Naim SL2 vs Ovator S400?

You don’t want to be moving the S400s a lot. They’re heavy. Awkward too, stabbed my leg with a spike on mine once. 

Based on that additional information my advice to you, as an SL2 owner, is do not buy them. They are a complex design with a decoupled base and tweeter, and need to be set up really carefully and left in situ. They are absolutely not a speaker to be moved about. It would be totally impractical. They will not work well in corners. They will not work well in front of a wardrobe. And as for the 400s, they are really big and heavy and moving them each time would be a real struggle. It’s up to you of course, but I suggest you think again and find a space where you can set up the system permanently and properly. If that is impossible, perhaps a pair of really good headphones is an answer. 

Khan posted:

Is the Ovator S400 any less fiddly with setup?

I can't speak to the SL2, but the S400 worked well in my room about 2-feet from the front wall, 8-feet apart, and 3.5-feet from side walls. Contrary to some other's findings here, I found the 400 not overly sensitive to placement. Their bass worked superb in my room. Downside was their brash mid range, rolled-off highs, and flat sound stage. Highly musical speakers though.

Jordand. I think that’s an ideal setup tbh. Your lucky that you have that space to work with. 

By moving the S400s I am only talking about sliding on the hardwood floors a matter of 10-12 inches. I have often used spike feet bases underneath spikes with a soft material adhered to the bottom so that I can slide to adjust speakers for optimum positioning. 

I should also clarify, the SL2s will be sat in one position and not moved at all. It’s just a matter of experimenting to see if my current room layout supports a good setup for them. 

One scenario is that I move my bed and set them up against an open wall about 4 feet apart. However, my seating position will be compromised. 

Can somebody please advise. I understand that the SL2 suffer from a less than ideal setup. But by how much? And how exactly will the sound suffer? Bass? treble? Imaging?

If you want the SL2, then rearranging the room as you suggest is really the only option. They won’t work properly in front of the wardrobe and in the corners. If you can do it, that would be better than the S400. Not only is the SL2 the better speaker, but being against the wall makes it far less obtrusive, which is really important in a small room. I have mine with 5’ between them, firing across a 12’ room. The floor and walls are all solid. 

If you can’t get the SL2s in optimal position; hard up against a solid masonry wall with space to breath then I wouldn’t go for them. They are not a speaker where you can get away with compromise. Would it be possible to upload some pictures of the room and the various options  you have so that we can advise in a properly informed way?

I don’t know how to upload a pic using iphone. 

So if I re arrange the room, the speakers will be about 4 feet apart. Is that ok? I would have imagined that would couple the speakers too much and cause a thick midrange frequency. 

joerand posted:

Khan posted:

Is the Ovator S400 any less fiddly with setup?

I can't speak to the SL2, but the S400 worked well in my room about 2-feet from the front wall, 8-feet apart, and 3.5-feet from side walls. Contrary to some other's findings here, I found the 400 not overly sensitive to placement. Their bass worked superb in my room. Downside was their brash mid range, rolled-off highs, and flat sound stage. Highly musical speakers though.

brash mid range, rolled-off highs, and flat sound stage, and highly musical??? Strange folks these Naimies

Robiwan posted:

joerand posted:

Khan posted:

Is the Ovator S400 any less fiddly with setup?

I can't speak to the SL2, but the S400 worked well in my room about 2-feet from the front wall, 8-feet apart, and 3.5-feet from side walls. Contrary to some other's findings here, I found the 400 not overly sensitive to placement. Their bass worked superb in my room. Downside was their brash mid range, rolled-off highs, and flat sound stage. Highly musical speakers though.

brash mid range, rolled-off highs, and flat sound stage, and highly musical??? Strange folks these Naimies

possibly Joerand forgot that the the grills should be on the side of the room, not the wall.

what i dislike about my Allaes is that when recording material is a little less good sound can be boring or just shitty. 

Mine are 5ft apart and sound great.

Why have you limited yoursfelf to choosing between just two sets of speakers?

If you must move the speakers around regularly, maybe you should consider some Shahinians?

Hi gus,

i have considered Harbeth, dynaudio, Linn, spendor and a few other brands. For the potential value of what I may get from these 2 speakers is huge. Nothing else comes close for the money. Also I have had monitor speakers and I want to try something new. 

How much are the SL2s you’ve found Kahn?

Why the Ovator dissing?

I appreciate they may not be the best option in this particular case , but in the right room and well set up they are magical. They are also less fiddly than the SL2 as the decoupling is all in one box, vs separate segments in the SL2. Mine sound  great 20cm from the wall and are not intrusive. 

I am sure the SL2s are wonderful, but don’t be mean about the Ovators, it makes me sad. I think it is an irrational group think bullying phenomenon and is not grounded in objective reality.So there!

Kiwi Cat - I think there is little objective about speaker appreciation. As far as I can tell, speakers are the most subjective item of equipment, with views varying more widely than with anything else. I have not heard ovators that I liked - but I haven’t heard many pairs. I have only heard one pair of SL2s and I didn’t like them (neednto hear another pair to see if it is setup or room related or if I just don’t like them)  but I will persevere because I do like my SBLs- which are the only pair of SBLs I have ever heard. And I have never heard a pair of B&Ws that I liked (one pair of which the couple listening to five minutes earlier had just spent £7k to purchase (I preferred my SBLs when I got home with an inferior source and amplification) and the second pair of which gave me a headache)

And in the last week I have met a dealer who prefers SBLs over SL2s and ovators   , and another who prefers SL2s over SBLs. 

with the extreme restrictions on room and positioning I have one word for you that you are not going to want to hear: Headphones.

I'd not bother with any speaker in those conditions you described.

you can try in wall speakers from Dynaudio.

Wouldn't an in wall speaker be behind the OP's cabinet?

I’ve had many speaker rigs sound wonderful in my room. Even before I bought Naim gear. I have owned several headphone systems and just don’t get it. To me they all sound more or less the same and I’m sorry but just don’t compared sound anything as good as a speaker setup. 

FYI I’ve owned MDR Z1r, Audeze lcd series, sennheiser hd800. I can go on. 

Kahn, If you’ve got a good deal lined up for these rosewood SL2s and you reckon you can rearrange your room to accommodate them then just go for it.

The worst that can happen is you set them up, you don’t like them and you need to sell them on.

As long as you are not paying a massive premium for them - hence why I asked how much you were planning on paying - you should be able to move them on pretty quickly as they are very sought after.

David

Khan I completely understand (if not fully agree) with your sentiment towards headphones. 

I've lived in some challenging places before where real speakers were just impossible.

Ultimately, if you are renting, you can move somewhere more accommodating to your needs. For years berfore buying a home, I held out for top flor corner apartment (only neighbors below to worry about) and a room shape that had the right shape.

But I do understand every home has its limits. I've hit some where I am now. Not that extreme by some standards but suddenly moving is not an option.

The SL2s will need a room rearrangement to stand a chance but may be the best option.

It’s doubtful anything will work well near that wardrode but if you want corner placement look to AudioNote but you’ll be buying new so you can get a home demo. They are masters of scale so good if classical is your bag, though I’ve heard them working well with a bit of Zep too but a home demo with enough time to decide is vital.

Hi, I’m getting the SL2s at a very reasonable price so I won’t  loose out if things don’t work out. So your absolutely right. 

The house is owned so no plans to move anytime soon. Although I’m a little gutted as a new garden house was where I would love to move my system. It’s a massive space with solid floor and all brick walls. Empty space as well that I could dress up. But alas not to be. 

Btw I do like audio note as they can be used in corners  but might be too big for this particulate room