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Thread: NHT Classic 3's...Are they worth the coin? |
    
New member Username: Plasmaengineer
Post Number: 1
Registered: Apr-08
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| Posted on Friday, April 11, 2008 - 11:06 pm: |
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I am looking to upgrade the speakers (LRC/SLR,SRB) in my home theater. The room is "medium" sized and I would like to find something that has an appreciable sensitivity across the practical dynamic range for 70% movies and 30% music (down tempo electronic). I have read positive reviews on the NHT classic 3 series, but unfortunately no store near me has them to audition with my movies and music. Does anyone have any experience with these speakers or can make any recommendations in a similar price range? Thanks in advance. |
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Gold Member Username: Artk
Albany,
Oregon
USA
Post Number: 6677
Registered: Feb-05
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| Posted on Saturday, April 12, 2008 - 09:51 am: |
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They are a wonderful speaker, too good for a mostly HT application IMO. They are also not very sensitive, require a lot of current to be driven to their best. |
New member Username: Plasmaengineer
Post Number: 2
Registered: Apr-08
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| Posted on Saturday, April 12, 2008 - 05:25 pm: |
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Thanks Art! How much amplification power are we talking about to let them really stretch their legs? My current AVR is a Yamaha RX-V1800 (130W x 7, .04% THD at 1kHz)...decent...not my preferred separate pre/pro amp combo, but not bad for the cash. |
Gold Member Username: Artk
Albany,
Oregon
USA
Post Number: 6681
Registered: Feb-05
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| Posted on Saturday, April 12, 2008 - 06:39 pm: |
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That ain't enough current to make 'em sing.
And I do like Yamaha AVR's for movies...I have a small one myself...but for music it won't be about watts but about current...the better the amp the more you would benefit with the Classic 3's. They are a better speaker than they have a right to be for the bread....very special but they sound dull and lifeless without quality amplification. Think integrated amp at the $1500 range and up.... |
Gold Member Username: Stu_pitt
Irvington,
New York
USA
Post Number: 2627
Registered: May-05
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| Posted on Saturday, April 12, 2008 - 11:08 pm: |
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My experience with NHTs brings me to the exact same conclusions as Art. You need very good amplification to bring out the potential of NHTs. Most receivers on the market simply don't have enough guts. |
Bronze Member Username: John_ashman
Albuquerque,
NM
United States
Post Number: 68
Registered: Apr-08
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| Posted on Monday, April 21, 2008 - 10:24 pm: |
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A little late, but Classic Threes don't need exotic amplification, though I wouldn't attach garbage either. Even a lower powered NAD, Rotel, Cambridge or Arcam surround receiver will do just fine in a medium sized room. Even the Yamaha would be fine, even though it wouldn't be my first choice. Don't avoid a great speaker over your receiver. The Yamahas have generally had a tendency towards brighter sound, but the NHT Threes aren't really that hard to drive or that aggressive in the treble. They can be a bit much in a bright room because of the wide dispersion. But the imaging, resolution, soundstaging, accuracy, bass quality is all well above what one would expect for $900. |
Gold Member Username: Artk
Albany,
Oregon
USA
Post Number: 6728
Registered: Feb-05
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| Posted on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 - 07:28 am: |
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The 3's simply require a quality amp to sound their best. The Yamaha would not do...
The other AVR's you mention would drive them but the the better the amplification the better they sound...I know I've actually listened to them. |
Gold Member Username: Stu_pitt
Irvington,
New York
USA
Post Number: 2665
Registered: May-05
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| Posted on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 - 08:50 am: |
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I wasn't trying to imply exotic amplification, just strong and stable amplification. Yamaha isn't the strongest and most stable amplification IMO. I wouldn't drive them with anything less than a NAD, Rotel, or Cambridge. Arcam would probably be a very good way to go, soley based on their power supplies. I haven't heard the combo, so I have no comment on its SQ.
