SL2s Coming!
Posted by: Gavin B on 31 August 2018
Hi All
Following a bit of good timing, I'm shortly to become the new owner of a pre-loved pair of SL2s. I'm picking them up this coming weekend.
I've read the thread of set-up tips from Richard D. et al, and whilst I'm happy to give it a go, it's a bit daunting.
I'd like to explore another avenue - getting someone to come in to help me with the set-up. This could be a dealer or an experienced individual. Obviously, this is likely to be a service I pay for, and I'm happy to do so, but the difficulty is finding that person. I don't have a relationship with a local dealer (not since the demise of Sound Advice etc. in Loughborough), and my previous purchases (olive to black system swap, quite a few years ago) have been through the renowned St. Albans-base dealer.
So, are you aware of someone offering this service, or willing to help me with the set-up? I'm based near Tamworth in the Midlands.
I'm looking forward to getting them set up, but it might not be immediately - the front room is piled high with stuff from another room we're busy decorating.
Thanks
Gavin
Gavin, don't be too daunted. It's a learning experience but one that will see you all more knowledgeable and empowered at the end. It really helps you to understand the engineering behind these remarkable speakers. The instructions should be straightforward to follow step by step - they were designed for anyone to follow. Once you have it all there in front of you, it will make much more sense. Just take your time and enjoy it. And if it doesn't go according to plan. Stop, make a cup of tea, relax, take a break, then start from the beginning again.
Failing that, there are a few dealers well versed in the art of SL2 setup and it may well be worth giving them a call to ask if they would help you out. They may well charge for such service but it could be money well spent if you really feel you're unable to set them up yourself. Another alternative might be to get in touch with Jason Gould at the factory and see whether he's in your area at any time.
Richard’s instructions are very clear and easy to follow once you have all the bits in front of you. If I can do it, anyone can. Just make sure that when they are taken apart that the sprung base is not removed from the bottom box - it shouldn’t be but it has been known. In fact, if you help to take them apart, it will be far more obvious how they go back together.
They are wonderful speakers and a bit of care, attention, and tea will have them working fine.
Thanks, both. I am happy to have a go - and should be able to cope fine. What I'm worried about is a nagging doubt that I haven't got it done optimally. I'll give it a go to see.
If the tweeter arms are vertical and the boxes rock gently while the tweeter stays motionless, they are ok. The ‘rock gently’ test is to rap the top front of the bottom box with your knuckles - it should oscillate on the leaf spring and gently come to a rest. It will all make sense! If you are concerned just get in touch.
Congratulations you are now in a club of 300! Have a go, It did take me about 13 goes to get it perfect. Just good enough is never enough for me being the reason. You will know when they are correctly simply because your jaw will be on the ground. To boot that music you thought you liked you will now love. So so musical. Really an amazing speaker. Naim still have parts. Eg woofers that blew me away when they told me that, can get tweeters and fix crossovers. Make sure you have new washers place little dots up I think. Pips/locators need to be ruff on the ends too. If not they still sell them for little money. It is possible to get replacement dust covers thank god. It’s ok if you have some markings on the face plates from setups it’s normal, Sorry I’m sure you know this.
Anyway I would like to share something that’s not in the forum instructions. Are you ready for this hungryhalibut, on the underside of the speaker is a cross member ( or there about) that makes up part of the suspension base. If you look you will see 2x hexagonally bolts. These just so happen to be the very same size as all the other bolts on the plates and the speaker cone surrounds. I got 1/2 a turn out of them by my Gedore torque wrench @3.6nm. I know I should of shared this a long time ago but I kinda thought if the boys are loving them as is, why bother. ????
Just looking at your profile Gavin. Seeing what your boxes are, My god you are in for a treat. Enjoy ????
gave a while to settle in then pls report.
I don’t believe the bolts on the bottom should be adjusted. It’s the interface plates between the boxes that need checking with the torque wrench.
Any recommendations for sensibly priced torque wrenches? SF's Gedores seem v. expensive on Amazon! Are those in the £20 - £50 range worth going for, or are they too crude to be worthwhile?
