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My Auction Items
Celestion SL6si Bookshelf Speakers
(originally $799 pr. retail)
For sale is a pair of the British classic Celestion SL6si speakers, the finest model of the SL6 series. They were designed under inspiration from the Rogers LS3/5A. Personally, I think they sound better than the Rogers. The two way design creates incredible imaging and natural voices. If you’re a fan of James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, or Phoebe Snow the SL6si are a perfect timber match. They also excel with jazz. Though they cannot produce deep full bass, what they do give is a nice, tight punchy bass with a smooth roll-off.
Construction is mdf with a real light walnut veneer finish. It blends very well with oak, cherry, and pine furniture. I have set these speakers up on both stands and in a bookcase. In either placement the sound is smooth and uncolored, although they do perform best on stands.
I bought these speakers in 1990, they were demos. They do have a few small nicks and the grill cover on one speaker is wearing thin on one lower corner. Since the photos were taken I have oiled the cabinets. Also, the tabs broke off of one grill. I was able to super glue two of the four back on. The pictures don’t show it, but the glue used to put the tweeter together has oxidized. It DOES NOT compromise the sound in any fashion. The SL6si have been in a smoke free environment. Overall condition rating 7.5/10. They will be double boxed for shipment.
Dimensions are: 14.8" H x 7.9" W x 10.5" D
Below are 4 pictures plus a very hard to locate review.
From www.audioshopper.com
Celestion SL6S Speakers:
Get closer to the music
C elestion is a well-known high end speaker manufacturer of British lineage. The company has historically produced numerous models that have received praise from the British press. The models most well known in the United States are the SL600 series and the SL700. The SL6 were the SL600 in less expensive clothing so to speak, and retailed from $800 to $999/pr. The SL600 utilized a cabinet with Aerolam, an aluminum honeycomb construction while the SL6 employed the traditional wood enclosure. The SL6 series were produced in the early 80s to early 90s in three iterations: the SL6, SL6S, and the SL6Si.
Spec Sheet
The SL6S are two-way speaker systems with a 1.25 inch dome tweeter and 6-inch plastic woofer. Each unit measures 14.8" H x 7.9" W x 10.5" D or 10" D without grille. The particular pair for review came in walnut though I have seen them in black as well. The speakers have a sensitivity of 84 dB SPL (1 watt at 1 meter). Impedance is 8 ohms. Each speaker weighs 18.5 lb. Packed per pair for shipping, the package weighs 41.4 lb. The recommended amplifier power requirement is between 25-120 watts. The speakers are said to go -3 dB at 60 Hz.
Each pair comes with each unit's frequency curve chart and inspection sheets. A nice touch to provide evidence of the care that was employed with the assembly of the units. Overall, the fit and finish are flawless. The artisans at Celestion did their homework.
Listening
I purchased the SL6S speakers in July 1995 from the classified ad section of the Audio Shopper . Since then I have listened to the pair off and on using various equipment combinations. I used them with my primary reference: the Classe' DR-9, Audible Illusions Modulus 3, JVC XL-Z1050 cd player, Promethean Bandpass interconnect, Inouye power conditioner, Kimber 8TC speaker cables, and Target stands. I compared them with the Sound Dynamics 300Ti, Rogers LS3/5A, Spendor SP-1 and Linn Kan II speakers. I also tried them with the VTL 120/50, Quicksilver KT88, and Dynaco ST70 amps and Mission Cyrus II integrated amp.
Something to sing about
The SL6S are startling and revealing speakers. Their approach is to bring you closer to the music. I will explain this further later. Listening to Pepe and Celin Romero in Famous Spanish Dances (Philips 411 432), one could hear the vibration of the strings as they were individually being plucked, the scratching sound as one moves swiftly from one fret to another and the woody tone emanating from the classical guitar. You clearly hear the rise, decay, and interplay of the music. Listening to Eric Clapton in Slowhand (Polydor 823 276-2), one experienced a sense of being transported to the musical venue. The cues were there - the metallic splash of the cymbals, the snap of the snare drum as the drumstick hits both the drum and the metal, the bite of the electric guitar, and the hoarseness of his voice. In Van Morrison's "Into the Mystic" ( Van Morrison Moondance , Warner Bros 3103-2), one savors the progression of instrumentation: first the background cymbals, soft guitar strumming, the melodic foundation of the bass guitar, then the organ, and sax. I have not played this CD for a while and it was a rediscovery! I believe that one of the most important task of a speaker is to enable the listener to connect with the spirit of the musical context. Some call this goosebumps. Anyhow, these speakers have that effect with recordings that possess the quality.
In order to get the most from the SL6S, one needs to have these placed away from the wall and corners. Also unlike some speakers, these prefer to point straight ahead instead of angled toward the listener. Sited correctly, the SL6S throw a deep and spacious soundstage. During my comparison with the LS3/5A, the SL6S edged the latter on this spatial aspect. I believe that their more evocative quality provides them the advantage.
Clarity as a benefit is questionable. One must look at the whole and see its relationship. Does it detract from the music? I believe that most of the time it does not. Let me explain. Compared to the Sound Dyamics 300Ti, the SL6S's balance is a tad skewed toward the highs. That is probably why some reviewers have noted that these speakers can occasionally sound hot. And I agree. But this also largely depends upon the electronics and front end. The Mission Cyrus II integrated amp, which has a tendency toward leanness, will make this evident. They are not a good match. The Classe' DR-9 amp with the SL6S are a magical combination. Better still, use a tube amp. On a budget? I have used the Dynaco ST-70 on these babies and found them complementary.
The SL6S also render more solid and deeper bass than the LS3/5A. There was no evidence of tubbiness. The 6-inch woofer of the Celestion provides the advantage. They articulate rather than hint at dynamic constrasts, and possess much of the midrange magic of the LS3/5A. To my mind, both are superior musical instruments that deliver slighly different renditions of excellence. Compared to the Sound Dynamics 300Ti and Spendor SP-1, one cannot help but appreciate the fuller sound of the two bigger speakers.
What about orchestral music? The SL6S captures the essence of the orchestra, in my opinion. Of course, one will not hear the full visceral measure of the rolling bass of the timpani or the sonorous low notes of the double bass. For those you'll need full frequency speakers. No matter, I found them thoroughly competent and enjoyable.
Comparing the LS3/5A and the SL6S, which are easier to live with? No doubt the LS3/5As are. They are easier to match with components and most listening environment. They sound musical most of the time, though just like any speaker, one will have to experiment a bit to be able to get the best from them.
Conclusion
The SL6S have lived under the shadow of their twice more expensive sibling - the SL600. Frankly, I do not think that this is a fair comparison. For that price difference, there are better bargains to be had. The SL6S can stand on their own merit as exceptional performers that can compete against the LS3/5A. Granted they are more finicky and require more care in system matching. That's the challenge with components that are revelatory. If you're up to it, you'll reap the rewards that the SL6S can offer. These speakers should be in the range of $350-$450 in the used market, depending upon condition and iteration. These underrated babies deserve three clefs, and are great bargains.
by Rome Castellanes