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As you might expect, a speaker with this much physical heft and driver power can move a great deal of air. The Resolution 1 did not disappoint, producing stunning dynamic contrasts with ease. Despite the masses of air needing to be moved, the 1 responded quickly, and was as adept at reproducing full symphonic scores as it was small jazz ensembles, doing so effectively at low levels and when cranked up loud. Needless to say, the 1 could play at ridiculously high volumes in my moderate-size room, with reassuring ease and with no hint of strain or compression. I'm sure it would sound equally…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Four-way, reflex-loaded, floorstanding loudspeaker. Drive-units: 1" ring-radiator tweeter, 4" polypropylene-cone midrange, 8" magnesium-cone mid-woofer, two 10" aluminum-cone woofers. Crossover frequencies: 119Hz, 422Hz, 2860Hz, 3550Hz. Frequency response: 25Hz–22kHz, ±3dB. Sensitivity: 90dB/2.83V/m. Nominal impedance: 4 ohms.
Dimensions: 58" H by 13.2" W by 19.7" D. Weight: 195 lbs.
Finish: Cherry veneer.
Serial numbers of units reviewed: not noted (auditioning); 25704060091 (measuring).
Price: $11,000/pair. Approximate number of…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog sources: Kuzma Stabi Reference, Simon Yorke S7, T+A G 10 turntables; Kuzma Air Line, Immedia RPM-2, Graham 2.2, SME M2 tonearms; Graham Nightingale II, Lyra Titan, Lyra Helikon SL, Shelter 301, Sumiko Blue Point Special Evo III, T+A C 10 cartridges.
Digital sources: Musical Fidelity Tri-Vista, Krell SACD Standard SACD players; Alesis Masterlink CD recorder.
Preamplification: Manley Steelhead, BAT VK-P10SE phono preamps; Musical Fidelity kWp, Krell KCT preamps.
Power amplifiers: Musical Fidelity kW, Krell FPB-450Mcx monoblocks.
Cables:…
I found that the NHTs sounded best when toed-in and firing directly at the listening position. I also liked them best when they were positioned fairly high, so that my ears were level with or below the woofers. In addition to using the cinder-block stands, I listened to the NHTs on the excellent $200 heavy-metal 24" speaker stands Merrill Audio has just introduced as an affordable alternative to the expensive imported British stands. (The $800 Target R2s, for example, are fine stands, but their price unfortunately reflects their overseas trek to your rumpus room.) Because the Merrill stands…
But I can't tell you that the Harbeths creamed the SuperZeros—or that I'd rather own a pair of the "new" LS3/5As over the $230 NHTs—because I think the SuperZero is a more neutral, transparent speaker than the venerable BBC design. And it can play a hell of a lot louder without strain, too. True, the SuperZero doesn't have the midbass hump that gives the LS3/5A its famous "li'l 'un that can boogie" reputation. And the NHT's high end is more extended and detailed than the Harbeth's, which has that warm, forgiving character that sez, "It's British and I paid a lot of money for it." But if I…
Aunt Corey's Uneducated White Trash DIY High-Pass Filter
But I knew there had to be a way to mate these two terrific products into one awe-inspiring $880 loudspeaker system. I tried running the SuperZeros full-range with the Muse while sending my preamp's output via a Radio Shack Y-adapter to the MA-1's line-level inputs—so the SW2 could fill out the bottom end, even though the SuperZeros weren't high-pass-filtered at all.
But I knew there had to be a way to mate these two terrific products into one awe-inspiring $880 loudspeaker system. I tried running the SuperZeros full-range with the Muse while sending my preamp's output via a Radio Shack Y-adapter to the MA-1's line-level inputs—so the SW2 could fill out the bottom end, even though the SuperZeros weren't high-pass-filtered at all.
Now I was getting somewhere! This sounded much better than using the MA-1's crossover. The SuperZeros remained clean and clear, and the SW2—the MA-1's 80Hz…
Home theater use
The SuperZeros should also be considered a prime candidate for Home Theater systems that see double duty as music-playback systems. I tried using five SuperZeros for the Left, Right, Center, and two Surround speakers—along with an SW2P to handle the bass—in my own Home Theater rig, and was extremely impressed with their performance when playing high-quality laserdiscs. And unlike every video-specific Home Theater speaker I've heard—including THX-approved models from Fosgate, JBL, and even the Snell 500 THX system JGH reviewed in Vol.15 No.12, p.202—the SuperZeros didn't…
The SuperZeros should also be considered a prime candidate for Home Theater systems that see double duty as music-playback systems. I tried using five SuperZeros for the Left, Right, Center, and two Surround speakers—along with an SW2P to handle the bass—in my own Home Theater rig, and was extremely impressed with their performance when playing high-quality laserdiscs. And unlike every video-specific Home Theater speaker I've heard—including THX-approved models from Fosgate, JBL, and even the Snell 500 THX system JGH reviewed in Vol.15 No.12, p.202—the SuperZeros didn't…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
NHT SuperZero: two-way, acoustic-suspension minimonitor. Drive-units: 4.5" paper-cone woofer, 1" soft-dome tweeter. Frequency response: 85Hz-25kHz, ±3dB. Crossover frequency & slopes: 2.2kHz, 6 and 12dB/octave. Impedance: 8 ohms nominal, 7.5 ohms minimum. Sensitivity: 86dB/W/m. Power handling: 100W maximum, 15W minimum.
Dimensions: 5.5" W by 9" H by 5" D. Internal volume: 2 liters. Weight: 6.5 lbs each.
Finishes available: high-gloss black laminate, high-gloss white laminate, hand-rubbed oak veneer.
Serial numbers of samples tested: A410-0001000…
Sidebar 2: Measurements
Fig.3 shows the manner in which the SuperZero's impedance changes with frequency. The peak centered just above 2kHz is due to the crossover; that in the upper bass is due to the sealed-box woofer tuning. Reaching a maximum of 19.2 ohms at 120Hz, it indicates a complete absence of mid- and low bass in the speaker's output. Overall, the SuperZero is a super-easy load for an amplifier to drive, which, coupled with a calculated B-weighted sensitivity of 85dB/W/m—highish for the size—means that it can be used even with inexpensive receivers (footnote 1).
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Corey talked about the SuperZero's tiny cabinet being more rigid than a larger one constructed from the same material—all things being equal. This will result in resonant modes that are higher in frequency and will therefore have less damaging effect on the music. Fig.10 shows that the mode highest in level lies at a very high 492Hz, or just below the B on the center line of the treble staff. Other modes are all much lower in level.
Fig.10 NHT SuperZero, cumulative spectral-decay plot of accelerometer output fastened to back of enclosure above terminal panel. (MLS driving…