Customer Feedback
CommonSense Audio



Audio Nirvana
"A little about me; I co-founded DIGITAL DESIGNS, now DD Audio, in the early 80's. I have been designing very high quality transducers and speakers for over 30 years. My speakers have been used as near-field monitors for Universal Studios, Walt Disney Studios, GTE Imagatrack, The Record Plant, and countless TV, radio stations, and recording studios world-wide.
I am also a professional musician, playing the trumpet with two nationally distributed CD's to my credit. I know what music sounds like, and what technical expertise, as well as applied art, it takes to create a speaker that sounds like real music.
I have found a recent interest in single transducer full-range speakers, for all of the obvious technical reasons. I purchased a pair of your AUDIO NIRVANA SUPER 10's and put them in an anechoic open baffle configuration with a -3dB down point of approx 150 Hz, and utilized a 12" powered subwoofer for the last 2 octaves. And. . .
Damn, Damn, Damn! Truly Unbelievable! Without a doubt one of the FINEST speaker systems I have ever heard at ANY price! Truly recreating the sonic texture and time domain of a LIVE performance! Cudos to you David, you ARE the man! Well pleased."--Dr. Paul D. Vogt
"I exhibited at the HiFi Wigwam show yesterday and demonstrated my Audio Nirvana 2.8 MkII's. They went down like a storm! I had about 50 visitors to my room and not one adverse comment. Many were 'blown away, amazed, stunned', etc. My primary target audience, those who are contemplating a diy project, were universally convinced, and many left vowing to 'get started straight away'. Many came around two and three times, saying that my modest system was making the best music of the show!! Many also took photos and asked all sorts of questions about cabinet construction, etc. and couldn't believe the simplicity, some getting on their knees to look through the 'Big Port' to glimpse inside.
Attached are some pics of my other 'Ambience' speakers. I have to say the sound is sensational--a massive soundstage with huge depth, amazing detail, and tons of bass wallop when called upon. I'm delighted. They could probably do with some grills but I'll get round to that when I can tear myself away from listening to them. Thanks."--Steve Dixon (from the U.K.)
"I have to say that I was not prepared for the sound that emerged! These drivers are truly amazing. The imaging, articulation, precision and smoothness were truly exquisite. The next day my principle engineer, Gary Fulton, arrived along with Joe Mendyk, who was our first engineering mentor and still is one of the finest rock tracking recordists I know. I eagerly awaited their evaluations and we spent an hour and a half listening to various tracks and different genres of music. I chose the same cut for the debut performance and with great pleasure watched the expression of astonishment form on the faces of these two veteran sound men. (Gary has an additional specialty; he has mastered over two hundred CDs along with some extensive restoration and forensic audio work). We heard things in familiar recordings that we had never noticed before. When the audition was over, Gary looked at me and said, "I have to have a pair of these". That was good enough for me."--Dan Harrison, Jaguar Music
"I LOVE YOUR SPEAKERS!! I LOVE THESE THINGS! After an hour and a half of listening, right out of the crate, no break-in whatsoever. The mids and the highs are wonderful and, best of all, they are so coherent - how could they not be, being single-driver? The 3W 2A3 does drive them just fine. Most of all, though, it's the Audio Nirvana's purity and coherence that have me. Vocals, bass, percussion, and horns are all spot-on. Beautiful job. I will never sell these speakers, as to me--right now--they are a testament to what $650 in speakers ought to be able to buy. They are a testament to audio sanity, as it were. Paired with a cheap, fast sub - like an ACI Force for $700 - this would be a killer speaker system that would not be embarrassed by anything, not anything, and I'm talking up to $40K. I've heard just about everything. The build quality is fantastic, too - they are beautiful. Cabinets are nicer, frankly, then I was expecting."--Paul Folbrecht
"To say I was absolutely AMAZED, is an understatement. Since I have never listened to a single point source driver, I had no idea what to expect. What I heard was crystal clear music. The midrange is better than I have ever heard before and the highs are precise. I still find it hard to believe that ALL that sound is coming from a single driver. Needless to say, the plans are already on the board for the next set of speakers I'm going to build. I will never have any speaker other than a single point source driver for my critical listening. Thanks for offering such a great product."--Richard Chase
