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

Video from the Cube Audio Room /// 2022 Praha Audio Video Show, courtesy of Cube Audio.

Jazzon Cube Audio Room Praha 2022

@dlcockrum   Thanks for sharing the link!!!  

@dlcockrum 

Thanks for providing that link.  As a non Nenuphar owner I confess that I have much admiration and respect for this speaker. It seems to nail all of the criteria and parameters that I find most important, even mandatory. I remain exceedingly happy with my Coincident Total Eclipse II speakers (13 years 😊).

The Nenuphars are 1st on my list if I ever decide to change speakers. I do believe that they represent an extraordinary achievement. I completely understand your happiness and satisfaction with them. I believe they’d be a superb match with my Coincident 300b SET mono blocks with their low damping factor and zero NFB design/circuit.

Charles 

Stumbled on this mini-review of the Nenuphar and I don’t believe it has been posted here yet. I find it to be the best description of their sound character I have seen:

https://eastendhifi.com/cube-audio-nenuphar-speakers-a-desert-island-speaker/

I realize you know this...listening via an outboard DAC/Headphone Amp and Headphones highlights remarkable differences in the presentations.

Another compilation / comparison, this time with four different music tracks (from Cube Audio):

Nenuphar / Nenuphar Mini / Jazzon comparison

Interesting comparison compilation from Cube Audio.

Leonard Cohen 'In My Secret Life' Nenuphar / Nenuphar Mini / Jazzon

A reminder. While dusting off the Nenuphars this morning, I noticed one of the four outer screws on the driver 'front assembly' was very loose. They are T-25 screws.

Eric, I also owned the Melody I2A3 integrated amplifier which was paired with Vaughn Audio Loudspeakers. That is the extent of my exposure to 2A3 amplifiers.

@david_ten  Thank you David. Those 2A3's are a beauty

@eric5kim Eric, both of my 2A3 amps were designed and built by Scott Sheaffer (Found Music). I picked up the first pair of monoblocks used. They were built for member Mike Lavigne. I commissioned the second set. They are a 4 chassis build. You can see the amps and their power supplies in my virtual system page.

I listen to electronic music fairly often as well as large orchestral music; and rock to a lesser degree. I find that my system delivers with all three genres. If anything, it is my room (which is mostly untreated) that exerts a role once the volume levels are 95 dB and up.

As a reminder, I have the V1 Nenuphars.

Much more important than raw power output numbers, in my estimation, is the quality of the amplifier build AND how well the incoming power (into the audio room, conditioning if used, and power cables) has been addressed. Component and cable isolation also factors in.

Members who are more versed in tube amplification, like @charles1dad and​​​​@larryi , may be worth reaching out to... or they can comment.

High dB peaks, especially with classical music, and the level of power needed before distortion and clipping, is covered in many threads. Many advised me against the 2A3 amps I chose. My experience has proved otherwise, with respect to the Nenuphars.

which 2A3 are you using? does it have enough headroom for large orchestral works/rock/electronic music? If listening at 88db need at least 10db of headroom for peaks

There is definitely a distinction between acquiring a "natural" patina and rust. 🙂

Charles

I saw that Cube Audio has used Tektron amps at shows in the past. My problem with Tektron isnt the sound but the top plate on their amps starts pitting over time. Some call it Patina....I call it Rust Spots which is really ugly IMO.  They need to fix that before I will purchase one.

Good to see the Bakoon 13R and Enleum 23R now getting the recognition they deserve.

@V10 thanks for your comparison, very useful. What other amps have you had experience of my I ask?

I can highly recommend using a TEKTRON 211 tube amp (integrated) with the Cube Audio Nenuphars! Before the TEKTRON I used a NAT Single HPS. The TEKTRON is much better!! This is an addictive combination!!

@david_ten which 2A3 are you using? 
does it have enough headroom for large orchestral works/rock/electronic music? 
If listening at 88db need at least 10db of headroom for peaks  

Eric 

Has anyone tried 2A3 amplifiers?

@eric5kim Eric, @riaa_award_collectors_on_facebook is correct.

