2. speakers
  3. 138117-7805

Advice and help understanding, choosing a Widebander / Single Full Range Driver speaker?

I'm considering a second set of speakers for my primary system.

I'm satisfied and very happy with my current primary speakers (Tekton Design SEs), so this isn't about a replacement speaker, but I have been looking for something that is different enough from my Tektons, in terms of speaker type and design, etc.

My current top choices being Sound Labs or Cube Audio. Horns, maybe.

Srajan Ebaen's review of the Bliss C a year ago was what first exposed me to Cube Audio and his more recent review of the Nenuphar is stellar. Both reviews are copied in my follow-up post below.

I've been 'somewhat' exposed to full range drivers (or nearly so, with augmentation) as I've owned Zu Audio and Vaughn Loudspeakers and have been exposed to Teresonic speakers and Voxativ drivers. Still, I'm a neophyte with regards to this speaker type (single full-range driver).

Would love to learn more about the pros and cons of owning a true wide-bander and issues, pitfalls, etc. I should consider before moving forward.

Leaving this very general and open. Let's keep budget out of this also (I don't want to complicate the discussion). 

More on my system and room and preferences in subsequent posts.

Thanks!

(BTW - I did search the forums and there is 1 wide bander thread and 6 full range driver threads. None apply directly, but I will review each to see what I can pull out that may be relevant).
Ag insider logo xs@2xdavid_ten
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
4,382 posts
 
I recall Srajan saying that he and his wife were both gobsmacked by the Cube Audio Nenuphar to the point of simply succumbing to it like no other speaker they have heard. It completely relaxed and lulled the both of them into a reverie of sorts (major poetic license in paraphrasing here).

If you can get a listen for yourself, I'd like to hear your impressions.

All the best,
Nonoise
Ag insider logo xs@2x
david_ten OP
2,509 posts
 
@roberjerman Thanks! The Ohm Walsh speakers are well regarded and I’m somewhat familiar with them. My brother-in-law has a pair.

Since you state that they are the ’best’ iteration of the concept, can you give me a feel for where they excel, in your opinion? Also, what other single driver speakers did you compare them to and how did those fall short in comparison? Thanks.
Ag insider logo xs@2x
david_ten OP
2,509 posts
 
@erik_squires  Yes, yes, yes...in time. : )
Ag insider logo xs@2x
david_ten OP
2,509 posts
 
@nonoise  It's quite a review, for sure. I'd love to be able to listen to them in person, prior to committing.

A trusted audio friend is advising that the sound of a specific full-range driver is so specific, it's mostly about personal taste and whether that particular driver will be fully acceptable to me.
acresverde
170 posts
 
One thing to keep in mind is that The Cubes, according to "6 Moons", do not get on well with amps of a high damping factor. I suspect your T+A is of the high damping factor persuasion. Even the 30.8 is on the high side, if I remember correctly.

I am personally intrigued by the Nenuphar but until I've heard the low bass they are supposed to be capable of, I will remain doubtful. I also wonder about the severity of response peaks and dips in the real world as well. But intrigued, I am.
More to discover