Maybe even a Panasonic XR55 receiver? Not sure about the NHT's impedence dips, but if they don't get too low the XR55 (or whatever replaced it now) should have enough power to open them up. Not sure about the SQ again though. |
Bronze Member Username: John_ashman
Albuquerque,
NM
United States
Post Number: 72
Registered: Apr-08
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| Posted on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 - 09:56 am: |
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Art, i understand the thought BUT, there's a point where you just buy the speakers you want and deal with the consequences later. We can quibble all we want about the Yamaha vs other units, but it's not going to suck, the sky won't fall, dogs and cats won't have babies. I know, i've installed more Threes in more different systems that I can count. Bad room acoustics if FAR more problematic for them than the amp. They don't like tile floor, for instance.
Stu, the bigger yamahas are quite powerful and will drive the speakers no problem. Again, you can quibble about yamaha's stock sound, but then again, some people love that sound and it's still subtle compared to the quality of the speakers. The impedance is pretty stable and high. They're just somewhat inefficient. |
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Gold Member Username: Artk
Albany,
Oregon
USA
Post Number: 6730
Registered: Feb-05
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| Posted on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 - 10:03 am: |
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We disagree and that's ok. Yamaha is about the last receiver in the world I would look at for the Classic 3's |
Bronze Member Username: John_ashman
Albuquerque,
NM
United States
Post Number: 74
Registered: Apr-08
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| Posted on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 - 10:10 am: |
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Well, you gotta admit, it's better than a Sony or JVC or whatever. Sometimes, you deal with the gear you have and move forward. I say, you cross that bridge when you get there. I think everyone here is way too eager to jump all over the quality of electronics and force people to upgrade to exotics when they don't even have speakers good enough to appreciate the subtle improvement. It's like telling a guy with four flat tires that he needs a better engine. Maybe he does, but lets fix the flats and get him back on the road first. |
Gold Member Username: Artk
Albany,
Oregon
USA
Post Number: 6732
Registered: Feb-05
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| Posted on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 - 11:27 am: |
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"Well, you gotta admit, it's better than a Sony or JVC or whatever."
Most likely very true.
"I think everyone here is way too eager to jump all over the quality of electronics and force people to upgrade to exotics when they don't even have speakers good enough to appreciate the subtle improvement."
Ooh...not sure who you mean as I haven't been following the "fight" thread but I don't own exotic gear and certainly am not suggesting to this individual that they buy something exotic. I simply believe in that all too overused term "synergy". I've learned my lessons in putting together systems without a plan and won't go there again...like to help others not make the same costly mistakes. It may be ok to do if your not spending much or are simply upgrading piece at a time from either the used market or while following a plan...but using the NHT's with the Yamaha long term, well it wouldn't work for me, then again I don't have to listen to it. |
New member Username: Swanny76109
Fort worth,
Tx
Usa
Post Number: 1
Registered: Jun-08
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| Posted on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - 04:09 pm: |
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I have owned an NHT system since January, when I upgraded my HT. The Classic 3s are wonderful, revealing speakers that can really slam, but as other posters have noted they need hefty amplification to really open up. If you read the reviews, their actual sensitivity is actually closer to 83, and the impedance is in the 4 ohm range, rather than the 86/8 ohm that is claimed by NHT. When I first got them, I tried them with my Onkyo 805, which claims a high current, but it sounded awful. Then I switched that for the Pio Elite 94, and it sounded better but I didn't get the dynamics or volume I was after. Separates was the route. I got a great deal on a used Sherbourn 5/1500A, which can deliver 300 wpc into 4 ohms continuous with its monoblock design and high current capability. Let me tell you, this system kicks serious butt for the money. I can put on Led Zepp DVD in DTS and absolutely and effortlessly blister the paint on the walls. I had a buddy over the other week and we were grinning ear to ear listening to Jimmy Page's leads. The Classic 3s simply disappear and provide a wide and deep soundstage. My Classic 2s make great surrounds and am happy with those as well. I did have a bass driver go bad with a frozen voice coil(perhaps from shipping as it happened not long after I got them and during break in) and NHT replaced it free and right away with great service. These speakers also sound great with acoustic music. Vocal timbre is spot on and these are the least fatiguing speakers I have ever owned. I think they are great for HT and for 2 ch music, but again, you need high quality separates to make them sing. Even top of the line HT receivers won't cut it. Good luck! |
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