[MasterHiFi]

Hello MasterHiFi, The NX-Studio's are wonderful and would likely work good in your small room. However I think Mike is right, the MTM's are true open baffle speakers. You would still want the OB servo subs, most use them as stands for the speakers. One thing to keep in mind is that you have to be careful pumping to much energy into small rooms. You can over load a small room with to much energy and create a boomy mess. Smaller speakers are usually better. And OB speakers and subs do not energize the room the way box speakers do and so solve much of that issue.

If you can get 3' to the baffle then you are good with any OB speaker. OB subs need to be out from the wall as well, so keep that in mind. I think you will be surprised at how much better OB sound will be.

Hey Sonic,

Yeah, I'm pretty sold on the idea of OB vs. Monkey Coffins. I did think that there was more flexibility for placement of the subs, however. If they need to be out, then the H-frames may be too large. I mentioned to Mike that I read in a thread somewhere about some 8 inch subs that Danny offered at some point, but I don't see them now?

I have an old Yamaha servo sub that uses two 7" drivers and it sounds really nice, so I can only imagine what 8" OB servo subs Danny could design. Does this still exist?

I also have a custom cab with dual 12's (sealed) tucked in the corner that I can use in a pinch. I just wouldn't want to run it all the way up to 100Hz if I didn't have to. Eight inch OB would be much cleaner in that mid-bass region.

Dan

[MasterHiFi]

I’d go with Mikes suggestion of the NX-Otica MTM. With your width restraint it’s most likely your best option... from what I hear the OB bass is a total game changer... quite excited myself

Hi Chewy,

This seems to be the consensus, and I'd have to agree. Has anyone heard the Otica MTM vs. the Statiks? I'm just wondering, aside from bass response (with the speed of the OB subs vs. sealed bass enclosure) what are the differences in sound? I'm assuming it's mainly the Planar Magnetic Tweeter as well as some overall better quality woofers?

Could someone let me know how low the Otica MTM goes before it hands off to the subs? None of Danny's graphs are loading so I am depending on you guys.

Thanks!
Dan

[MasterHiFi]

  Fellow NYer here. With your room size stand mounts would be a good fit. The Exotica line fits right in. Go for the best crossover parts and be done.


charles

Charles,

I agree. In fact, if I don't add any OB subs until later (or if I have to use the sub I have), the stands that Sonicjoy used with his NX-Studios build (for his father) looked fantastic! I think they were from Emotiva, IIRC. But they'd look damned nice with a pair of Otica MTMs. Plus those stands can be filled with sand and bolted to the speaker for a really solid placement.

[Letitroll98]

I have an old Yamaha servo sub that uses two 7" drivers and it sounds really nice, so I can only imagine what 8" OB servo subs Danny could design. Does this still exist?

Yamaha YBT SW100, a musical little sub without much power or drive, but sounds nice.  I have one in the spare bedroom.  OB subs will be a revelation.

[paolocaminiti]

As I get it: the MTM should cross at 200hz to the subs, that's why you need them on top of the subs and you need servo to get subs that high.

Think of the subs as stands. I didn't build them yet, but recently I saw the linkwitz lx521 which should be comparable as sub dimension and in person they look way smaller then I thought from the pictures. You can easily get an idea with a carbon box in your room.

I'm not sure if it's considered a good option, or if it would fit your space any better, but since the full otticas go down to 80hz it may be ok to pair them with a single central sub, or even build the servo sub later. Again I'm sure Danny can help if you email him pictures of your room.

Regarding statik vs nx. I currently run spatialaudio m3 turbo, and open baffle bass is the main reason to go open baffle, especially if room is not treated. The m3 turbo immage very well due to their controlled dispersion concentric tweeter, but the tweeter only radiates frontally - I do expect the MTM fully open tweeter to be a jump in image depth and presence.

[Sonicjoy]

MasterHiFi, the stands I used are from Elac, for there Adante stand mount speakers. Also the NX-Sudio's have excellent bass on their own, especially in a small room. My dad uses his without subs and is happy as can be with them. Again small rooms are very hard to get good imaging in. It's all the early reflections off the close room boundries that confuses the image.  Some room treatment will almost certainly help, and of course near field listening will help with imaging. You really need to get you and the speakers as far away from the walls as you can. You can start with just the speakers and see how you like it then add a sub or two later.   

[Sonicjoy]

Also don't forget about the role of a good amplifier. There is nothing like a good single ended tube amp for a holographic presentation.

