Kudos X2 w/NAP200DR

I like my X2s, not least because they are small and don't dominate the room too much. I used them first with a Superuniti, then with NDX/282/200, which obviously sounds a great deal better. In the right room, they can do bass quite well for their size, although there are obviously limits to what you can expect from such a small cabinet and driver. I also have an N-Sub, which I managed to integrate quite well into the room/system, and means that I can hide it behind the sofa rather than having bigger speakers in a smallish room.

Can you borrow them to try in your room?  That said typically Kudos speakers are not difficult to integrate and they will pair very well with the XS.  

Got Hi-Fi? posted:

I have a chance to get some Kudos X2 demos, just wonder if anyone here has run them with NAP200DR/NAC202 and what your thoughts are? They are nice and small, how are they for bottom end? Thanks

Even they are buttom ported they need some distance from boundaries ime

Not the deepest bas but I ran them succesfull added a B&K sub, settings very low gain and x-over, highly recommended VFM

Perhaps they are a bit closed-in in tweeter section but their tonal balance are wonderfull with a large soundstage one hardly notice tweeter "issue", they have a stunning ability to "dissappear" if you close your eyes

Your amp will be fine, perhaps added a Napsc and get the very best source if possible.

If my recollection is correct, [@mention:40424794201076322] drives his X2 happily with a Supernait 2 -- that's fairly similar to your combo. Search the Forum, and you should find him sharing his experience.

Had a pair of X2 paired with a Superuniti, then a 272/200 DR and thought they were loads of fun to listen to. Sold them to a friend who used them with an XS to great results. Never thought they lacked in bass given their smallish form factor. 

Timo is almost correct, but it was actually the slightly larger X3s I went for.  I've not heard the 2s unfortunately, so don't know how close they are.  In terms of size there is not much difference, the X3s are still a very compact floorstander.  I think they are wonderful.  If you can audition and the X2s do not quite deliver for you, definitely give the X3s a chance and listen to those; I have been lead to believe they are a significant step up, and probably a step the rest of your system deserves.

SongStream posted:

Timo is almost correct, but it was actually the slightly larger X3s I went for.  I've not heard the 2s unfortunately, so don't know how close they are.  In terms of size there is not much difference, the X3s are still a very compact floorstander.  I think they are wonderful.  If you can audition and the X2s do not quite deliver for you, definitely give the X3s a chance and listen to those; I have been lead to believe they are a significant step up, and probably a step the rest of your system deserves.

 

Apologies [@mention:40424794201076322] for not getting it right 100% -- but at least almost correct... Will work on the last 10%...  

I enjoyed reading the great write-up of your speaker search journey, and thought (when reading your posts) that it was a great pity that I didn't have a chance to listen to Kudos when I bought my speakers before your purchase. Kudos is really difficult in my region, but I might have made the extra effort for Kudos if i had known. Having said this, I would have annoyed and tested my wife's patience even more... 

Thanks [@mention:63936634726737555].  Given those posts are over 6 months old now, I think your memory is in damn good shape. ;-)

It's funny that Kudos wasn't a brand that was on my shortlist, and I still haven't ever heard anything from Neat who were on the shortlist.  When something is right though, I think it's obvious quite quickly, almost instantaneously in this case.  And happily they are as right for me now, as they were during the first listen.  A little bit of luck involved there perhaps, but I get the feeling my dealer had already worked out that I was going to like them.  I guess that's true benefit of talking to and auditioning with a really good dealer, and I'm lucky to have such a dealer reasonably close by.  

I have the X2s powered by a SuperUniti and am very happy with them. In a 4x6m room the lows are just about right. But I find that I still needed to bull them out away from the wall about 35cm or the bass boom was getting irritating. Like others said, the soundstage is wide and accurate and the detail is very good. I don't find I need a sub to pair with it, but then that's a personal choice.

I too have X2’s fed by a 172/250.2 via NACA5. Definitely try them in your room at home. I loved the X2’s at the dealer even preferring them to the X3’s (albeit don’t think they had been run in properly so maybe not truly  representative as they had literally just been released). I bought some ex-dem X2’s on the above demo and I do get some bass boom which muddles the sound on complex music. Top end is sweet. I can’t pull them too far from the back walls so care is needed. In the right circumstances though they can sing. 

Thanks for all the replies guys, I ended up going with B&W CM8 S2.