active 135s or single 500 with NBLs?
Posted by: jpk73 on 20 October 2002
Hi!
I have read all the information about 6pack vs 500 on this forum, but there are not too many postings in the context of NBLs...
My NBLs have settled a bit and sound very nice (still passive with two 135s because I need a third pair of NACA5 and also am waiting for the SNAXO3-6 to come back from service). I enjoy much better fun provided by NBLs compared to SBLs, also I am very pleased by the bass. Trebles seem to be more pur and music doesn't come from the speakers any more: it sounds as if the music was played behind the speakers. So until now I think I am getting more and more convinced; cannot imagine to go back to SBLs...
I now made my calculations and I think that I would easily be able to swap my 6*135s/Supercap/Snaxo36/SBLs/Snaxo24 for a used or exdem 500.
I would like to demo active 6pack vs passive 500, but maybe people can tell me about their experiences? Who did the step from 6pack/NBLs to 500/NBLs? What is the difference? Are there people out there who prefer active 135s to a single 500? If yes: why? - I always liked active, so I am a little afraid of going passive, even with a 500...
- Jun
I have read all the information about 6pack vs 500 on this forum, but there are not too many postings in the context of NBLs...
My NBLs have settled a bit and sound very nice (still passive with two 135s because I need a third pair of NACA5 and also am waiting for the SNAXO3-6 to come back from service). I enjoy much better fun provided by NBLs compared to SBLs, also I am very pleased by the bass. Trebles seem to be more pur and music doesn't come from the speakers any more: it sounds as if the music was played behind the speakers. So until now I think I am getting more and more convinced; cannot imagine to go back to SBLs...
I now made my calculations and I think that I would easily be able to swap my 6*135s/Supercap/Snaxo36/SBLs/Snaxo24 for a used or exdem 500.
I would like to demo active 6pack vs passive 500, but maybe people can tell me about their experiences? Who did the step from 6pack/NBLs to 500/NBLs? What is the difference? Are there people out there who prefer active 135s to a single 500? If yes: why? - I always liked active, so I am a little afraid of going passive, even with a 500...
- Jun
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.
quote:
Originally posted by Jun Keller:
Hi!
I have read all the information about 6pack vs 500 on this forum, but there are not too many postings in the context of NBLs...
My NBLs have settled a bit and sound very nice (still passive with two 135s because I need a third pair of NACA5 and also am waiting for the SNAXO3-6 to come back from service). I enjoy much better fun provided by NBLs compared to SBLs, also I am very pleased by the bass. Trebles seem to be more pur and music doesn't come from the speakers any more: it sounds as if the music was played behind the speakers. So until now I think I am getting more and more convinced; cannot imagine to go back to SBLs...
I now made my calculations and I think that I would easily be able to swap my 6*135s/Supercap/Snaxo36/SBLs/Snaxo24 for a used or exdem 500.
I would like to demo active 6pack vs passive 500, but maybe people can tell me about their experiences? Who did the step from 6pack/NBLs to 500/NBLs? What is the difference? Are there people out there who prefer active 135s to a single 500? If yes: why? - I always liked active, so I am a little afraid of going passive, even with a 500...
- Jun
Hello Jun,
Being the owner of a nap 500, to which is presenting it's case through a pair B+W 801's, I feel that 6 135's active would produce more control and power than a single nap 500, and to which the nap 500 is more what you would call hifi when compared to the traditional sense of the Naim sound, undoubtly a very fine amplifier, I feel in your case JUN, that the 6 135's active would present a better case for the defence as it were, although now having tried 2 nap 500 I feel this would improve matters no end
but it is a 'Different' sound from the nap 135's some what 
weather you feel It would be suitable for you, I'm afarid that only you will know that when you hear, and it takes but a short time to realise this Kind Regards David
Well Balanced Beings Promote Harmony In Music and Soul
When i said "no comment" on NBL bass, i thought it was obvious, what can you expect with 2*8" per box. NBLs HAVE BASSES, deep basses, they can shake the house, not only the room 
.
This can be an advantage (VS SL2), you can place them farer from the rear wall, giving a better "soundstage", more depth (2 or 3" and it makes a difference).
On the setup, they are heavy, you must move them very carefully if you don't want to secure the top enclosure each time. You have to play with them to find the optimal position of the top enclosure, but that's an other tunnig parameter.
Let me try to explain what i said:
NBL have more authority, are more imposing (musically, not only by their size). You can't just pass-by NBLs playing, they grab you, you stop and listen. They give a better sense of scale, instruments have the right volume (spacially and relative to the others), in a concerto for example, the solist is always at the front, it is detatched from the orchestra. SL2 does scale but not always.
When i say, NBL are experienced, i mean they are always right, SL2 sometime miss the point.
Emmanuel
All opinions are my own, and reflect those of the organisation i work for, even if not stipulated.
.This can be an advantage (VS SL2), you can place them farer from the rear wall, giving a better "soundstage", more depth (2 or 3" and it makes a difference).
On the setup, they are heavy, you must move them very carefully if you don't want to secure the top enclosure each time. You have to play with them to find the optimal position of the top enclosure, but that's an other tunnig parameter.
Let me try to explain what i said:
NBL have more authority, are more imposing (musically, not only by their size). You can't just pass-by NBLs playing, they grab you, you stop and listen. They give a better sense of scale, instruments have the right volume (spacially and relative to the others), in a concerto for example, the solist is always at the front, it is detatched from the orchestra. SL2 does scale but not always.
When i say, NBL are experienced, i mean they are always right, SL2 sometime miss the point.
Emmanuel
All opinions are my own, and reflect those of the organisation i work for, even if not stipulated.