Cube Audio Nenuphar Single Driver Speaker (10 inch) TQWT Enclosure

Darko Audio's review of the Enleum AMP 23R:

Darko Audio's entertaining YouTube review of the Enleum AMP 23 is now online.  He uses an interesting analogy--his uncle's go cart--to explain the amp's volume control. My only caveat is that he seems to think it's expensive for what it does.  Considering my experience pairing amps with the Nens, I think it's a screaming bargain.  And it's a great and I mean great headphone amp.  Can't think of anything that holds a candle to it price/performance wise.  But that's at the bottom of the list of why I like it so much.

@stephendunn  Thanks for posting the review of the Enleum 23. I'm especially curious about it's headphone performance. Can you PM me regarding your experience in that area?

So what's at the top "of the list of why [you] like it so much" ???   : )

I realize the multiple posts are a bug...can you delete two of them?

Thanks!

@larryi  PM sent.

David,

At the top of my list of why I like the Enleum AMP 23R so much is:

Visualization 

The closer to the real thing the audible information is, the more I "see" the music, performers, instruments, and recording space.  And, consequently, the more engaging the listening experience is.

@stephendunn  That's so impressive. Congratulations. Is this 'IT' on the amp front? : )

The closer to the real thing the audible information is, the more I "see" the music, performers, instruments, and recording space.  And, consequently, the more engaging the listening experience is.

@david_ten Thanks. Considering the amps that have been stepping stones leading up to the Enleum AMP 23R--LTA ZOTL Ultralinear, FW SIT 3, FW SIT 1, Tektron 2A3, Pass Labs 25 INT, Vinnie Rossi L2iSE, Decware 25th Anniversary Zen Triode--yes, I think this is "IT".  It's been an interesting and enlightening journey.

But I’m always interested in what you or others have found to be your "this is IT amp" with the Nenuphars.

@stephendunn 

Every single amplifier you've listed would all be considered very good amplifiers paired with the Nenuphars.  So it seems quite clear that the Enleum 23R is pushing major buttons for your tastes. No one can accuse you of not exploring amplification options. 

Charles 

Hello guys!

I am a proud owner of the Nenuphar V2. I can highly recommend the integrated NAT Single HPS V2! For me that amp is one of the best tube integrated! 

NAT Audio Single HPS

@v10 

I'm not surprised with your outcome.  NAT audio has earned an esteemed reputation as one of the better sounding amplifier manufacturers out of eastern Europe. 50 watts class A from a gm 70 is a lot of power for the Nenuphars.  Do you utilize the optional lower power setting?

Charles 

I have of course tried both modes. I personally like the normal mode with 2x 50 watts better. The Vinnie Rossi L2iSE mentioned in the above post has twice the power and should also fit very well with the Nenuphar.
A low damping factor is important! The higher the damping factor of the amplifier is the less it fits to the Nenuphar.
I have also tried the Pass INT25. This amp has a damping factor of 500. I did not like it so much! It sounded a bit harsh and less round in the midrange and also in the bass.

@v10 Welcome! I’ve been very curious about a GM70 pairing with the Nenuphars. Great to hear you are loving your NAT - V2 combo. The Single HPS looks like quite the build. Thanks for posting your results with the NAT and how it easily bettered the Pass XA25.

@stephendunn +1 regarding:

It’s been an interesting and enlightening journey.

And one that has paid off, big-time, for you. Your effort is admirable.

This is my setup! If have only changed the Chord Quest. A Linn Klimax Streamer makes a better job😉.

https://www.monoandstereo.com/2022/03/cube-audio-nenuphar.html?m=1

@v10 

Very nice and tidy. Well done!

Charles 

@v10   Second Charles' comments.

I posted the link to Mono and Stereo (of your system) when I came across it. Nice to have you, as the owner, active here.

The Mono and Stereo page mentions "installation by Klangloft Munich." Can you share more? 

+1 on your move to the Linn Klimax

Another YouTube Video from Cube Audio: the F10 Select Driver compared to the F10 Neo Driver in DIY cabinets.

Cube Audio F10 Select and F10 Neo drivers in DIY Cabinets (comparison)

This past winter I've been listening to my Nens with a couple of tube amps. As expected, both made for a good pairing. The Shindo Cortese had better tone while a 300B SET from AricAudio had more palpability. Preceding the amps was either the preamp stage of Vinnie Rossi's L2i SE or the icOn4 passive.

