Thanks for the input so far. My ES14's are away from the wall only about 20cm. I ran the 32.5 with a single 110 for many years and found the bass could be a bit boomy and confused at higher levels. About 3 years ago, I rediscovered the hi-fi bug, having had to give up motorcycling owing to health reasons, I had some spare cash. I've been gradually upgrading and improving things, first a Hi Cap, then servicing it, building the monoblocks, playing with cap swapping and mods, teddy-regs et,c to the stage Im at now. With each upgrade the ES14's just got better, more detail, air, composure, control and tightness in the bass, for example. If anything the bass is now a touch light, but so much better in quality. No boom, tuneful but not overpowering, subtle would be a good description. I love the sound my system makes. I would hope a good well set up pair of SBLs would just add a degree of polish, add a little more tuneful authority and extension in the bass. I like a decent attempt at a three dimensional soundstage, it is this aspect of the SBLs performance that I've read can be lacking. Down to poor setup perhaps?
No, they are designed to go within 100mm (4 inches) of a solid back wall for correct bass loading. In turn, this means early reflections in the mid and highs from the wall, and standing waves etc, will mess with the 'attempt at a three dimensional soundstage' The result is still very pleasing musically as a speaker, but it is more a forward wall of sound, rather than a soundstage with large amounts of depth and width, height etc, with instruments and vocals placed precisely within - that is not a strength of the SBLS.
However, they have superb bass in terms of pitch definition, and in room down to a comfortable 25 hz or so - from memory they're around 8db down at 20hz.
I have a pair of Mk 11's in walnut, bought new, along with some Mana speaker bases - the speakers were always lightly covered when not being used, used in a pet and smoke free homes, and if someone in Australia is interested, I may agree to sell them to the right local buyer. PM me if the thought interests you.
In his July 1997 review of them in HFNRR Martin Colloms opinion that they were one of the best speakers money could buy.
They have their flaws, but what they do right is magnificent - I ran them with my Sony TA-DA9000ES digital amp after finding it outperformed my then Naim electronics, (also bought new about 18 months before choosing the SBL's as the best 'match'), - which after about a year of discontent swapping back and forth with the Sony I sold off - but still have the Sony amp and speakers a decade plus on - the SBL's are a hard act to follow given their strengths and overall musical satisfaction.
At the time I purchased them, one of the speakers on my shortlist was the Epos 14 - another favourite of mine. I had them home for a weeks trial, but as an pipe organ enthusiast, found the bass lacking in extension and pitch definition at very low frequencies - the SBL's outperform the Epos 14's quite noticeably in terms of low bass extension/pitch definition, but also detail everywhere, and a bigger, richer, and more dynamic sound presentation overall. Once heard, I couldn't go back to the Epos 14's, excellent speakers though they are.
HTH
Cheers