"Fantastic. Hard to explain how fast and alive they sound. Timber and tonal balance are awesome. Never heard piano like it's in the room before. The balance from bass to high treble is unbelievable. Now they are playing in the house of my good friend (who is, by the way, the son of Ivo Pogorelic, one of the world's best pianists), and if he says the piano plays like it's alive, in a way he never heard before, it's a big thing. So, I'm more than satisfied. It's far beyond my expectations."--Zoran Mergl (from Croatia)
"Well I finally fired the Super 12 Cast Frames up yesterday and, boy oh boy, I was bloody well flabbergasted. These are an awesome speaker. My wife is still shaking her head and doesn't believe they could sound so good, she is amazed at the sound. So am I, and with excellent bass, just blows my $16,000.00 Charios out of the water. One happy camper."--Murray Smith (from New Zealand)
"Listening to the Audio Nirvanas has left me breathless. My expensive Dynaudio components are in a cardboard box never to be used again. I've built many speaker projects since the early seventy's. My speaker building odyssey is over. I have arrived. Out of the box - hands down - these are phenomenal sounding transducers. It has been so nice sitting in the studio with Ella Fitzgerald this morning. Vocal imaging on this speaker is effin perfect, warm and gorgeous. I'm looking forward to the discoveries the AN's will surely reveal. Wow! I'm raving to my friends. In the two days of being up and running, my wife has said thirty times or more how great these speakers sound. What a testimony. If I ever do another speaker project it will be A.N. without even thinking about it. Wow! Thank you for your undeniable killer product. I am a super happy guy! "--Chris Krupp
"Wow, wow, and WOW! I'm currently listening to "Kitchen Sink" from Amon Tobin's disc Foley Room. I am completely blown away by your Audio Nirvanas paired with the Creek amplifier. Thank you!"--Stephen Aichele
"Holy cow!! They are amazing. The sound is unbelievable."--David Borts
"I just wanted to say thank you for the best speaker I have ever heard. I did the 2.5 Big Port enclosures and all I can say is 'WOW'! I will be buying some more speakers from you soon. Again thank you for making such a great speaker."-- Dallas Richardson
"Full , rich, natural sound. After this I will never buy manufactured speakers again. Fullrange speakers........are the only way to go. They sound better than anything out there. The sound out of this system is the best, bar none "--Kevin James
"Thank you, thank you, thank you. Still sitting here in awe, this blows my mates $62K+ stereo away. 12" Cast Frames, in the 5.6 cabinet, are a gem. WOW!"--Paul Eagle (from Australia)
"After two days, I just keep putting on records and saying, 'Damn! Damn! Damn!' I've never owned speakers with such beautiful high end and rich textures. It's truly psychedelic sound. I'm running a pair of my own single 45 tube amps, with my own preamp, and there is no problem with the low 2 watt power driving these."--Jeff Brown
"I don't remember a time, even when I was in the stereo business, that I have enjoyed my speakers so much. These Nirvanas rival anything I have ever heard--electrostatics, ribbons, horns, even Tannoys. Our PBS station, WUSF (University of South Florida) made the switch to all digital sometime last year and there are times I would swear the sound was live, right here in the room! Now don't let this praise cause you to raise the price of the Nirvanas, but they are great! Thank you!"-- Al Cook
"Speakers complete. WOW!!!!! They sound incredible. I was worried about the bass response but these are beyond what I expected. I'm finally hearing things in the recordings I haven't heard before. The imaging is awesome and I still haven't played with positioning to get the best image. Thank You!"-- Paul Blais
"I received the speakers last week, built the 1.3 enclosures this past Saturday, and all I can say is wow! Best sounding speakers these ears have heard in a long time, maybe ever. I'm running them off a Trends Audio 10.1 amp and am getting superb detail. All this and they aren't fully broken in yet!"--Matt Medel
"I was stunned at how amazing your full-range speaker sounds. I thought I was at a live performance. The midrange and treble were almost beyond belief, as the veil was lifted and I was shocked at the beauty of what I was hearing. I feel your product makes everthing else I have heard pale by comparison."--David Eskins
"My wife and I have never been so happy with a pair of speakers. Who would have thought that this much sound could come from one speaker without a crossover? Man, I have spent a lot of time going in the wrong direction. Thanks for setting us straight. Your fullrange speakers are the bomb!"--George Pearson
"I really love the Super 15 Cast Frame speakers. I am just going to sell my Monitor Audio GR60's that cost me almost $4000. I am amazed at the delicacy and detail that this 15" driver can deliver throughout the entirety of range, treble right down to bass. I can't keep away from them and, even though I am unable to fault the sound at this stage, I look forward to getting the first 300 hours playing. It's hard to believe they could possibly be any better than they are at the moment."--Reamann MacBiatiagh (from Northern Ireland)
