AudioCircle

Industry Circles => GR Research => Topic started by: g3rain1 on 21 Jan 2023, 12:18 am

Title: Yet another NX-Otica Build Thread
Post by: g3rain1 on 21 Jan 2023, 12:18 am
Started my NX-Otica journey this month.

(https://i.imgur.com/jvnr2C8.jpg)

Painted with with Duratex, sanded a bit and sprayed with glossy white enamel.
(https://i.imgur.com/nyeNzVi.jpg)

Ordered some cherry wood veneer. Letting it flatten out over night before trying to work with it.
(https://i.imgur.com/O7MzwyG.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/X4UINy2.jpg)

Tung Oil finish.
(https://i.imgur.com/fUqzkeb.jpg)

With the drivers in.
(https://i.imgur.com/glmiSWm.jpg)

Still need to do the wiring, build the crossovers and put the no-rez in.
Title: Re: Yet another NX-Otica Build Thread
Post by: Hobbsmeerkat on 21 Jan 2023, 01:37 am
Those are looking really pretty!  :thumb:
Title: Re: Yet another NX-Otica Build Thread
Post by: Jaytor on 21 Jan 2023, 02:53 am
Lookin’ good
Title: Re: Yet another NX-Otica Build Thread
Post by: oldman74 on 21 Jan 2023, 02:59 am
Someday...  Those look really good, nice work!
Title: Re: Yet another NX-Otica Build Thread
Post by: Danny Richie on 21 Jan 2023, 07:55 pm
Nice.
Title: Re: Yet another NX-Otica Build Thread
Post by: g3rain1 on 23 Jan 2023, 06:56 am
I'm making these blocks to mount the tube connectors in out of a bar of cherry and finishing them the same as the sides so they will match.
(https://i.imgur.com/f5TXtx2.jpg)
Title: Re: Yet another NX-Otica Build Thread
Post by: Vince in TX on 23 Jan 2023, 03:08 pm
This will most likely be my next upgrade.  Now that I switched to a taller 16x9 screen, the X-Statics don't look tall enough    :lol:

 :popcorn:

Hey, Danny, are you making a center channel to match the NX-Oticas?   :thumb:

(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=249096)

Title: Re: Yet another NX-Otica Build Thread
Post by: Danny Richie on 25 Jan 2023, 12:09 am
This will most likely be my next upgrade.  Now that I switched to a taller 16x9 screen, the X-Statics don't look tall enough    :lol:

 :popcorn:

Hey, Danny, are you making a center channel to match the NX-Oticas?   :thumb:

(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=249096)

Jay has had one cut for a while. I think he just needs to figure out what to do for a base to hold it all.
Title: Re: Yet another NX-Otica Build Thread
Post by: Endo2112 on 26 Jan 2023, 07:24 pm
Yup, made, fit like a glove, need to glue and send to Danny, but yup the base is the tricky bit.

Don
Title: Re: Yet another NX-Otica Build Thread
Post by: Captainhemo on 26 Jan 2023, 10:52 pm
Apologies on the  delay for the  NX-C, we've been trying to catch up on   back orders and somhow this  keeps  getting pushed back.   Weather has finally  warmed up  some so   getting    more work  done....
As Don mentioned above,    we have a  small run of cabinets  done,  I'm  just  working on  finishing up a base.  Will get  this first one glued up and off to Danny for c/o  work



(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=249241)



-jay
Title: Re: Yet another NX-Otica Build Thread
Post by: hawkeyejw on 27 Jan 2023, 08:36 pm
Apologies on the  delay for the  NX-C, we've been trying to catch up on   back orders and somhow this  keeps  getting pushed back.   Weather has finally  warmed up  some so   getting    more work  done....
As Don mentioned above,    we have a  small run of cabinets  done,  I'm  just  working on  finishing up a base.  Will get  this first one glued up and off to Danny for c/o  work



(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=249241)


-jay

Oh boy, that looks nice.
Title: Re: Yet another NX-Otica Build Thread
Post by: g3rain1 on 28 Jan 2023, 06:50 pm
Got all the drivers wired up. I ran the tweeter down the same side as the low end drivers, hope that's okay in terms of cross talk.
(https://i.imgur.com/Ny1MGTY.jpg)


How does my crossover layout look? There's so many inductors it's hard to keep them seperate.
(https://i.imgur.com/0uSubPI.jpg)
Title: Re: Yet another NX-Otica Build Thread
Post by: corndog71 on 30 Jan 2023, 05:57 pm
Mount the small inductors at 90° to the large one and space them apart as much as possible.


