is there life after SL2's..........

Have listened to some more speakers in the last 2 weeks...

Kef Ref 3  - initially not a bad sound....but bass was a little too much.. for me a little bloated...

Kef Blade - better, but too much speaker/sound for me/my room..

Kudos Super 20A - very nice speaker, good match with Naim, treble - mid - and bass worked well together, nice sound..

Kudos Titan 606 - as above. + some more...more powerful but controlled bass, sounded very good - and looked good !!

Would like to hear the Titan 505's, hopefully next week...

Meanwhile, I have had the ATC SCM50 on home Demo for a week+ now...I really like the treble and mid, very detailed and sweet,  however the bass was a little too much for my room.. ..  such a pity as I really like this speaker..

So, now Demo'ing the SCM40 as a contrast....obviously not in the same class, but has the ATC sound which I like...and for the money seems a very good speaker...

The plan then is to listen to 'active' speakers, so the SCM40A, assuming the SCM40 passive sound is OK, and the Kudos 505/606 'active' ...

...the journey continues..

BR

My 2p, if you want something smaller than the SL2 but like the classic Naim speakers then the SBL is just as good in my opinion.  In fact I have both and the SBL's are my favourite.  The most perfect speaker i've ever tried / owned!  They may be relatively low budget but the clarity out of them makes me pause whenever I have them playing and I walk into the room.  Astounding.

Oh, they also have nice tight dry bass which isn't overwhelming.  The SL2's have more grunt in this department but you don't miss it, or at least I don't.  I suppose the enjoyment factor is what's important here.

That is interesting Lewis. I too prefer the Sibbles to SL2s. I remember really wanting to love the SL2s which I did, but not as much as my SBLs.  Saved about 6k that day! Been using them for 30 years and they still reveal improvements upstream.

Stu

Conversely, while I really love SBLs, I think SL2s eclipse them in every area, particularly from the midrange on up.  Which is perhaps just as well really, otherwise it would have been a bit of a waste of Roy's time.  SBLs are far more accessible though, cheaper secondhand, and gaskets aside, possibly the easier speakers to get performing at their best, which is rather ironic really...

Interesting reply too Richard. But I was never convinced. Certainly not a criticism of Roy or Naim though. My view back then was that the SL2 was perhaps more sophisticated but lost out on engagement. I could easily make a case for them being better but I also found them less enjoyable. I am thankful that Naim ‘speakers exist as I find them wonderful. I never did understand the criticism they get but there you go.

Ovators, at least the 400, didn’t float my boat though. Regardless, the design and engineering that went into the SBLs and SL2s was remarkable. I know others disagree but for me newer designs under about 10k struggle to compete with these classics.

Stu

ameden posted:

Have listened to some more speakers in the last 2 weeks...

Kef Ref 3  - initially not a bad sound....but bass was a little too much.. for me a little bloated...

Kef Blade - better, but too much speaker/sound for me/my room..

Kudos Super 20A - very nice speaker, good match with Naim, treble - mid - and bass worked well together, nice sound..

Kudos Titan 606 - as above. + some more...more powerful but controlled bass, sounded very good - and looked good !!

Would like to hear the Titan 505's, hopefully next week...

 

Meanwhile, I have had the ATC SCM50 on home Demo for a week+ now...I really like the treble and mid, very detailed and sweet,  however the bass was a little too much for my room.. ..  such a pity as I really like this speaker..

So, now Demo'ing the SCM40 as a contrast....obviously not in the same class, but has the ATC sound which I like...and for the money seems a very good speaker...

 

The plan then is to listen to 'active' speakers, so the SCM40A, assuming the SCM40 passive sound is OK, and the Kudos 505/606 'active' ...

 

...the journey continues..

 

BR

 

That’s a good list of candidates IMO BR. My thoughts exactly on ATC’s larger actives. Some elements of the sound are really wonderful, but mind the bass interaction with your room. 

If I could suggest one other possibility I’d say PMC Fact 8 or 12 are worth hearing. Very different to most, even Kudos. Some will find them thin, others (like me) who think most speakers have too much mid bass thump/bloom will find them a revelation. 

Of course I’d also push my own addiction, Shahinian, but very marmite and also room dependent, so if you are curious do try them in your room on your system. 

Getting close now...listened to PMC 25.24 (the only ones they had at the time) thro NDX2/Supernait...good sound, lots of detail, plenty of bass...sometimes a little forced, mid good, treble I found a little bright/harsh at times for my ears....not for me but overall a good package that went well with the Naim sound..

Just listened to the Kudos 606 (again), and the Kudos 505 - was very keen to hear these...The 505's were up first....good overall sound/presentation, mid-bass good, mid good, treble had lots of detail but sometimes a little too bright for me..low down bass/oomph not there (standmounts), looked awesome, however not for me..if I wanted a smallish speaker with lots of detail and not too much oomph then these would be fine...a classy speaker though..

The 606's followed, lots of oomph/lower bass (well controlled), good/sweet mid, detailed/articulate treble..didn't seem quite as bright as 505's but not to my taste....a very fine speaker.

The Kudos demo was through NDX2 and Supernait...THEN through a Linn Selekt DSM Katalyst and Supernait..I would say that the Linn had a little more detail and articulation/finesse, the Naim had a little more boogie...both sounded good.

Demo tomorrow of the SCM40 Active...I have had the SCM40 passive on home demo for a week, the speakers are very good, I very much like the ATC sound, natural and not forced in any way...the (low) cost of the SCM40 is incredible value for what you get...would not have normally demoed speakers in this price, however I am glad I did...

Then decision time on which new speaker...the N-Sub has now gone, the SL2's to follow...….

BR

Have a good weekend