$50 B Stock NHT SuperZero 2.0

[KEW]

The NHT SuperZero 2.0's were dropped off on my doorstep earlier today.
I have a busy weekend ahead of me, so it will be next week before I can have a listen. I will add some comments about sound later, but Google will get you plenty of discussions and reviews.
I figure to go ahead and give a quick commentary in case someone is considering buying a pair of these, but worried about the condition of these $50/each (half price) clearance speakers.

First off, these are by far the most "impulse buy" I have ever made with speakers. They are a bit of a classic, considered a decent buy at regular price, measure well, and I have always been curious about them. At half price, my curiousity got the best of me. Because I did not do my normal thorough research, I had a couple of surprises waiting when I received them.
1st, I was not prepared for how tiny they are! The smallest speakers I am really familiar with are the Energy RC-10 and the EMP-41B. I expected the SuperZero to be smaller, but it is less than 1/3 the size of the RC-10 or 41B! The SuperZero 2.0 is 6lbs, compared to the RC-10 at 14lbs and the EMP 41 at 12lbs. The density of the SuperZero imparts a no-nonsense attitude, it has substantial heft for its size.
2nd, I did not realize these had a piano gloss black finish. Obviously, NHT is committed to first impressions, because maintaining a pristine gloss black finish is a nightmare for any business. Which (along with being the old model) is why these are being sold at half-price.

Blemished - The NHT website described these as "No leaks or dents, but many have scratches or other laminate problems". This is a rather enigmatic description. Who talks of leaks as a common issue for B Stock? Also, I would call a scratch a finish issue, not a laminate issue. So I was interested to see what was up with these. They are lightly scratched on all sides. By lightly scratched, I mean scratches you do not see until you angle the gloss to the light so any detail is revealed. In normal use in my living room, no one would ever know unless I put spot lights on them and they took a close look.

Based on my experience, the major concerns I had after reading "laminate problems", such as delamination, bubble under laminate do not seem to be valid. I have other gloss speakers which always end up with these light scratches over time (maybe from sliding on my shirt when I move them?), so I really feel like the B stock discount is a win on these!

My expectations of the sound quality are pretty high within the limitations of this speaker; the frequency response is decent (within its range), and the sealed design eliminates port related issues with transients. My experience has been smaller speakers image great, so expect that as a strong suit.
Given the tiny size and the lack of a port, the obvious limitations are bass output and limited SPL in a large room. Likely, 120Hz or higher would be a proper crossover point to off-load bass and let these recognize their full potential.

http://www.nhthifi.com/Bookshelf-speaker-SuperZero-2-0_2

 

[zieglj01]

I was doing OK - till it turned into small print.

The little SuperZero is built nice for the price - and they even left room
for a 6db/12db crossover - as it also takes up some space in the box -
It cost them about $1.00 an inch to build (h x w x d). So at $49 you are
getting a good price. The biggest drawback is the lack of bass.

They can be a fun little speaker.

 

[afterlife2]

Thanks for the update. I look forward to your take on these and how they do againts the Pio's. I bet these are the same size as my NXG 4.1. Piano finish too, cool. Pics when you get a chance and no pics of boxes Please. They say they have 42 B stock left, Z.

 

[KEW]

I was doing OK - till it turned into small print.

Hopefully, I fixed it. On my computer there was only a very slight difference in font size.

 

[zieglj01]

Pics when you get a chance and no pics of boxes Please. They say they have 42 B stock left, Z.

Err.........I have owned them in the past, and opened them up.

The SuperZero 2.0 will have a bump in the midrange to enhance
the presence region some (however, not an annoying bump)

I own a new speaker that can hold up to them SuperZero 2.0's
and then some.

The NHT is about the same size as your NXG.

It is possible that I might/maybe jump on them (Err......maybe).

 

[zieglj01]

I bet these are the same size as my NXG 4.1. Piano finish too, cool. Pics when you get a chance and no pics of boxes Please.

I can give you a picture without a camera!

 

[afterlife2]

lol you need some sleep, sir.

 

[zieglj01]

lol you need some sleep, sir.

You watched the Youtube video already?

 

[KEW]

One of them distorts!
Not obvious at all on some music, but I was sensing something wrong and put on Linda Ronstadt CD which really brought it out.
Swapped speaker cables, channels of the amp (Yamaha AS-700), etc. and it is the speaker.
The distortion becomes most obvious when she does something like the "Ohhh!" at 0:40 in the following clip - there is a bit of "metallic edge" to her voice that really excited the break-up mode.

Guess I'll be calling NHT Monday!

