[adam.dickson@comcast.net]

Hey, guys. I am a newbie here and trying to choose which speakers to build. I've already developed a huge appreciation for Danny and his educational approach. I'm hoping my questions are not too remedial - I've tried to do a lot of research. I am looking to build the best I can - sort of a no-holds-barred approach (well, within reason). I don't have an amp picked out yet, either, but I would like to build that as well (maybe the Elekit TU-8800?...who knows). For now any new speakers will be powered by my trusty Marantz receiver. I am an avid woodworker and have a lot of experience working on electronics, so a speaker build will be a super fun project for me. After a long road to get here, I have narrowed it down to the NX-Otica or NX-Treme. I have a couple questions for you guys that have much more experience than me.

These speakers will be used almost exclusively for music listening, not for home theater. I have a super eclectic taste in music, but these will primarily be for classical, movie scores, and a bit of classic rock. In my current home I think I have enough room for either model. My house is fairly open; the great room flows into the kitchen on one side and the foyer on a perpendicular side, so that the space is on the order of 38 by 34 feet, with a good part of the ceiling lofted from 10 to over 14 feet. I may, however be buying a new house in the future and I would like to build something that will work in a perhaps smaller environment with lower ceilings. Of course I don't know what that is yet, but it will likely not have the huge open space I do now. I don't want to paint myself into a corner too much with my choice.

Do you all think the NX-Tremes will work for smaller (regular-sized?) rooms? Or would the NX-Oticas be a better choice? The difference in price between the two is not so significant that it would sway me one way or the other. Is the performance difference between the two compelling?

I will also be building (once the funds recover a bit) double or triple OB servo subs. With the extra low end grunt that those will provide, are the NX-Tremes an example of diminishing returns? Do guys typically go with two (left and right) double or triple subs, or is one sufficient? Is it important to run two 'stacks' for stereo, or do  you run just one 'stack' in mono?

Thanks in advance for all your cumulative knowledge. I'm sure I'll have more questions as folks give their feedback.

[adam.dickson@comcast.net]

Anyone have thoughts about room a choice between NX-Oticas and NX-Tremes?

[adam.dickson@comcast.net]

Wow, 92 views and no responses. That's a little disappointing. Another thread written after mine similarly about room size with NX-Tremes has 20 replies. I'm just trying to future-proof myself a little in my speaker choice, and trying to learn a little more.

[hawkeyejw]

I don't have experience with either speaker so not going to be able to offer any help other than to recommend you try giving Danny a call. He usually posts here pretty often but has been swamped over the past several weeks so probably easier to reach him by phone. He will give you honest advice, in my experience every time I ask Danny a question he tries to steer me to the right choice, which is often not the most expensive one.

[corndog71]

My first thought would be get the NX-tremes but you said you would be moving.  Imagine moving those 7 foot tall cabinets! 

And I can attest that just 1 dual OB sub weighs around 88 pounds.  The triples weigh more.

But moving is only temporary.  I think for the music you want to play go for them!

Check out Tyson's review.

https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=167155.0

[Captainhemo]

Sorry,   I missed this one....

The NX Otica's and NX-Treme's are more similar than dis-similar.  The biggest difference is that the NX_tremes just have that  extra room filling ability  for  very large rooms which can  produce   , or seem to produce ,  a more  spacious  /  bigger  sound.

Given all  things equal, networks, wiring etc,    the detail levels and overall tonality of the speakers  will be the same.  They both have great  detaill levels with the OB GR Neo3 and a    fairly rich  midrange  thanks to the  2  M165NQ's.  Even though  the speccs likely show the  bass  roll   as being very similar, I'd have to   give the edge to the NX-Treme's.  In my  18x12 room, the NX - Otica's  did well down to about  40 hz,  with a little boost    around 34 hz, you  could get them  basically flat to  30.  But,   when   took them up to Don's,  they fell off much  earlier  while  the  NX-Treme's did not.   His room   was probably  16  x 35 or so and the NX-Treme's were  basically flat  down to   the 40Hz range... results will  vary depending on room size/shape etc.

In a smaller room,  you  may be happy with either   sans subs, just depends how much   that  lower octave is to you.     If you  are going to run them with subs, the OB H-frames are the way to go IMHO.

As for weights,    the NX-Otica's come in at approx  80lbs each built.   The NX-Tremes I'm going to say   somewhere in the  130 lb each  mark built.

Our duals  come in at  75lbs (flat pack,  which comes out to  approx  110 lbs built out.
Triples  would be  95lb for each flat pack,  approx  160 ish  built out.
 The main box  for the Otica flat packs is 84 lbs,  the main box for the NX-Treme flat pack is  130 lbs.

