I finally found some speakers she does not care for NHT 3.3

[Ratamahatta 437]

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. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[RodH 4,866]

NHT?

[UncleMeat 1,173]

NHT'S - Now Hear This '5h17

 

Nice speakers Ratta', NHT's corporate is about 20 minutes from here.

[Dav-Em 335]

The NHT 3.3 is a very fine speaker. Designed by Ken Kantor after he left the defunct Acoustic Research and formed Now Hear This. They can beat AR9 if properly powered and placed in the right setting.

[Ratamahatta 437]

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/

 

[Belvedere2 232]

Nice. Just my guess but moving them will improve sound alot. If they're anything like my AR-90s they need room. Side firing woofer too. Awesome once you get the image and soundstage correct.

[Ar9Jim 6,512]

The NHT 3.3 is a very fine speaker. Designed by Ken Kantor after he left the defunct Acoustic Research and formed Now Hear This. They can beat AR9 if properly powered and placed in the right setting.

Very nice speakers. You can see AR in the design. Acoustic suspension. narrow front baffle, side firing woofer near the floor.. Give them a bit of time and your wife may learn to love them.. Thanks for sharing. My kind of speaker.. 

 

Dave, do you know where Tim Holl went after AR? Just wondering if he did anything cool after the AR9.. 

[Ratamahatta 437]

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

[Dav-Em 335]

 

 

 

The NHT 3.3 is a very fine speaker. Designed by Ken Kantor after he left the defunct Acoustic Research and formed Now Hear This. They can beat AR9 if properly powered and placed in the right setting.

Very nice speakers. You can see AR in the design. Acoustic suspension. narrow front baffle, side firing woofer near the floor.. Give them a bit of time and your wife may learn to love them.. Thanks for sharing. My kind of speaker.. 

 

Dave, do you know where Tim Holl went after AR? Just wondering if he did anything cool after the AR9.. 

 

I'm not sure. He was a Brit brought in by Teledyne after they bought out AR from Edgar Villchur. I think even Roy Allison was gone by then or near the time the AR9 was at the start of development. Tim may have done the AR90 or even the entire 9 Series.

I know two AR engineers from that era. I will ask them.

Too bad their Marketing Dept sucked.

[Ar9Jim 6,512]

 

 

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

Yes, the originals from around 1979.. I remember when ported speakers were the hot item and acoustic suspension seemed a bit power hungry and inefficient, maybe obsolete.. I found them to be accurate down deep and worth it to feed them.. Decades later the Carver subs seem like acoustic suspension taken to a new level and side firing drivers seem to be on the rise.. Again.. 

[Ratamahatta 437]

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.  

 

 

[Ratamahatta 437]

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

 

 

[Ar9Jim 6,512]

Curious as to how you like the bigger amp on those speakers. Should be a great thing..

[Ratamahatta 437]

Curious as to how you like the bigger amp on those speakers. Should be a great thing..

 

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

[maytag 853]

With the depth of the speakers, have you tried moving the the tv and center channel forward?

 

Just curious if you hear a difference. 

[Ratamahatta 437]

 

 

With the depth of the speakers, have you tried moving the the tv and center channel forward?

 

Just curious if you hear a difference. 

 

No sure haven't , I just got done running surround wires and cleaning up and I am exhausted. I doubt I will try that though.  I did put the TV stand out a bit further this time though like 4". 

[Ratamahatta 437]

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

[Ar9Jim 6,512]

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

Just curious, It seemed like the quality was there and you feed more power. When you say you cant get the "sound out of these that you want " are you speaking in terms of volume level?

 

The design is interesting, keeping the woofer near the floor/back wall intersection, and at the same time moving the other drivers forward away from the wall.. The sides of the cabinets make big reflective areas and with the side firing woofers was that a problem? Kind of has the woofers boxed in on 3 sides between the cabinets and the back wall.  

[Ratamahatta 437]

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. 

[Ar9Jim 6,512]

I see. Yeah the design make everything else compromise in order to work with it.  Think there are some huge chances to add value with some of the kits.. Nice to spend the money on great parts and add your own time. Your not rushed like a line worker trying to make rate for the day.. Had 4 passive crossovers that I rebuilt. 2 of them had connection points that had been missed(by the maker) during solder completely, and were connected by the lead wrapped around a post only.. OCCD prevents this type of mistake.

[Ratamahatta 437]

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

  

[Ratamahatta 437]

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. 

 

 

 

 

[Ratamahatta 437]

http://www.parts-express.com/solstice-mltl-reference-tower-speaker-kit--300-708

 

I ordered two of these for my next project. I am not using the supplied Dayton caps. I ordered Claritycaps from Madisound and mills resistors. I will put them together and then decide on a finish. Probably not piano on the whole thing but definitely  on the front. Then probably a cherry veneer stained black with a clear over it.

    I have also sold 6 sets of foam for the NHT 3.3 2.9 on ebay so far.   

[Ratamahatta 437]

I brought these back out to the living room where I put everything back to its original position, I could not get anything to sound right the other way. I also got a new amp to run with these and they sound spectacular! The best system I have owned. The amp is a Bryston 4B ST, well Lexicon 225 which is a re branded Bryston 4B ST. Simply amazing sound. I will eventually try all my speakers with it. I am so glad I did not get rid of these NHT 3.3's. The B&K Reference 4420 sounded great but the sound stage, imaging and detail are just plain better with this amp. 

 

 

 

[loner_t 2,568]

The amp is a Bryston 4B ST, well Lexicon 225 which is a re branded Bryston 4B ST. Simply amazing sound. 

 

It is indeed a wonderful amp. Congrats!