(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=223167)
Title: Re: Yet another NX-Otica Build Thread
Post by: Vince in TX on 31 Jan 2023, 03:56 am
Mount the small inductors at 90° to the large one and space them apart as much as possible.
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=223167)

Yep.   That's how I did my X-On Walls.

(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=229288)
Title: Re: Yet another NX-Otica Build Thread
Post by: g3rain1 on 19 Feb 2023, 08:47 pm
Finally finished the crossovers. Also I've cut up most of the norez to fit. Question, does the small wing at the top need norez?
(https://i.imgur.com/MKO1kgG.jpg)
Sorbothane disks on the bottom of the crossover board.
(https://i.imgur.com/qGCGw0r.jpg)
Title: Re: Yet another NX-Otica Build Thread
Post by: g3rain1 on 20 Mar 2023, 05:36 am
(https://i.imgur.com/k71udtq.jpg)
Finished and in room.

Now to get some amps worthy of these...  What do you guys think, Burson timekeeper 3X GT, Schiit Tyr, PS Audio M700, Orchard Starkrimson, Benchmark AHB2?  What are other Otica owners running?  I'll probably get a Holo Spring 3 KTE DAC down the line as well.
Title: Re: Yet another NX-Otica Build Thread
Post by: mkrawcz on 20 Mar 2023, 09:47 am
(https://i.imgur.com/k71udtq.jpg)
Finished and in room.

Now to get some amps worthy of these...  What do you guys think, Burson timekeeper 3X GT, Schiit Tyr, PS Audio M700, Orchard Starkrimson, Benchmark AHB2?  What are other Otica owners running?  I'll probably get a Holo Spring 3 KTE DAC down the line as well.
I wasn’t impressed by the Starkrimson at all. I own a Benchmark AHB2 and it’s not bad, but there are better amps out there for less money now.
Title: Re: Yet another NX-Otica Build Thread
Post by: corndog71 on 20 Mar 2023, 12:10 pm
Schiit Tyr!  Terrific amps for the money.  I have a pair driving the upper half of my Super 7s.  Excellent depth and airiness not to mention detailed but also smooth.  I love these amps!

(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=251116)
Title: Re: Yet another NX-Otica Build Thread
Post by: Jaytor on 20 Mar 2023, 01:50 pm
I concur with @mkrawcz - the Starkrimson for whatever reason just did not sound good on the NX-Oticas.

These speakers are fairly efficient, so they don't need a ton of power.

These are the amps I've tried on the NX-Oticas in my rank order of preference.

Orchard Starkrimson (would not recommend)
Neurochrome Modulus-286 monoblocks
Krell KAV-200
Parasound JC-5
DIY Purifi monoblocks with linear PS and tube input buffer
Pass XA-60.8 monoblocks
DIY 300B PSET monoblocks (based on ANK C-Core Interstage kit)
Title: Re: Yet another NX-Otica Build Thread
Post by: BrandonB on 20 Mar 2023, 06:05 pm
I concur with @mkrawcz - the Starkrimson for whatever reason just did not sound good on the NX-Oticas.

These speakers are fairly efficient, so they don't need a ton of power.

These are the amps I've tried on the NX-Oticas in my rank order of preference.

Orchard Starkrimson (would not recommend)
Neurochrome Modulus-286 monoblocks
Krell KAV-200
Parasound JC-5
DIY Purifi monoblocks with linear PS and tube input buffer
Pass XA-60.8 monoblocks
DIY 300B PSET monoblocks (based on ANK C-Core Interstage kit)
So if I am reading this right you would go with the Neurochrome 286 mono blocks first?  If this is correct how much better is the Neureochrome than the Krell's and do you think it has to do with being mono blocks?
Title: Re: Yet another NX-Otica Build Thread
Post by: Jaytor on 20 Mar 2023, 06:26 pm
So if I am reading this right you would go with the Neurochrome 286 mono blocks first?  If this is correct how much better is the Neureochrome than the Krell's and do you think it has to do with being mono blocks?

Other way around. These are listed in worst to best order.

I would characterize the Neurochromes as similar in performance to the Krells. Keep in mind that this is a pretty old Krell model (close to 30 years old).

The Parasound and Purifi amps are a nice step up compared to both of these, and these both offer fairly comparable performance. With the tube input buffer, the Purifi amp provides a bit better sound staging, but the Parasound amp has a bit more detail.

The Pass XA60.8 and 300B amps are another step up from these. On the NX-Oticas, these offered similar performance with the Pass amps providing a bit more grunt and the 300B amps providing better midrange performance and a deeper sound stage. On my Line Force speakers, the 300Bs are the clear winners so I sold my Pass amps. But the Line Forces are quite a bit more efficient, and the subs cover more of the mid-bass since the Line Forces don't play as deep as the NX-Oticas.