"I was your worst non believer. I built speakers for Studio Lab of Canada about 15 years ago. I was schooled by the mass belief that three-way systems were far superior in sound quality. I was wrong. I have recently sold my B&W DM7MK2's, and I am currently enjoying the A.N. Super 12 Cast Frames. These things outperform any drivers by a landslide! I am still in disbelief that one driver can create such range and definition. The speed and accuracy of these drivers is simply stunning. I have since had the opportunity to audition the Fostex 8's vs. the Audio Nirvana's and there is simply no comparison. Needless to say, I am now a diehard Audio Nirvana believer."--J.Burzese
"Congratulations on your extraordinary design. I am just overwhelmed by the sound these babies produce. For me, it was by far the best buy I have made since I am in this hobby. Regards from Austria."--Bernhard Kaiser
"I've heard many speakers in my time. I've been an audiophile, in one way or another, since I was a teenager. I've never heard speakers that sound as good as the Audio Nirvana Super 12 Cast Frame speakers. I feel that accurate detail is as important as, and an integral part of, accurate vocal reproduction. I was not disappointed. I'm very satisfied with the quality of the vocals, as well as the detail of all kinds of instruments reproduced through these speakers. I'm hearing drums like I've never heard them before. I'm enjoying the subtle nuances of a cello, like I've never heard them before. I'm hearing sounds that I'm only accustomed to hearing in live production. I knew that I had something special. The vocal reproduction is amazing. The full range of the vocal spectrum is represented in complete detail, clarity, and warmth. I went between Josh Groban, Loreena McKinnit, Lisa (celtic women), Norah Jones, Metallica, REM, The Corrs, Aaron Neville, Marvin Gaye, Tiesto, BT, ATB, Armin Van Buuren, NIN and many other talented artists with quality recordings of varying genres to critique the speakers. None of them let me down. These speakers reproduced them all in glorious sonic accuracy. I'm convinced that I now own a set of speakers that is appropriate for all genres. They put a smile on my face every time I turn them on. I never tire of their sound. They also improved my gear because I could hear the weakness of my other equipment through them and was therefore able to resolve it. I always felt KEF made a great value for the money speaker, but there is no reason to continue using the reference KEF's that I have at the moment. They simply sound muffled in comparison; like someone speaking to me with their hand over their mouth."--Christian Sjavik
"Popped in the demo disc, and voila, I had the singer right there in my room! The soundstage of the T-Amp, coupled with the high clarity, super detail, and awesome transparency of the Audio Nirvanas, brought the singer and the entire band, holographically into my room. It's like watching, and I mean watching, them live right there! The sensation was surreal and I've never experienced anything like that before.. Man... goosebumps upon goosebumps... The speed of sound reproduction, by the Audio Nirvanas Super 8, is simply awesome. Previously, on my other speakers, I'm straining to hear what's happening in the background. The percussion was being veiled behind a thick fog. It was blurry, dirty and groggy. With the Audio Nirvanas, it's like them being alive! Full of youth, energy, vitality and zest. The fog is gone and I can hear (see) them clearly, bright as day. I'm also able to place each and every one of the players exactly in the soundstage. Such is the awesomeness of the Audio Nirvanas. I began listening to my favorite cds, and am amazed they revealed hidden details with tracks I had listened to more than 100 times!!"--Derrick Lim (from Singapore)
"The 6 1/2's are up and running, and are certainly everything you claim, and then some. Absolutely superb. Fast, detailed, razor-sharp/pinpoint imaging, very natural sounding vocals, stunning dynamics without a trace of overhang, broad, deep stage with a black velvet backdrop. I'm looking forward to the post break-in sound very much if it's better than this. These really are extremely good loudspeakers. Thanks!"--Mark Franklin
