nva lousdspeakers , what do you think about them?
Hi guys , as the title suggests , what's your opinion on cube 1, cube 2 , cube 3 (old model) and cubix speakers ?
tnx
ciao
s.
tnx
ciao
s.
Comments
tnx
ciao,
s.
I used the NVA cube for about 6 weeks, the ones that had the 6.5 inch driver & were sold to the music teacher in Antwerp. I had them for about 6 weeks, Bi-amped with '70s & '40s.
They are scary dynamic, in yer face, rude speakers, they are very revealing. I do understand their being described as aggressive. I found they were always 'loud' even when quiet, but the scale they produce was just huge.
To illustrate: my Royds produce an accurate reproduction of a scaled down band/orchestra in my lounge; the cubes bring all 18 musicians into the room with me. It's almost a case of sensory overload.
My biggest criticism is that they are coloured; forgivably so perhaps, but having been spoiled by my RR3s I couldn't accept them. I thought carefully about selling the Royds to get the prototype cubes (I was offered a good price) but I was not prepared to accept the trade off. The fact I was considering it at all is testament to their strengths.
Gromit had them before me, and he also had the newer, smaller cubes as well; I'm sure he can describe them more eloquently. I will say this - the cubes haven't left me. I often wonder how the cubes would sound on certain tracks even now - they are nothing if not exiting.
I have the cube 1s. I love 'em with my all nva amp/cable setup. Very natural presentation. This could as equally be called 'revealing' as Alan calls it.
Dynamic yes - but I feel that this is part of their natural/revealing presentation. (Live instruments are very dynamic in terms of dB levels!). (The 8 inch driver delivers impressive but tuneful wallop.)
They replaced a pair of huge Dynaudio Audience 82 3 way floorstanders in my system. I took about a month to choose (my back still bares the scars), and by the end of that time the Cubes had opened up massively and surpassed easily the impressive Dyns. During this break-in period the Cubes also became more transparent. They are are a different speaker now to the one I picked up from RD at Scalford.
My one word of caution would be that the Cube 1s seem very room- and position fussy. In Scalford Hall the room was too big and the Cubes sounded drained and insipid. At the Whittlebury show the room was too small and the sound was cluttered. In RD's lounge (I felt) the speakers were too close to the rear wall, and again the sound was cluttered. Fortunately they seem to suit my lounge (4mx8m), with about 1/2 metre to rear and side walls.
BTW I'm hoping to host a speaker get together at my home in Gloucester on 20th Feb. Figlet (Jason) is coming with his fancy floorstanders. Anyone interested in Cube 1s or in bringing their own speakers along, let me know!
Ben
Being NVA no figures obviously, but given the same amp volume setting, the cube 1s were noticeably quieter than the Dynaudios, rated at 87db.
That said, I've never been in any way concerned that the system with the cube 1s was struggling.
Rob - I don't think the tweeters are metal. They don't look like it anyway...
Ben
Ben, you mention efficiency & loudness, but I couldn't ever get them quiet enough for day-to-day listening or TV use; they are able to put on a performance but never fade into the background & just disappear for a while - I guess I just found them tiring. Although, they are very capable speakers, and most impressive in their own right. No other speaker can do what they do, that is for sure, and I absolutely understand your loving their immediacy & dynamics.