NHT 2.9 experience

Lowell_M

I just got back from a coworkers house after having the most amazing audio experience I've had. He has NHT 2.9 speakers, an Advent Pre-Pro and a 300 wpc amp @8ohm amp(forgot the brand as now I am a few beers since then).

This was my first experience listening to a nice system with an external amp. I was feeling pretty good about my AVR-635, but this system was amazing. Of course, we played the EAgles Hell Freezes over DVD. The clarity and fullness was amazing. The speakers were a little bright for my taste, but unbelievably clear. I came home and put the farewell tour DVD on..... For the first time I didn't think my system sounded so super. Actually, I like the overall sound of my RTi's better than the NHT's. The sound seems to be more balanced. Not as bright. BUT....I can definately hear the difference the giant amp made. I'll keep my RTi's but need an amp!!!!

In an unbelievable, historically recordable, event... My wife said, "Wow, what about his system makes it sound so much better than yours?" I told her it was the giant amp. She said "You should get an amp...That is actually the first time I have ever been able to actually tell a difference in the audio stuff you show me." (oh yea)

SOOOOOOO.... The AVR 635 seems to actually have a pretty damn good amplifier section in comparison to my **** JVC and most other receivers I have heard. If I were to try to save $'s and buy a 2 channel amp rather than 5 ch to drive the RTI's, would that free up enough load on the HK that I would be satisfied with the overall sound by driving the center and rears with the HK? should I think about 3 channell (fronts and center)? Bite the bullet and go right for a 5 channel amp? (my room really isn't big enough to go 6 or 7 channel)

Also, anybody know much about the NHT 2.9's?

dorokusai

The Advent pre-pro sounds more interesting than anything else but glad you enjoyed a solid demo. What model was the Advent? You may have heard some actual history aside from a great speaker.

Dennis Gardner

I would think that you heard what reserve power does for dynamics and although you claim to like your RTis better than what the 2.9s gave, the 70s compared to a $2500 pair of 4 way speakers with 10 inch woofers is hardly a fair comparison.

I own RTi 70s and find them to be alot less musical than my SDA 1Cs. Even with external amplification, they don't really shine on music the way they do on movies.

The 2.9s are no slouch of speaker although I would prefer 3.3s if given the resources and room to let them sing.

Lowell_M

And now for my non-drunk comments....

First off, I am definately no expert at reviewing this level of speaker. Yesterday was my first experience with such a system. It was the most amazing listenting experience.

The sound from the NHT's was quite amazing, but they really did seem on the bright side. There was no sub, which gave the 10's an opportunity to shine. I must say that the bass response was very tight and right on the money. Sounded great. But, overall sound the sound was bright. When I got home, the first thing I did was put the eagles DVD in and noticed the lack of clarity and "big" sound that I heard in the NHT system. What I did find strange, though was that my system seemed warmer. I'm unfortunately not able to explain this very well. Although the big clear sound that you get from an external amp wasn't present, the sound seemed more...true to life...and I liked it. ...Articulate, eh?

I think that my next step is to turn off my sub in the HK and listen to some 2 channel music with all sound going through the RTi's.

cfrizz

Welcome to the wonderful world of realizing what separate amplification can do!:D

I was on the road you've just entered. I started out with a 2 channel 205wpc Parasound, for my mains. I liked it so much I next got a Outlaw 200wpc monoblock for my center channel. I liked that even more, which meant that then I started looking for a 5 channel 200wpc amp for all of my speakers!

I finally got it 2 months ago with my Sunfire 405wpc amp The extra 200 watts were a bonus, since it took me almost 2 yrs to find a 5 channel amp that I could physically handle at a price I could afford!

Hearing all of the fine details in music & movies from ALL of my speakers has been absolutely wonderful! I'm a very happy camper!:D

So I would say that since you have the wife's approval, go for the gold & get a 200 or more wpc 5 channel amp! You both will be very happy that you did!

cfrizz

You did a very good job of explaining the difference in sound & I know exactly what you are talking about.

I'm pretty sure it was because of the tweeter in the speakers. My ears simply cannot handle metal tweeters.

People say they are the best tweeters to get exceptional clarity from, but after listening to them at a decent volume for an hour I walk away with a headache! For me that extra clarity = too bright!

They also tend to bring out every ounce of siblance that the music has making some of my favorite cd's unlistenable!

So if I have to choose between exceptional clarity & nice natural sound, I will always go for natural sound!

F1nut

Cathy nailed it, NHT use metal dome tweeters, which unless tamed with some tubes tend to be bright/harsh to my ears and even then they can still be bright.

