These speakers have always fascinated me and at the same time scared …
I think I read all the posts of the “old” forum (from 2001 to 2018) and what I understood is that they are considered absolutely fantastic but …
but the gasket …
but the sealant …
but the wall …
but the position …
but the amp …
but the cabinet (laminated or not) …
but the tips …
but the floor …
but the drivers (MK1, MK2…)…
It seems that to get the best out of these speakers, it’s as if you have to win the New Year’s lottery …
I have the opportunity to buy at a bargain price a pair of SBL MK2 with brand new tweeters and cross-over (original naim) (including the original sealant to perform the sealing operation)
They would be driven by my actual 282/200 system.
I’d like to hear your opinions … how much are they still considered amazing or not anymore?
I love them. For me, the search for loudspeakers has ended. I have not a single cell in my body what would consider other loudspeakers (well maybe SL2’s) since these loudspeakers integrate so well in my room and I can upgrade for the next 10 years on the source and amp side without outclassing the loudspeakers.
They go really deep, they are small. They don’t boom, they are fast, they are well build. They have a very good balance between low and high - much better than what I had before.
Massive fan of SBLs here and still use them after buying my first pair in 1989…
Yes, they need correct installation and will get better as your system improves. They like vinyl, but my CDS3 also works well. Just remember they were designed to be on the end of a top class system and like being activated.
I got good results with a 180 back in the day, but the magic continues to be revealed as the system improves. Great second hand buy as you can always move them on.
I run them currently on a lowly 72/140. Fed by an Allo DigiOne into a Chord Mojo.
I’ve built a rack over the weekend which should accomodate 2x135’s … my wife was asking if the extra space was to store the CD’s - she has good senses for what might come if finances allow.
SBLs are fine with 282/200. What have you got for front-end ?
What is your room like?
SBLs like solid brick or stone walls, and concrete floors.
Plasterboard/stud walls will make them sound compromised, how much will depend how wobbly and boomy the stud walls are, but they still may sound ‘okay’ when used with a smaller amp such as a 200.
SBLs use the mass of the wall behind them to produce excellent natural and detailed bass, but this design feature can in turn store vibration [energy] in walls that aren’t solid enough. So always better to have a turntable wall shelf on a different wall than the SBLs.
What should decide whether you buy SBLs is your room potential.
Lots of advantages if they do work in your room, close to wall compact is practical, superb sound when set up right, and fantastic value for money, well worth the faff.
It’s the 250 that really gets the SBLs going, and it will make them sound a lot larger too. That said, the 200 is perfectly good enough for now. The ‘classic’ front end is of course the LP12, and given that you have a 282 a better deck would not go amiss. Again, like the 200, the Rega 6 is fine for now. As others have said, you can throw top level sources and amplification at the SBL and they will keep on giving.
My front end si a TT Rega P6 (new model) with Exact…
My room is the living room (7mt x 3mt)… system on the center of the long side… i listen at 3mt and the distance beetwen the speakers are the same (3 mt)… so perfect triangle…
The wall is very very solid… so i think no problem… but it’s the same where i have placed the TT shelf…
With a smaller size NAP [ 200 or smaller ] i’d say yes.
With a bigger amp [ = more bass ] it maybe feasible to compare the TT on a rack shelf if the floor is concrete vs wall shelf, but only one way to find out : )
I bought my SBLs from mr halibut in 2007 - used in main system from 102-180 to 52-300. Now replaced by SL2s in the main system but I have the SBLs in the loft running on my unitiqute. Not against a wall and the floor isn’t at all solid but still makes some very listenable and musical noises so not worth selling…
As above really, not much more to add apart from.
I still have a pair that i no longer use and up till moving rooms a few months ago they worked well, even with me sound deadening the stud wall, they still did not really work the same.
So i have moved on, but still have them and dont think i will ever get rid off them, as they are not worth selling these days.
I ran mine active with 2 x 250 olive amps and the sbl’s liked this set up and if i was you i would look at going that way as it makes a huge difference
… my wife was asking if the extra space was to store the CD’s - she has good senses for what might come if finances allow.