Just another reason not to let speakers sit around in the box!

 

[afterlife2]

Now that's a A class singer there. My fav since I was a kid. Too bad I hope it gets sorted out. Is the problem with both or one?

 

[zieglj01]

One of them distorts!

Guess I'll be calling NHT Monday!

Just another reason not to let speakers sit around in the box!

Probably some damage from boxes being moved all over the place.

 

[Bizarro_Stormy]

According to the shopping cart, there are only 19 left as I write this...

If anyone wants some, ya better hurry...

 

[KEW]

Now that's a A class singer there. My fav since I was a kid. Too bad I hope it gets sorted out. Is the problem with both or one?

One of them sounded bad in comparison to the other, but I need more time with the other before I decide how I like the speaker. If it has a defect, it is not so obvious as the one I noticed.

The imaging is, indeed, quite outstanding!

 

[KEW]

Just an update. I have been comparing the SuperZero to the Pioneer BS-22 (just one channel to keep it even) and even without considering the added bass, I feel the Pioneer has a better balance of sound.
The NHT's just sound a little thin in comparison. The Pioneers have a nice airiness to the top end.
However, even with the bad tweeter(?) on one of the NHT's, they are extraordinary at imaging!
This is one of few speakers I think looks better with the grill on (though I did all of my listening with grills off). The grill is nicely done and the drivers don't have a particular "wow" factor.

So my conclusion on these speakers is:
If you do not have size constraints/WAF, get the Pioneers (or some other well reviewed normal size bookshelf speaker).
The NHT satellites are impressive, and would not surprise me if they are the best option in this form factor (I would like to compare Energy Take), but there is a reason why most speakers are larger.
I would not hesitate to use them for surrounds for HT. They get loud, are an easy wall mount, and the cabinets look nice.

 

[zieglj01]

The NHT's just sound a little thin in comparison. The Pioneers have a nice airiness to the top end.
However, even with the bad tweeter(?) on one of the NHT's, they are extraordinary at imaging!

That is why one should buy the SuperOne 2.1 - to have some bass,
and have a more full sound.

Interesting that you can compare, with one speaker each.
At least you got to check their sonic sound signature.

 

[KEW]

Interesting that you can compare, with one speaker each.

I'm not sure if I follow.
Taken literally, there should be no surprise, obviously anyone can listen for differences (or lack thereof) with one speaker each.

Should I not have done this as I did?
You have been doing this a lot longer than I have, so let me know.

Thanks!

 

[zieglj01]

Taken literally, there should be no surprise, obviously anyone can listen for differences (or lack thereof) with one speaker each.

Should I not have done this as I did?
You have been doing this a lot longer than I have, so let me know.

Thanks!

Nothing really wrong with how you did it - you can pick up some things.

For me I prefer to judge in stereo - so I can pick up the different placements
of instruments and vocals of the full stage with the same speakers. Not easy
for me to judge full imaging and stage with one speaker, as I want to try and
pick up the fullness of the sound.

When judging 2 different speakers - I place one on top of the other if possible,
If not then I just switch them out.

The biggest problem of the SuperZero is lack of bass, plus the small box.

Some may prefer the upper mids and lower treble of the Pioneer speakers,
as Pioneer is decent/nice for the price.

 

[KEW]

For me I prefer to judge in stereo - so I can pick up the different placements
of instruments and vocals of the full stage with the same speakers. Not easy for me to judge full imaging and stage with one speaker, as I want to try and pick up the fullness of the sound.

I agree, my evaluation is a bit one dimensional, given mono/one speaker. I appreciate your further comments for anyone who might be looking at these satellites.
My comment about the NHT having superior imaging was in stereo. I said "even with the bad tweeter" which I now realize is ambiguous. I meant to imply I was listening to both speakers rather than just one.
From this, it may be that I would be won over by their sound stage, depth, etc. if both NHT speakers worked properly.

Some may prefer the upper mids and lower treble of the Pioneer speakers,
as Pioneer is decent/nice for the price.

I must admit I like mine a lot, I don't know if it is the shape of the profile around the tweeter, but the sound is good to my ear.
However, after reading about the QC inconsistencies with the tweeter, there is a wildcard factor on these (perhaps it has been improved)

 

[KEW]

One more note on these.
I was toying with the idea of opening up the bad speaker and seeing if there was a defect I could see. While looking at it to see if I could open it without any visible damage, I noticed that the woofer screws are marred, showing some silver where the black coating was missing and the edges of phillips slots were rounded over. Someone had already been in this speaker. The other speaker is pristine.

 

[afterlife2]

So are you gonna return them and get something else?