Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2019 18:12:25 GMT
Glancing at Paul D's dislikes chucks up an interesting one, namely the NVA A80's. That's THREE different people who don't know each other claiming it sounds dull and not that wonderful. I'll add that every time I was demmed a set at Sidcup, one or both blew up in front of me! Rega own-make MM cartridges - as bad as I always remembered them - the AT91 based carbon is better in many ways and that ain't saying very much. Many Dynaudio speakers which clinically analyse the sound. Harbeth C7-ES3 which is the polar opposite of the Dynaudios - full-fat mid bass totally dominates the rather nice mids available. Funk modded LP12 - ruined the LP12 strong bits, but added nothing of its own that I could see. Small floor standing Kudos model - absolutely terrible screechy things. Sugden integrated - like a thick blanket thrown over the speakers - A21SE I think, but a more expensive but vaguely similar amp from Sugden sounded rather better. I have to say it - NVA Cube 2's - absolutely awful and lord knows I tried! Last time I auditioned a deck with a Rega cartridge it sounded pretty poor (20 yrs ago). Doesn't look like they have been changed much. Had the original R100 (Supex?) in the 80s and it sounded great. For some reason Michell are now always using A21SE for show dems? Tried the Cube 2s and can't get totally satisfactory sound. Adding a very powerful amp helped. I don't see how any NVA amp can drive them properly. I think they likely work better near field with lowish ceilings. Mine will be up for sale soon. Luckily I didn't pay the normal price. For that money (£1200) I bought some floorstanders that blow them away. Luckily I have rarely bought anything that sounded really bad. Had some uninspiring amps in the 70's, a Rotel amp and Pioneer SX 535 receiver. Blown away by a NAD 3020. I might not have liked the A80s but I really DID love the 4xA40 I had. I also like Cubettes so much I made my own with a better tweeter, cabinet, crossover and wiring. I think cubes are not going to suit everyone but if you like semi omnis they are marvellous. |
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Post by dsjr on Dec 11, 2019 19:18:42 GMT
I still have a R100 with good tip and it's good if not neutral (response tilt). The current 'version' of it is the Sumiko Pearl, which used to be very similar as I believe it shares the design. I've been reminded about my posted positive vibes about the Cube 2's when I had them at home and reported elsewhere. Thing is *for me,* long term, the 'totally different presentation' just got to me eventually, although some people THRIVE on this way of reproducing music I know. Larger models not so much of an issue for me and I may have said that before. I'll crawl back under my stone now. I concluded a combo of ceiling height and listening position may be the problem (large room). Since the bass/mid is upward firing I found I used more volume to get an impact. May go in the office if they don't sell. On the positive they are clean and unfatiging but they seem fairy low efficiency with a limited headroom if you push them with a lot of watts. Law of physics kicks in with box size. Hence likely why you like the large models more. Considering what's available out there (new and used) they are not quite the bargain some think at full retail. They did open my eyes as to how my Missions smoothed over detail and percussion instruments are very well portrayed. Having now totally contradicted myself over these '2's' completely, I was taken by RD to an owner of the Cube 1's and *in that room* they sounded totally different and very much better balanced, there being rather more 'body' to the tone. The Cubix Pro's with taller boxes and built in amps also had this too. In saying that, I have two witnesses as we discussed it at RD's funeral. |
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
The HiFi Bear/Audioaddicts/Bigbottle Owner
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Post by Bigman80 on Dec 11, 2019 19:29:05 GMT
I concluded a combo of ceiling height and listening position may be the problem (large room). Since the bass/mid is upward firing I found I used more volume to get an impact. May go in the office if they don't sell. On the positive they are clean and unfatiging but they seem fairy low efficiency with a limited headroom if you push them with a lot of watts. Law of physics kicks in with box size. Hence likely why you like the large models more. Considering what's available out there (new and used) they are not quite the bargain some think at full retail. They did open my eyes as to how my Missions smoothed over detail and percussion instruments are very well portrayed. Having now totally contradicted myself over these '2's' completely, I was taken by RD to an owner of the Cube 1's and *in that room* they sounded totally different and very much better balanced, there being rather more 'body' to the tone. The Cubix Pro's with taller boxes and built in amps also had this too. In saying that, I have two witnesses as we discussed it at RD's funeral. Funerals, the new home of hifi talk?? Your overall opinion can be different to an isolated incidental experience. For Instance, I heard a pair of horn speakers once, very very expensive and I hated them. My ears hurt and they sounded shrill and etched. Horrific. I shared that opinion and another user stated he owned a pair and they had nothing like that going on. There are many factors that could have been at play. It was probably more a case of them not working entirely in the room, but you recognising what they did well, and focusing on that for your assessment. With NVA under new ownership, there's no need to placate the old brand, so I'm more inclined to place value on your opinion now than I was then! |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2019 16:45:59 GMT
Roksan Caspian integrated and power amp. I forget the exact reference, but they were pretty horrible. Brash and abrasive with the sort of sound you'd expect from a cheap Pa amp.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2019 16:59:10 GMT
Roksan Caspian integrated and power amp. I forget the exact reference, but they were pretty horrible. Brash and abrasive with the sort of sound you'd expect from a cheap Pa amp. I can think of other amps that's a reasonable description of. |
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Post by dsjr on Dec 15, 2019 0:27:26 GMT
Do they change that much with age and use? My one and only memory of the Caspian was of a warm toned but fairly powerful amp - this was nearly twenty years ago though and I remember how CB and Olive Naim amps go to pieces after fifteen years or so without a service (the offsets drift amongst other things).
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