Better jump on getting that amp before she changes her mind.

dkg999

I have RTi70's as my mains, and they really opened up when I started powering them with the Outlaw M200 mono amps. I also used the 12g speaker cable from Blue Jeans Cables, and replaced the metal jumpers with the same speaker cable. They sound great. I run dual CSi40's for the front center, and FXi5 for sides, and FXi3's for rear surrounds.

I see you're in Roscoe. I ate at the Firehouse bar & grill a few weeks ago, good food. I'm in Belvidere. Doug.

Lowell_M

Love the Firehouse. I frequent wing night and drink their giant Guinesses.

I've started thinking about the Outlaws. Seem like a good deal. I can't spend the coin all at once to buy a 5 channel amp, and also wonder if powered the 70's with amps and the rest with the AVR if I would be happy with the sound...could always add more later.

See you at the Firehouse! Aaron

cfrizz

So simply start saving the coin until you do have all of the money for a 5 channel. All that is required is a little patience. Outlaw Audio certainly isn't going anywhere!

Lowell_M

I guess my question really is.... Do I need a 5 channel amp, or only need two monoblocks for the RTi70's. Or 3 channel so that the center has more power also.

Would there be a noticable difference between the channels not driven by an external amp and those driven by an external amp if the amp in the AVR 635 were freed up to only power 2 or 3 channles?

cfrizz

Yes there is a huge difference having all the speakers powered by a separate amp. You don't really know it until you get it hooked up. I could always hear my back speakers when they were hooked to my Denon, but when I hooked them up to the Sunfire they really came alive.

Another point to consider is you could make a 1 time purchase of 1 big amp for all 5 speakers, that only requires 1 outlet & one piece of real estate to sit on. Or you could be buying 2-3 amps at 2-3 different times, needing 2-3 outlets & taking up more precious real estate.

Would your wife want you to make 1 big purchase & be done with it or 2-3 different purchases all spread out possibly costing more money?

Lowell_M

Good point. Outlaw seems to be the $/performance value of choice here. Any other recommendations? Should be 200wpc min?

I see that the maximum wattage for the (5x200 watt) is 1800 watts which is right around 15 amps current drawn. Since I wasn't planning ahead for this audio disease when I finished my hometheater/bar area, I only have 1 - 20 amp circuit for outlets. Does an amp ever really draw that much current, even at moderately high volumes? With other things plugged into the same outlet, I can easily see myself overloading the circuit if the amp draws 15 amps. Anybody have this problem? Of course, my friends system that I talk about at the beginning of this thread is all plugged into the same circuit in his living room.

Early B.

Part of the decision making process for determining whether or not you should get monos, 2-channel, 3-channel, or 5 channel amp is by looking at your needs. If you listen to a lot of music in surround sound, go for the 5-channel amp. If most of your listening is 2-channel music with the occasional movie, get two monoblocks or a 2-channel amp. If you can't afford to buy a 5-channel amp at one time, don't save up for it ('cause wives change their minds too fast!) Make the purchase now. Start with a couple of Outlaw or Marantz monoblocks, or maybe a nice 2-channel amp.

Early B.

a_mattison wrote:

Does an amp ever really draw that much current, even at moderately high volumes? With other things plugged into the same outlet, I can easily see myself overloading the circuit if the amp draws 15 amps. Anybody have this problem? Of course, my friends system that I talk about at the beginning of this thread is all plugged into the same circuit in his living room.

Don't worry about it. You shouldn't have a problem.

reeltrouble1

Ask your friend about the pre. Although a seperate amplifier is a good idea if you want that "sound" your pre/pro is by design limiting your system's musicality. Its a very good receiver its just the circuitry inside can only deliver so much.

RT1

audiobliss

I would personally want either monoblocks or a 2/3 channel amp, and then add on a 2/3 channel amp for the surrounds/surround back/rear center speakers.

Why? Just for more separation between channels, more power for the main speakers (amp powering few speakers meaning more of the power reserved for the mains for dynamics, etc.), and also for listening to music in 2-channel - only have to turn on what you need.

Lowell_M

reeltrouble1 wrote:

Ask your friend about the pre. Although a seperate amplifier is a good idea if you want that "sound" your pre/pro is by design limiting your system's musicality. Its a very good receiver its just the circuitry inside can only deliver so much.

RT1

I'll find out what model Advent he has and let you know. I would be interested in what you know about the unit.

reeltrouble1

A-M,

I dont personally know the Advent if its the 300 then its a stereo receiver. Advent has a long history but was acquired and made part of AR by Rectocon (who had/has NHT) and then something with Audiovox a low end company and I was thinking everthing is under Phillips now. I just know the company was once about music and made some fine speakers, a part of the Kloss dream.

