N-Sat Speakers - Why the hype

Posted by: Crispin_Hill on 24 November 2017

"High Treason!" - I've owned N-Sat's now for 6 years and frankly have never been that impressed. I merely bought them to accompany the N-Sub. As a trio they're pretty good. My N-Sub is off being repaired and I've moved my NSat's to my study where they hang off a NAP150x and DAC-V1. They're on my desk and 3cm off the rear wall - they're supposed to be okay with that givenb they're designed to be wall-mounters and all. They sound harsh, bright and generally lacking any substance and va-va-voom!

On a recent thread, I put it out there for alternatives to NSat-Nsub. I considered replacing the pair(trio) and majority of comments were "No!!!!! Hold onto the Sats and pay to have sub repaired!". I agree on the sub-repair front and it's in Salisbury now. During this transition and time away from the Sub, it's really empasised to me how much I'm not 'getting' the whole hype towards the NSat that I see in these foumns "Eg: Oh if only Naim still made them... would love to get my hands on a pair...etc".

Let me try and be more positive and less 'ranty'. Perhaps my accoustic nuances are 'so unique' that they're restricting these amazing speakers from 'shining'. I don't think so. Or perhaps I should just off them and replace with Neat IOTA's or PMC DB1's :-) I think I'm a little annoyed with myself for putting up with this for so long; time to look on that popular auction site...

Posted on: 24 November 2017 by analogmusic

Get a Dynaudio emit 10 or 20 

Posted on: 24 November 2017 by ChrisSU

The only person who can answer that question is you, by trying some other speakers in your system to check that it is actually the N-Sats that are to blame here, and not some other factor in your setup that needs attention - not unusual in any system once it's been running for a few years. Then, if you do find something better, move on. There are other speakers that will integrate with the N-Sub.

Posted on: 24 November 2017 by hungryhalibut

nSats are never going to sound good sat on a desk. They need their dedicated stands or the n-bracket. I thought they were brilliant with the nSub, though slightly thin and weedy, and a bit chesty, by themselves. It seems very odd to pay a lot of money to fix the sub and then to express dissatisfaction with the very speaker they are designed to complement. I’d track down some brackets, wait for the return of the sub and then  see how you feel. There is no point throwing the baby out with the bath water. 

Posted on: 24 November 2017 by fathings cat

I loved my n stats (paired with a super uniti ) I think they are fantastic value on second hand market. Mine sat on decent stands (can’t remember brand) 

Gary

Posted on: 24 November 2017 by Christopher_M

Where's Max when you need him?!  :-)))

Posted on: 24 November 2017 by blythe

I love my n-Sats. I have 4 of them on original Naim stands, plus an n-Cent, plus an n-Sub. 
Brilliant performance for TV playback!
I haven't listen to them purely for music for a long time though...

Posted on: 24 November 2017 by CharlieP

Many people like them.  I have only heard them very near wall, on stands or brackets, with and without sub.  I like them.

Perhaps you have not heard them well-located.  Or perhaps you just don’t like them. No appologies required.

Charlie

Posted on: 24 November 2017 by rsch

I lived with a pair with n Stands in the context of the my main system, using various ancillaries including, CD5, CDX2, CD555, Nait XS, 282/250 with very good result and definetely not so shamed by SL2 which followed.

Now i moved them in basament room with DVD5/Nait XS and i' realizing that are better still now, being placed on a 9m wide wall.

I also have a second pair in a contiguos room,  i bought recently from a fellow forumee, driven by UnitiLite in and the result is pretty much as above. 

P.s i don't want to be polemic but i used for a while another famous little bookshelf and nSat, in their price bracket  is a clear winner

Regards

Roberto

Posted on: 25 November 2017 by Pev

I agree that N-Sats on their own are less than satisfying, certainly to my ears and with my musical tastes but with the addition of a decent sub they are excellent. You say in your original post that with an N-Sub they are "pretty good".

I think they were designed for use with a sub, certainly if I didn't have a sub I would change them. Why not wait until the sub comes back before deciding? Wall mounts might help if they are destined to stay in your study as the mounting is very important.

Posted on: 25 November 2017 by Massimo Bertola
Christopher_M posted:

Where's Max when you need him?!  :-)))

You have no idea how often I ask myself the same question....

Max

Posted on: 25 November 2017 by Monster

I am using nSats/Rel S3 on the end of LP12/52/250 and couldn't be happier. I wouldn't use them without the sub, though.