not at this extremes
[quote=“MaxBertola, post:11, topic:44192”]
Naim did try to sell speakers to those who didn’t love Naim, but why? Sats, IBL, SBL alone justify a reputation as speaker builder. The herd of audiophiles who do not understand the virtue of designs like Roy George’s can turn elsewhere.
Exactly!
My S400 was not so bloated in the same room btw.
Ovators - as well as SBLs and IBLs do have very good bass. I am still surprised by the sophistication of it.
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The lower woofer closer to the floor perhaps?
Yes,but they are too thin sounding,Linn Kan is in the end a much better (about the same size ) speaker.
Suddenly it is the Naim forum of 2005 all over again! :-)))))
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Absolutely, they are much better overall
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Indeed 
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Never heard Ariva, but owned a number of other Naim loudspeakers during the years.
Most of them were quite innovative and worked close to rear wall, had no biwire plugs, all good points. Not forgetting they often needed more than a simple setup, I hated the SBL setup procedure, but they paid back big time.
Naim loudspeakers had the ability to open a window into music, sort of like having musicians in the room. Not many other Brands manage this feature that good.
It was a sad day when Naim loudspeakers ceased production and were immigrated with Focal.
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I too have never heard Ariva’s but was working for a Hi Fi retailer when SBL were a new offering and they sounded amazing when set up and plied with the right source etc
Of the Naim speakers mentioned no one has listed the Intro’s or the Credo’s, again are they another love to hate proposition like the CDX and 102.
But again they were designed by Naim and really only come to life when driven by a quality source and a 250. No such problem as bloated base, detailed and fast. That is how and I expect Naim speakers to sound along with the classic “prat”.
I heard a retailer once say they wished that Naim would stop making speakers, perhaps the problem is that they are engineered to follow the Naim sound and without hearing the Ariva, Ovator I cannot comment on these
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I am listening SBL right with 500 system right now, the more i use them the more i think that was one of the best ever loudspeaker made by Naim for clarity, speed, engagement and accuracy. Here in this room even better than SL2. They replaced S600 in this very room, the latter had deeper bass and scale but overall i prefer the SBL. I have never owned NBL and DBL, nor listened them. I also much appreciate my IBL and nSat btw. Ariva are a bit odd, today seemed a little better though
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I really enjoyed mine when paired with my Nac62/Nap135s. I recall being told they need a more then average amount of time to run in and as a result possibly garnered some undeserved mediocre reviews from the press when first released..
What about rear wall distance? Mine are 18cm, dealer told me to start close to wall to tame the bass, even if it sounds and oxymoron to me
My Arivas were far from perfect, but great fun. I was very fond of them.
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You do need to experiment a bit here with the Arivas. Each room will bring something different too. Luckily the separate bases mean setting up is relatively easy. Just be sure that the bases are perfectly level, the spikes perfectly square - i.e. no rocking whatsoever (and if used on carpet, not “floating” on the carpet itself), and the nuts tightened up. Failure to do any of these will usually result in horrible bass performance.
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I know what you are talking about. The Sbl gave me so much fun for 35 years.
But as in my room they are too Bass light (no solid walls and I am sitting in the middle), the 606 were a very worthy successor. They resolve better project a huge room and a wonderful bass (when fed by 500). But… the SBLs magic… is only with Sbl. I have certainly kept my sbls.
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My rooms walls are solid concrete in fact
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Set up and connection is key.
Getting a different pair of speakers is key.
I have already put them on sale in fact
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