[secretriches]

I don't have the space behind speakers and built Danny's NX-Studio monitors and had them ready to use since last December. However, I still don't have the two drivers and think they are on the boat from India and soon to go through customs. At that time, Danny will be able to receive them and then needs to box up all of the many orders and send them out. I still don't expect to receive these two drivers for another month but when I do, the critical listening will take place.

Don't think that the NX-Ottica may be a better choice than the NX-Studio pair. Room acoustics and how far you can bring speakers into your room and of course room size and configuration all are critically important. The NX-Studio will provide you with the most flexibility and you definitely need to think about that. Room treatment is as important and the first place to start when considering putting together an above average audio system. Even if it's not perfect and far from text book, you still need to do what you can along with assembling your system.

its probably more important (room treatment) than acquiring the audio components. I like having a plan to do both and is another reason to consider the NX-Studio over the NX-Octtica. It will cost less and you can spend money on the Elekit 300B amp that I'll share below. It is a true game changer (the amp) and I'm now considering even acquiring another companies speakers to increase the efficiency yet stay close to corners and the wall behind the speakers.

The NX-Studio allows a whole lot more flexibility to change your mind or to use it until you "flesh out" the rest of your system. It's good enough and efficient enough to use even with the Elekit 300B amp and is the main reason I'm suggesting that you have these two pieces instead of putting the entire amount into purchasing the NX-Ottica pair  (NX Studio and Elekit 300B). Are the NX-Studio monitors and ideal solution? Probably not but then finding that even better solution is going to be very difficult and expensive and you had better really know what your listening preferences are (from prior experience) before going down that rabbit hole. The NX-Studio gives you enough time and the ability to gather experience to know what you ultimately want to do. You still can purchase the NX-Ottica later on if you still desire and getting rid of your NX-Studio pair won't be a big loss. If you purchase the Elekit 300B kit, however, I think you will be set and won't need to spend money on a preamp or any other power amp. However, your speakers will ideally. need to be closer to 95db or above.

I currently have a Neochrome Module 286 power amp made by Tom Christianson. I purchased that back in December but yet have to hear it on a pair of good speakers. I purchased it for the NX-Studio monitors. I also purchased a Dennis Had KT88 amp for these speakers to listen to the difference. I like the Inspire better but recently just completed building my Elekit 8600S upgraded 300B amp and wow - what an incredible amp! I'm no longer interested in those other two but won't know for sure until I get the two missing drivers from Danny.

I also have a pair of M&K active subwoofers (sealed and push pull two 8" equivalent to one really good 12"). I love the quality of those subs and they are very music oriented - superb dry bass and I love the construction quality of the plate amp and the cabinets. However, they're also expensive. A pair of Rhythmic sealed would be excellent as an alternative but again, not necessary in the beginning if you start with the NX-Studio and then purchase the Elekit 8600S kit. I'd stay away from open baffle unless again, you have the room to pull them out just like the speakers. If its marginal, I sense you will do better with the NX-Studios and a pair of sealed subs. That would be my vote.

So if you aren't sure, don't purchase a pair of subs yet. Just purchase the NX-Studio kit and build your own. You can finish the MDF flatpack with Duratex paint and do really well. I did the same with mine and used a custom dark grey color that perfectly compliments my satin black finished M&K subs. I also have the NX-Studio monitors on a set of Isoacoustik Gaia II footers. That provides vibration control between the monitors and subs, raises the monitors another 1 3/4" in height and because my subs are taller than a single Rhythmic, the tweeter ends up at a proper ear level. If I didn't have the subs, I'd just use a pair of stands to get started.

Then . . . there is no substitute for a really excellent tube amp. I've been playing my subs as high as 125Hz or maybe around 150Hz (somewhere in that range). I connected my NX-Studios (even though incomplete) and use the tweeter (that's fully connected) down to maybe around 1K. There is a big hole in the spectrum but what's interesting is that I can now listen to my three amps.

I have the Elekit 8600S with Lundahl output transformers with Takman resistors, V-Cap CuTF coupling caps, TKD pot, AudioNote 9 pin tube sockets, etc. The amp is upgraded and I'm using the Cossor 300B WE style tubes. The entire presentation can shift from an extremely detailed solid state style to a more romantic 300B flavor with thicker midrange. But . . . the 300B provides a three dimensional sound stage with plenty of width and depth and huge drive from the 300B power tubes I can't get from any other amp and I've built many and purchase many in the past The NX-Studios will be a good combination with that 300B amp (output is about 9w/ch) and should be enough for most music in a smaller room like yours and mine. It's not the 300B amp that's important but rather how Elekit tuned theirs to end up superior to anything else I've ever heard for such a small amount of money (in comparison to what's available). You have to build the kit and its fun. Sure, it takes time but in the end, you'll have something you created and there is no substiutue for that particularly when you hear how superb it sounds. Its breathtaking.

