NBL`s -- how good?

Must say you dont hear a lot about the NBLs around here.

I had a demo last year and found them to be an improvement in most areas over the SBLs on the end of 52/250 as was the NAP500 over the 250 with the SBLs. Both NBL and 500 together was a bit of a disappointment though

Hi Keith,
My system is much like yours. I recently changed my SBL's for NBL's. The difference is order of magnitude stuff. The scale is SO much bigger. The timing is similar to the SBL's but it seems there's a whole octave more downstairs and the imaging quality is light years ahead. And they go louder too.

Most telling sign of all was the fact that my wife heard, and even commented on, the improvement!!!

So there you go. Great speakers on the end of a pair of NAP135's.

regards, CB

Keith

The NBL's are the best Naim speaker I have heard. They take all the best bits of the SBL's and then add a litlle bit more.

Your existing system is certainly good enough to show the improvement of the NBL's over the SBL's.

Having said that the NBL's are the best Naim speaker I have heard I havn't heard the new SL2's yet and I am looking forward to hearing them on the end of the new NAP 300.

I would book an afternoon at my dealers, Castle Sound and Vision in Nottingham, and see the differences for yourself and see which you prefer.

Regards

NB

Hi!

I intend to uprade my speakers since I miss some depth. My active SBLs sound very fine, but the music doesn't really release from the speakers: I always hear the speaker itself...

I would first swap the SBLs for NBLs and later buy another pair of 135s to drive them active.

Who did the comparison 4*135s/SBLs <--> 2*135s/NBLs? And how big is the difference between active SBLs and active NBLs both with 135s?

Thanks in advance for any advice,
Jun

NBLs offer a massive improvement over SBLs, I have heard them with my favorite music last weekend and my system, sounds light and farty now

I want NBLs and a CDS2.

Ho hum.

I had a home demo with the SL2. I heard NBL at home for several days with 2*Nap135 and 6*Nap135. Although the NBL is more expensive I would prefer the SL2. The heights are importantly better with the SL2. I recommend to test the SL2 before the purchase of a NBL.

Ulrich

Ulrich: The heights are importantly better with the SL2. I recommend to test the SL2 before the purchase of a NBL.

Ulrich, did you use 552/500 also for NBL and SL2 demos? What else is different between SL2 and NBL? Was ist mit dem Bass?? Which speaker would you recommend with (active or passive) 135s?

- Jun

NBLs were the speakers used when I got really hooked enough into buying Naim, enough said ... But after hearing the DBLs, the NBLs just sound too small Really never any good to compare stuff, just makes you want to spend more ...

My NBL demo was in 2000 before I have buyed the Nap500. The SL2 is more exact - also in the bass. This is very important for chamber music and jazz.
The NBL can play in the bass louder. If the hifi room is larger than mine (31qm) could this possibly for the NBL speak.

The SL2 has 2 loudspeakers, the NBL has 4. Therefore I think that the SL2 is to be operated more easily for the Nap135.

NBLs vs my SBLs: My SBLs were better for me.
SL2s vs my SBLs: The SL2s were much better for me.
Ulrich

> My NBL demo was in 2000 before I have buyed the Nap500.
> The SL2 is more exact - also in the bass.
> This is very important for chamber music and jazz.

Ulrich! If I understand correctly: you are talking about
NBL with 135s vs SL2 with 500...? It's important for me too,
because I mostly listen to classic and jazz...

> NBLs vs my SBLs: My SBLs were better for me.
> SL2s vs my SBLs: The SL2s were much better for me.

"my SBLs": Are you talking about your modified Version with Sandsäcke?

- Jun

Jun
>Ulrich! If I understand correctly: you are talking about
>NBL with 135s vs SL2 with 500...?

Yes and No
I am talking about NBL with 52-Scap-3*135s vs my modified Sbl with 52-Scap-2*135s and
my modified Sbl with 552-500 vs SL2 with 552-500.

I have not a demo NBL vs Sl2. The tweeters of my Sbls are not so well decoupled as the tweeters of the SL2s - but better as the original dessign.

>Are you talking about your modified Version with Sandsäcke?

Yes.

Ulrich

[This message was edited by Ulrich Hohn on MONDAY 30 September 2002 at 10:52.]

Ulrich: "NBL with 52-Scap-3*135s vs my modified Sbl with 52-Scap-2*135s"

???

