Hmmmm, I have heard the 1037's at length, not sure they ar the best match for Naim AMP's.

Look forward to reading your findings,

Regards

pB

OK thanks Alastair, for some reason not entirely disassociated with senility I couldn't find them on the Focal website.

As Polarbear says, Hmmmm.Hmmmm.They're an "Interesting" size aren't they?

I'd be happy to listen to them but before you lug 'em over I'll discuss with SWMBO!

quote:

As Polarbear says, Hmmmm.Hmmmm.They're an "Interesting" size aren't they

Far too small

I still think it would be a good idea to squeeze a pair or two of Kudos into the van! If I had to chose one pair, C10s - of course...

James

OK, after plying SWMBO with wine for a while I showed her the piccy of the 1037s. Medium acceptance!

Worth a try but how will they perform being relatively close to a rear wall I wonder?

quote:

Originally posted by JWM:
I still think it would be a good idea to squeeze a pair or two of Kudos into the van! If I had to chose one pair, C10s - of course...

James

Thanks for the advice James. They're certainly still "In the Frame" but they'll have to be floorstanders - so C20s.

I am not sure where this idea comes from, that Focal speakers do not work well with Naim ?

About a year ago, we extensively auditioned Micro Utopias Be's and 1027Be's against a range of other speakers including ATC, B & W, ProAc, Spendor, Dynaudio et al and despite their somewhat quirky looks (WAF) , SWMBO was clear in agreeing with me that the Focals were our preferred choice-for the type of music we mainly listen to ie opera, symphonic, chamber, jazz, blues and some pop. Room size & acoustics were the major factor leading us to select the Micro Utiopia's rather than the 1027s. In a bigger room we would probably have gone for the 1027's. I do not regret this choice and regard them a great marriage with Naim.

Whilst, I have always been very sceptical about such things as main's blocks etc, a recent dem loan from Alistair at Signals of a Musicworks Mainsblock Plus and associated mains leads seems to have extended/firmed up the low end bass and slightly opened up the mid range sound, as well. They now sound even better. Apparently, this kit is supposed to improve the performance of Focals regardless of brand of associated electronics.

Although, I have very recently been made aware of the existence of the 1037's , I did not know they were yet in wide circulation ( they are not yet shown on the Focal website although you can find some references to them in German publications). Has anybody actually heard them who could comment comparatively versus the 1027's?

It may well be that in your room the Naim speakers are the ones to go for, but listen first and let your ears decide. I am sure the Signals guys will look after you well.

Thanks for your posting Geoff. I've by no means discounted the Focals and I want to give them a listen. Until you actually hear things in your own environment and to your individual taste it's very difficult to make these types of decision.

Two concerns with the focals; they're very large and may not have the sheer punch and drive of my SBLs, and how happy they'd be working with one hard against a wall, the other in fairly free space :-


The SBLs are quite happy here incidentally. Repositioning the speakers elsewhere in the room is just not a viable option.

My personal preference/gut feeling/aesthetic consideration stacks up in this order:-

1. Passive SL2s driven by NAP 300.
2. Focal 1037, tried initially with one of my current NAP 250s.
3. Kudos C20s driven by whatever!

I think the Kudos might fit the bill in a smaller room but I worry they might get a bit lost in mine.

Fun, isn't it?

I'm once more reviving this thread after another very interesting and rather more positive demo day yesterday.

The chaps from Signals arrived in convoy and packing some seriously heavy stuff! The Forum's very own J.N. also came along to lend his golden ears and Hi-Fi wisdom to the event; thanks John, your help was truly invaluable.

First up were a new demo pair of SL2s, run actively with my existing 250s. Immediately these sounded better than the previous demo pair, which are currently away being fettled for an indefinable fault. Promising but not quite there in comparison to my trusty old SBLs.

Next stage was to reinstall the SL2's crossovers and run them passively with a NAP300. A significant additional improvement, with more detail, refinement and weight than the SBLs but retaining most of the latter's lively drive and pace. We stuck to the 300 for the rest of the day.

The Focal 1027s were set up rather further from the wall than was practical but on listening, too close to the wall for them to sound any good!

