SBL Mk1 vs Mk2

Doesn't sound like you've got much to lose by having a punt!

The LF/MF driver is better in some way on the mk2. Don't know how/why.

I have mk2s.

Considering the rest of your system $$$, I'm with Gavin.

The ‘proper’ Mk 2 SBL comes with an all over veneered cabinet, made by Hornslet. You can easily tell them in pictures by looking at the back and at the top of the bass box at the front. The Mk 2 also has the Naim in house made bass drivers, which can be spotted because the front plate is thick and flat, without the lip around the edge. The original bass driver was made by Mordaunt Short and heavily modified by Naim. The in house driver is noticeably better, and many of the so called Mk 2s you see advertised are the earlier cabinets with the later drivers. I had my original SBLs upgraded with the new drivers and there was a good improvement, with the sound being a bit smoother and more solid sounding. I have also owned some ‘proper’ Mk 2s and they are better again. They are the ones I’d look out for if it were me, though I suspect they will be more expensive than the ones you’ve seen. They are well worth it though, if you can find some. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

The ‘proper’ Mk 2 SBL comes with an all over veneered cabinet, made by Hornslet. You can easily tell them in pictures by looking at the back and at the top of the bass box at the front. The Mk 2 also has the Naim in house made bass drivers, which can be spotted because the front plate is thick and flat, without the lip around the edge. The original bass driver was made by Mordaunt Short and heavily modified by Naim. The in house driver is noticeably better, and many of the so called Mk 2s you see advertised are the earlier cabinets with the later drivers. I had my original SBLs upgraded with the new drivers and there was a good improvement, with the sound being a bit smoother and more solid sounding. I have also owned some ‘proper’ Mk 2s and they are better again. They are the ones I’d look out for if it were me, though I suspect they will be more expensive than the ones you’ve seen. They are well worth it though, if you can find some. 

When I eventually decided to get SBL's, Doug Graham invited me to the factory to pick my own cabinets because the Walnut demonstration pair's always looked like giant arrow heads. After John the builder opened about five or seven boxes, I cant remember the exact number, I choose the last as they had boxes all over the floor and I was feeling a bit guilty. There was no mention of newer cabinets at that time, only the Naim bass/mid units, so I ended up with Mk 1 cabinets with Naim speakers. This was in 1995 and the speaker numbers were 109138 built by Naim, I never noticed if there were any fully veneered pairs, only looking at the fronts I wish I had known.   

tonyi posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

The ‘proper’ Mk 2 SBL comes with an all over veneered cabinet, made by Hornslet. You can easily tell them in pictures by looking at the back and at the top of the bass box at the front. The Mk 2 also has the Naim in house made bass drivers, which can be spotted because the front plate is thick and flat, without the lip around the edge. The original bass driver was made by Mordaunt Short and heavily modified by Naim. The in house driver is noticeably better, and many of the so called Mk 2s you see advertised are the earlier cabinets with the later drivers. I had my original SBLs upgraded with the new drivers and there was a good improvement, with the sound being a bit smoother and more solid sounding. I have also owned some ‘proper’ Mk 2s and they are better again. They are the ones I’d look out for if it were me, though I suspect they will be more expensive than the ones you’ve seen. They are well worth it though, if you can find some. 

When I eventually decided to get SBL's, Doug Graham invited me to the factory to pick my own cabinets because the Walnut demonstration pair's always looked like giant arrow heads. After John the builder opened about five or seven boxes, I cant remember the exact number, I choose the last as they had boxes all over the floor and I was feeling a bit guilty. There was no mention of newer cabinets at that time, only the Naim bass/mid units, so I ended up with Mk 1 cabinets with Naim speakers. This was in 1995 and the speaker numbers were 109138 built by Naim, I never noticed if there were any fully veneered pairs, only looking at the fronts I wish I had known.   

The Mk2 SBLs were introduced in 1995, I have a pair from that year, the fully veneered cabinets not until some time later, in 2000 if memory serves, until they were replaced by SL2s in 2002.

tonyi posted:

 

When I eventually decided to get SBL's, Doug Graham invited me to the factory to pick my own cabinets because the Walnut demonstration pair's always looked like giant arrow heads. After John the builder opened about five or seven boxes, I cant remember the exact number, I choose the last as they had boxes all over the floor and I was feeling a bit guilty. There was no mention of newer cabinets at that time, only the Naim bass/mid units, so I ended up with Mk 1 cabinets with Naim speakers. This was in 1995 and the speaker numbers were 109138 built by Naim, I never noticed if there were any fully veneered pairs, only looking at the fronts I wish I had known.   

Tony, you would have needed to have waited another 3 years for 1998 ~

The first SBL built using Hornslet Cabinets - s/n 146197

There is no official recognition of mk1 or mk2 SBLs, just SBLs that had a few changes along the way : )

Debs