NHT Xd system, 1⁄3-octave, spatially averaged response in JA’s listening room with original crossover filters (blue) and revised crossover filters (red).
higher in level.
The response now falls between ±1.25dB limits all the way from 80Hz to 16kHz, which is simply extraordinary in-
room perfor- mance. Extraordi- nary!
S u m m i n g Up: Art Dudley recently wrote that the true test of a component under review is how you feel
when it comes time to return it to the manufacturer. In the case of
F O L L O W- U P

Fig.3

slight bump at 2kHz is gone, and the top two octaves are between 1–3dB

NHT’s Xd, I felt bad about having to send it back. It did almost all of what I want an amp and speakers to do, with very little downside. However, I have five pairs of speakers on deck for review and I have to move on.

In the meantime, the revised crossover software, in conjunction with stereo subwoofers, has taken a relatively affordable, excellent- sounding loudspeaker system and made it almost beyond criticism. It’s true that the NHT Xd system still lacks ultimate dynamic range, but there’s only so much you can ask in terms of ultimate loudness from a pair of drive-units with a radiating diameter of just 3". Highly recom- mended.

—John Atkinson

Posted with permission from the January 2006 issue of Stereophile ® www.stereophile.com. Copyright 2006 PRIMEDIA Inc. All rights reserved.

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