I have moved this to a new thread because its likely to run for a while as I move through the process. Perhaps Richard will be kind enough to transfer recent posts on this to here.
It currently running in the show us your naim speakers thread.
After some planning and discussions with James at TomTom here we are:
Firstly let me say what an absolute gent James is. Its all to easy to get cynical about this game and its such a pleasure to find people like James still so invested in naim and hifi in general I fancy what he does not know about hifi is not worth knowing.
Secondly its worth pointing out I knew exactly what I was getting into. Thats not the ‘shipped’ woofer and the treble plate is odd, and well its all odd isn’t it? The boxes I would wager were knocked together in the factory, in the main raw MDF, no inner or outer veneer. The trebles are probably past their best and have no bounce what so ever.
I have not a clue what the woofers are, the basket is well made, the cone is a paper affair, it looks similar to the ATC, there is no markings. It does not weigh a tonne. It sounds sublime*
- I have never seen DBLs in the flesh, neither heard them before.
Today I have temporarily set them up, I replaced the knackered foam in the base units, filled all spike holes and replaced the aluminium pads. Gooped up the base interface to the bottom box and engaged my super squints whilst plugging in the totally gorgeous cross overs. Lets be clear I dont know much about much but I know quality components when I see them. The big coil on there is is like 15cm across. All cardas caps etc.
With the seal made on the bass units and tightening them down, the bolts were like hand tight the sound is, well, emotional.
I am amazed by the bass. In front of it, you feel it, but walk to the next room and its not an issue.
Clearly these are a project speaker and I very much look forward to what the next few months bring. The ‘bones’ are there, with a clear heritage, this may well be the mother pair, and for all their ills, I am happy with that.
In terms of the Naim BS Bingo lets get that out of the way.
'Pah, Hegel! Chinese crap! You need at least 3x500 to make a DBL sound even mildly good.
Yeah probably
‘Your room is not good at all, they probably sound like crap, in the corners like that’.
No they sound amazing. That back wall, whilst floating is stuffed full of underlay and sound absorption material as well as wood slats.
‘Those mids look suspect are they the shipping version?’
No idea, they look very similar to the NBLs, I would say they are proper, but no matter I have new(ish) tweeters and spare mids from NBLs. I am a lucky person.
‘Those aren’t the bass units, you got done!’
No I didn’t. I fancy the provenance. Incidentally there is no evidence any kind of sealant was used on the bass boxes, ever, just as an aside.
‘Are you insane?’
Yes, very likely.
Whats next?
I know that this is of interest to only a handful of men, but I want these to look as beautiful as they sound right now. Its very likely I will swap in the newer mids and trebles. I will then listen for some time before deciding if I need to swap in the ‘official’ ATCs. But to be honest right now, I see no need*
I am considering veneers. I want a veneer wide enough to not need book matching on the sides, which restricts choice. Likely walnut, which yes I appreciate could at any day turn old hat.
*I have never heard DBLs.