The 2nd tube amp I was going to use for the NX-Studio is a Dennis Had KT88 wired in triode mode and with upgraded 300B output transformers. It puts out maybe 6w/ch but doesn't drive my NX-Studios the same. It has a more typical 300B style sound quality (thick and molasses sounding) and until I get the two drivers from Danny, I won't know if it will still be in the running. In all honesty, I'm so smitten by my Elekit 300B and the ability to "fine tune" it is so many ways that I'll probably end up making that my only power amp. Heck with the other two and studio monitors. Being able to hear detail that I require in such a beautiful and emotionally laden way is truly magical.

I'm probably also going to sell my 3rd Neochrome Modulus 286 but won't know until the drivers are installed.

So I'm now on hold until I get my NX-Studio pair completed.

The MDF flatpack from Jay are superb. Purchase his flatpack and the kit from Danny for the NX-Studio monitors. Then consider building a pair of Rhythmic sealed subs and use them for stands for the monitors but make that optional after you purchase and build the Elekit 300B power amp. In that way you'll be able to get close to walls or corners or pull them out into the room or both. However, just as important, build the Elekit 8600S 300B kit (upgraded) and you'll end up loving your system with plenty of places to spend future money and not have to get rid of anything. I guarantee you'll be happier doing this (NX-Studio and Elekit 8600S) than any other route unless you have money to burn and time to waste. If ending up with an extremely flexible and musical system that draws you into wanting to listen is important, this combination will do the job.

I typically don't post on forums but thought I'd share my frustration (of not being able to use a pair of speakers for 6 months due to lack of 2 drivers) and my high expectations of creating a system that will pretty much replace anything else out there no matter what the cost. This is a final system that I've been expanding for my own use and also to recommend for customers of mine. I have nothing to gain from telling you this but what I share is my own conclusion. Tyson has an Elekit 8600 amp and when Danny heard it, he purchase one. I made my own purchase to find out what everyone was doing and why they loved that amp. I now know and this has turned me completely around from where I ended up after a huge amount of experience.

Good luck on your journey. I've been on mine for a number of decades and have explored pretty much every combination you can think of. I've spent my money, my time, and a huge amount of effort trying to get recorded music to sound as close to the real stuff. I suspect that I'm very close. The final speakers are my only missing link. For you . . . consider purchasing a pair of NX-Studio monitors and an Elekit 8600S upgraded 300B tube kit.

Richard

[Jon L]

I have the Elekit 8600S with Lundahl output transformers with Takman resistors, V-Cap CuTF coupling caps, TKD pot, AudioNote 9 pin tube sockets, etc. The amp is upgraded and I'm using the Cossor 300B WE style tubes.

I love my Elekit 8600R with upgraded caps, Lundahls, TKD pot, and Takatsuki 300B tubes.  It sounds like it's time for you to try the new WE300B with graphene 

[mkrawcz]

India must be shipping the NQ drivers via the Mayflower.

[Hobbsmeerkat]

India must be shipping the NQ drivers via the Mayflower.

They should have arrived in port on the 13-14th then it takes about a week to get processed thru customs, then a few more days to get shipped from port to Texas.

[SET Man]

Hi Buddy,

Good to see another NY'er here - I'm in Brooklyn, but my wife grew up in Forest Hills. I emigrated from upstate (Rochester to be specific, did my time at both Xerox and Kodak before they both took a nose dive).

To answer your question, I really like the Snells. They do a lot of things really well. They were designed by Kevin Voecks, who is now lead designer at Revel (I think). The problem is one I've run up against for years. Even back in the days when I was working in audio, we'd have the B&W 801 Matrix IIs hooked up to monster Krell and Threshold mono blocks (I preferred the Thresholds), and the speakers would image well, but they couldn't/wouldn't create what I call a truly "holographic" soundstage.

Don't get me wrong, they imaged very well, pinpoint positioning of musicians, nice layering, but never a "you're there" feeling. No sense of air between the instruments. You always knew that you were listening to speakers. Plus the inefficient B&Ws crushed the dynamics. We also sold Klipsch and had most of the line on demo, including the K-Horns. I loved the dynamics, but was never a fan of horn loaded drivers. It gave the same effect as cupping your hands around your mouth when you speak. We also sold Polk. I used to drool over the magazine adverts when I was a kid. But in practice, the Polks were just too bright for me.

