NHT SB3 Bookshelf Speakers
A while back I started a thread looking for recommendations on bookshelf speakers and I got some good advice. I ended up with the Energy RC-10 and then I moved up to the RC-70 floorstanding speaker with the RC-LCR as a center in a hybrid 2-channel / HT set up.
Later I picked up two additional RC-LCR speakers for the bedroom set up. They sound great but they are a little big for the bedroom. I tried the RC-10 in the bedroom some time ago and they were ok.
I went back to that thread and noticed that @F1nut recommended a pair of NHT SB3 bookshelf speakers so I figured I'd give them a try.
I found a pair for a reasonable price and swapped out the RC-LCR speakers for the NHT SB3.
This is a very impressive bookshelf. It produces plenty of detail and pretty astonishing bass given its size. Of course, the main difference is going from a ported / bass reflex enclosure in the Energy speakers to a sealed enclosure in the NHT speakers.
In the bedroom, both sets were calibrated and driven by a Denon AVR 2113CI. I didn't notice a change in the volume level output at the same position on the "dial" despite the difference in their efficiency ratings.
If I had to explain the difference between them, I would say the NHT is slightly brighter with a little more sparkle on the top end. The NHT give up some of the midrange produced by the 3-way Energy speakers. Both the Energy & NHT put out very respectable levels of bass response. The ported sound is a little more boom than the sealed. Nothing unexpected there. The NHT is more sensitive to placement than the Energy. The NHT needs to be a little closer to the wall but not as close as I thought.
I decided to try them against the RC-70 in the living room and I was very impressed. They hold their own against the towers but they do lack the articulate midrange from the 3-way towers. The towers dig deeper but most music doesn't go that low so it's not always an issue plus I augment the NHT with the DIY SVS sub (to be honest, it's barely on).
Now, some believe that metal done tweeters ate fatiguing and I guess that's all a matter of personal preference, and what isn't in this hobby? I don't notice any listening fatigue from the NHT or the Energy speakers. In fact, the Polk RTI6 were harder to tolerate for long periods than either the NHT or the Energy speakers.
It makes me wonder if going back to the ELAC UB5 might be an option as the mids and highs were spectacular but the bass was seriously lacking. This lack of bass can be offset by the sub (I couldn't get everything to work together when I had the ELAC speakers here).
Either way, for a modest investment, the reward from the NHT SB3 is quite good. I'm still playing with placement and toe - in. I don't think they're going to replace the RC-70 but it's fun to experiment nonetheless :-)
That said, the RC-70 speakers were moved to the sides of the NHTs creating a "false corner" for them. The NHTs are sitting atop 18" stands on which I placed two 9 x 6 x4 yoga blocks. On top of the yoga blocks are Auralex Acoustics MoPAD-XL Monitor Acoustic Isolation Pads, 2" x 8.75" x 12" so the NHT are angled back to try and get the tweeter firing at ear level. They are also toed in slightly. When I first put the NHT speakers in the living room, they were just sitting on top of the 18" stands, firing forward. The bass is better now but is it due to the false corners of the decoupling of the speakers? The soundstage isn't as wide and some of the detail has disappeared. I may have to lower them with the false corner and point them straight ahead again. I don't think that they're too bass heavy but I can try to pull them out into the room another inch or two.
Later I picked up two additional RC-LCR speakers for the bedroom set up. They sound great but they are a little big for the bedroom. I tried the RC-10 in the bedroom some time ago and they were ok.
I went back to that thread and noticed that @F1nut recommended a pair of NHT SB3 bookshelf speakers so I figured I'd give them a try.
I found a pair for a reasonable price and swapped out the RC-LCR speakers for the NHT SB3.
This is a very impressive bookshelf. It produces plenty of detail and pretty astonishing bass given its size. Of course, the main difference is going from a ported / bass reflex enclosure in the Energy speakers to a sealed enclosure in the NHT speakers.
In the bedroom, both sets were calibrated and driven by a Denon AVR 2113CI. I didn't notice a change in the volume level output at the same position on the "dial" despite the difference in their efficiency ratings.
If I had to explain the difference between them, I would say the NHT is slightly brighter with a little more sparkle on the top end. The NHT give up some of the midrange produced by the 3-way Energy speakers. Both the Energy & NHT put out very respectable levels of bass response. The ported sound is a little more boom than the sealed. Nothing unexpected there. The NHT is more sensitive to placement than the Energy. The NHT needs to be a little closer to the wall but not as close as I thought.