 - Robert

@rwpollock 

I can't imagine how you could not be happy with either of those amplifiers driving the Nenuphars. What brand 300b  are you using in the Aric Audio SET?

Charles

Charles, yes, an embarrassment of riches.

As for the tube brands, Aric included in the sale both Psvanes and Elrogs. I prefer the Elrogs and am feeling no particular rush to try other tubes. However, comments here have me wanting to listen to the new Enleum. (I did prefer tubes to the Bakoon.)

 - Robert

Just thinking about the joys of listening to music with a great rig. Like others here, music is my drug of choice. Last month I did a road trip to San Antonio. While I didn't actively miss my music for those weeks upon return I found myself listening for hours more than usual....

@rwpollock 

I had first generation Elrogs a few years ago that were exceptionally good sounding but unfortunately unreliable.  That's all been resolved now. The current production versions you have are likely an improvement In sound so they are superb I'm sure. Must sound exquisite hearing the new  Elrogs  via the Nenuphar. Surely a different sonic presentation versus the Enleum.

Charles 

@rwpollock  Next: both tone and palpability.... a Shindo-Aric cross. : )

"Next: both tone and palpability.... a Shindo-Aric cross. :-)"

Any suggestions?

@rwpollock   I'd look to @charles1dad  and @larryi and others who are advanced and experienced in the area of tube amplification. 

I really like, with almost any reasonably efficient speakers, and some not so efficient, the Synthesis A-40 integrated amp (digital dac included). It utilizes KtT-66 tubes in pushpull to deliver 40 wpc.  If you demand more power their A-100 amp delivers 1000 wpc by doubling the number of output tubes.

I would also hazard a guess that an Audio Note Oto would work well.

@rwpollock 

 I am in the camp of keeping what you currently have. Virtually everything in audio is a trade off to some degree no matter how small. You get another amplifier that gives you more of  “this” but then loses some of “that”. The Audio Note OTO I believe would be a terrific match with your speakers. It is an el84 with its inevitable strengths and weaknesses like any other amplifier.

it could be as good but I don’t see it as better than your current Shindo or Elrog/Aric Audio 300b. . Higher power push pull tube amplifiers would take you in another direction as far as I am concerned. I don’t know that this would necessarily be any improvement with the Nenuphars. It could certainly work out well for you, more likely different rather than better. Just to let you know I am bias positively  toward high-quality low power tube amplifiers. Just me. I believe that you are in a very good place right now.

Charles

More info on the new V2 series speaker drivers !

 https://www.6moons.com/audioreview_article/cubeaudio7/

"I am in the camp of keeping what you currently have."

Charles, agreed. I don't have a burning itch (is that a mixed metaphor?) that needs to be satisfied with new/different equipment. In that sense I have slowed down over the years. My question was more from curiosity. If someone wrote that brand XX or a vintage YY manages to get a bit more of 'everything' then I would keep my ears open at AXPONA or Audiogon.

Of course the price for converging perfection tends to increase exponentially. For example, I have followed Vinnie Rossi since his Tri-Path days, but his new line is a bridge too far for me. The new Brama preamp goes for $35,000 and weighs near 100 pounds!

That said, I know I am very fortunate to be able to have, not one, but two great sounding systems. And I have always been a bit eclectic in my tastes....

I bet the new $6K NAT Audio Single Integrated amp..{the best} would be the perfect match for Cube Audio speakers. Audio Heaven !

Hi rwpollock,

I tend to agree with charles 1 dad about some trade offs when changing hifi components.

If it is any help, I recently changed from monoblock amplifiers using EL34 (Gold Lion KT77 output tubes) which I owned fror 24 years. No - Í certainly don't change my hifi very often !

I changed to a pair of Melody 300B-1 monblocks and quickly rolled the Shuagang tubes to Mullard 5AR4 (rectifiers) Sylvania 6SN7GTB (driver/input tubes) and Emission Labs 300B-XLS (output tubes) and this made a big difference to the final sound quality. Even the change of rectifier tube added more "body" to the sound with each tube change providing an improvement in sound quality. This exercise in tube rolling cost around A$2,000, but I definitely think it was worth the investment.