For the light duty that you will subject it to, the inexpensive torque drivers such as the one from Draper are probably fine. Now, if you were to be using it all day every day then I would suggest you look at something rather better. However, even these turn up in the usual places s/h. My own was bought from an ex MOD sale and was sold as having been regularly tested and calibrated. It cost around £50, which seemed reasonable against the cost for a new equivalent of the same.
Sounsfaber posted:Congratulations you are now in a club of 300! Have a go, It did take me about 13 goes to get it perfect.
1. Only pairs sold?
2. 13 times, what is difficult to do?
Gavin B posted:Any recommendations for sensibly priced torque wrenches? SF's Gedores seem v. expensive on Amazon! Are those in the £20 - £50 range worth going for, or are they too crude to be worthwhile?
When I had my Credo speakers and did the usual yearly torque adjustment check I used a FAMEX (German made?) one from the river for about £60.00, probably fairly similar to the Draper one that Richard mentions above, works a treat and it feels a very solid tool indeed and should last years if well cared for.
Congratulations Gavin. Are you purchasing that Maple pair that was for sale on EBay - in Chepstow?
Yes. They were offered via the fishy place too.
They looked in superb condition. You will love them. Have a go at the set up following Richard’s excellent instructions.
Lovely things
I did not find them hard to set up using the advice on here. The key step is to take your time at the start and be absolutely sure they are level side to side and fore and aft, makes all the rest of the setup easier and takes any stresses and strains of the uprights etc. It is a bit tricky as you'll need to use a spirit level at the back-close to the wall (see Richard's instructions). Make sure they are nicely seated and spiked into the floor without any movement.
If everything is straight and nobody has bent anything the tweeters should be easier to get into the correct position and move freely as per the design.
I have suitable torque wrenches in my bicycle toolkit at home. if you have a mate into bikes, or know a friendly bike shop you might be able borrow one.
Bruce
I’ve got one or two options for borrowing a wrench (including a friend who works at a bike shop - great idea, Bruce). At the rivers place I couldn’t see a Draper wrench that went to a low enough range, and the Famex one that did was on its way to £100.
Anyway,, looking forward to this trip tomorrow morning.
I saw those advertised and thought someone is in for a treat. And I’m not surprised to find the buyer here.
I was also going to suggest the cycle tools route. There are a number of torque wrenches sold on the cycle shop sites and you’ll also find that the online cycle mags review them. I bought the Park Tools version, but it’s also useful for my bikes.
i set my SL2s up and it seemed reasonably straightforward, but I always have a little nagging doubt about whether I have achieved optimum sound.
Clive
You're best going for an adjustable preset torque driver rather than a torque wrench. Don't forget the set of hex bits...
hungryhalibut posted:I don’t believe the bolts on the bottom should be adjusted. It’s the interface plates between the boxes that need checking with the torque wrench.
Thing is just half a turn to 3.6nm on both speaker. Plus the same hexagon nut as in just like all the others. It s walking like a duck don’t you think? Sorry if this hits anyone in the “ dam better have a look factor” that’s why I didn’t post it for the last 9 months just cruel . Apologies.
Fleabay has a Gedore just like my one for £80. That’s were I picked my one up from, cost a bit more though.
As HH says above, torque should be 3.6Nm on the interface bolts and the main driver bolts. Unless something is obviously amiss, I would be very careful about messing with the bases - get it wrong and you'll cock the speakers up royally. Oh, and for anyone unfamiliar with the SL2 who was wondering, yes, the rear of the base is supposed to move...
Gavin,
Enjoy your trip to Chepstow and collecting the SL2s. We look forward to hearing how you get on with the set up. As you know there are plenty of very skilled and knowledgeable people here on hand to help if you need it.
Enjoy!!
David
Just be careful whose advice you take. As demonstrated above, some stuff offered on the Forum as truth is anything but.
Indeed, I only pay any real attention to what Richard says!
Richard Dane posted:- get it wrong and you'll cock the speakers up royally. ..
Is that a technical term Richard ?