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

@mikeg   Mike, congratulations on moving to the V2 Nenuphars and thanks for sharing your early findings.

Since I have the V1s and am using a 3 watt amp, the additional gain needed for the V2s is both noted and significant for my situation. 

Looking forward to your detailed impressions after the 100 hour mark.

Completely unaffiliated, but I saw a Bakoon 13R up on USAM... thought I'd draw attention here since a number of people were talking about using a Bakoon with their Nenuphars.

I’m at the 75 hour mark on the break in. The V2s definitely take longer to break on and that was confirmed by Jon Ver Halen. The V2s are opening up more and the need for more gain has dropped some. I never run out of gain on the V2s while using the FW SIT-1 which I was concerned about prior to the upgrade.

I think eliminating the Roon DSP 1.4dB of bass at 100 Hz and down (shelf) which I needed on the V1s is huge advantage for the V2s. V1 and V2 are both good but having more body and meat on the bone on the V2s eliminates the need for adding one or two subwoofers (in my case 2) because I can’t locate a single subwoofer centrally. So in a sense for my system, the $1500 V2 upgrade cost is well worth it considering 2 REL subwoofers, interconnects, and power cables would cost $7600. I also think the V1s with their added presence are a little of too much of a good thing. I mainly listen to jazz and I can say that I never have ear fatigue with the V2s. The V2s seem to match better to my all silver based cables which is a big plus also.

I tried my best to maintain the speaker position and toe in when I swapped in the V2s. On some recordings with the V1s, there was a less center fill and sometimes instruments were localized to the individual speaker. I never experienced with the V2s. The vocals are also more pinpoint on the V2s.  One might say the V2s soundstage better. The magic of the V1s is clearly carried over to the V2s but he V2s extract every last bit of musical energy and impact on the recording.  This is just my opinion. I also think reviewing a full range speaker such as the Nenuphar with a subwoofer doesn’t give the whole story on the performance of the speaker.

Moving from the V1 to the V2 eliminates (Or diminishes) the need for subwoofers? Quite an observation and outcome. I still believe that a lot of the V1-V2 differences are driven by specific system make-up and subsequent synergy results. It just seems that existing source, amplification, cabling etc can tilt driver preference in either direction. Then of course there is the large Spector of individual listener bias and taste. I still contend that both are superb options. 
Charles

@mikeg Mike, good to know that the V2 driver is requiring less gain as break-in progresses.

I’m confused about your findings on the ’center fill’ / ’localization' to the individual speaker’. I don’t experience this in my system. Is there an explanation for why this may be happening with the V1s in your system? Thanks.

Congratulations on ’loving’ your V2s and the upsides they have resulted in.