Shahinian and other speak suggestions from SL2 for 500 system

All i can say Mike, is that Arc and Ob's need space to work well. Space from the rear wall really helps them from sounding sluggish. I have enjoyed both of the above at home in the past, but i genuinely don't think they will match the SL2 in the areas you mentioned, but they will do the scale thing as well as a few other goodies. Lots of people have had success with Shahinian and Naim, but many others say Naim is not the best match, even a 500, and suggest alternatives such as Dynavector. Can't say i have much of an opinion on that as i have not heard the combo. From my perspective, the best i heard my Arcs was on the end of a fresh set of 135's, and second best a 300, and not far behind, a Nait2!! so long as you didn't ask too much of it.

Thanks Gary, I value your ears and experience. I would be quite happy to jiggle everything in the room around to suit (not that there's that much space) - and to keep the speakers off the Old English Sheepdog's landing strip. If I really like the way they work, I would even experiment with (certainly audition) alternative amps, although I've never heard anything I like as much as Naim so far.

I've never heard Shahinians, so have no idea what to expect apart from the usual omni-sweet spot cliches.

I'll also try and audition both the smaller Ovators.

I have shahinian "super elfs" i used to use with a 72/hi-cap/140 and they were excellent. I have boxed and stored the naims and now use the elfs for my rear speakers on my main system. Shahinians speakers go beautifully with naim amps and i've heard the bigger shahinians.

I think it worthwhile trying the Ovators too Mike as you say. They may well offer the scale you are looking for whilst still retaining some of the SL2 strengths, and certainly sound more Naim than Shahinian.

Good luck.

I bought one of the last pairs of SL-2's and regret having sold them, as they do what they do very well when properly set up.  They will be difficult to replace.  But if you are purely looking for more scale, you can consider going active, although that goes against your objective of reducing box count. Less ideal, but also something that might be worth considering is a nice clean pair of NBL's.

Joe

Hi Mike,  I hope all's well?

As you know I had the same dilemma a few years ago. I tried many speakers and ended up with the Neat Ultimatum 9's, a speaker I still highly rate. From there I went on to the ART Emotions and now the ART Deco 20's. However I did have these modified to make them quicker and more open. In between there were many other speakers.

Out of all the speakers I had, nothing beat the SL2's in the area's you describe. Joe's right the natural progression is the Naim NBL's if you can still find a pair. The other obvious suggestions are the Neats and the Kudos but you have already tried a pair of Titans and they didn't quite do it for you.

Falling that, just go and listen to as many speakers as you can and you will eventually find a pair you like.

Kind regards

PB

+ 1 for Neat MF9's, which do an unsurpassed sense of scale, (now replaced with the current model, the XL10).

If these are physically too large, then the smaller MF7's ain't half bad either.

I've been more or less right through the Neat range, and they do seem to work rather well with Naim kit.

Regards,

Dave.

The beauty of the MF9's is they don't have a large footprint Dave, they are just tall. They can go in quite small spaces.

Regards

PB

Hi PB,

Quite so, the footprint is the same across the MF5's, 7's and the 9's.

No regrets though at moving up to the 9's, as you advised at the time, the sense of scale is superb.

Can't see me ever looking to change them .

Aw ra best,

Dave.

Thats good to hear Dave, its nice to hear someone enjoying a recommendation.

Its not just the sense of scale its their ability to paint a picture of music in front of you. They had oodlles of everything.

I feel the same way with the ART's, I can't see me changing them for anything, they are so enjoyable,

Whats the rest of your kit these days?

Regards

PB

Mike,

Don't bother with the Arcs. The Obelisks are great, but the Hawks do go into a different league. Hawks are like small Diapasons. The whole range does have a similar sound to them, which I loved at first hearing.

Solid floor is ideal for Shahinian and so is 2ft space behind them.

Hi PB,

Made the move to streaming, and am currently running an NDS with twin 555 DR power supplies...........sounds sublime.

Few months ago, my dealer made me an offer I couldn't refuse, so now have a factory fresh NAC 552DR.........yes, it is as good as everyone says!

Recently got hold of Super Lumina speaker cables and interconnect, certainly the "missing link", as far as I'm concerned.

So, very happy with the music here...............even though I'm still "managing" with the NAP 300 .

As previously suggested, the fun just never stops!

Regards,

Dave.

Thats a mighty fine set up Dave, keep on enjoying>

I can guess whats coming next, the MF9's really like them :-)

Regards

PB

Let me guess...................NAP 500 perchance?

Never say never .

Dave.

The MF9's thrive on them lol

Have a good weekend Dave 

Mike I run my shahinian obelisks through my nac252/sc Dr /300s and they are breathtaking.  The great thing about them is that as they sit on castors so it's really easy to wheel them out into the optimum position when wanting to do some critical listening Especially if your room size is restrictive. 

If you like everything SL 2 does but want a scale and low end heft, the most obvious candidate is the DBL or the original Linn Isobarik.

Mike,

If you still like Moon Cakes, please drop me an e-mail before Wednesday.  My son Joshua will be back in Kemptown on Friday and will gladly bring you some.  Any flavour you like !

Joe

I used the Arcs on the end of a CDX/XPS/82/Supercap/250 for a number of years. They're a wonderful speaker and benefit greatly with a good current from the amp. Though not perfect, the quality of the mid-range and vocals makes you forgive everything else! I was very sad to part with them, though a change in life circumstances meant that I was listening in  a very small near-field environment and just didn't have room for them.

I would love to hear a pair of dibbles but they are just so physically big they would take over my room without playing back a note!  I have very recently swapped over my 300 for a 500 with nibbles and (along with a couple of other changes) I have a sense that they needed a bit more voom vavo than the 300 could provide.  I really hadn't expected them to sound so good and I'd second the earlier suggestion if you are able to get your hands on a pair, to give them a go.  I haven't compared with sl2's hence unable to volunteer any differences between the two.

This thread takes me back to some of the monstrous PB speaker threads from several years back - great reading they were too!

Peter

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions and comments. I'd love DBLs but they just wouldn't fit. The Neat' might be an option if their bass doesn't suffer from the usual slowed/detail loss characteristics of so many of the Isobarik and ported enclosures I have heard over the years, including Linns and Kudos. And the NBL suggestion is a very good one I hadn't really thought of. I've never heard them. But then the same goes for the Shahinians. They're an itch I will just have to scratch - many of the aspects touted about them appeal greatly, but not if this involves any (or much) loss of the clarity or articulacy I so value in the SL2s. Of course it could be that I just try adding a second nSub.... Active is out of the question - I'm more likely to add a Statement pre, and I very much doubt I will do that. I may try the new 272 as part of the continuing urge to downsize, but if it's anything like the NDX Supernait I heard, then I'll stay put.

Any more comments suggestions gratefully received.

Cheers

Mike

Mike you need Isobariks or Sonus Faber Olympica 3 is a magnificent speaker. DBL's are not that practical and are huge, but sound amazing. NBL's don't have the same scale. Shahinian's Arc can be bright and have a wooly bass in a small room (haven't heard Obelisk). I think downsizing is a misnomer, unless its for money reasons. Naim gear will need to sit on a stand, and as such will take up space, and will need setting up to sound good. 

I hope all goes well with the next chapter of your system's evolution.

Best regards