552/NAP500/nSats

Posted by: ken c on 31 July 2017

Overkill? Unbalanced? Perhaps...

But, while waiting for a replacement tweeter for my SL2s from Naim i am using a pair of nSats on wall brackets. These little beauties punch well above their weight! and have this explosive percussion characteristic that can be frightening but very engaging at the same time. Vocals have this utterly beguiling characteristic.

Of course, they lack the 'ultimate' bass -- but what is there is very tuneful and well timed.  And in any case, not sure more bass in my office would work. Bass from active SL2s is about the limit i reckon.

My daughter made a worrying comment when she listened to them over the weekend. "Not a million miles between these nSats and my SL2s" !!! Wot!! Perhaps the tweeter has been deteriorating over time and the nSats is making this obvious? Whatever...

Normal service (active SL2s) will be resumed when i have got the errant tweeter and other issues, sorted. Hopefully soon.

enjoy

ken

Posted on: 23 September 2017 by Dungassin

I run nSats with 552/300DR/NDS/555PSDR/LP12/Ekos/TKR etc.  No choice really, it's a small room with only one place where the speakers could go, and SWMBO has coopted the lounge for her usual diet of reality TV and soaps (sigh).  Sounds absolutely superb.  Enjoy them!   Just waiting for the TKR to reach the end of its lifespan then I'll consider the upgrade to Ekos SE and a new cartridge.

Posted on: 23 September 2017 by steve95775
ChrisSU posted:

"but this makes me wonder just how much power they really need to make them sing - I was thinking more of an Atom!"

I have the urge to upgrade my 172/200 to a 272/250 on my main system and shunt the 172/200 into the study with my n-Sats. Currently using a so-so Harmon Kardon receiver, even this works. But must admit the idea of an Atom appeals for the aesthetics. Will be trying an Atom soon. 

Posted on: 23 September 2017 by Monster
Michael Mccullough posted:
Monster posted:

I'm presently waiting for a pair of nSats to arrive from southern Ontario. They should be here on Sept. 26, and after reading a lot of threads on the little guys I can hardly wait. I'm going to be using them with an LP12/52/250/Fraim/Rel S3 setup in a near field arrangement. I am using es-14s right now, and it should be interesting to compare the two presentations. I really love the Epos, but a nice deal came up on the nSats and I couldn't resist. Should be interesting...

BB 

I almost bought those as a back-up pair...ended up getting a nice, preloved NAP200 instead.

Those nSats are going to have some very large shoes to fill. Just spent a few hours with some great herb and a little single malt, listening to the es-14s. Played Folk Singer, Me and Mr Johnson, some Duke Ellington and Ray Brown, Headhunters, Slowhand  and Hotel California, and it all sounded incredible. The Epos really have a tremendous sense of involvement about them. It's going to be hard for the nSats to be the equal of the Epos regarding  the involvement factor IMHO, but we shall see. I know a lot of folks really love the nSats, so the comparison should be interesting. It beats sitting around flipping shit with a stick...

BB 

Posted on: 24 September 2017 by BNN

500 series for a n-Sat, wondering how far the sound can go for the little speaker. For me sound quality always matter of price but sound taste doesn't matter. For smaller speaker has its limitation which cannot compare with the floor standing especially has the good front end.

Posted on: 24 September 2017 by Richieroo

I use pmc30.21's which are fab on end of a 500 system.... I am constantly amazed how good they sound .... I have never heard the nsat.... but I bet they boogie....

Posted on: 24 September 2017 by Innocent Bystander

I'm intrigued by the popularity of the N-Sat without N-Sub to fill in the missing bottom octave or so

Posted on: 24 September 2017 by Dungassin

I have my system set up to use the nSub for those few recordings where I think it offers some benefit.  I do this by switching the nSub on when I want to use it.  Most recordings derive little or no benefit from adding the nSub, but there are some which benefit.   Took me a lot of trial and error to get it set up to my satisfaction.  The nSats do go down to 60Hz which ain't bad for such a small speaker.