Jay,
So what do you hear as the differences between the NX-Oticas and the Super 7? And If I went the Super 7 monitor and OB Sub platform route how do you think that differs in sound from the Super 7?
Thanks!
There are differences but I'm not sure they are as dramatic as people may think.
First off, the Super 7's ( full towers or monitors) are more dfficient, say 96 vs approx 92. The Super 7's , again, full tower or sub/monitor combo, will take up less real-estate in your room than the full NX-Otica and a pair of h-frames.
The Super 7's are defiitely what I would cal lfaster than the NX-oticas, especially in the mid range when you are listening to stringed instraments. Not knocking the Otica's here in any way but man, the Super 7's are so clean and detailed in this area. The NX Otica's I'd say offer up a bit more "body" or " fullness" in the vocal department, I love how the NQ's do this.. Another thing I reall y liked about the NX-Oticas was the 4 M165/M165X drivers covering from say 75hz -180 ish hz region. They definitely provide a lot of impact and realizm in the upper bass/lower midrange area that I don't feel the Super 7's quite match.
With both speakers having the GR Neo 3 mounted in waveguides and basically aligned with the voice coils of the midrange drivers, both sets integreate mids/highs extremely well. Same tweeter used in both so the upper end is very similar... the NX-Otica is ina slighlty deeper waveguid and being slightly less efficient, use a small resistor to pad down the tweeter while the S7 tweeter is run wide open.
I was worried I was going to give up someimaging when I moved to the Super7's (13" wide baffle + 1.25" side wing on either side vs NX Otica 8.5" baffle with .5" radius on each side) but I have not found that to be the case. In fact, sometimes I feel the S7's may image a bit deeper than the Otica's did. I don't have the Otica's hear any longer so I can't physically do any a/b swaps and report on them..... wish I could as it's hard to make comparisons from membery.
With the Otica's and subs (full Oticas), you'll get a bit more flexability ith regards to sub placement. Withthe Super 7's, youi're locked into subplacement being fully dependent on where you want the speakers, and that goes for the monitor version as well as with the high sub / midrange c/o point, you want to keep the subs / MTM's completely on top of each other. Youi're corssing signifigantly lower with the Oticas so moving the subs and having a bit of space between them and the mains is not such a big deal.
Don't under estimate either set of these speakers, youi're going to be impressed when listening to either . To try and make that a bit clearer but not likely help you choose would be to say , " am I glad I now own the Super7's? " , Yes I am, I love them ! But, at the same time " Woiuld I be disappointed if I had heard the Super7's and owned the NX-Otica's/dual h-frames ?" No, not at all
EDIT: One thing I forgot to mention is the transparehncy of both models. Both of these speakers ( it's actually a trait of the GR speakers) just disappear into the room when you get them dialed in. Came in for a glass of vino after a day in the shop and am listening to some tunes...... you can close you esyes and there are s imply no spekaers in the room, just music. And, without having the NX Otica's on hand, I can say it is a trait they have as well, I remember it well.
Promised myself I was gonna catch up on some house work and cook a decent dinner this eve but ..... now I'm stuck in here and probably going nowhere fast LOL
jay
