More background, I am running what I referred to as mid-level some years ago for home theatre, streaming DTS Play-Fi, and for room correction; Onkyo TXNR-6100 7.2 Receiver
If I turn the sub off or down, I am a little discouraged to hear the bass response will be equivalent between the Desktop Mini and NX Studio. Are the Desktop Mini's (with sonicap upgrade) and my 10" subwoofer considered that good!!?
Have I have not appreciated the Destop Mini's enough?
Or have I possibly put too much weight into thinking the Neo 3 will change my listening life coming from the Desktop Mini?
So then without listening to a video by Danny or New Record Day describing Neo3 Tweeter's praises in the NX offerings, how would you express a comparison of the NX Studio to the Desktop Mini in regard to clarity and soundstage assuming 1) both close to wall and 2) both 3ft from wall?
Many Many Many Thanks
Todd
In terms of bass extension they will be very similar, they are both
sealed speakers.
They were both designed to be used near/against walls, so they will have a similar roll off point.
They weren't designed to play low, dig deep, drop bombs. etc. without a separate subwoofer to take over the bottom end.
However, that is really where the similarities end.
If you want a speaker that is better than the mini
and offers deeper bass extension, then you will want either a ported speaker, (like the X-Bravo or X-LS Encore) or a sealed design with a larger woofer. (The Brute or Bully) Any of those options will provide a very nice boost in clarity, detail and soundstage performance over the Mini, on top of offering deeper bass extension.
As I mentioned, the woofer on the NX-Studio, uses a lighter and faster and overall better quality woofer than the one used in the Mini.
So while it won't play any lower, it's provides a more natural, detailed and textured sound by comparison, throughout the mid bass all the way up through the midrange.
Then the Neo3 tweeter will easily outperform the metal dome of the Mini for all of the same reasons, the diaphragm is extremely light weight, and the push-pull motor structure makes it incredibly fast and dynamic, providing a lot more resolution and clarity to the treble that is difficult for most any traditional tweeter to compete with, especially a budget metal dome.
Plus, keeping the tweeter open-backed gives it a much more open and layered soundstage than any traditional box speaker can offer.
The Mini's are very good in their own right, especially in the nearfield, but they will fall short when compared to even the Encore or Bravos for a lot of the same reasons, the better quality drivers play a big part in providing that much more refinement and texture than the mini.
The NX-Studio pushes it even further, giving up bass extension for a more tighter, more detailed presentation, using a sub to control the low-end.
Plus, keeping the tweeter open-backed gives it a much more open and layered sound than any traditional box speaker.
