver - sounds like 2 upgrades there as well!

Your so kind lol

Sounsfaber posted:

Thank you very much I have become very aware of setup issues as a phased mana acoustics  user. I can see how people get things wrong then go to hating if only they tried again........

One quick if I may. In what year did naim stop making the SL2 speaker. I have looked at Naims site, it just relays 2002 start then just continued with no year?

I think it was 2009, when the Ovators were introduced. 

Hi,

As an ex-SL2 owner(in fact the cherry pair your friend now has!!) a great speaker for a boundary application and they are a truly different speaker(for the better) when driven active.

Its only when activated with a super cap on the snaxo did I really enjoy them.

Stock up on the interface star washers and retorque your bass drivers.

If you get stuck, I own a torque wrench for that express purpose...oh what a devoted owner was I.

Nic.

Hey Nic, thank you for your kind offer.

Yes your beautiful cherry Sl2 speakers which did have my naim on them, but my friend was finding it hard to replace them, he almost went S600 or sonus Faber Olympia 3 floor standards but went the obvious and brought a Jaguar F type SVU instead, its only 575hp 4wd, going for a spin  later this week. I’ll make sure I leave my lunch at home????. 

I would love to go active one day, but as your aware my little room is almost at it limit for boxes and the like. I’ve managed to add a rather large amounts of Mana sound stages under my mana racks and a serviced 2000 52 (thank you Mr Murphy)  since  your last visit. It’s almost a 90’s olive shrine. Your more than welcome to call over when your in the hood. Think you will be surprised what correctly set up mana acoustics will bring to an olive party.

Atb Steve

Evening Steve,

Let us know once the SL2s arrive and time permitting it would be my pleasure to pop over.

Rather busy times currently, we have our house on the market with an auction date late next week and our new home is scheduled for completion in Feb, a journey nearing  2 plus years.

Once we finally move in I have a pair of new neat xl10s to unpack (a house warming present to myself), it’s been nearing two years since I’ve actually heard my hifi in all it’s glory.  I see that these are Malcolm’s SL2’s, he purchased parts of my system when I dismantled the active setup and we spoke at length about his hifi journey. In fact Malcolm’s son Jonathan came over back in the day to listen to my active SL2’s with Bruce M in the good old days.

Keep in touch.

Sounsfaber posted:

Hi all been a while, as I’m very happy just reading the odd forum thread. But It’s time to tap into the forums wisdom and experience.

Over the past few years i have been fortunate enough to collect a lovely olive system. It consists or nac52,cds2, 135’s, hiline all on mana, 5 phase on the main rack and a 7 phase table for the cds2. Credo’s are hanging off it. Just the original power cords as I played with powerline(s) and found them to totally ruin the timing on the olives but yet work great on the classic boxes. Rest assured it’s all set up correctly, I’ve had advice from JW on that part Other than the cds2 (2002) all boxes have been serviced with Naim parts by Chris Murphy NZ, it’s a real treat to be herd indeed. My question is what improvements will I gain from a tidy set of Sl2’s. I really like my credos. The sound stage is great, bottom end hard and strong with a touch of bounce. They seem to do more than newer more expensive speakers which just blows my mind, very very good VFM imo. But SL2’s ? Think it’s a must upgrade?

cheers

 

You will love them! As good as Credos are, they are no match for the SL2, have owned them both myself. 

The advice is: Go, go, go! 

//Jonas

They work quite well with some Mana stands under them also, I do think I have my special made Mana stands somewhere still...

With a “floating wood floor” they sounded better on them to these ears. 

//Jonas 

I found that the credos have  a better sound stage on screws in the floor,  than when on my mana platforms to tell you the truth. The mana stands helped with the bottom end and separating the hifi,  they just took more than they gave unfortunately. This is not to say in another home it will have the same effect imo. I really love my mana it brings me great joy on a daily basis but just not the platforms. I think my room is a bit tricky. Just moving the credos out or back kills the sound stage for some reason. When it’s right wow really these 20 year old boxes can sound like that! Thank you Jonas for you input.

Speaking of srew’s in the floor does anyone think the Sl2 speakers will benefit by this.  Screws in my wooden spring floor helped the credos amazingly but sl2 have a steel frame to sit in I think, I know it’s a no no for mana racks on wooden floors.  You may be thinking try and see...maybe somebody could help save a bunch of time and for some reason dripping sweet. 

????