SBL's
Posted by: woodface on 05 February 2001
I have a pair on approval for this week from my kind dealer and I am very impressed. Was not sure whether I would like them as they are supposed to be thin and bright with no bass! This speaker is seriously good it has all the extension of my keilidhs but without the boom! They are also very clear and clean. Basically they sounded better fresh out of the box than my well worn in Linn's. I can only presume that anyone who has had a bad SBL experience must have listened to a babdly set up pair!
Posted on: 05 February 2001 by Steve Hall
SBL's, can be, from first listen base light. By this I mean that there is none of the base wallowing that you get with some speakers, but when an SBL hits hard and low - boy does it hit and there is none of the flowery warmth that you get with other speakers.
Now the lack of the additional base may make some people who like that sound think the SBL's are light in the base department, but not me - I love mine, and boy can they hit hard in the base department.
I currently drive mine passively with a 180, so I have much more fun to come!
[This message was edited by Steve Hall on MONDAY 05 February 2001 at 21:09.]
Posted on: 06 February 2001 by woodface
Hey I haven't even bought them yet! A 'new arrival' is on the way soon which may/will reduce up-grades over the next few years. I would imagine they sound fantastic active and this just adds to their longevity within my system!
Posted on: 06 February 2001 by Martin M
I don't think SBLs are bass light. In general they are clean, even and musical. I can see how people can come to the bass light conclusion though. Let me explain...
There are two areas that can raise criticism from me and they are interelated. Ultimate bass extension (SBLs cut away at about 35 Hz) and ultimate loudness (they are not that sensitive) When you combine the two phenomena on some CDs (e.g some of Massive Attacks stuff), the system can run out of headroom (its only a 8" cone!) and ultimate impact (ie they don't support the infra-sonics you can get on some CDs). This does make them easier to integrate into a typical room, big bass tends to cause big room problems so it can be a blessing. There are at least two solutions to these weaknesses - NBLs and DBLs, but nine time out of 10 you won't bump into the problems.
PS Another problem I've found with SBLs are visitors! I've had two sets of non-hifi friends round since I've got my (temporary) SBLs. Getting rid of the friends was a major problem. Honestly, I couldn't get them out until 3 AM - hapily listening to CD after CD, LP after LP. Its nice to have people around but I need sleep sometimes!!!:)
Enjoy!
Posted on: 06 February 2001 by woodface
I think in the average UK room real low bass can be a problem rather than a blessing. Sbls go low enough for me and my musical tastes, I do have all of Massive Attacks records but have yet to run them through the speakers. I will do so shortly; with my keilidhs these records would actually rattle the doors!
Posted on: 06 February 2001 by Martin M
'Teardrop' is great fun. As for rattling doors, as you say real deep bass is often a problem.
Posted on: 07 February 2001 by Martin M
Johnathon, yes indeed, see you Sunday . I've now taken to the twin-pronged approach of 'let yourself out when you've listened enough' and having a crack squad of Fear Factory and Smiths CDs ready if people are still there when I get up for work in the morning.
Posted on: 08 February 2001 by BrianD
quote:
Ultimate bass extension (SBLs cut away at about 35 Hz) and ultimate loudness (they are not that sensitive). When you combine the two phenomena on some CDs (e.g some of Massive Attacks stuff), the system can run out of headroom (its only a 8" cone!) and ultimate impact (ie they don't support the infra-sonics you can get on some CDs).
Martin M
Might this be why some buy a sub'?
Brian
Posted on: 08 February 2001 by Martin M
I've always thought the trick with a sub was not to trash the rest of the speaker's performance with it. I've seen system running with the sub in working in parallel with the main speaker system so the lack of volume would still occur in this configuration. The normal filterd output to the speakers job would sort this out though. Others can give you better advice than me on that subject.
For what its worth, I can quite easily end-stop the drivers on my SBLs with certain CDs at below the level I'd wish to listen. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's Lament is a good example.
Posted on: 08 February 2001 by Martin M
Agreed on the Arcs. What's a Brendan CDI?
Posted on: 08 February 2001 by BrianD