Time for lunch and a chance to satisfy our cream cake habit courtesy of J.N.

Two massive boxes were lurking in the hall and as the chaps had taken the trouble to lug them over we felt we should give their contents an airing. After wrestling with the packaging a pair of Focal 1037s emerged, and very elegant they looked too :-


With them positioned well away from the wall and partially blocking the doorway to the kitchen(!) they sounded very impressive, lots of weight and presence. For some reason SWMBO seemed reluctant to contemplate the considerable structural alterations needed to accommodate them, so we packed them away to make way for the final offering of the day, a pair of Kudos C10s. Talk about from the sublime to the ridiculous!



Our expectations for these relatively diminutive speakers, I have to say, was not very high, but despite looking completely incongruous, they sounded pretty damn wonderful, being lively, dynamic, tuneful, in fact almost SBL-like! Ultimately, the SL2s outshone them, but the C10s certainly sounded special, and seem remarkable value for money on a sound-per-pound basis. Points scored for JWM I believe...

I've been left with the SL2s and NAP300 for an extended home trial and they currently throb away in the other room. The combination sounds excellent, better than the active SBLs in all but perhaps some liveliness. Very good, but THAT much better? Listening continues!

Hi,

You could go active using two 300s and keep the SBLs!!!!

What SNAXO are you using? The latest 242 made quite a positive difference to my active 250s and SBLs.

Frank

Thanks for your hospitality and the above report Tony. The soup and celeriac bread was rather wonderful Mags.

My feelings on the day's experiments mirror Tony's. Very interesting indeed.

Having some personal experience of SL2s, they seemed to like Tony's room (despite the right hand speaker being in a bit of free space) producing a tonal balance which seemed spot-on with the passive 300 amp.

Yet again I thnk it was evident that there seems to be a better sonic synergy with new electronics and new speakers. Yes indeed Frank, 'active' 300s sounds very tasty indeed! - with a 242 and a Supercap to power it of course.

Those little Kudos C10s are a bloody revelation - seeming to happily fill Tony's big room with a big, musically engaging sound in effortless style. Cracking v.f.m.

I look forward to your further musings Tony.

John.

Glad you had a great day!

(And of course that those Kudos put on a good show! Oh ye of little faith...)

James

A dilemma; this set-up definitely sounds better than the active SBLs/250s. But not THAT much better.

How much better would a 500 sound? Oh dear, I'm feeling a bit ill...

PS frank F, the NAXO's about 12 years old.

quote:

How much better would a 500 sound?

Can have one with you in 30 minutes . . .


Alastair

quote:

Originally posted by Signals UK:

quote:

How much better would a 500 sound?

Can have one with you in 30 minutes . . .


Alastair

Fibber! Won't be here for nearly an hour!

Oh well. That's that sorted out then!

I could bang on at great length about how good the 500 is, how wonderful vocals sound, the substantial increase in weight, detail and clarity, even the looks of the thing. how the SL2s are transformed.

But I won't.

Ah... Happiness is an empty bank account...

Hi Tony,

Did you try the SBLs in passive mode using the 300 or 500 (and the SL2 crossovers if necessary)??

Regarding SNAXOs, someone posted about rewiring a 24 to the same configuration as a 242 giving one power amp for treble and one for bass. I bottled out of wielding the soldering iron when I found a reasonably priced 242 and a buyer for the 24 but maybe...........

Perhaps your dealer is skilled at this or Naim could do a service????

Best regards

Frank

Hi Frank. I confess I didn't try the SBLs passive. One of the original spurs to change, and the reason I was given "permission" to do so, was because SWMBO didn't like the appearance of the SBLs. She's happy with the SL2s though and wouldn't take kindly to going back.

You know how these things are; it requires a great deal of careful handling and finesse. One word out of place and you blow it!

The SL2/500 combination just sounds so good, so right somehow, I'm very content.

quote:

Originally posted by JWM:
Ah... Happiness is an empty bank account...

Too true James!

Besides, now spring's just around the corner and the hedgerows hereabouts are beginning to burst into life, there's plenty of food to be gathered by simple foraging.
I'm confident we'll survive until the summer. When, of course, it will be time to upgrade the source...