Today a client of LASA came at my place to collect my 600s. They stayed with me for a good decade. It has been a tough decision, however with the unavailability of spares now, despite having a new BMR, i though It was better to pass. For temporary use, i have these IBLs normally used in the other active system. They are a little lean of course, but the precision of the midrange and pizzicato strings playing Jonas Hellborg Elegant Punk CD, is really first class.
Don’t know the finale substitute which can thick all the boxes, for aestethics, medium High efficiency, easy load, closed box preferably and last but not least not too expensive. SBL perhaps ? For the moment here are the little tower and soon will have Kan 1 as well
Music For Life’s Antonio Trebbi also got great expertise on CB and Olive, having been employed for a while either at Linn & Naim, when he was still university student, prior of their distribution here in italy
I was playing this L.G. with IBL driven by 500dr, the midrange clarity is outstanding, the scale and mid bass extension is not like the 600 of course, but with the 552 volume at 9 ‘o clock the SPL peaked at 95db. The forthcoming SBL, will be probably the best of two worlds
Of course, i’ve been told that Naim Records, at the beginning used IBL like monitors,but the SBL is probably more complete. The DHL is quite the ultimate one, but difficult to source and requires much more space.
On the top of this, if i think that i payed for this SBL, taxes and delivery included, pretty much the same money of new nSat 15 years ago, It’ s quite a bargain.
Indeed, only i preferred the 600 to 400, the latter also gone, and were still in mint condition with Rosewood veneer. Of course systems were different, 400s at the end of 202/HC/200 into bigger room. 600s in smaller room with full 500 system. I always found the 400s being slightly “grey” medium/High. May be the the room was not ideal. Aestethically wise i think that Ovators are still one of the nicest loudspeakers ever made, fit and finish, the beauty of some engineering details. Today some models, especially in the High end/premium range are tacky to say to least
I have two pairs of Keilidhs; there are no spare parts for these 27-year-old speakers, but I haven’t got rid. Was there something else you heard which bettered the 600s?
My Linn dealer insists to give me the ATC SCM50, but i’m not so convinced and are not cheap either. Other alternativs, kudos 70/808? Or Sopra 2/3 ? I don’t know
