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NHT SuperZero 2.1 or NHT SuperZero original? Does the former sound worse?

Which one sounds better?

  • NHT SuperZero 2.1

    Votes: 1 12.5%

  • NHT SuperZero A450

    Votes: 5 62.5%

  • There is no need to worry, the sonic difference is mostly inaudible anyway

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • stomp Kreshna's testicles

    Votes: 2 25.0%
  • Total voters
    8
Kreshna

Kreshna

...but I have to know.
Recently I've bought a pair of NHT SuperZero XU, and have fallen in love with their sound ever since. Those SuperZero sounds great even when driven by the amplifier section of a cheap Aiwa component system. Upgrading the amplifier of course makes them sound better. Currently the SuperZeros are driven by Yamaha RX-V663 (Pure Direct stereo mode) --the AVR that makes JBL titanium dome tweeters sound etched and fatiguing. Yet, the Yammie sounds more acceptable when paired with the SuperZeros.

Kreshna-Aryaguna-Nurzaman-NHT-Super-Zero-pic-01.jpg

The SuperZero XUs, driven by Yamaha RX-V663.

And just like JBL L20T, and unlike B&W DM302, NHT SuperZero are easy to drive. The L20Ts still sound nice --even at loud volume-- when driven by lowly Sansui A-40. The JBL L20Ts also sound better when driven by better amplifiers, like Sansui AU-7900. Too bad I haven't got the time to test the SuperZeros with the Sansui amps, but I believe they would sound beautiful.

Kreshna-Aryaguna-Nurzaman-JBL-L20-T-pic-01.jpg

The JBL L20Ts are easy to drive, but they also sound better with better amps.

I plan to buy more SuperZeros, but AFAIK, the SuperZero XU sounds more like the original SuperZero than the newest SuperZero 2.1. I also remember reading somewhere that NHT SuperZero 2.1 is voiced differently than the originals. Also, @rickb119 's posts worry me a bit.

rickb119 said:
Amazon sells the NHT Superone (made in China). I ordered a pair several months ago but sent them back. They may look the same as the originals, but sound inferior. IMO.
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rickb119 said:
I don't know about the Superzero 2.1 as I've not heard them, or the original superzeros for that matter.

The Superone 2.1 that I ordered and returned were not really a bad speaker. Just not nearly as good as the originals.
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Yes, his posts are about NHT SuperOnes instead of NHT SuperZeros, but I'm concerned the SuperZero 2.1 also suffers from the same problem. Since I have fallen in love to the sound of the SuperZero original (the XU is the outdoor version of the original, no?), would NHT SuperZero 2.1 disappoint me?

In other words, should I buy the SuperZero 2.1 --which is plentiful on ebay, or should I instead be patient and wait for the SuperZero A450 to show up?

Thanks,
 
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No, the XU is not an outdoor Superzero; it uses the same paper woofer as the original, which I suspect would not last long in a rainstorm. I'm not exactly sure why they made the XU models (I have a triplet of Superone XUs in addition to a pair of the originals); possibly it was a money-saving exercise. At any rate, they didn't make them for very long. Unfortunately, since my XUs and the original versions aren't in the same location (not even in the same state) I've never been able to compare them.

Having said all that, unfortunately I'm unable to answer the question of the 2.1 vs the original (A450) versions.
 
swechsler said:
No, the XU is not an outdoor Superzero; it uses the same paper woofer as the original, which I suspect would not last long in a rainstorm. I'm not exactly sure why they made the XU models (I have a triplet of Superone XUs in addition to a pair of the originals); possibly it was a money-saving exercise. At any rate, they didn't make them for very long. Unfortunately, since my XUs and the original versions aren't in the same location (not even in the same state) I've never been able to compare them.

Having said all that, unfortunately I'm unable to answer the question of the 2.1 vs the original (A450) versions.
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I remember reading somewhere that SuperZero XU sounds the same the original (A450) SuperZero, not sure about SuperZero 2.1 though.
 
I recall Ken Kantor (their creator) long ago on these forums saying that the sound of the SuperOne and SuperOne Xu were indistinguishable to him. Of course that just his observation and he might not "hear" the details that don't matter or register to him as important.

My take on it was that he designed both speakers to sound the same and he was satisfied that they did.
 
HTWillie said:
I recall Ken Kantor (their creator) long ago on these forums saying that the sound of the SuperOne and SuperOne Xu were indistinguishable to him. Of course that just his observation and he might not "hear" the details that don't matter or register to him as important.

My take on it was that he designed both speakers to sound the same and he was satisfied that they did.
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FWIW, a cabinet shouldn't add anything to the sound; assuming the sides don't resonate and the internal volume is the same (and roughly the same shape) then they should sound the same.
 
Some fellow on YouTube has a short video with the title of something like....best speakers under $10,000 ...... he runs the superzero 2.1 with a bottlehead tube amp....and a sub...and claims the results are better than set ups costing thousands that he has heard at the big audio shows....
 
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