RunOutGroove
Addicted Member
A while back I was asking folks about speaker that might be had for pretty cheap that would be good for a computer sound system that I was putting together. The NHTs were recommended among others but though I saw some in the local ads for $80, which I suppose isn't too bad, I was wanting to go cheaper as I was feeling a bit guilty about already spending too much cash already on a couple of sets of speakers bought recently for my main system... so I passed on the NHTs and bought a pair of Energy eXL-15 that I found for all of $20. Later I found the kind of little digital amp that I was looking for, a S.M.S.L Q5 for another $40. Hooking everything up to my iMac, the sound was better than it had a right to be... particularly since I don't even listen to music all that much through my computer. Everything sounded much better than the Altec Lansing powered computer setup that I had, which actually though a little tinny didn't even sound that bad for the kind of thing that it is and the fact that I think I paid all of $5 for it at a garage sale some years ago. That tiny little amp provides plenty of clean power for those speakers and has it's own DAC so you can run USB (or optical cable) from a computer)... though I am having a pesky little issue with it (the left channel cuts out when I shut it down sometimes and I have to switch inputs back and fourth and reboot to get it working)
Though the Energy speakers sounded fine and more than met my expectations for what I was wanting them for, I still had the hi-fi shopping bug and when I saw a pair of the NHTs for sale for just $30, I figured I had to grab them. They were dirty and the finish chipped a bit, but other than that in fine shape and I'm demoing them now. Turns out that they're a bit more power hungry than I would have hoped and they have to be cranked much more than the Energy ones to work. The speakers say 25 watt minimum on the back and the little S.M.S.L digital amp that I'm using is rated at only 20 watts, but it works. In an A/B test the NHTs (probably unsurprisingly) sound much better to my ears than the Energys (which are likely much cheaper speakers even if I have to crank them up). Compared to the smaller Energy speakers the NHTs are smoother, more transparent sounding with punchier, stronger bass. I can only imagine that with a more powerful amp they'd be even better... I might be done with buying my computer sound system, but I might not be (ha!). Eventually I could be looking into a more powerful tiny amp for this thing...
Anyway, I felt that after comparing them to the Energy speakers I needed to try hooking up the NHTs (or at least one of them) to my main system and test them out against my extension speakers, a pair of Wharfedale Diamond 10.1s. I did an A/B test (powered by my Marantz 2270) and they both sounded very good (I demoed them with a great CD by a Cuban bass player known Cachiato, which is also the name of the CD). The Warfedales have stronger, deeper more punchy bass and more midrange presence and overall, I enjoy their sound more, but I do like the more laid back, more transparent treble of the NHTs. If I have any criticism of the Wharfedales it's that the treble can be a bit harsh. Overall, particularly for what I paid for them the NHTs sound really nice and they look like something pretty high end. They're heavy and the finish is very nice...
Though the Energy speakers sounded fine and more than met my expectations for what I was wanting them for, I still had the hi-fi shopping bug and when I saw a pair of the NHTs for sale for just $30, I figured I had to grab them. They were dirty and the finish chipped a bit, but other than that in fine shape and I'm demoing them now. Turns out that they're a bit more power hungry than I would have hoped and they have to be cranked much more than the Energy ones to work. The speakers say 25 watt minimum on the back and the little S.M.S.L digital amp that I'm using is rated at only 20 watts, but it works. In an A/B test the NHTs (probably unsurprisingly) sound much better to my ears than the Energys (which are likely much cheaper speakers even if I have to crank them up). Compared to the smaller Energy speakers the NHTs are smoother, more transparent sounding with punchier, stronger bass. I can only imagine that with a more powerful amp they'd be even better... I might be done with buying my computer sound system, but I might not be (ha!). Eventually I could be looking into a more powerful tiny amp for this thing...
Anyway, I felt that after comparing them to the Energy speakers I needed to try hooking up the NHTs (or at least one of them) to my main system and test them out against my extension speakers, a pair of Wharfedale Diamond 10.1s. I did an A/B test (powered by my Marantz 2270) and they both sounded very good (I demoed them with a great CD by a Cuban bass player known Cachiato, which is also the name of the CD). The Warfedales have stronger, deeper more punchy bass and more midrange presence and overall, I enjoy their sound more, but I do like the more laid back, more transparent treble of the NHTs. If I have any criticism of the Wharfedales it's that the treble can be a bit harsh. Overall, particularly for what I paid for them the NHTs sound really nice and they look like something pretty high end. They're heavy and the finish is very nice...
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