NBL`s -- how good?
Posted by: Keith on 28 September 2002
Using SBL`s with cds1/52/ 135`s
How good are the NBL`s and would this be the choice of those wanting more from their speakers.The detail of the SBL`s is excellent but not always as much depth that I would ideally like
Keith
How good are the NBL`s and would this be the choice of those wanting more from their speakers.The detail of the SBL`s is excellent but not always as much depth that I would ideally like
Keith
Posted on: 17 October 2002 by Simon Matthews
So what's the reason behind virtually all of the main naim men using 500's instead of six packs in their systems?
I have heard the dem and am lucky enough to own a 500 - in mine and just about everybody else'e opinion ( who's heard the dem ) the 500 destroys the 6 pack in every way.
I have heard the dem and am lucky enough to own a 500 - in mine and just about everybody else'e opinion ( who's heard the dem ) the 500 destroys the 6 pack in every way.
Posted on: 17 October 2002 by jpk73
I believe that a 500 is better... but I already own 2 pairs of 135s and just purchased a third pair for a very reasonable price, also I like active setups.
I never heard a 500, and I have seen only once a s/h nap500. I would upgrade for 500 (or 3*300) as soon as they get cheaper on the s/h-market...! And I am also afraid to start with the new-look kit... 552... CDS3... etc etc! I thought I should better stick with the olive-design kit...?!
Or do you guys think that my system would be out of balance without a 500?
- Jun
I never heard a 500, and I have seen only once a s/h nap500. I would upgrade for 500 (or 3*300) as soon as they get cheaper on the s/h-market...! And I am also afraid to start with the new-look kit... 552... CDS3... etc etc! I thought I should better stick with the olive-design kit...?!
Or do you guys think that my system would be out of balance without a 500?
- Jun
Posted on: 17 October 2002 by John Sheridan
quote:
So what's the reason behind virtually all of the main naim men using 500's instead of six packs in their systems?
in at least one of those cases they're running ACTIVE 500s.
quote:
I have heard the dem and am lucky enough to own a 500 - in mine and just about everybody else'e opinion ( who's heard the dem ) the 500 destroys the 6 pack in every way.
not having had a dem I can only go on what I was told. Don't forget the important word in my earlier post 'properly'. Not many people want to arse about trying to get 100% out of their system setup.
Posted on: 17 October 2002 by Simon Matthews
Well active 500's would be kinda nice!!!
Still there are quite a few stories of active systems being traded in for passive 500's. I find it dificult to believe all these owners had poorly set up active systems yet the 500 put a smile on their faces after the swop.
Still there are quite a few stories of active systems being traded in for passive 500's. I find it dificult to believe all these owners had poorly set up active systems yet the 500 put a smile on their faces after the swop.
Posted on: 17 October 2002 by Simon Matthews
"Not every way"
Cliff, what do you think the 500 falls short on? I never get a chance to notice as I'm too busy grinning from ear to ear.
Cliff, what do you think the 500 falls short on? I never get a chance to notice as I'm too busy grinning from ear to ear.
Posted on: 17 October 2002 by Jens
Jun,
As Bosch says, please keep us posted on your NBLs as they warm up. On reading your earlier post it sounds as if you are trying to convince yourself that they are better. This is a speaker you don't hear that much about, so your impressions immediately after the change over are really useful.
(I'm sure that by now you're probably convinced that the NBLs are the best thing ever).
Cheers,
Jens
As Bosch says, please keep us posted on your NBLs as they warm up. On reading your earlier post it sounds as if you are trying to convince yourself that they are better. This is a speaker you don't hear that much about, so your impressions immediately after the change over are really useful.
(I'm sure that by now you're probably convinced that the NBLs are the best thing ever).
Cheers,
Jens
Posted on: 18 October 2002 by Simon Matthews
"crippled by the passive crossover"
I agree Cliff that the passive cross over may act as a marginal constraint on performance but believe me my 500/nbl combination sounds far from crippled!
F..king brilliant is an adjective that springs more readily to mind.
I agree Cliff that the passive cross over may act as a marginal constraint on performance but believe me my 500/nbl combination sounds far from crippled!
