SEAS Thor Speaker / NCMS Rhythm 9500 Unlimited

Just put together a NCMS Rhythm Signature. I had Lee Taylor make the cabinets and xo boxes. Already these speakers best my Vandersteen's- better imaging, more efficient, bass extension. Although they certainly need some time to break in, my initial experience has been really positive. I will have more comments as they break in.

Good luck on your search.

-Karl

Thanks guys, I'm still not sure which one I'm going to go with yet. I really don't want to give up bass extension at all if possible. Some have commented that the Thor will not extend down to much below 40hz where as the NCMS Ryhthm does at least get down to 30hz with more output. I don't need them to play loud but rather full balanced at low volumes for nocturnal listening if you know what I mean. I've got 2 pairs of quality speakers that can more than handle the mid to live levels of acoustic music but seem to collapse at very low levels. These effects happen in either system and either room of mine.

The system that I use late nights is in a 19'x16'x8' living room at the other end of the house as to not keep my wife awake. My dedicated room is directly under the master bedroom and is too large(28x16x10) for low level listening. The night system consists of BAT VK-3i & VK-200, Proceed PDT-mkIII, Krell Studio dac.

If there is another kit or homebrew that you think would work better in this room and system please feel free to say so.

**Karl, which Vandy's do you have?

Bryhifi,

I had the Vandy 2ci's for the last 7 years. I loved them. The VK200 should handle dynamics well even at low volumes with the NCMS. I drive the Rhythm sig's with a VK500. Have fun.

-Karl

Bryhifi i just read a thread on madisound about the Thors..they say its a disappearing speaker sound..and has great bass and beautiful mids..i have the Seas W22 woofers are they are of superior craftmanship. I would say this is possibly the "best" speaker going.

After stumbling across a magazine written by Joe, in a bookstore far from home this weekend, I can honestly say I am disappointed in the Thor.

Please understand my perspective, a person who learned a heck of a lot about speaker design by Joe D'Appolito via Kimon Bellas. I had always held the utmost appreciation for his talent, creativity, and experience.

However, I feel that we as speaker enthusiasts are no longer living in the world we used to. By that I mean, late 1980's - mid 1990's. Many of us have rediscovered what used to reign supreme. Tubes, low power, more simple, more truthful, more natural sound.

During this metamorphosis, speakers have needed to evolve as well. The speakers of 15 years were much more difficult to drive. Built to take the idea of the speaker designer as far as he could go. Most of these designs were a supremely punishing load for an amplifier, they required massive amounts of current. As audiophiles have turned their focus back to tubes, speaker loads have become more benign. Speakers have changed.

Joe D'Appolito's thoughts have changed some also. The Thor is a transmission line.

However, in reading the article I was most curious to see what his crossover design would be. The feeling as if I was looking at something written in 1992 came over me. Lots of capacitors, lots of coils. This speaker presents a lot of components between the drivers and amplifier. It takes current to knock down those obstacles.

Joe, please do not take this the wrong way. But, please give a more simple crossover a try.