SL2s

Afaik just replacement tweeters. Naim recently stopped making the crossovers and the grills have not been available for some time and although there have been rumours about alternative supplies (e.g. Speakergrillsdotcodotuk) nothing has emerged to date.

Jonn posted:

Afaik just replacement tweeters. Naim recently stopped making the crossovers and the grills have not been available for some time and although there have been rumours about alternative supplies (e.g. Speakergrillsdotcodotuk) nothing has emerged to date.

 

I can understand Naim not making crossovers any longer, but does that preclude them from repairs?

What with the grills no longer available etc. I'd be feeling pretty vulnerable right now as an SL2 owner.

That said I'm an Allae owner, no foam to think about, but still a concern about the other components. 

every time i remove the grills from my pair, i see a layer of bits from it on top of the bottom box. i am crossing my fingers that replacement grills will be available soon.

through trial and error, i have come to understand the design better -- and in my small office, they really sing!

i don't ever want to replace them, so i hope they will outlive me...

enjoy

ken

ken c posted:

every time i remove the grills from my pair, i see a layer of bits from it on top of the bottom box. i am crossing my fingers that replacement grills will be available soon.

through trial and error, i have come to understand the design better -- and in my small office, they really sing!

i don't ever want to replace them, so i hope they will outlive me...

enjoy

ken

Take up smoking and keep eating the red meat just to make sure. 

sheffieldgraham posted:

ken c posted:

every time i remove the grills from my pair, i see a layer of bits from it on top of the bottom box. i am crossing my fingers that replacement grills will be available soon.

through trial and error, i have come to understand the design better -- and in my small office, they really sing!

i don't ever want to replace them, so i hope they will outlive me...

enjoy

ken

Take up smoking and keep eating the red meat just to make sure. 

sheffieldgraham posted:

Jonn posted:

Afaik just replacement tweeters. Naim recently stopped making the crossovers and the grills have not been available for some time and although there have been rumours about alternative supplies (e.g. Speakergrillsdotcodotuk) nothing has emerged to date.

 

I can understand Naim not making crossovers any longer, but does that preclude them from repairs?

What with the grills no longer available etc. I'd be feeling pretty vulnerable right now as an SL2 owner.

That said I'm an Allae owner, no foam to think about, but still a concern about the other components. 

I really tried to get some help with my IBL crossovers but the answer was short; they could not sell me a new pair or service the old ones. 

I so nearly went for SL2s about 18 months ago as I had hankered after a pair for ages and they would have been a straight swap for my then SBLs.

But I was reluctant to replace a pair of 20 odd year old speakers with discontinued speakers that were likely to be less well supported as time passed.  

They are stunning speakers nevertheless

Efraim roots posted:

I really tried to get some help with my IBL crossovers but the answer was short; they could not sell me a new pair or service the old ones. 

same here. Good excuse to try them active though ��

The inductors in the crossovers should last forever. Other components can be changed by anyone, subject to sourcing components of suitable type, and there are a number of high quality audio ones available, and services to select tolerances.

I thought I had heard on this forum that foams were available from somewhere else, msybe a year or so ago, but if not I'm sure there ate suppliers of suitable acoustic foam who could cut to size, though for a price.

The real difficulty is the drivers. There are professional driver recone services around, including voicecoil replacement - they are limited to PA type speakers which is their mainstream service, but you never know. Probably the best bet is to keep an eye open for tatty but working ones coming up for sale, to buy cheap and take out the drivers to keep as spares. (There is a service that will monitor common online hifi sale sites for a specific product and notify you when something comes up.)

I have recently had both Scanspeak tweeters renewed after one of them blew. These were sourced from Falcon Acoustics and were exact replacements. Because of my "enthusiastic" listening levels, my 250.2 would cut out after an hour or so and this led to one of the bass/mid drivers blowing. It is not as necessary to have matching bass/mid units and one was sourced from (I believe) Naim servicing but I am not sure if they still have spares.  I have seen refurbed units on e-bay in the past.

My biggest worry now would be if a crossover went but I am sure there are repair solutions available.

I'm not sure about "exact" unless Falcon are doing the same selection and matching process as Naim specifically for Naim customers on those Scanspeaks. Plenty never made the cut..  Still, if it's the only source, it' a lot better than nothing.

Ron Brinsdon posted:

I have recently had both Scanspeak tweeters renewed after one of them blew.

Because of my "enthusiastic" listening levels, my 250.2 would cut out after an hour or so and this led to one of the bass/mid drivers blowing.

Surely a NAP 300 is another option here

Regarding "matching" the tweeters, my repair guy is vastly experienced and was aware of this requirement.  I understand he asked the relevant questions of Falcon but I have no test certificates - at the end of the day the SL2's sound great again and I am well pleased with the results.

Stephen - the 300, I know would be a fix but a few things ruled this out:-

• Lack of rack space
• I would then have to get a 252
• Many,many ££££££££££££££££££££

ken c posted:

every time i remove the grills from my pair, i see a layer of bits from it on top of the bottom box. i am crossing my fingers that replacement grills will be available soon.

through trial and error, i have come to understand the design better -- and in my small office, they really sing!

i don't ever want to replace them, so i hope they will outlive me...

enjoy

ken

I'm a bit late finding this thread (I use NBL, so a thread on SL2 is not top of my reading list). But there is a really simple solution to your problem, Ken, which doesn't involve taking any action to shorten your life: don't remove the grilles!

I've said it before, but Ill keep the hope alive...my grills are soft and spongy, and those small little bits are falling off.  If replacements are in the works, I'm in for sure.

Is it sunshine/age that degrades them or are some of the grilles just not as good quality?

I bought a pair SL2's last year-I'm not entirely certain the year of manufacture but the grilles are perfect. Certainly not crumbly. They still have that 'springy' feel

Bruce

My SL2,s are over 10 years old. The grilles have been taken off twice (for cone tightening) They appear to be as good as new. The speakers have not been moved in all that time either and are still sounding great actively driven. I have the crossover still in the box which I am hanging onto.

I know some people like to 'show the cones' but I feel that if the grilles are constantly removed-put back-removed, they will deteriorate. I prefer to leave well alone.

When I had SBLs I regularly washed the grilles and they were on and off my speakers regularly. After a few years I needed to replace them so lessons learned.