SL2 Setup - Tweeter Alignment

how long have you had them?

7 months durin which: 300 instead of 135s, 555ps instead of xps, and finally active.

they were already amazing but now ...

good for you hope you enjoy,i had them for about 18 months could never get them right i read loads and spent hours with them,in my room or maybe they just weren't for me amazing on rock but most other stuff was cold and or harsh.did you have a job getting the allen key bolts (attaching the tweeter arm to the base) very tight because there is new allen bolts which you can get quite a bit tighter as the heads are far more substantial.

not very tight at the bottom. i will try that also.

i listen classical/baroque, world, jazz basically everything sounds right ... but if the recording is very bad expect no miracles.

the thing is that they now have weight and authority. bad placement (too close to each other) can make them sound tiring and thin.

get the new bolts, because they are supposed to be as tight as possible which is almost impossible with the stupid little heads on the first bolts supplied.

thanks for the advice.

who installed yours, yourself or a dealer?

myself, but i understood them so well after all my research and time with them maybe it was my room.

151,

without the "ugly" acoustic treatment i wouldn't be here praising SL2s so strongly.

this and going active was FUNDAMENTAL and a great plus controlling the room (SL2s are on the 3,60 mt wall and the other wall is around 6mt and L-Shaped).

i learn the hard way, but for me now the most important aspect is SETUP including taking care of the acoustics. It is ridiculous the music that goes away due to the bad room interaction.

take a look:

...

looks good, yes as i said it may have been the room but i had had enough, i drove them passive with 300 there are some that say they only really work properly active with 300s or better,i am now on the search for new speakers.

i have 135's + 300 and i bet they would be great active with two 250-2.

also have hi-cap2 on the snaxo. i asked naim and they told me that supercap on the snaxo makes a big difference.

but as it is with "just" hi-caps and 135s, i could stop here and just enjoy.

assuming you like SL2 voicing i would try to meet with other guys that have sl2s and are satisfied. maybe they can help with the setup or ....

good luck
rui

thanks,i will let you know the final outcome when it happens,enjoy yours and don't forget the new bolts get them as tight as you dare

Hi Rui,I have had a similar journey/experience myself.I have just rechecked my SL2 interface/plate bolts tightness and after two years or so since I first did them they had slackened around 1/4 turn each.The speakers sound improved immediately in every area,it only took 15 minutes,and reminded me of my absolutely futile attempts to get the SL2s to sound 'any good at all' before I discovered how critical this 'adjustment' was (3.6nm - some did almost one complete turn originally).Also if you can measure your pips (.4mm) as well.You will need a torque driver ($375)and some calipers($25)of course.My pips had worn/flat and were duly replaced.If you have never checked this adjustment in your sl2s you could be in for a shocking revelation (check bass driver bolts as well- same bolt type),regards chris ps. 151- have you done this?-your SL2 sonic description sounds very familiar

Hi bigtrevy,

Interface/plate bolts where are they located? Are these the ones in the front panel? I have never touched them but i DO BELIEVE you that it should make a difference .... everything does in the PRECISE MUSIC MACHINE ... it seems "witchery"!

Pips,i am going to order new ones, they seem to be a little worn out after so many setup tries. Also new bolts to the attachement of the tweeter arm to the base as per 151 recommendation.

Hopefully i will have more performance/music with bolts/bips/torque .... real VFM.

Thanks for the advice
Rui


PS - I am seriously thinking about buying a 2nd pair of SL2. I feel that for the next 20 years i won't need a better speaker BEST THING I EVER BOUGHT.

Rui,unplug bass driver cable naim block,carefully remove the SL2 top cabinet ,lie it on its side and you will see the three recessed allen bolts in the black metal PAR/plate- matching bottom cabinet plate same procedure 6 per spkr I tightened evenly up in increments up to the 3.6Nm I bought a lindstrom MA500 50-450cNm tool,-same bit does the bass driver bolts as well,same proceedure. Dont lose the pips (remember tiny protrusions up) and recheck the tweeter clearances- can be a life changing event.Not familiar with the bigger tweeter arm bolts as of yet?- sounds like a good idea as they seem to go out of adjustment easily ,chris

Chris,

I have just checked the PAR/Plate bolts and driver bolts (the tweeter bolts at the back i tight them just enough to have the tweeters aligned with the front panel).

I don't have a caliper but although they were all tight i was able to tight a little more.

Not a huge difference because everythink was already ok, but IT IS better. More precise and tight sound.

Just for curiosity i have my speakers 10,3 cm and 10,7 cm from back wall (0.4 mmm toe-in) and aprox 2,10 mt apart (center to center of speaker). For several months i was relutant to toe-in, but in my room this was needed.

cheers
rui

Chris,

One more thing. When playing with distance to back wall, 1mm makes a big difference.

I thing it is because my room is very narrow (3,60 mt).

Rui

i retorqued every nut and bolt including the ones you have pointed out plus those attaching base plate to cabinet and tweeters didn't really hear that much difference.

151,

it is better but it was already ok, because evertything nuts/bolts were tigth.

can you show a photo of you listening room? if the tweeters are also aligned vertically with the front panel it must be room interaction or placement. if i move them 1-2mm the magic goes away!

rui

if i

rui,i have no camera at the moment i no longer have sl2s i gave it my best but enough was enough, are you using a torque driver.

i dont't have a way of knowing if mine are 3.6nm. i have a manual "tool" and just tighted a little more but it was not fundamental difference. but the sound is right as it never was before.

i am going on holidays away tomorrow and for the moment i am just enjoying some fantastic Musica Antiqua Koln Telemann performances/recording. they play so fast and the SL2s reproduces this so well. and it is possible to listem SO LOUD with huge clarity and no distortion. i waited for this sound for years and years and now i am getting there.

what a pity i made reservations for holidays if i didn't i would stay here listening music all day.

what are the dimensions of your room?

my room is 28ft x 12ft and 8ft high,dont get me wrong they did some stunning stuff speed,detail,prat in spades but i want that with some warmth,soundstage and projection,you are obviously going to keep yours so i would invest in a torque driver may as well get it perfect ,as you say if a 1mm makes a difference in position then if the torques out by a lot which it well could be then who knows what more improvement you may get it may take you to another level you lucky sod.

bigtrevy,don't forget to torque your tweeters.

151,

12ft is the same as the wall where my speakers are located.

if you put them on this wall you will have problems due to corners.

is 8ft the normal height in UK houses? mine is 265cm instead of 243cm (8ft).

rui

hi munch,i really did appreciate your offer a while back but i just don't think they were the speakers for me. regards