dspringham Your post is scarily prescient regarding my own curiosity over pairing a Decware SET with the Nens fronted by the L2iSE as pre. In fact, I just recently queried a new Cube Audio dealer in California who says he also represents Decware (whatever that means since they sell direct) about whether he had heard the 25th Anniversary Zen Triode with the Nens. He hadn't but had heard from others it was a killer combo--as I suspected and you just confirmed. Interesting that you find the bass much improved, but that probably has to do with higher output impedance of the VR L2iSE, which for what it's worth, I now prefer with the Takatsuki 300bs having run both the Elrogs and the Linlai 2A3 previously. Congrats on your set up and new purchase of the Nenuphars. I assume you are using the 8ohm speaker taps on the Super Zen. Now all you have to do to utterly satisfy my musings is to try two of those Decware wonders!
Cube Audio Nenuphar Single Driver Speaker (10 inch) TQWT Enclosure
Cube Audio (Poland) designs single drivers and single driver speakers.
Principals are Grzegorz Rulka and Marek Kostrzyński.
Link to the Cube Audio Nenuphar (with F10 Neo driver) speaker page:
https://www.cubeaudio.eu/cube-audio-nenuphar
Link to 6Moons review by Srajan Ebaen (August 2018):
https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/cubeaudio2/
* Frequency response may vary and depends on room size and accompanying electronic equipment.
Principals are Grzegorz Rulka and Marek Kostrzyński.
Link to the Cube Audio Nenuphar (with F10 Neo driver) speaker page:
https://www.cubeaudio.eu/cube-audio-nenuphar
Link to 6Moons review by Srajan Ebaen (August 2018):
https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/cubeaudio2/
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Parameters (from Cube Audio):
Power: 40 W
Efficiency: 92 dB
Frequency response: 30Hz - 18kHz ( 6db)*
Dimensions: 30 x 50 x 105 cm
Weight: 40 Kg
* Frequency response may vary and depends on room size and accompanying electronic equipment.
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- 1567 posts total
I would have to think the 25 Anniversary Zen would be perfect or these; https://www.decware.com/newsite/SE84UFO3.html As I had mentioned, the bass may give the illusion of being "better" but I thinks it's actually just more full, resonant and natural sounding. Some people may prefer a tighter more concise representation. Upright double bass on the "Nens" with the "Zens" sounds great. Actually Stephen, I must give you the credit for my purchase of the Nenuphars based on your review and pairing with the VR L2iSE. Since I already a VR in place, I thought your prior experience with this amp and speaker combo made the decision somewhat less risky (since I was buying without prior audition). The challenge with Decware is finding used pieces is somewhat rare and new production is way backed up. |
dspringham Glad making the blind leap to the Nenuphars worked out. I think many on this thread had to do the same, as did I. The best option for matching the Decware triode SETs using the VR L2iSE as DHT pre is not exactly clear to me. Since I prefer the balanced output, two apparent options are A) the SE84UFO25 with the SBIT balanced to single end converter or B) a pair of the SE84UFO2 with XLR inputs and the Anniversary upgrades. I have an email into Steve to see which might be preferable. And yes re lead time I took a gander at his build list and it is over 400 orders long! |
- 1567 posts total