I decided to try them against the RC-70 in the living room and I was very impressed. They hold their own against the towers but they do lack the articulate midrange from the 3-way towers. The towers dig deeper but most music doesn't go that low so it's not always an issue plus I augment the NHT with the DIY SVS sub (to be honest, it's barely on).
Now, some believe that metal done tweeters ate fatiguing and I guess that's all a matter of personal preference, and what isn't in this hobby? I don't notice any listening fatigue from the NHT or the Energy speakers. In fact, the Polk RTI6 were harder to tolerate for long periods than either the NHT or the Energy speakers.
It makes me wonder if going back to the ELAC UB5 might be an option as the mids and highs were spectacular but the bass was seriously lacking. This lack of bass can be offset by the sub (I couldn't get everything to work together when I had the ELAC speakers here).
Either way, for a modest investment, the reward from the NHT SB3 is quite good. I'm still playing with placement and toe - in. I don't think they're going to replace the RC-70 but it's fun to experiment nonetheless :-)
That said, the RC-70 speakers were moved to the sides of the NHTs creating a "false corner" for them. The NHTs are sitting atop 18" stands on which I placed two 9 x 6 x4 yoga blocks. On top of the yoga blocks are Auralex Acoustics MoPAD-XL Monitor Acoustic Isolation Pads, 2" x 8.75" x 12" so the NHT are angled back to try and get the tweeter firing at ear level. They are also toed in slightly. When I first put the NHT speakers in the living room, they were just sitting on top of the 18" stands, firing forward. The bass is better now but is it due to the false corners of the decoupling of the speakers? The soundstage isn't as wide and some of the detail has disappeared. I may have to lower them with the false corner and point them straight ahead again. I don't think that they're too bass heavy but I can try to pull them out into the room another inch or two.
Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
Comments
-
My last pair of mini Energy speakers came with foam port baffles, that really tightened up the bass, but reduced how far the low Hz's went.
I used a sub anyway and prefered them with the foam plugs in. -
Polkaguy58 wrote: »My last pair of mini Energy speakers came with foam port baffles, that really tightened up the bass, but reduced how far the low Hz's went.
I used a sub anyway and prefered them with the foam plugs in.
I've played with the placement of the NHT speakers but I'm still not getting as wide a Soundstage as I do with the energy speakers. I may have to move the NHT speakers father apart.
Thanks for reminding me about the port plugs. I do have them and I may give them a try.
I am amazed at the bass output by these SB3 bookies. Far more low end than the Energy RC-10.
Also, the SB3 are now farther away from the front wall but the bass response hasn't diminished.Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10 -
Those NHT's are audio classics. Nice grab.Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
-
Thanks @steveinaz
Here's what they look like in my living room (they sound really good up here).
I actually found an SC2 center channel to match the SB3 and it will be here on Friday. I'm not getting rid of the Energy speakers but I am going to live with the NHTs for a little while and then switch back to get a good feel for the comparison.
Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10 -
Victor, wth are they sitting on?
You have to understand that in stock form they are ok speakers, but after crossover upgrades are a lot better. I would not still have mine if they were stock.
I should mention that using MIT cables makes them sound even better.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
Victor, wth are they sitting on?
You have to understand that in stock form they are ok speakers, but after crossover upgrades are a lot better. I would not still have mine if they were stock.
I should mention that using MIT cables makes them sound even better.
Hey Jesse,
They are sitting on speaker stands which have Auralex MoPAD-XL which have yoga blocks on top of them (yoga blocks are supposed to be similar to the Auralex MoPAD).
I just started back to school and haven't got the time to get to the x-over upgrade. In stock form, they sound pretty good to me and I am looking forward to the sound improvements after the upgrades.
I am using them with MIT speaker cables. It is a lot of weight on the binding posts with the big boxes hanging off the top back section of the speakers.Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10 -
Interesting. Is the MoPad stuff just closed cell foam?
No worries about the cables or binding posts. Mine have been hanging without issue for years. The boxes really don't weigh much.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
Interesting. Is the MoPad stuff just closed cell foam?
No worries about the cables or binding posts. Mine have been hanging without issue for years. The boxes really don't weigh much.
Yes, the MoPADs are closed cell foam. I was trying to repurpose a set of speaker stands I had that were too short by adding the yoga blocks and the MoPADs.
Here's a link to the Auralex website:
http://www.auralex.com/product/mopad-mopad-xl/Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10 -
I love my MoPads, but I spent less on one of the cheaper options cause I dont make @F1nut kinda money lol.....
Adam Hall Pad's
Pictures of installed under LSiC"....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
