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

My current favorite is NE Eno series. They bettered the Sablon in my system. The NE has a new reference model Muon which is more costly but I have not heard it.

@toetapaudio The powered version?  The Reserva version?

Sablon Elite USB I can recommend.

@dspringham Hi Dave.  Yes, the DAC2 module for the VR L2iSE was one of the first I compared to my Totaldac D-1 Dual.  I found it to be surprisingly close in sound (especially for the $$--the Totaldac being about twice as much), but the Totaldac was noticeably more open and alive.  They're are some other notes I have on the comparison if you want to PM me.

@stephendunn 

Had you ever tried the DAC2 module in your VR L2iSE?

I was on the hunt for an external DAC upgrade thinking I was missing something with the VR DAC 2 in my own L2iSE. The recently referenced review on Audiophile Style comparing the Rossi L2iSE (DAC2) with the likes of Chord Dave convinced me to end my search. Seems that there may be limited or minimal improvement by throwing multiples of the cost of the VR DAC2 for an external solution. 

I agree with the review that the combination of the internal DAC2 with DHT tubes and internal Mosfet amp creates a synergistic solution that eliminates costly additional peripheral interconnect and power cabling. I'm feeding my L2SEi DAC2 via USB from the Antipodes K30 server. I did find, however a noticeable improvement upon the addition of a Shunyata Omega USB cable. Also, I do have a costly power system consisting of Ansuz C2 level power distibutor and cables.

At this moment I'm enjoying and appreciating this system as the Nenuphars (with additional run time) continue to reveal more and more musical nuances. I would be interested in trying some Silversmith Fidellium cables. Anyone experience these on the Nenuphars?

Dave

I like the placement of your Nenuphars well into the room. It provides them plenty of room to breathe and perform at their best.

@charles1dad   Charles, for reference: the drivers are 6 feet from the TV screen and 9 feet from the front wall.

@stephendunn Thanks, even that little bit helps.  Appreciate it.

@charles1dad  @stephendunn   Thank you.

I need to take photos early in the morning (before reflections are dominant). The wood looks so much better in natural light. The American cherry sides of the amps and power supplies have darkened and go well with the American walnut of the rack.

Stephen, the jellyfish image is actually black and white...the phone camera creates the blue effect (the blue light from some of the components doesn't help). 

creating a boxless, free floating sound

+1

@charles1dad Thank you.

@david_ten  Thank you, as well, and what a clean and striking set up you've put together.  As Charles mentions, it looks like your Nens have room to throw an enveloping wall of sound with great depth.  I'm always amazed at the speakers' ability to do this, sound stage like dipole electrostatics, creating a boxless, free floating sound, further enhanced now by my new DAC which renders some recordings--Beck's Morning for instance--in virtual surround sound.  My speakers are closer to the front wall than yours, so I installed half round diffusers which help with image focus but not as much with depth as I was hoping.  Maybe quadratic diffusors help create depth better?  (Or jellyfish?)  Anyway, congrats to you on a great set up.

Speaking of electrostatics, a audiophile friend is bringing over the new Magnepan LRS+ (when he gets them) in a shoot out against the Nens.  He thinks they'll compete despite the 15X difference in price.  Vegas is working up the odds on that right now.  The speakers I would really like to hear against the Nenuphars are the Fleetwood Deville SQ Speakers made by OMA.  Love to hear if anyone has impressions of them vs the Nens.  From what I read they have a lot in common despite being very different designs.

@david_ten 

I like the placement of your Nenuphars well into the room. It provides them plenty of room to breathe and perform at their best. The amplifiers have an attractive understated elegance. 

Charles 

I’ve been meaning to add system photos for a long time now. Here are two I just took via my phone.

NOLA Built

Click on each photo to get an enlarged image. Second is a close-up of the components. Scott Sheaffer’s left / right signal chassis monos are in the foreground. His left / right power supply chassis monos are immediately behind them in the rack.

[Note: components in the foreground appear much larger than those behind them]

@stephendunn  Congratulations on the results you have achieved by adding the Playback Designs DAC to your system.

+1 regarding...

The Nenuphars soak up every iota of this upgrade, sounding like new and better speakers in every way.  They keep revealing themselves as true transducers of what goes before them.

@stephendunn 

Congratulations!

Charles 

@cal3713 Thanks. I haven’t put up a thread about my DAC search and probably won’t because it was less than comprehensive. Meaning I auditioned a number of DACs--Aqua, Denafrips, Lampizator, to name a few--that were quite a bit less expensive than the MPD 8. Once I heard it, I knew I didn’t have to look any further. I haven’t touched vinyl since I got it.

@stephendunn Congrats Stephen, great to hear.  Do you have a thread up where you discuss your DAC auditions?  I'd love to read more about the competitors and decision making. Have heard many good things about those PD dacs.

I have taken great pleasure in building a system around the Nenuphars, first concentrating, like most new owners, on optimal pairings of pre amp and amp--optimal to my taste of course.  I never thought I'd be one to indulge more than one "taste" but I find myself with a "stable" of three units that I use singly or in combination.  I change them out periodically and enjoy their individual strengths. They are the Vinnie Rossie L2iSE, the Enleum 23R and the Decware Zen Triode Anniversary Edition.  But all along I knew once I had the power and pre questions answered, I would next have to address my digital front end.  For years I've been listening to the very musical Totaldac D-1 Dual.  Despite my enjoyment I knew it was not the last word on detail, bass, imaging and tonal accuracy.  A long search and many auditions has ended up with my replacing it with a Playback Designs MPD 8 Dream DAC.  After 500 hours of break in I can report extreme satisfaction, beyond in fact anything I was anticipating.  The Nenuphars soak up every iota of this upgrade, sounding like new and better speakers in every way.  They keep revealing themselves as true transducers of what goes before them. The magic they now create with the MPD 8 makes each recording unique, hearing the essence of music like I've never heard it before. 

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.

@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.

@debjit_g 

Thanks,  appreciate the photographs. 

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

@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 

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.

I agree Charles...

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 

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.

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

@jayctoy 

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

Charles 

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..

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 

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

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 

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..

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.

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

"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....

More info on the new V2 series speaker drivers !

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

@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

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

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

Any suggestions?

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

@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 

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....

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

@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

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

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)

@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

@v10 

Very nice and tidy. Well done!

Charles