rwpollock I am happily using Shunyata Alpha v2 speaker cables.
The Case for Base
Over the past few weeks I've been auditioning a KEF KC62 subwoofer with my Nenuphars. I did this not because I'm a base head or because I felt the Nens lacking down there, but simply out of curiosity (and the positive feedback of others who have added a sub or two) and the fact that KEF offers a 30 day return.
But, spoiler alert, I won't be returning this remarkable little subwoofer. I've incorporated it to have such an effect that I have to admit I had no idea what I was missing. And it's not slam pounding my chest at 95 db but the overall added musicality, a rich foundation which, when the sub is off, makes the Nens sound unbalanced, almost thin (I know, hard to believe, but that is the impression when one is a/b-ing). To use a b&w photographic metaphor, I was missing the dark shades of grey through to pure black with the Nens by themselves. There is now a foundation to the music that was meant to be there and was missing. The real test for me were simple acoustic recordings with stand up base (read Charlie Haden with anybody) and one or two other instruments. With the KEF sub dialed in properly, bringing the base forward in a tuneful yet solid way, these recordings had more presence, involvement and reality. As if their true balance was restored. And of course the same held true if not even more so for music with bigger base, rock and orchestral, etc.
Obviously I'm a new comer to the sub party and there are no doubt better applications than adding one ten inch sub woofer, but my room is fairly small and this tuneful gem is doing the job to my great delight. BTW I did the sub "crawl" thing to find the best location, which oddly turned out to be right next to my listening chair. I use the 60db crossover and not quite half volume. No muddying of mid bass or any other downside I can hear. Fun stuff. Brings the Nens to another level of enjoyment.
The Case for Base
Over the past few weeks I've been auditioning a KEF KC62 subwoofer with my Nenuphars. I did this not because I'm a base head or because I felt the Nens lacking down there, but simply out of curiosity (and the positive feedback of others who have added a sub or two) and the fact that KEF offers a 30 day return.
But, spoiler alert, I won't be returning this remarkable little subwoofer. I've incorporated it to have such an effect that I have to admit I had no idea what I was missing. And it's not slam pounding my chest at 95 db but the overall added musicality, a rich foundation which, when the sub is off, makes the Nens sound unbalanced, almost thin (I know, hard to believe, but that is the impression when one is a/b-ing). To use a b&w photographic metaphor, I was missing the dark shades of grey through to pure black with the Nens by themselves. There is now a foundation to the music that was meant to be there and was missing. The real test for me were simple acoustic recordings with stand up base (read Charlie Haden with anybody) and one or two other instruments. With the KEF sub dialed in properly, bringing the base forward in a tuneful yet solid way, these recordings had more presence, involvement and reality. As if their true balance was restored. And of course the same held true if not even more so for music with bigger base, rock and orchestral, etc.
Obviously I'm a new comer to the sub party and there are no doubt better applications than adding one ten inch sub woofer, but my room is fairly small and this tuneful gem is doing the job to my great delight. BTW I did the sub "crawl" thing to find the best location, which oddly turned out to be right next to my listening chair. I use the 60db crossover and not quite half volume. No muddying of mid bass or any other downside I can hear. Fun stuff. Brings the Nens to another level of enjoyment.