I'll add something. Not sure about the II's, but the binding posts on my Sonatina I's are not very good. I bypassed them and direct-soldered my anti-cables to the internal wires. Reversible but a bit risky. Upside is greater detail and dynamics (which helps, considering their overly smooth, laid back character). Binding posts are for equipment sluts in IMHO. They are the condoms of the speaker swapping crowd. My speakers were already in poor condition (original bases replaced, corner damage) so I'm not concerned with re-sale. Although a bit underpowered, they sound great with 300b SET monoblocs.
Silverline Sonatina II - MODs?
I love my Silverline Sonatina II's. Have compared them in my home to various (wonderful) Spendors, Proacs, Ref 3a, Thiels, Usher, LSA, probably others I forget. II's win.
The II's don't always win in every respect: e.g. small two-ways do a slightly better disappearing act. The II's are a bit polite which is awesome for some music, less so for others. Some other floor-standers go deeper than the II's, so I got a sweet REL sub (another long and happy RELationship ;-)
On balance the II's win chiefly because they do an amazing job of sounding musical and present while offering a lot of detail and NOT sounding harsh, and sound very lively with a 40 watt triode amp. They are almost like the tube-amp of speakers
Natural, musical, presence, coherent, detailed.
But hey you know the audiophile rules. I've had these for several years. Times up. I have to either replace them or mod them, right? Rules are rules. :-o
Ok so I occasionally hear that folks have had Silverine designer Alan Yun put in a more modern esotar tweeter, or update a crossover, etc. I'd like to hear your war stories. How did it work out? What got better? worse? same? What do you recommend given your experiences? Perhaps others have tried modding the II's besides Alan Yun?
Sometimes we "tube roll" an amp, to see what different tubes sound like. Should I "cap-roll" the Silverline crossovers?
Fun. (If I can find the time, sigh.)
The II's don't always win in every respect: e.g. small two-ways do a slightly better disappearing act. The II's are a bit polite which is awesome for some music, less so for others. Some other floor-standers go deeper than the II's, so I got a sweet REL sub (another long and happy RELationship ;-)
On balance the II's win chiefly because they do an amazing job of sounding musical and present while offering a lot of detail and NOT sounding harsh, and sound very lively with a 40 watt triode amp. They are almost like the tube-amp of speakers
Natural, musical, presence, coherent, detailed.
But hey you know the audiophile rules. I've had these for several years. Times up. I have to either replace them or mod them, right? Rules are rules. :-o
Ok so I occasionally hear that folks have had Silverine designer Alan Yun put in a more modern esotar tweeter, or update a crossover, etc. I'd like to hear your war stories. How did it work out? What got better? worse? same? What do you recommend given your experiences? Perhaps others have tried modding the II's besides Alan Yun?
Sometimes we "tube roll" an amp, to see what different tubes sound like. Should I "cap-roll" the Silverline crossovers?
Fun. (If I can find the time, sigh.)