Hope that helps a bit

jay

[adam.dickson@comcast.net]

Thanks, guys. That's super helpful. I am actually leaning toward the NX-Tremes. I am not sure yet if I will be moving or when - so I am not sure if I should build for my current situation (large room volume and floor area) or for a possibly smaller size in an as-yet unknown new place. That is something I'll have to figure out. But as of now I lean toward building the best I can and dealing with its accommodation when and if the time and necessity comes.

I can definitely see the NX-Tremes being more of a chore to move. But I have a machine and woodworking shop full of heavy equipment I'll have to move to a new place, too, so I'll definitely have to hire some professional riggers with forklifts and flatbed semi trucks for that task.

I am planning on building the triple OB servo sub, just not immediately. It likely be I build the main speakers this year, and do the subs the next. Are two triple subs the way to go, or is only one needed?

I was planning on calling Danny; but I was a little reluctant to call since I know in his recent covid-19 updates thread he mentioned they are pretty swamped. I didn't want to be a bother when he is so busy.

Also, does it seem silly to power the NX-Tremes with a plain old receiver (at least for now until I build an amp)?

[hawkeyejw]

Thanks, guys. That's super helpful. I am actually leaning toward the NX-Tremes. I am not sure yet if I will be moving or when - so I am not sure if I should build for my current situation (large room volume and floor area) or for a possibly smaller size in an as-yet unknown new place. That is something I'll have to figure out. But as of now I lean toward building the best I can and dealing with its accommodation when and if the time and necessity comes.

I can definitely see the NX-Tremes being more of a chore to move. But I have a machine and woodworking shop full of heavy equipment I'll have to move to a new place, too, so I'll definitely have to hire some professional riggers with forklifts and flatbed semi trucks for that task.

I am planning on building the triple OB servo sub, just not immediately. It likely be I build the main speakers this year, and do the subs the next. Are two triple subs the way to go, or is only one needed?

I was planning on calling Danny; but I was a little reluctant to call since I know in his recent covid-19 updates thread he mentioned they are pretty swamped. I didn't want to be a bother when he is so busy.

Also, does it seem silly to power the NX-Tremes with a plain old receiver (at least for now until I build an amp)?

In that case, I vote you go big, and when they're done enjoy them with whatever equipment you have on hand! Having less than ideal equipment upstream just gives you more things to enjoy upgrading and hearing the improvements, which is at least half the fun for many of us in this hobby. 

[Captainhemo]

Yeah,  a stereo pair of triples,  so ideally,  a  left/right pre out to send to the   A370's

jay

[Rock Ball]

I am planning on building the triple OB servo sub, just not immediately. It likely be I build the main speakers this year, and do the subs the next. Are two triple subs the way to go, or is only one needed?

I built two 3x12" OB subs in February while waiting for my NX-Tremes flat pack.  I strongly suggest two subs.  They helped my system sound much better.  I just finished my NX-Tremes last night and played them first without the subs.  My first thought was that they had SO MUCH BASS that I didn't need the subs.  (Your room may vary.)

Also, does it seem silly to power the NX-Tremes with a plain old receiver (at least for now until I build an amp)?

I am using a Denon receiver and it sounds great playing the NX-Tremes.  They actually take less power than my old speakers.  I'm building an amp also, in July probably, but I am extremely happy with the sound I'm getting from my Denon.

[adam.dickson@comcast.net]

Now I'm starting to get excited about building those speakers! I'm ready to pull the trigger; it's a bummer that everything is out of stock (NX-Tremes and the servo sub kit 5). But I'll try to be patient. Time to do more research, I guess. Thanks so much to you all for giving me more clarity in what I should do: NX-Tremes and two triple OB subs. And of course a nice amp after than (starting to be intrigued by the Elekit TU-8800 - isn't that what Danny runs?). It's nice to now have a cohesive plan. So glad my wife is on board with this!

[Endo2112]

It's nice to have a receptive partner for sure!!

 Currently there is a wait list for N-Xtremes & sub flat packs so your timing might work out better than you think, I've been man down with some re-injured ribs for the last couple weeks but am ready to start hammering out boxes again today for those that have been patiently waiting.

Cheers,

Don

[VinceT]

This is a good question, what really helped (not sure if you have tried this yet) is using the search feature of the forum. I spend hours researching questions very similar to yours and found most of my questions were already asked by other posters with a wealth of information regarding the subject, in the process learned a lot more about these products.