anybody tried Lowther with Naim?

Posted by: Mike Cole on 22 January 2002

I have been reading about Lowther loudspeakers and, from the descriptions of the sound, they seem to be similar to Kans except a lot more dynamic. Seems like they might be a good match for Naits.

Mike

Posted on: 22 January 2002 by Rob Doorack

I just picked up a pair of speakers that use the AER driver, a full range driver similar to a Lowther, with a rear - loaded horn. In the next few days I'll try them with a Nait 5. The bad news is that the driver is nominally 16 ohms. The good news is that it's sensitivity is an incredible 102.5dB!

Posted on: 22 January 2002 by Phil Barry

Will Lowthers fit in the AER box? It might be an interesting exeriment, if only you could find a do-it-yourselfer with Lowthers, and with an itch to convert others to Lowtherism....

Do you still have your Nait 3? It would also be interesting to read how a speaker with sensitivity of 102+ Db can be controlled with a standard Naim volume pot.

Regards.

Phil

Posted on: 22 January 2002 by Rob Doorack

I'm certainly no Lowther expert but the AER driver looks to me to be a drop in replacement for Lowthers. I won't be trying a Lowther in this speaker, the manufacturer doesn't offer a Lowther driver (he says the AER sounds better anyway). Info on the AER full range driver can be found at AER speakers . The site is in German but can be translated with the Babelfish translator.

I still own a Nait 3 but its been retired to the attic until my now 4 year old daughter wants a hi fi of her own. I'll use a Nait 5 and an Audiomat Arpege tube integrated amp.

Posted on: 22 January 2002 by Bernard Paquet

Rod,

4 year old is old enought for a Nait 3! My 18 month old daughter is praticing herself with a Nait 2 and meridian cdp! She like to put Cd in this top loader. I think by the age of 4 she will have the right to use my CDS...

Bernard Paquet

Posted on: 22 January 2002 by Justin

I have an 18 month old that I can no longer let near my stereo. he's just not gentle. It isn't enough to simply "place" the disk in the drawer. He feels that he has to "secure" it in place my pushing down on it really hard. And, of course, the drawer isn't really closed unless it's been slammed. "And gosh darn-it, why doesn't it play 1 millasecond after pushing the button. maybe if I push it 15 times really fast it will work".

Judd

Posted on: 22 January 2002 by Greg Beatty

...if the pre in the Nait will be too noisy for such a sensitive speaker.

We had a 52 hooked up to Avante Garde Duos (horns) and the hiss was unbearable.

Don't know how sensitive the Avante Garde's are tho...

- GregB

Insert Witty Signature Line Here

Posted on: 22 January 2002 by Rob Doorack

Avantgarde Duos are specified as having a sensitivity of 103 dB. I'll report back on the results of my Nait / horn experiment after I get the new speakers set up over the coming weekend.

Posted on: 22 January 2002 by Martin Payne

quote:
Originally posted by Richard van Laar:
A good Lowter system can sound awesome but their sensitivity is so ridiculously high that controlling them with a "powerhouse" Nait will cause problems I think. You won't be able to touch the volume at all.

Richard,

the NAIT has adjustable sensitivity. Although this is designed for matching CD with LP, it is probably useful in this situation, also.

cheers, Martin

Posted on: 08 February 2002 by Rob Doorack

I finally got around to setting up the single driver speakers I'd alluded to a few weeks ago. Now that the review has been published in the current Listener I can reveal that the speakers are the Lamhorn 1.8 by RL Acoustique . I hooked them to a 112 /150 rather than a Nait 5. Although I never had the 112's volume knob much above the 12 o'clock position I had no problems controlling the 102 dB sensitivity speakers. The steps in the 112's volume control via the remote are quite small. The volume knob at 12 o'clock represented a 95 dB level in the room playing Prodigy. Unfortunately the Naim and Lamhorn combination was rather a harsh and tiring one. It certainly didn't have the magic I've heard from these speakers in other situations (I think the Lamhorn is one of the 3 best speakers I've ever heard). Perhaps the 150 wasn't happy with the Lamhorns' AER drivers' 16 ohm impedance. I subsequently replaced the 112 / 150 with an Audiomat Arpege tubed integrated with better results. I still have more work to do on the speakers' placement and intend to revisit the Naim / Lamhorn combination after that.

Posted on: 08 February 2002 by RandallE

quote:
Originally posted by Rob Doorack:
I hooked them to a 112 /150 rather than a Nait 5........Unfortunately the Naim and Lamhorn combination was rather a harsh and tiring one.

I'm not surprised. I would think the AER/Lowther drivers would amplify any minute nastiness going on in lower-range Naim gear.

As far as the experience w/noise when using a 52, I wonder if that the amp(unknown) was the culprit. I would think a 52 feeding a 47 Labs gaincard, or low-powered tube job, would be pretty quiet.

I've heard good things about Lamhorns. Are they better than Medallians in the bass dept?

------------------
I want to die in my sleep like my Grandfather, not screaming like the passengers in his car.

Posted on: 08 February 2002 by Phil Barry

Randall, If you'r interested in SETs an high sensitivity speakers, you really should subscribe to lowther.

I mean Listener. It's a good mag even if you don't specialize in SETs.

Rob, I would expect the volume control of the 5 series to be a lot better than the 3-series (matched resistors instead of a potentiometer).