4-pack SBL owner bought a NAP500

Posted by: Ulrich Hohn on 02 October 2000

The Naim of people say that a passive SBL with a NAP500 sounds better than SCAP SNAXO
4*NAP135. I correspond. One does not need to hear 5 seconds around.

But I did not get information, whether an active hybrid version NAP500/2*NAP135
goes better than the passive NAP500.

So I bought a pair of PXOs and hear six weeks the SBLs passive with a NAP500.

For active SBLs the original cable connect tweeter and bass of the same SBL to one
NAP500. I got a special cable and could connect both tweeters to the NAP500.
(The better amp to the tweeters). It sounds as if two different speakers play bass
and high. No, that is not the way to go!

Perhaps it is better to connect both basses to the NAP500 and both tweeters to
the NAP135???
With the original cable I could make following connection:
Left tweeter at NAP500, left bass at NAP135 - right tweeter at NAP135, right bass
at NAP500. The 52 was switched to mono, than the left SBL (balance left) was
tested vs the right SBL (balance on the right).

The right SBL with bass to the NAP500 was clearly better.
So I ordered a second special cable and connected both basses to the NAP500 and
both tweeters to the monos.
Now I get a wonderfull sound. I get both: an active sound and an NAP500 sound.
The active hybrid sound is now clearly better as the passive SBLs with the NAP500.

Ulrich

Posted on: 03 October 2000 by Greg Beatty
Ulrich -

Good to hear from you again - it has been a while. Although my system and aspirations hi-fi are no where near the level of your kit (no 500 for me), I always enjoy reading about your experiments.

Enjoy the 500

- GregB
Freedom is not in finding the Holy Grail but in stopping the search for it