F..king brilliant is an adjective that springs more readily to mind.
Posted on: 18 October 2002 by jpk73
No, I am not completely convinced yet. As I told you, I am waiting for the results when going active. Until now they sound louder, more bass, but not as open as active SBLs. Also NBLs are too big and SBLs look better... But I just did the comparison passive SBLs vs passive NBLs: There is a very large difference; the NBLs are just so much better in every respect! - There is absolutely no need to convince myself, Jens!
My NBLs are not brand-new, they are exdem (from centralaudio). I don't expect a very large warm-up effect.
When I have the NBLs active, I will see if I am convinced. It has to be a huge step from active SBLs! If not, I will a) try a passive 500 or b) sell the NBLs and one pair of 135s.
- Jun
[This message was edited by Jun Keller on FRIDAY 18 October 2002 at 12:32.]
My NBLs are not brand-new, they are exdem (from centralaudio). I don't expect a very large warm-up effect.
When I have the NBLs active, I will see if I am convinced. It has to be a huge step from active SBLs! If not, I will a) try a passive 500 or b) sell the NBLs and one pair of 135s.
- Jun
[This message was edited by Jun Keller on FRIDAY 18 October 2002 at 12:32.]
Posted on: 18 October 2002 by Simon Adams
I upgraded about 18 months ago from 4 x 135 active SBL's with Snaxo 2-4, powered by a Supercap to 1 x NAP500 + NBL's. During the upgrade process I listend to the NAP 500 with SBL's vs 4 x 135 active SBL's. The difference was huge, so huge that I was really quite lost for words. Having lived with my active set up for some time, I really did not expect a 'stereo' power amp to nock the spots of my existing 4 x 135 set up (which it did).
Moving on....my dealer then changed the SBL's to the NBL's - at which point I sat down on the sopha again, and after a few minutes my dealer and I were laughing in complete amazement at just how good the 'set up' sounded. The NBL's were simply 'not there' (This was about 18 months ago and my dealer had only just taken delievry of his 500 and NBL's for demo purposes, hence this was the first real demo he'd done with this set up) Any way, to cut along story short, we finished the Dem and I gave him a cheque for the 500 and NBL's, then came home and advised my wife that we were taking delivery of some new furniture....!!!
Of course, I now want 2 more 500's and a 552. Perhaps if the dotcom boom had not stopped I'd have them by now!!! Oh well, I guess I'll have to save up this time...
For those people worried about NBL size (as I was) my sitting room is about 15 ft wide by about 24 ft long. The NBL's are situated either side of my bay window and I must say they look fab. To be quite honest, they don't seem to take up that much more 'footprint space' than the SBL, of course, they are a little taller and much more good looking (in my opinion)
The NBL cabinets when playing very loud dance music (with big, big, big buckets of base) don't even give off the slightest cabinet vibration - quite amazing really, however, I can feel the bass in my chest (as you often do at a concert) I'd love to hear the DBL's!!!
Simon.
Moving on....my dealer then changed the SBL's to the NBL's - at which point I sat down on the sopha again, and after a few minutes my dealer and I were laughing in complete amazement at just how good the 'set up' sounded. The NBL's were simply 'not there' (This was about 18 months ago and my dealer had only just taken delievry of his 500 and NBL's for demo purposes, hence this was the first real demo he'd done with this set up) Any way, to cut along story short, we finished the Dem and I gave him a cheque for the 500 and NBL's, then came home and advised my wife that we were taking delivery of some new furniture....!!!
Of course, I now want 2 more 500's and a 552. Perhaps if the dotcom boom had not stopped I'd have them by now!!! Oh well, I guess I'll have to save up this time...
For those people worried about NBL size (as I was) my sitting room is about 15 ft wide by about 24 ft long. The NBL's are situated either side of my bay window and I must say they look fab. To be quite honest, they don't seem to take up that much more 'footprint space' than the SBL, of course, they are a little taller and much more good looking (in my opinion)
The NBL cabinets when playing very loud dance music (with big, big, big buckets of base) don't even give off the slightest cabinet vibration - quite amazing really, however, I can feel the bass in my chest (as you often do at a concert) I'd love to hear the DBL's!!!
Simon.