- Jun

I simply dont agree that the missing depth of an SBL can be found by improving the front end. SBLs when fed by CDS, CDSII, CDX, CD2, LP12, Orbe, NAT01 are lacking in bass depth, active or passive(though I've never used them with NAP500's). The bass they do, they do extremely well, but they simply don't do the bottom end. NBL, DBL, Arcs, Obelisks etc produce great bass with depth as well as clarity. For the record I am a SBL user!

SBL + 250 * 2 or 135 * 4 < NBL + 250 or 135 * 2

Does this mean: in your opinion passive NBLs are better than active SBLs...?

Because Ulrich likes passive (modified) SBLs better than active NBLs... (with three 135s??? - I guess it was three 250s...?)

Anyway, I will do the comparison in a few weeks and let you know about the result!

- Jun

[This message was edited by Jun Keller on TUESDAY 01 October 2002 at 16:47.]

NBL with 3 135s??? (for each NBL)

Jun, you are right, six pack NBLs vs 4 pack SBLs (source was tt and Nat01).

>because Ulrich likes passive (modified) SBLs better than active NBLs... (with three 135s??? - I guess it was three 250s...?)

My test was active SBLs vs active NBLs. The NBLs are much better than the unmodified SBLs. I recommend to test the SL2 before the purchase of a NBL, I think the NBLs are not for EVERY men the better speaker.


Cliff,
>As for SL2, better (imho) than SBL (whatever the amp), but still not the balls of the NBL

The SL2 is really better than the SBL but for chamber music and jazz the SL2 is better than the NBL (imho).

Ulrich

[This message was edited by Ulrich Hohn on TUESDAY 01 October 2002 at 18:36.]

[This message was edited by Ulrich Hohn on TUESDAY 01 October 2002 at 18:38.]

I've been using NBL's for around 18 months or so, on the end of a CDS2, 52, 500. I must say that they are the finest souding speakers I have ever heard. Their capacity to convey emotion in music is simply stunning. The dynamic range, speed, and focus is mind blowingly good.

I'm sure the 500 helps the NBL to bring out it's full ability, however, compared to my SBL's the NBL is in a different league - but then again at £7K a pair - I should hope so too......

Can't wait to get 2 more 500'S and a 552 - anyone wanna pop around for a listen?

Would love to Simon. I'll bring the beer!!

Regards

NB

quote:

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Can't wait to get 2 more 500'S and a 552 - anyone wanna pop around for a listen?

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I'd love to, and you can do a return visit at mine.

Dev

Maybe the weekend after next if you like. Probably best arrange a group meeting if you are willing.

NBLs are awesome loudspeakers when in a good set-up, even a Linnie like me respects them deeply.

Andrew

Andrew Randle
Linn Binn Sinner

quote:

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can't wait to get 2 more 500'S and a 552 - anyone wanna pop around for a listen?

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simon

do you know what you've let yourself in for! you could have hundreds of people saying "yes please".

maybe you should sell tickets.

i'd buy one


cheers

matt

Yesterday my NBLs arrived. I run them by 2 135s until I get the SNAXO3-6 back from reconfiguration.

So: are they better than active SBL/4*135s? I think they are different. Sound is much bigger, more colors, more bass, better 3D etc etc. And they go easily louder... Yes, they are "better", at the latest when I will have added my other 2 pairs of 135s...

I will let you know what the difference is between active and passive NBLs with 135s!

- Jun

Keep us posted on the NBLs as they run in.

Have you heard the NAP500 with the NBLs? There seems to be a consensus that it would out perform the 6 x 135s. Cost wise (assuming you got £1800 for each pair of 135s, £1400 for the Supercap and £400 for the SNAXO) a secondhand NAP500 would cost about the same as a secondhand pair of 135s. The NAP500 would also cost less to Fraim too.

quote:

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There seems to be a consensus that it would out perform the 6 x 135s

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actually some at Naim have suggested that a properly setup 6 pack is better than a single 500.

"actually some at Naim have suggested that a properly setup 6 pack is better than a single 500"

Who's that then? Everyone I ever spoke to at naim consider the 500 a no brainer upgrade over 135's.

quote:

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Who's that then? Everyone I ever spoke to at naim consider the 500 a no brainer upgrade over 135's.

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It's amazing what information you can get during a factory vist.