NHT 2.9 or B&W CDM9NT

For my CDM7NT's, I found a used B&K EX442 (200w/ch) to be an excellent match and very positively changed my opinion of the speakers. Un-harshed 'em. Paid less than $500, leaving room in the budget for other goodies. The current production version (I forget the model) is in the $1500 range, I think. If you like tube sound with ss convenience, try to give B&K a listen.

i work at a hifi store in the south and we sell both b&w and audio research. one of the sweetest, in fact, THE sweetest sound i have heard so far is not with b&w's nautilus series, but with a pair of cdm9nt's played through audio research equipment. in fact, the vt60 tube amp sounds absolutely fantastic on these b&w's!!! as for nht equipment, i am unable to make judgment; however, i think crutchfield sells them. all the music critiqued on the b&w's was brubeck jazz and tchaikovsky classical.

I would have to agree with jimmyrod also. I have upgraded all electronics but have kept my 2.9's. i currently own classe source components (preamp, cd player), new Odyssey Stratos monoblocks, with Transparent biwire speaker cables and straight wire balanced interconnects. The Classe and Odyssey equipment works great with these speakers. I do not have the treble bite anymore. Because of the power requirements, i went with the monoblocks. I had a new Mcintosh 6500 160 watt integrated amp before and they sounded great but the speakers needed more power. The monoblocks just opened up the sound even at low volumes. I have a 13'x13'x9' dedicated room for 2 channel listening. Placement is critical. I don't use NHT's method of placement. I actully fan the speakers out a little so the sound meets behind my head, not right at it. This positioning also points the woofers out into the room instead of them pointing right at the other speaker. Stereophile rated these as class 'B' a couple of years ago if that means anything.

Hey,

It is easier to go with NHT since they are much easier to match with amps and other components. NHT are more efficent and has less "garbage in garbage out" syndrome. Many people who have NHT floor standing speakers merely use AV receivers with great results. When my non audiophile friends, actually none of my friends are, ask me to recommend speakers, I always tell them to audition NHT.

In a more perfect scenario, using a high quality high current amp and a high resolution source component, I'd go with CDM series. Then again, if I got the dollars to afford this "perfect scenario", I'd go with KEF Reference, Vandersteens, Von Schweikerts, Theils, Dunlavy, or.... I don't know, Tannoy?

I had 2.9's for a year. They will play vary loud and have great bass. 2.9's are an extremely revealing speaker, and I found they make poor recordings hard to listen to. They sound great from the sweet spot with good quality recordings. From the next room they sound like a boom box on top of a subwoofer. They need alot of power. I used Classe electronics (ca200), and Harmonic-Tech cables. I have Proac 3.8's now and can listen to my poorly recorded classic rock again and still enjoy it. At three times the price it is not a fair comparison. I still miss the 2.9's when I pump up the volume.