I’m on my second set of 2A3 amps driving the Nenuphar V1s.

Questions?

The OP uses 2A3 amps I believe

Has anyone tried 2A3 amplifiers? I've tried a lot of different gear over the years but only heard a full Audio Note system before that was SET. 

Thanks David.😊

Charles

Another video from Cube Audio. Nenuphars with Aries Cerat. 

KlangLoft München listening studio: Aries Cerat and Nenuphars

@dspringham I noticed that you have your Nenuphars for sale on USAudiomart. Looks like you have moved on to the Harbeth 40.3's.  Would very much like to hear reasons for the change: specifically what you feel are the Harbeth's advantages over the Nenuhpars.  I have never heard any Harbeth model but certainly have read many positive reviews.  Thanks. 

david_ten  LOL. You've got my number.  If I could audition them in my room for 14 days, then yes, they might be in my future.  But I suffer not with the Nens and I have a feeling the two speakers have a lot in common despite vastly different technologies. 

@stephendunn Steve: Fleetwood Deville SQs in your near future??? :)

Thanks for sharing the review.

Here's Steve Huff's review of the Enleum 23R.  You have to appreciate his enthusiasm especially if you've heard this imp of an amp drive the Nenuphars.  Everything he says applies.  

@charles1dad i would love to know too lol

@dlcockrum 

Your NAT Audio HPS amplifier is very intriguing. NAT has a reputation for their own in house high quality output transformers. Their electronics are highly regarded. Your amplifier to my understanding is 50 watt SET via the GM 70 tube but can be switched to 15 watt power mode. I'm very curious as to which power mode you'll find to sound better with the Nenuphar. NAT is a proven audio product beyond any shadow of doubt. I think that you are in store for quite an exceptional musical journey.

Charles

@johnk “After all, it's a system we listen to and synergy is the goal.” 
 

Very true.

One of the reasons I prefer the compression driver front horn design over the full range is the ability to play at very low levels while still sounding articulate and powerful. The full ranges still are better than most low eff dynamic designs in their ability to sound good at low levels. If wanting low power amplification with all its benefits but its limits in output a full range or horn or both can really produce synergy with such. After all, it's a system we listen to and synergy is the goal.

@charles1dad Re: why the drastic change in direction from my Thiel rig, great question. Part of it is the old “been there done that” idiom. Having spent over 20 years with the CS5i’s (which initially were challenging to please), I feel as though I reached somewhat of a pinnacle with that system, at least within my financial means. Newer high-power SS gear has become very pricey. Second, during 20+ years of continuous improvement with the Thiel system, I never could get the speakers to “wake up” at low (or even moderately conservative) volume. On balance, they did achieve a pretty awesome result IMO when listening at higher volume. Lastly, I have always longed to experience the wetter and more harmonically natural tube sound. The CS5i’s are 87 db efficient and dip to nearly 2 ohms in the lower frequencies. Amp killer. I never felt tube amplifiers were viable with them (although I remain convinced that they would benefit greatly from what good tubes bring sonically). I must say I never experienced reliability issues with robust SS amplifiers (Krell and early-gen Classe Audio). As an aside, I clearly recall listening (alone) in just my underwear when I had the Class A-biased Krell FPB 600c in the rig due to the incredible heat that amp generates.

Hopefully the NAT Audio integrated will soon be healthy to begin my tube journey. In the meantime, the SIT-2, being a known entity with the Nenuphars, should provide me with a baseline to ground my exploration into tubes driving the V2’s.

Not a weak thin sound like many full-range systems produce. But the ability to play any music type inc bass-heavy at loud SPL levels without breakup. This is something that eludes most all full-range driver loudspeakers.

This would explain the universal satisfaction and happiness of Cube Audio Nenuphar owners. As they (Nenuphars)  successfully conquered these pervasive shortcomings of many single driver /full range designs.

Charles

Built at least 100 full-range driver speakers. While I do prefer multiway horns with compression drivers a true full-range in proper cabinets has a certain something that's hard to ignore. What I use now is a pair of ultra-rare Fostex fe208 sol special editions in massive bottom-firing blh these can play pipe organ with authority and have bass tested to 30hz. It's wonderful having true full-range performance out of 1 driver. Not a weak thin sound like many full-range systems produce. But the ability to play any music type inc bass-heavy at loud SPL levels without breakup. This is something that eludes most all full-range driver loudspeakers.

