Ratamahatta

For what its worth I replaced the foam strip on these. After some trial and error I found a method and foam that works, looks and sounds stock. If anyone needs some foam for either the 3.3 or 2.9 let me know. The forum has offline and down a lot for me here lately. Also does anyone else have problems with sometimes your stereo sounds great and then sounds kind of not so good others? I know its not my system just a problem with my ears or just fatigue. kind of strange.

William Topley, Black River

I decided to try a few other speakers in the room the 3.3's were in just to see how they sounded. They too were also lacking, not as bad as the 3.3's. If I sat on the edge of the couch it sounded way better. I guess its just an acoustic black hole. So I moved the couch a little closer but the NHT 3.3's have found a new home in my 2 ch room and they are not going anywhere. The Sony's are back doing living room duty. I might still do the kit I mentioned earlier, but will have to wait for funds. I know if I bought the speakers I built earlier it would be $1500-$2000 These are simply fantastic sounding and absolutely no need for a sub. The ones I built, Zaph Audio SR-71

They are certainly quality speakers. I have treated my room and I don't think reflections are the problem. they sounded better turned the other way. Me and my wife like the room set up better this way. The bass and mid bass are lacking and I have done everything I know to get more but it's just not there. The forced geometry of the speakers is a major PITA to work with because if you set it up according to the manual it has the speakers pointed at your opposing ears. I had to spread them way out to get them sounding decent with the sub on. Any normal speaker you just toe in or out and you are good. Plus I just want something new and this kit is a way to get really quality speakers without the big huge price tag, hell it has all Morel drivers.

I have set these up every way I know how to and even tried a more powerful amp. I just cant get the sound out of these I want to. I moved these around all day and even bi-amped them. I think I will sell these and put the money on these http://www.parts-express.com/solstice-mltl-reference-tower-speaker-kit--300-708

I can hardly wait, it should be in Thursday and I have additional room treatments on the way as well.

What is your budget? Those Mach Ones were good back in the day but you can certainly do better. If you want better and keep loud I second Klipsch. You can upgrade those as well.

I set it up different, this was a major PITA. I had to add some bass traps more room treatments and I am getting a different more powerful amp, B&K Reference 4420 (225 watts RMS into 8 ohms). So far I really like it, seems more open, but will have to listen more. I still have to set up and wire the surround speakers. PIC

I thought for a second there we were talking about the new AR9's. I owned a pair and while they sounded good they were no where near what these will do. It sure is nice to have speakers where you don't need a sub all the time again. There is a pair of the AR 90 for sale for 750 obo on my local CL. Just a step down I believe from the AR9. kind of like the NHT 2.9 compared to mine.

She has no problem with the way they sound. she actually was in awe just like me. I only have it set up that way because I originally had Polk SDA and they set up better that way. Now we have a reason to try setting them up longways in the room and they will be at one end, no window right behind you, more traditional audio set up. That's one reason I got them, I don't really like ported speakers or subs, my bookshelf speakers I built are but that's only one 7" woofer. I did try them on my ATI AT1502 amp and it seems to be a better match and should be throwing about 185 RMS to them. We are talking about these AR9's right? http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/acoustic-research-ar9s.396437/ http://www.thevintageknob.org/acoustic_research-AR9.html

Here is a review from Stereophile, actually a couple. I have to agree with everything in those reviews so far. I am powering them with a B&K reference 120.2 ( 120 watts RMS per into 8 ohms) and they sound fantastic. I might look into more power or by amp them in the future but for now this will do. This is the first money I have thrown at this hobby in a long time. I am certainly glad the seller had the boxes or both would have not fit in the back of my truck. He lived on the third floor of an apartment complex so we had to hand truck them down the stairs. At 135 lbs each it was a major PITA. http://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/1293nht/

These sound amazing so far but I finally found a set the wife actually does not care for, just the depth. Other than that she likes them but we might do a well deserved living room change and go the other way putting them longways. I will give a more through review and impressions when I have had more time with them. Some pix.

That's a great deal I am glad you like them, I actually sold all but the ES SS M7's a long time ago. I only have those and two sets of bookshelf I built period. I just kept the ones I like the best. Right now am looking to build a house or rather have one built but after that I want to build some more speakers, you just seem to get way more for your money that way.

Polk makes some great bang for your buck speakers but IMO you can do much better. Like buying used, This guy has a ton of great stuff and is only a short distance from you. http://chicago.craigslist.org/search/chc/ela?query=773410203six+ There was a ton of great gear on CL in your area. Another option is to buy a kit and do it yourself, Lots of great kit speakers out there and some include cabinets.

well I have lived here for all most 7 years now but I am from PA I grew up in a little mountain town in southeast NM called Ruidoso.