The 300B SET monblocks were definitely a step up from my original EL34 amps in all respects of sound quality. I understand that the EL84 gives a similar sound to the EL34, but different circuit designs and component qualities makes any comparisions difficult.

I was extremely lucky to get an in-home demo on my Nenuphar Minis for two weeks (thanks Craig @ Audioheaven*, Melbourne) before I finally replaced my Sonus Faber Grand Pianos (the original version) of 25 years.

[Thanks rick2000 - you reminded me to give Audioheaven a plug for their excellent customer service].

Unfortunately, in the world of hifi, a home demo with your equipment, in a controlled environment, with enough time to assess what you like,  is the only way to be certain if your are really upgrading, going sideways "going in another direction" or even going backward in your new hifi purchase.

we've a little update for you on the F10 Select and Jazzon speakers. We've done some more experiments and since we haven't started shipping the units yet, we'll be making a change to the F10 Select drivers. After some more testing and prototyping, we decided to go the foam surround on the F10 Select drivers as well. Not only does it have a little more efficiency, but it also has a very nice, richer midrange than before. It's definitely an improvement, so we'll be switching to the new design from now on.

Next week we'll update the site with more information and measurement

I just received these information from Cube email.

s..

After some more testing and prototyping, we decided to go the foam surround on the F10 Select drivers as well. Not only does it have a little more efficiency, but it also has a very nice, richer midrange than before. It's definitely an improvement, so we'll be switching to the new design from now on.

Improved efficiency  and improving the critically vital midrange region? How do  you not appreciate and welcome that?  The folks at Cube Audio definitely burn the midnight oil it certainly seems. 

Charles 

@onsionsi Thank you for posting this important and helpful information regarding the F10 Select driver for Cube Audio's Jazzon speaker.

https://audiophilestyle.com/ca/bits-and-bytes/the-next-step-in-my-audio-journey-%E2%80%94-when-system-synergy-trumped-individual-components-r1100/

Since @stephendunn praised VRs power Amplifier I figured out  this review from a well know member over AS forum in case anyone is interested 

I heard the Nenuphar cube basis speakers 26k, with silversmith cables and Lampuzator dac I think? This set up is my top notch favorite at the Axpona 2022.All you hear and feel is music..

@jayctoy 

What amplifier was driving the Nenuphars? Which Lampizator DAC?  You could "feel" the music. That's my kind of audio  syshem! 👍

Charles 

Charles my guest is either ayre amps or pass lab, the DaC is 18k Lampizator.

Jon (Refined Audio US distributor) usually showcase them with Pass xp22/xp12 preamp and either FirstWatt SIT or Pass xa25. He is a dealer for Pass as well. I am guessing the Lampi is the Golden Gate model.

Okay that's why the speakers are seemingly always paired with a solid state amplifier at USA audio shows.   @jayctoy  I believe that the Nenuphars would sound absolutely beautiful with your Viva 300b amplifier. 

Charles 

I agree Charles...

I heard the Nenuphar Basis with First Watt amps and really liked what I heard, much more so than the Nenuphar without the woofers.  I do wish to hear them with a warmer tube amp, like a 6L6 or KT 66 amp.  The are efficient enough for a single ended triode to at least be in the contest.

@larryi

 I  do wish to hear them with a warmer tube amp, like a 6L6 or KT 66 amp.  The are efficient enough for a single ended triode to at least be in the contest.

@david_ten  drives his Nenuphars to magnificent results paired with 2A3 SET mono blocks. Granted they're uber quality SET.

Charles 

Just saw some photos of the show. It looks the Cube’s were paired with Nelson’s one off 2000 JFETS 20 watts amp. Scroll down to see some pictures of the amp...pretty unique looking.

https://www.audioshark.org/axpona-138/axpona-2022-photos-20966-page2.html#post347617

@debjit_g 

Thanks,  appreciate the photographs. 

Charles 

@jayctoy Thanks for sharing your impressions from the Lampizator / Pass / Cube Audio (Nenuphar Basis) room.

@debjit_g Thanks for the link. Mike’s (Suncoast Audio) system photos from Axpona are impressive.

David when I am listening on the nenuphars room. I was thinking of you my friend, knowing you own the speakers.The music is so involving and so real ,and classical music is no sweat beautifully done.I hope Teajay will listen to them.