Hi all , is it worth getting sbl crossover serviced
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Some Alcaps drift after just a few years but I would think most people wait about 20-25 years before they even consider getting crossovers serviced.
The Linn speakers I’ve owned that clearly needed a service were 30+ years old. Some seem to age better than others though. I have 27 year old Tukans in very nice condition that sound perfectly fine to me. And Some 30 year old Kan IIs and Isobariks still sounded really good to me - this was a few years ago. I also had one owner SBLs that must have been nearly 30 years old and they sounded very good too.
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Go active? No passive XO needed. Costs a fair bit though.
But the sibbles will love it.
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Whats needed to go active ,im only running a 250 at the moment
More boxes, at least another 250, HiCap or SuperCap and the SNAXO with additional racking, wires and electric usage.
I took another route, boxed up the original PAXO and wrote RIP in big letters then placed in the loft.
Installed a Sean Jacobs PAXO. There is no comparison, the SJ PAXO removes the shackles then you hear what the SBL can deliver.
I suppose that for a SNAXO 2-4, Supercap, NAP250, you’d be looking at £2K-£2.5K at “eBay prices” for “olive” era boxes, more for “black” era.
Don’t know how much the Sean Jacobs PAXO costs but it’s got to be the cheaper option!
Sean Jacobs components are £750 “do it yourself” or assembled and tested £1500
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For a 2-way speaker , two stereo amps and an active crossover, and a two pairs of speaker cables. Secondhand Snaxo may he available preset for SBL, otherwise there are third party crossovers including digital ones that you can program yourself if you know the required frequencies and slopes, or have a means of monitoring (e.g a copy of REW software and a measuring microphone) and are willing to experiment
IIRC you like it with your SBLs?
Without a doubt, no comparison.
The SL2/500 is a formidable setup but IMHO the SBL(SJ)/250DR is another leap forward. After many, many years of owning Naim speakers the Naim PAXO held the speaker back. Naim speakers are designed active for a reason, the Naim PAXO is a throwaway component until you realise it can be bettered.
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It sounds like I need to get some of those crossovers for my SL2s. Do they attach to the rear of the cabinets like the Naim crossovers do?
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They are made to fit perfectly for the rear of the SBL, using the same 4x holes that the originals use. Fixing screws, rubber mounts are supplied.
For the SL2 you would need to speak to Sean but there is one small component change to the SJ circuit and you would need to place the SJ PAXO in a box with longer leads to the rear terminals of the SL2.
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