@dlcockrum

Congratulations on acquiring the Nenuphars and the First Watt S.I.T. amplifier. In my opinion you have established an excellent foundation to build an audio system around (I believe the NAT audio amplifier an equally good option as well). I have zero doubt that your sound quality will only improve with accumulation of playing time hours. I’m very interested to know how you find this direction compared to your former Thiel speakers-Classe Audio amplifier based audio system. Polar ends of the audio component spectrum.☺

Charles

@rwpollock Gotcha. Later last night I found that the sound is considerably better with the polarity reversed at the SIT-2s output terminals. Nelson touches on this in the manual but I found the wording ambiguous, perhaps encouraging experimentation.

<<The V2 drivers, being brand spanking new, are still way tight, lack top end airiness/open-ness and overall dynamics, especially in the treble region, sounding overly polite thus lacking essential sparkle. I am expecting some improvement in these areas as the drivers loosen up and everything settles in...>>

My V1s took awhile; the sound improved after about 50 hours, and the magic happened at 95 hours.

Thank you David for both the warm introduction and your patient guidance in selecting and sourcing the Nenuphar V2s.

It has taken quite a bit longer than I originally planned to get the all new system in place. First was Axpona 2022 delaying the shipment of the new Nenuphars. Best laid plans and all that…

Then, my first choice for amplification, a NAT Audio Single HPS integrated amp failed to operate properly during testing at the distributor and is currently stranded with the hood up awaiting parts. Fortunately @rwpollock posted here a few days ago that he was parting with his First Watt SIT-2 and I snatched it up (thanks Bob!). Very fortuitous, except that I have no appropriate external preamp solution at present (since the NAT Audio integrated needed none), so I am temporarily limited to driving the SIT-2 directly from the single ended outputs of the Meitner MA3, also new to me, using its (reportedly excellent) VControl digital volume control.

The SIT-2 arrived this afternoon and I am now listening to the rig for the first time as I write. First thing that strikes me is the very satisfying bass performance from the Nenuphars. Next is the enormous soundstage and the sense of true depth and proportionate spatial relationship between instruments and performers.

Not all is peachy yet of course. The V2 drivers, being brand spanking new, are still way tight, lack top end airiness/open-ness and overall dynamics, especially in the treble region, sounding overly polite thus lacking essential sparkle. I am expecting some improvement in these areas as the drivers loosen up and everything settles in, but I am thinking that a true active preamp addition to drive the SIT-2 is already proving mandatory.

I have my old Ayre K-1xe preamp in storage but really wish to employ tubes this time around. Suggestions anyone?

I'd like to welcome and congratulate Dave ( member @dlcockrum ) as a new owner of the Nenuphar V2s. 

Cube Audio Jazzon / Tektron Room High End Munich 2022. Close up video of the components and room. Posted by Cube Audio.

Cube Audio / Tektron / Lampizator Room at High End Munich 2022

Cube Audio Jazzon from High End Munich 2022 (courtesy of Cube Audio):

Jazzon High End Munich 2022

I've listed the amp on AudioMart. Check there if you are interested. They're not making any more of them. :-)

Hi Robert ,

Just sent you a PM

David

Having been tubular for some time now, I've decided to sell my FirstWatt SIT-2. I figure there may be someone here who would appreciate it. If that's you, send me a PM. $3K, original box.

 - Robert

Excellent. It does. Thanks, debjit.

Trying again...Let me know if it works this time.

Before and after image

Will likely work if you use the 'Link' icon to the right of the smiley.

Neither can I.

I can’t see it either…

@david_ten David, not sure what's going on but I can see them from my browser. I am not very familiar posting images here. I simply linked those images from an external site using the "Image" icon and suspect I might not have done it properly. Do others also have the same issue ?

@debjit_g  I cannot see / can't access the photos / links in your last post. 

Here is the before and after