Now all of those high end products were well out of my price range. I felt very lucky to get the Snells when I did. I also have been a fan of ADS and own several different pairs. But it was after reading about the NHT SuperZeros that things took a turn. I bought a pair for my little PC setup and put my ADS L300s on my wife's computer. I paired the NHTs with a Yamaha servo sub.

Let's just say that the little NHTs were a revelation. Wow! Truly holographic imaging. I'd listened to everything back in the day - the big Maggie's, DQ-10s, Thiel, Vandersteen, etc. I just didn't think that there was anything that could really do what I was looking for. Maggies came the closest, but they were a bear to drive and would bottom out pretty easily. Then the SuperZeros came along and blew my mind. Admittedly, I am listening to them nearfield, before any room reflections. But just the fact that they could do what they do. Now that I've actually heard it, it's what I want in my main system. I realize it's what I've always wanted.

I may be able to get pretty close with the tube preamp that I have my eye on. But after a lot of research, I understand why the open baffle design works. I watched several interviews with Siegfried Linkwitz, and he explains the physics of it. Everything kind of fell into place. (His LX521s https://linkwitzlab.com/LX521/LX521_4.htm  & LXminis https://linkwitzlab.com/LXmini/Introduction.htm are also exceptional designs (no affiliation), but they require a separate amp for each driver as well as external active crossovers.)

Maybe with the right front end I can get the Snells to disappear. But with the open baffle, it should work well with virtually any electronics and not be so demanding. I've got some vintage tube gear I'd love to try out, like a Scott 340b receiver, but even with the beefy transformers of this beautiful unit, it's just not enough for the 86db Snells. Plus if I'm honest, I've never heard a box speaker that didn't sound more congested as the volume went up.

I didn't respond to many of the posts yet because I wanted to learn about the different models available, and yesterday was a bust for me (I get migraines) so today I had to catch up on some work. But I was sitting at my desk reading and the station I listen to played Dire Straits "Ride Across the River" right into "The Healer" by John Lee Hooker with Carlos Santana - both superb recordings - and the NHTs just dissolved and the artists were in the room.

BTW, this is a recommendation for everyone on this site: when not listening to my own playlist, I listen almost exclusively to a streaming station called Radio Paradise, or www.radioparadise.com (no affiliation). This is not one of those automated stations. It is curated by the owners, Bill and Rebecca Goldsmith. If you can imagine Beethoven gliding into Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, or Brian Wilson followed by Brian Eno, this is a hint of his highly eclectic programming. Sprinkle in some Miles Davis or John Coltrane with ample doses of Peter Gabriel, David Bowie, lots of blues and plenty of stuff you've never heard before, old and new. They have High Res. streams and even alternative playlists - all with NO COMMERCIALS, entirely listener supported. You can check out their playlist for the last 36 hours (maybe more?) to get an idea if anyone is interested, but I can't show these fine people enough love. They have totally improved my quality of life immeasurably.

Anyway, Buddy, I apologize for the dissertation. This is a problem of mine. I'm too wordy, and no one wants to read all this. And you had such a simple question! What I should have said is that I either want to be able to make the Snells disappear or find a speaker that can. The X-Statiks look impressive, but now I see that there is an NX-Otica MTM to consider, which curiously mirrors the Snells that also have a D'Appolito MTM design. Further down the rabbit hole I go...

Dan

Hey!

    Kodak? Where you in the film department? I like photography and I'm still using films, mostly B&W and I'm a Kodak film kinda guy, but lately the price of Kodak and other films have gone up quite a bit which is not good for me

   The older Snell are well regarded speakers. So much so that Audio Note UK still make speaker based on older Snell design. I've only heard AN speakers at shows and they always sound great tone wise. NHT SuperZero? The original one? I remembered those tiny speakers. Their tiny size with drivers close to each other probably explained why you experienced them that way. The opposite of your Snell which is 3-Way right? In small room when you have to sit close to speaker make it hard for drivers to blend together. With positive experience with NHT SuperZero, maybe what you need in small room is a good small 2-Way speaker? I have only heard open baffle speaker at the show, that last time I've heard the Pure Audio Project at 2019 audio show here in NYC. They are nice but they didn't make me want to run out and buy one. I do wonder how a well designed OB sound in a real home setting.

   Anyway, my room is 10'x17', about 8.5' ceiling and I sit about 10.5' away from speakers. I'm using Single Driver speaker based on 6" Fostex with Fostex FT17H as super tweeter. I have been using them since 2002. Not for everyone but this works and sounds great for me, especially if you listen to a lot of female singers like I do. Honestly after years with Single Driver I find that there aren't many 2 or 3-Way speakers that blend well in small room or when sitting closer to them.

   Well, keep us posted on your speaker search.

Buddy