Simaudio N HT's Xd 8

N H T X d

quality of the XdW’s bass was competitive with any of them. When I piped the stereo signal through the Outlaw ICBM bass-management system, all frequencies below 40Hz were sent to my Paradigm Servo-15 subwoofer, which added a wal- lop to the bottom end that the Xd, as configured here, couldn’t duplicate. Of course, the XdA provides drive for a second XdW, in stereo or dual-mono, and that might be a better solution if you’re as much of a bass addict as I am. But the unassisted Xd did measure nicely to below 25Hz in my room; normal folks

whose small size and flexibility in placement should make it welcome in most homes. Its small drivers do place a limit on ultimate volume levels, and adding more speakers on the same channels might compromise the Xd’s marvelous in-room behavior and imag- ing. That limit, however, is well beyond what even most audiophiles might need. Add in its clarity and a neutral harmonic balance unfettered by output level, and you have a truly outstanding

nents. Moreover, NHT has designed the Xd as a modular, expandable system that can be configured as necessary for two- channel and multichannel applications.

The NHT Xd is the best thing to come down the pike in a long time. I hope it is a harbinger of designs to come. The current Xd system, however, is completely satisfying in itself—its presence in my listening room is an enhancement both visual and aural. Because the Xd’s performance is competitive at the highest

need not apply for these extras.

The other area of distinction was the midrange, where the Xd’s presentation of voices never seemed lacking but rarely gave me the shiver of eerie recognition that I get from the B&Ws or the Revels.

On balance, the Xd could go toe to toe with any of these speakers. Given its design and physical configuration, it’s likely to outperform them in real domestic listening rooms without acoustic treatment or major spousal accommodations.

Conclusions

NHT’s Xd is a remarkable system

NHT’S Xd IS A REMARKABLE SYSTEM WHOSE SMALL SIZE AND FLEXIBILITY IN PLACEMENT

SHOULD MAKE IT WELCOME IN MOST HOMES.

system that works in the average home.	levels, anyone interested in high-quality
However, the Xd is more than just a	music reproduction must hear it. It might
speaker. All of its electronics contribute	convince you to reconsider a lot of your
to the result, particularly the digital	accumulated equipment, but beware—if
equalization and crossover, which make	you bring along your nonaudiophile
a felicitous marriage between amplifiers	spouse, you may have a lot of explain-
and speakers that the average audiophile	ing to do, about why your current sys-
can only dream of accomplishing by the	tem is both more complicated and less
usual mixing and matching of compo-	attractive-looking.	■■

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FOLLOW -UP

ELECTRONICALLY REPRINTED FROM JANUARY 2006

		NHT
		Xd
		POWERED LOUDSPEAKER SYSTEM
hen	Kalman	Xd’s performance is competitive at	November issue had gone to press,
R u b i n s o n		the highest levels, anyone interested	and which were claimed to endow
reviewed NHT’s		in high-quality music reproduction	the system with greater dynamic
$6000	satel-	must hear it.” I was also impressed	range.
lites+subwoofer		enough by the Xd’s measured per-	“E-mailed…?”
loudspeaker sys-		formance that5I decided I would do a	The heart of the Xd system is the
November 2005 issue		“Follow-Up.”	XdA, a four-channel power amplifi-
Wtem in the		A “Follow-Up” would also allow	er that uses PowerPhysics class-D
(pp.105–115), he was very impressed,		A “Follow-Up” would also allow	er that uses PowerPhysics class-D
concluding that “The NHT Xd is		me to experiment with different	amplifier modules and includes a
the best thing to come down the		crossover filters that NHT’s Jay	digital-domain crossover from Aus-
pike in a long time…Because the		Doherty had e-mailed me after the	tralian company DEQX for up to