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NHT 3.3 or Mirage M1Si?

Hi. I want to upgrade my speakers (and eventually all my other components..) and I'm considering these 2 (yeah I know, they are very different) models. I'm looking on the used market and I want a killer deal for around $1500 to $2000 US used (erm, around $4000 to $6000 at retail price I guess). I want a full range speaker that can offer detailed highs, liquid mids and abysmal bass. That can be enjoyed at low levels but also at high (ground shaking?) levels. I know that at this price range I can't find a perfect speaker but I want to do a major step up from my Polk RTA11TL speakers (around $1000 early 90s). I listen to all sort of music (from Bach to Metal) and might consider to build a home theater from there...later.

I will power them accordingly (200w-300w) after having choosen my main speakers. And should move to a bigger place in the next years so these factors are of less importance for now. As for my other upstream components since I intend to swap them for better at some point.

I would like advises from peoples who have heard these two speakers, and what pros and cons you have noticed between these two. If you want to suggest me another model that you think is even better (for the same budget) fell free to do so.

Thanx for all inputs.

note: I have already read all the reviews I could find on the net about these 2 models and have a lot of infos on the NHT 3.3, but I dont have as much infos on the Mirage M1Si and no idea if there is one that is really better than the other...

Jolan
jolan
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,218 posts
 
From your description of what type of sound you want the NHT 3.3 is the better choice. Though there is a caveat, they won't sound real "liquid". As stated by others above, the NHTs require plenty of high quality watts and a lot of attention to placement. They're not perfect, but I think the NHTs are one of the great bargains in high end audio.
ender's avatar
ender
20 posts
 
I've owned 3.3s for 4 years. They still bring a joy to my face everytime I sit down, turn down the lights, and listen to my favorite tunes. The 3.3s do benefit as the electronics get better. Just get a good 200+ wpc amp like the Aragon 8008BB (~1200 used on audiogon/ebay) to drive them well and control the bass. You can vary how much liquidity your system has by changing the preamp and source. A tube preamp will add all the liquidity you need (ie, Rogue Magnum 66).
jolan OP
3 posts
 
Well thank you all for you responses. I guess that the NHT's crowd is more present on Audiogon than the Mirage crowd, hehe. Though my choice will probably go to the NHT 3.3, if any of you have more inputs on the mirage M1-Si, feel free to add your comments.

Thanx.

Jolan
loose
239 posts
 
Ender, you are absolutely correct with your statements on preamp and source. I ran a pair of 2.5i's with a Unico for a while and it, having a tube preamp stage, smoothed them out quite a bit...very liquid. Only problem for me at the time was that the room was too small for that particular combination...

:(

(the 2.5i's are obviously NOTHING like the 3.3's, but they have a similar upper-range behavioural pattern as the 3.3's, so i would imagine the same would apply with respect to a preamp for the 3.3's, but even moreso)
rhyno's avatar
rhyno
649 posts
 
i've never heard the mirages.

i owned the 3.3's briefly, and for the prices they go for they are w/o a doubt some of the best values out there. i thought they compared very favorably w/ merlin vsm-ms, and WP6s (of which i have owned both). they do need the tweeter tamed (tube preamp, Cu cabling) and a good size room for woofer integration, and they can be wonderful.
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