RT1

Danny Tse

reeltrouble1 wrote:

Advent has a long history but was acquired and made part of AR by Rectocon (who had/has NHT) and then something with Audiovox a low end company and I was thinking everthing is under Phillips now.

Advent is still owned by Audiovox and until recently, it was still apparently making some fine sounding speakers. However, Audiovox's website currently shows no Advent speakers.

unc2701

a_mattison wrote:

Good point. Outlaw seems to be the $/performance value of choice here. Any other recommendations? Should be 200wpc min?

I see that the maximum wattage for the (5x200 watt) is 1800 watts which is right around 15 amps current drawn. Since I wasn't planning ahead for this audio disease when I finished my hometheater/bar area, I only have 1 - 20 amp circuit for outlets. Does an amp ever really draw that much current, even at moderately high volumes? With other things plugged into the same outlet, I can easily see myself overloading the circuit if the amp draws 15 amps. Anybody have this problem? Of course, my friends system that I talk about at the beginning of this thread is all plugged into the same circuit in his living room.

I have popped 15 amp breakers with both my brystons (individually, not together)... their max current @ 4 ohm is a little steeper than the outlaw's, but not that much. Same thing with the adcom 565's I used to have. So- yeah it could be a problem... If you end up having to pull more wire, so be it. Just be sure you run one extra, this time

cfrizz

Early, people's needs change over time. And I don't really believe in separating the 2 channel from the surround. I believe in getting good equipment that can do BOTH extremely well.

Getting a 200wpc or more 5 channel amp will cover all of his bases for both music & movies. And now that his wife has heard what their system can sound like, she is not very likely to change her mind & it's easy enough to remind her what she heard at their friends house.

He knows he wants an amplifier, saving to get a 5 channel amp now will make it all the easier to eventually get a straight prepro later on. Or he might find that just having the more powerful amp was all he needed to have a great system.

Early B. wrote:

Part of the decision making process for determining whether or not you should get monos, 2-channel, 3-channel, or 5 channel amp is by looking at your needs. If you listen to a lot of music in surround sound, go for the 5-channel amp. If most of your listening is 2-channel music with the occasional movie, get two monoblocks or a 2-channel amp. If you can't afford to buy a 5-channel amp at one time, don't save up for it ('cause wives change their minds too fast!) Make the purchase now. Start with a couple of Outlaw or Marantz monoblocks, or maybe a nice 2-channel amp.

cfrizz

Yes, 200wpc should be the min. If you don't mind used, take a look at Audiogon for 5 channel Rotels, Parasounds Outlaws, & Sunfires.

All of my equipment is plugged into one outlet which has 2 power strips in it. Nothing has blown up or caught fire yet!:D

a_mattison wrote:

Good point. Outlaw seems to be the $/performance value of choice here. Any other recommendations? Should be 200wpc min?

I see that the maximum wattage for the (5x200 watt) is 1800 watts which is right around 15 amps current drawn. Since I wasn't planning ahead for this audio disease when I finished my hometheater/bar area, I only have 1 - 20 amp circuit for outlets. Does an amp ever really draw that much current, even at moderately high volumes? With other things plugged into the same outlet, I can easily see myself overloading the circuit if the amp draws 15 amps. Anybody have this problem? Of course, my friends system that I talk about at the beginning of this thread is all plugged into the same circuit in his living room.

dkg999

Unfortunately it's a bad time of year for me, free time wise, or I would load up a couple of spare Outlaw M200's and H/K and Parasound amps and bring over for an afternoon of listening. Once we get into November I will have more free time! Doug.

reeltrouble1

now there is a great offer, get to listen on your system and make an informed decision.

RT1

Lowell_M

dkg999 wrote:

Unfortunately it's a bad time of year for me, free time wise, or I would load up a couple of spare Outlaw M200's and H/K and Parasound amps and bring over for an afternoon of listening. Once we get into November I will have more free time! Doug.

That sounds great!

wingnut4772

Look into a used 3 channel Earthquake Cinenova. You will be very happy with that one and you can upgrade any speaker to it.

Lowell_M

My buddy's pre-pro is an Anthem AVM 20 v2.x. He wasn't sure off the top of his head what DAC it has in it.

dkg999

Using that quality of pre/pro will have a definite impact! PM me around the first of Nov. and if you want I will bring over a couple of power amp options. Doug.