Just received a lightly used (less than 20 hours) Cube Nenuphars 2 weeks ago. I purchased them on Agon from Salon1Audio (excellent experience). I wanted a speaker that could take full advantage of my beloved First Watt Sit-3 amp that was driving some modest bookshelves to amazing heights in my second system. My second system had taken over my main system for most listening sessions. The main system (Magnepan 3.7i speakers, Pass X250.8, LTA MZ3 pre, Antipodes EX source with Roon and Qobuz) was not shabby either. I bought the Cubes on faith. I had not heard them before buying. That is a first for me. The reviews and the forums were overwhelmingly positive and the match up with the Sit 3 seemed to work well.
Out of the box the experience was disappointing. The speakers seemed to need more power than the Sit 3 was giving them. I have a second Sit 3 and considered bi-amping. I assumed more break in was required and sat tight while it ran. After 50 hours the sound was still dry. A fellow audiopal came by with a few of his best toys and we listened for about 4 hours. He convinced me to give the X250.8 a try. Boom- the Cubes opened up. We cautiously drove them knowing the 40 watt speed limit. The sound relieved me that the speakers were getting there but the more powerful Pass was not a long term solution.
We then brought in his Zu Undertone sub. Without so much as dialing in the phase the improvement and the match with the Cubes was amazing. We rolled through a number of tracks and finally just started to listen instead of analyze. Closer yet. Closing on midnight and with work looming we called it a night. Sean Casey's sub is an absolute dream match up for the high efficiency Cubes. I'm getting a shiny gloss black Undertone to match the Cubes and would recommend it for those who are considering the hybrid Cubes now offered. You only need one Undertone. No need for 2 subs here. It is fast and blends in with the Cubes as if they were designed for one another. My neighbor is now on the search for a used Undertone to go with his Druid 5s after taking the system in yesterday. His words-this is the best system I have ever heard and better than anything we listened to at RMAF (2019).
Now after over 100 hours the Sit 3 is back in and the Cubes are receptive. This is what I was waiting for. 6 moons describes the sound very well, in my opinion. I suggest that read. Despite turning it up for a long listening session yesterday my friend and I felt absolutely no fatigue. The coherence and imaging are as advertised. The hype is very well deserved. The Sit 3 can now show off its brilliance to the fullest extent (thank you Nelson Pass!). My guess is that the break in isn't over yet, either. If I don't get more out of the break in it won't matter much at this point. I haven't heard anything come close to this for less than $100k.
Out of the box the experience was disappointing. The speakers seemed to need more power than the Sit 3 was giving them. I have a second Sit 3 and considered bi-amping. I assumed more break in was required and sat tight while it ran. After 50 hours the sound was still dry. A fellow audiopal came by with a few of his best toys and we listened for about 4 hours. He convinced me to give the X250.8 a try. Boom- the Cubes opened up. We cautiously drove them knowing the 40 watt speed limit. The sound relieved me that the speakers were getting there but the more powerful Pass was not a long term solution.
We then brought in his Zu Undertone sub. Without so much as dialing in the phase the improvement and the match with the Cubes was amazing. We rolled through a number of tracks and finally just started to listen instead of analyze. Closer yet. Closing on midnight and with work looming we called it a night. Sean Casey's sub is an absolute dream match up for the high efficiency Cubes. I'm getting a shiny gloss black Undertone to match the Cubes and would recommend it for those who are considering the hybrid Cubes now offered. You only need one Undertone. No need for 2 subs here. It is fast and blends in with the Cubes as if they were designed for one another. My neighbor is now on the search for a used Undertone to go with his Druid 5s after taking the system in yesterday. His words-this is the best system I have ever heard and better than anything we listened to at RMAF (2019).
Now after over 100 hours the Sit 3 is back in and the Cubes are receptive. This is what I was waiting for. 6 moons describes the sound very well, in my opinion. I suggest that read. Despite turning it up for a long listening session yesterday my friend and I felt absolutely no fatigue. The coherence and imaging are as advertised. The hype is very well deserved. The Sit 3 can now show off its brilliance to the fullest extent (thank you Nelson Pass!). My guess is that the break in isn't over yet, either. If I don't get more out of the break in it won't matter much at this point. I haven't heard anything come close to this for less than $100k.