[jmimac351]

Great work! How long before the NX Bravo XCS MTM? “Return of the N3” (queue John Williams soundtrack)

Makes sense for an "NX-Bravo Center Channel"... would be interesting if you could just rotate the waveguide in an MTM depending on application - Center or L / R use.  The NX-Bravo could be Front L / R or rear... could mix and match all of this stuff.

[Hobbsmeerkat]

Great work! How long before the NX Bravo XCS MTM? “Return of the N3” (queue John Williams soundtrack)

Not long, it'll probably start with the "center" then the towers shortly after, it just depends on how much tweeter orientation affects the crossover.
We'll probably have the N3S cabinets built within the next couple weeks.

[jabouley]

Yea!

[mlundy57]

Great work! How long before the NX Bravo XCS MTM? “Return of the N3” (queue John Williams soundtrack)

Hobbs said the idea was to revive the N3 line to which I wholeheartedly agree. The N1-X was the second speaker I built back in 2012 and the N3 the third in 2013. The N1-Xs are fabulous little speakers, still have them and they are currently playing in my second system. However, the N3s are in my living room system, get played every day, and are still my favorite box speakers.

[Hobbsmeerkat]

Unlike the NX-Bravo which has an updated cabinet, the updated version of the N3/N3S will use the same cabinet plans as the originals.

[jeffh]

Unlike the NX-Bravo which has an updated cabinet, the updated version of the N3/N3S will use the same cabinet plans as the originals.

This is what I have been waiting for, an update to the N3....Finally 

[corndog71]

Wouldn’t that be NX-3 / NX-3S? 

Would the center channel version be ported or sealed?

[Hobbsmeerkat]

Wouldn’t that be NX-3 / NX-3S? 

Would the center channel version be ported or sealed?

we don't have a name for them just yet\

The center will be sealed, a ported box will make the cabinet too large to be usable.

[mlundy57]

we don't have a name for them just yet\

The center will be sealed, a ported box will make the cabinet too large to be usable.

Makes sense since the N3S was sealed.

[nlitworld]

we don't have a name for them just yet.

How about the N3SA for N3 SuperAwesome. 

[jmimac351]

Mike, those are some nice lookin' speakers.  Well done.

[mlundy57]

Mike, those are some nice lookin' speakers.  Well done.

Thanks. Going on 12 years old and they still look and sound as good as new, after break in of course. Shellac has turned out to be a lot more resilient of a finish than I thought it would be. Which is great considering how much time that French Polish finish took.

[BrandonB]

Hobbs how do these sound compared to the NX-Studio's and how are they different.  Do they serve different purposes better?

[Hobbsmeerkat]

We're still in the process of burn-in (about 72hrs so far?) so there's still improvements to be made.

That said they're very clean, detailed and articulate, with excellent imaging and a surprisingly wide soundstage, but they lack the depth/layering of the Studios, but they do have solid bass down to 55Hz, even with the subs turned off.
They're also a lot smaller than the Studios, which makes them better suited for desktop use, or as surrounds in a smaller room where the studios are a bit too large/expensive, but they can otherwise be used just about and small to moderately sized room, like the Studios.

The interesting thing is that don't particularly "stand out" or draw attention to themselves for one particular reason or another, especially when we've compared them against the new LGK prototypes, which offer a much more "rich" presentation especially with vocals and string instruments, with a really deep, layered soundstage, but sacrifice some top end clarity.
They're just a very neutral speaker.

They do play really well with both tube and solid state gear.

But we'll see how thing shake out once we get them fully burned-in

[BrandonB]

These speakers remind me of the cool speakers shown at the LSAF.  Same GR Research tweeter, it was also sealed, but with a purify woofer.  The woodwork was outstanding.  I think there was even sand sandwiched between layers of wood to deaden resonance etc. All that said I think some of you woodworking guys like Mike and crossover builder such as Fredrick could get together and build something really cool.  That would normally cost tens of thousands of dollars. 

[Hobbsmeerkat]

These speakers remind me of the cool speakers shown at the LSAF.  Same GR Research tweeter, it was also sealed, but with a purify woofer.  The woodwork was outstanding.  I think there was even sand sandwiched between layers of wood to deaden resonance etc. All that said I think some of you woodworking guys like Mike and crossover builder such as Fredrick could get together and build something really cool.  That would normally cost tens of thousands of dollars.

Norman did fantastic work on those speakers, and they do sound fantastic also, excellent bass extension to boot.

[jakekluge]

Hobbs, would the N3 cabinet happen to be the same transmission line cabinet as the old AV3, with the soft dome tweeter? 

[mlundy57]

Hobbs, would the N3 cabinet happen to be the same transmission line cabinet as the old AV3, with the soft dome tweeter?

Not Hobbs but the AV3 and the N3 are different designs. There are some similarities but there are also differences.

[Hobbsmeerkat]

Mike is correct.
There're very similar at a glance, but driver spacing is a little bit different, so the shelving/bracing have been shifted around a little compared to the AV-3.

[jmimac351]

Hobbs, does the lower crossover point for the tweeter potentially make it easier to incorporate with other woofer drivers?  In other words, do you guys find, generally, that needing to play any particular woofer for a 2-way up to near 2kHz makes it harder to get the response you want, because when the woofer goes above 1kHz it's harder to correct the issues for the woofer in that range?  I know the GR woofers behave well there, with the 2-way woofers only needing a couple parts.  Curious if there are expected advantages for the woofer correction network because the tweeter can play so low.

It also occurred to me, if crossing the tweeter that low makes it easier to pair with more woofers from various manufacturers, the waveguide / rear cup / network you've designed for it may make it of interest to DIY hobbyist builders, in general.  Some people just want to build their own thing for the fun of it - maybe you've got a turn-key tweeter option / network for them that makes it easier for them to achieve a good result.