IBLs

Posted by: andrew mcmullins on 07 March 2001

I have an old(ish) pair of IBLs (1992 vintage) and at one point I heard there was an upgrade available. Is it still available ? If so how much is it ? What exactly does it do and is it worth it in a system ?

Current set-up for info:

Roksan ROK-DP1/DA1/DS4
Naim: NAT01/72/Hi-Cap-140/IBLs

Thanks

Posted on: 07 March 2001 by Simon Jenkins
Andrew,

My IBL's are even older than yours, though I have only had them about 6 months.

The upgrade involves replacing the mid/bass units. I understand that these were changed sometime in the mid 90's. Not sure of the exact date, e-mail Naim with the serial no of your speakers and they should be able to tell you.

Mine had already been upgraded when I bought them, but acording to the original owner the upgrade made a big difference.

There are someother IBL users on the forum who will hopefully be able to provide some more info.

Simon

Posted on: 08 March 2001 by Paul Stephenson
The update kit is still available, new bss units, tweeter mounting mod and stand mod. Around 200 pounds plus tax.
Posted on: 08 March 2001 by Simon Jenkins
Paul,

Just curious as to what the stand mod is on the IBL's. I can see where the bass driver has been changed and the new tweeter mounting on mine, but was not aware of any changes to the stand. Could you provide more details as to what this is ?

Thanks

Simon

Posted on: 08 March 2001 by Paul Stephenson
We change the mounting of the cabinet to the stand and use extra decoupling via grommetts.
Posted on: 08 March 2001 by Simon Jenkins
Paul,

Thanks for the response. Not sure if mine have had this change or not, but as they were fully updated in 1999 I guess so.

Per,

My IBL's are on a pair of granite plinths. These attach to the bottom on the IBL's stand via the spike holes, the spikes then attach into the granite. This gives the speaker a much larger footprint and a lot more weight. Overall this tightens the bass from the speaker. I have no idea where these bases came from or how much they cost, as I got them with the speakers.

Simon

Posted on: 08 March 2001 by andrew mcmullins
Many thanks for this information your assistance is greatly appreciated.

I have recently come back to looking at the way the system performs and wondered about which would offer a 'better' improvement. Upgrading the 140 to a 250 or changing the IBLs themselves for SBLs. Alas, due to the usual budgetry constraints I can do one of the other.

Posted on: 08 March 2001 by Simon Jenkins
Andrew,

Unless you really want more bass than the IBL's provide, get a 250 and upgrade your IBL's to final spec. I beleive that the IBL's share the same tweeter as the SBL's so the main difference is the mid/bass driver.

I have been told (on this forum) that IBL's will hold their own on the front of a fully stacked Naim system (52/cdsII/active 250 or 135). Personally I'm keeping mine until I can afford either NBL's or DBL's.

Just out of interest, anyone out there tried IBl's with a 500 ? Would love to know what that combo is like.

Simon

Posted on: 08 March 2001 by Allan Probin
quote:
Just out of interest, anyone out there tried IBl's with a 500 ?

Not quite, but I'm using mine with CDSII/52/250. Can I stake a claim to be listening to the best sounding IBLs on the planet ?

Allan

Posted on: 08 March 2001 by andrew mcmullins
With the marble slabs people are suggesting should you place them straight onto the floor (I have concrete under carpet) or mount the slab on top of screwheads and then the speakers on top of that ?

Sorry if this is getting a bit geeky. Is there a difference between using marble / slate ?