NHT 4 user manual Background, Placement Tips

Thank you for your purchase of the NHT ST4 Super Tower loudspeaker.

Like all NHT loudspeakers, the ST4's development has been guided by the study of human hearing, its design rigorously tested, and its components optimized to deliver clean, clear musical sound.

Since the quality of your speakers is one of the most important factors in maximizing the sound you'll get from your music and home theater system, we're sure that you'll find your purchase of the ST4 a good investment, and invite your comments.

If you find your experience with the ST4 as satisfying as we believe you will, and wish to enjoy its high quality sound through your entire system, you'll find information about other sonically matched NHT Super Series loudspeakers on the back of this manual.

Please take a few minutes to read through this owner's manual before setting up your speakers; this information will help you get the most out of them. Also, please keep the ST4's packaging to use in case you move or transport them.

If you have questions at any time during setup or use, feel free to call your NHT dealer or our Toll-Free Customer Hotline at 1-800-NHT-9993.

Background

NHT's new ST4 is a remarkable hybrid product -- a two- way loudspeaker combined with an integral subwoofer -- which offers the newest of our full range loudspeaker technology in a small-footprint cabinet.

Inside the Super Tower are two separate chambers, one containing the same high-quality midrange and tweeter drivers as the NHT SB3, and the other, a side-firing, long- throw 8" subwoofer producing bass down to 29Hz.

This approach offers the midrange clarity and detail of the finest two-way designs combined with the dynamic range of a 3-way system, while placing the drivers at their optimal height for a natural listening experience. This enables the ST4 to deliver the pinpoint imaging and subtle detail your music or home theater system is capable of, and yet provide the dynamic output required by video soundtracks.

Placement

Although the ST4 is a floorstanding loudspeaker that may be used in any (indoor only) location without stands or mounting, its height-to-width ratio makes it potentially unstable without spikes or stabilizer bars. The moment you have found the ideal location for your ST4's, please install the SpikeKit (instructions below) on your speakers.

Since the upper, mid / tweeter portion of the ST4 is magnetically shielded, and can be placed in close proximity to a television without causing picture discoloration, you'll find the ST4 to offer unusual flexibility in placement.

ST4s are designed to be used as a mirror image pair with the side loaded subwoofers facing opposite directions; ie, facing away from each other (fig. 2). In situations where this isn’t possible, and you don’t have anything between the woofers blocking them, set up the ST4s so that the woofer face inward toward each other.

Be aware, though, that small changes in speaker position can have a significant effect on sound. Moving speakers nearer to walls or corners will increase bass output, but also may add "boom." Placing them farther away tends to decrease bass output, but can give tighter imaging.

Room furnishings also play an important role. Soft furnishings (sofas, carpets and curtains) absorb midrange and high frequencies, potentially dulling the sound, while hard surfaces and emptier rooms brighten it.

Experimenting with the effects of different placements in your own listening/viewing room is the key to finding the sound you like best.

Placement Tips

Ideally, you'll usually get the best sound when your speakers are:

•1.5 times as far away from you as from each other

•L and R speakers are equidistant from the listener

Once you've placed them, finish by moving them around so that they're:

•Greater than 1 foot from back walls, 2½ feet from side walls

•Pointing inward a bit toward your ears.