Welcome! so you are from New Mexico?

All surrounds are rubber, I almost passed because its a drive through Denver to Co. Springs. Driving through Denver sucks. I am really glad I made the trip now. The non i version had stamped steel baskets on the woofers that from what I read sometimes would allow the magnet to sag and they needed to be turned so often to offset this. The i's have cast baskets and a narrower front baffle so no problems there. The ones I got from the original owner were in climate controlled storage most of their life and only used a few years. Condition is 9.5 out of 10. Those Sterophile articles are what helped give me a kick in the ass. I would go check them out if I were you.

Thanks, I have the B&K Reference 125.2 going to them so that puts 185w RMS into their 4 ohm load, it seems to be a great match. I might try them with the ATI someday which will do 225 RMS in 4 ohms. This is my first pair of PSB speakers, they must be highly under-rated. I have never heard anything good or bad about them. I am glad I took the drive to Colorado springs and took a chance.

After my recent refurbish of the Thiels and the simply outstanding results I got with the kit I decided not to buy any pre-made speakers and just do kits. Then these these cams along, in the sellers house hooked up to just a AVR, small room and less than optimal set up they sounded great. I reluctantly shelled out the asking price as he would not budge and now I see why. These are simply amazing, The Sony's have officially been out shined. Not by a huge scale but enough to be a clear winner. Whats better? better bass, for most listening even in my room a sub is not needed. only a few speakers have pulled this off in here. I can hear details more easily, sound stage is precise and huge, Vocals are natural, these are neutral while being musical and never "in your face". And these have made me jump or gave me goosebumps more than once, it sounded like someone was right next to me. The Sony's are some of the most neutral speakers I have listened to, don't get me wrong the Sony's are awesome but these are just a tad more musical and really pull you into the music. These really seem to have it all for me, all other speaker projects have been put on hold, one reason is I'm broke,lol. Seriously I sold a bunch of other pairs of speakers because I know they wont get much airtime anymore. These have been set up in my main rig from day one and I have no desire to change them out or look for something better. I know one day it will get the best of me but for now I am beyond content. I play around with other speakers in my 2.1ch room still.

The thread size is 1/4 20 standard size. I made these by tac welding a 1/4 20 stainless nut to a 1/2" and then cutting a thin slice of 1/2" all-thread to top cap them off with. I did it this way so I could adjust with no tools. Thanks for the offer though.

Thanks, I got my locking nuts made for my homemade outriggers and homemade spikes.

Now these are getting broke in they are REALLY sounding good. Still don't beat the Sony ES SS M7s but these are not completely broke in yet. I am betting even when completely broke in they still will not but these turned out way past my expectations. They are really opening up and all the subtle details are coming through. Sound stage is huge and a few times have made me jump. Vocals sound natural and controlled, bass for a single 6 1/2" is surprising better than the Klipsch Forte II's, I am sure the Klipsch will go louder but don't really care about ear bleeding levels anymore. Highs are non fatiguing detailed and a pleasure to listen to all day. For the modest price anyone looking for a simple project and some great bookshelf or small floor standers should look into them. I just ordered my next DIY project, these. http://www.parts-express.com/solstice-mltl-reference-tower-speaker-kit--300-708 I am not going to use the supplied resistors or caps but will be replacing them with Mills resistors and Clarity Cap ESA on the high and Clarity Cap PX on the low. Kit is on back order but will post pics as it comes together.

Thanks, no I didn't go with any cap or resistor upgrades. They did use pretty decent ones to begin with. I figured I would spend as little as possible to begin with to see if I even liked them. I can always replace the caps and resistors in the future if I want to, I would probably go with Clarity though, just a personal preference. But I already am looking for my next DIY project. I wondered how the stock wave guide in the grill would play into this and found out they dull the top end, so I removed them.

Done! after much procrastinating and deciding I decided on this kit. http://gr-research.com/x-lsencorekit.aspx I finished them up yesterday and so far even though they are not broke in completely I am impressed. Pretty sure my days of buying pre-made speakers is over. I had to do some work to get the tweeter in and had to sand the grill to fit the new woofer. Since I am making these mine I decided to ditch the bottom mount terminals ad re designed the whole bottom and made some outriggers with spikes. I got some Dayton gold binding pots from Parts Express and installed them in the back. I sanded and re-painted the fronts. I also used the included smaller port and bass response is well below what was anticipated. Response is pretty neutral and detailed . I know they will sound different in a few more hours of break in so will give a fuller review then. Pics