[rblnr]

Hi all,

Just got my white ceramic Norh 4.0's for my living room system and am seeking advice.

 -- About how much break-in time is needed to get them up to speed?

 -- Will be mounting from the ceiling, angling down -- is toe-in recommended if they are around 10ft. apart?  Side walls around 2 ft. away on both sides.

 -- Any recommendations on a sub to go w/the pair, $400 or so; used is OK.  Any thoughts on subs generally w/the 4.0's?

 -- My front end will be one of two possibilities:

    A $400 or so CD player to go w/the old Carver integrated I already have.  Am considering the NAD 541 or Scott Nixon tube dac fed from a Panasonic RP91 DVD player

or


Using the above DVD player going digitally into the Panasonic XR45 receiver that's getting raves.

Any thoughts/experiences about what might work best?

Thanks.

   -- Bob

[Brad]

I found the 4.0s to be not very picky re: placement.
I used a small amount of toe in, but they threw a terrific image even aimed directly ahead.

For $400, take a look at the Adire Rava.
It's a great, musical sub.

Using your DVD as digital in to the Panny would probably work very well with the 4.0s.

[Mathew_M]

The 4's do image really well.  I agree that the panny XR is the best you can get right now if cd is your thing.  The Panny will drive the hell out of the Norh's.  The 4's are that rare bookshelf speaker that can handle large loads of power and actually produce better sound.  Tubes will give you that holographic sound but might not utilize the 4's strengths as a dynamic speaker.

[rblnr]

Thanks for the advice.  Just got the XR45, we'll see.  Will check out the Adire, but it may be too big for where I want to place it.

[rblnr]

Well, I can say that a combo of the XR45 w/a Meridian 598 DVD player digitally connected to it (to be replaced soon by a Pan. RP91 DVD) sounds a whole lot better than the Discman/ HK620 integrated it replaced.  Expands the soundstage, more transparent and dynamic, etc.  Even my wife noticed.

These are nice speakers for $400.

[rblnr]

Want to follow up w/some extended listening notes, stuff many of you here already know.

These are really nice speakers for the money -- they have a bit of magic which is what I think you look for in this price range.  Transparent, more detailed than I would expect for the $$$ and nicely open, bottom line is that they swing w/the music to the point where you forget about the weaknesses and just enjoy.   They aren't in the league of my 10x$$ VMPS RM40's, but that's an unrealistic comparison.  

Once they are in their final home, hanging from the ceiling, I'll decide if I want to add a sub. down the road.

Thanks all for the info. that helped me make the purchase.  I was skeptical of buying something 'sound unheard'.