In 12 years at this house and I think 5 pairs of speakers (plus several more demoed), these have the best room interaction.
Most others were a nightmare with bass boom needing taming, though we had the room set with the speakers firing across the narrow dimension and I’m kicking myself it took so long to move things around.
I listened to the guys on this forum and made changes to the room. Moving the speakers out into the room and moving the Fraim, getting rid of one of my sofas and moving the shelving unit has made it more of a listening room.
I was trying to be witty… I actually have owned six (!) pairs of n-Sats, and some might even remember it.
Not at the same time.
Four in cherry finish, one in maple, one in piano black.
The interesting aspect of it is, that each pair sounded different.
The piano black was full, almost not needing an n-Sub (which I also had, for a while). The maple was the finest, bought from a friend from this forum, in Denmark.
The cherries were mysteriously leaner - all of them an early production batch - and with a prominent mid-treble.
All in all, my preferred ones were the maples I bought from Per F.
I’ve also owned two pairs of SBLs, early blacks and later cherries. I still consider the SBL the ideal speaker for few reasons - the concept, the sound, being thought for close-to-wall placement.
I loved both Sats and SBLs. Having since heard a number of every possible design, shape, size, concept and voicing, I still think that Roy George’s SBLs are the closest to a perfect compromise between true domestic use and clever, not-so-convenient engineering.
No Problem M. I’m now laughing as you’ve had more speakers than I have had hot dinners!
I do struggle with speakers, getting the next black box is relatively easy as I know the upgrade path. But speakers are a different thing. I took ages deciding with my last pair between the ATC SCM 40 and the Scansonic MB5 as the Scansonics sounded a bit more dynamic in my basement in Canada. Now having moved back to England I have to use a reasonable sized bedroom for my main system NDS/252/300 Scansonics and they have really been a struggle to get right. I’m 95% there but my research tells me that the perfect-ish speaker now for me would be the Kudos Titan T505’s. However, I’m on the lookout also for a decent pair of SBL’s preferably not in black for system 2 in the lounge which is ND5XS2/Supernait 1/ and currently Mission 732’s which are 25 years old whilst my ATC SCM 19’s are back at the mothership for repair.
And I have had less hot dinners than you… At least, in the last seven months or so.
I haven’t mentioned having had twice Ovator S-400s and once Arivas.
The Ariva was another underrated speaker system from Naim - the most underrated, in my opinion, speaker manufacturer ever.
They had very accurate a neutral timbres, but a slightly prominent bass and a somehow ‘shy’ treble, but the voice of instruments was rather good.
I have always said, and will always say, that Naim has produced better speakers systems than many a specialized maker. I regret their speakers more than I regret any other products from them.
Congratulations on your new speakers @Dan_M !
Sounds like you have achieved a great synergy.
I fully agree with your description of the sound characteristics.
I briefly had the Sopra 2s in my relatively large 17X25 foot room with a cathedral ceiling, but switched to the Sopra3s only because I thought they would be more appropriate for the room size.
I now am fortunate enough to have a 500 system.
Play with toe in angle as I found it makes a big difference at least in my room and have settled on minimal if any toe in.
Love the color. Enjoy.