" I have had the speakers for approximately a month now and all I can say is 'WOW'! The more you listen, the more you love these wonderful speakers. I have the Super 6.5's mounted in the 3.0 cubic foot "Tall John" enclosures and they have become my reference speaker. Give them a clear signal and just sit back and enjoy. The Super 6.5's are easily the most musical speakers I have ever heard, they bring Jazz alive. I know many have stated that full range speakers need super tweeters and sub's to round out the sound, well that is certainly not true with these. The highs would put many high end tweeters to shame and the low's will bring a string bass right into your listening area. The musical delivery of these speakers are so far above their cost it's ridiculous. Just to think of the times that I have built crossovers, that cost more than these drivers, just makes me shake my head, because now I have finally found the sound that I have been trying to reach. They are rich, open, and very detailed. Thanks for bringing me into the light of full range speaker design. I could not be happier with the Audio Nirvana line of speakers, they have it all. The Audio Nirvana's make all your old music new again."--John Parker
" The Audio Nirvanas, in 0.9 cu..ft. cabinets, carefully damped, sound better than any speaker system I have built to date. Everyone who has heard them agrees. My speaker-building friend in town, who has excellent ears, heard them and was totally impressed. I believe his final comment was, "I have never heard any speakers sound like that!" Having been a professional musician for many years, my ears are well-educated. I have listened extensively to the Audio Nirvana 8" drivers and the 8" Fostex FE206E. The Audio Nirvanas are FAR SUPERIOR to the Fostex FE206E, having more solid bass, as well as much smoother, more natural sounding midrange and highs. If you are purchasing the Fostex FE206E drivers instead of the Audio Nirvanas, you are wasting your money."--Beckon Duel
"I am very impressed with the Audio Nirvana speakers! I am so impressed that they are replacing my Bruce Edgar/ Altec Lansing horn system. It is now for sale on Audiogon! Let me say that this is quite a feat to top. I am hearing much more than I ever have. So, I am inspired with the "no crossover, single driver sound. I (also) built a speaker system using 2 of the 10" and 2 of the 8" Nirvana drivers per side. I am now running them on a 40 WPC OTL amplifier with $10,000 Theta CD front end. The sound of your drivers, no crossovers, no output transformers in the amplifiers and the Theta CD system is the best sound I have ever heard! I am VERY pleased....."--Mike Morrow (Morrow Audio)
"I loaded every driver that I have in a Tractrix front horn. This horn exposes every detail the driver has. The best driver was the Lowther DX3 ($1095/pr) but the Nirvana was a close second . They blew away the Fostex , having much better highs and detail. And your 6.5" Audio Nirvanas will belt out some sound...they rock! I'm convinced , after lots of research , that the Audio Nirvana's can't be beat for the price....."--Les Hudson (speaker designer and manufacturer)
"My dad was a hard bit audiophile for many years. He claims he is getting sound now, with the Super Nirvanas in the 2.8 cabinet, that is as good as anything he's ever owned. I have to agree. My friend Mike was using Von Schweikert VR3s, a speaker that I liked and was hoping to compare with the 2.8s. We were both quite shocked to hear that the 2.8s not only were more open, unveiled, and detailed on the top, but were pretty close in bass extension as well. The Von Schweikert VR3s were an expensive speaker. The Nirvanas, in the 2.8 cabinet I built out of $60 worth of MDF and materials, had no right to sound as good as they did. Needless to say, I am very happy with the results and I am confident that I finally have a speaker I can trust to tell me how good/bad the other components are sounding."--Tom Rogers
"OK.....I am now the latest "true believer" in the cause of single driver speakers. After about 150 hours of break-in, it is apparent that those who are willing to suspend disbelief can experience something very special....even magical at times......The Audio Nirvana 8 inchers were a revelation. A whole new way of experiencing music....and probably the best way. The sound stage, spacing between voice and instruments, shear depth and width, is quite impressive. Tonality is honest to the front end of the chain."--Paul Van Name (Gateway Sound)
"I must say there is no exaggeration whatsoever in what you claim at your website. The immediate impression was that of a very distinct, but in no way aggressive mid, and an equally pleasant and "shimmering" treble, right in harmony with my sound ideals. The soundstage was very well defined, both in terms of width, depth and height -- true 3D. Then, the more I listened, the more I realized that the Super 8's brought out "micro-details" that the Fostex/EV350 combination wasn't able to reveal. Here was the "musicality" that I had been longing for. I listened to Leonard Cohen's Take This Waltz, and I got the impression that I could pinpoint to the inch the varying distances from his mouth to the microphone over the length of the song. Enter the solo violin, where I felt I could establish the amount of rosin on the bow. In the duet with the chorus girl, it was very obvious from the reproduced perspective that Cohen was sitting down, and she was standing up, right behind him, in my imagination with her hands on his shoulders. I know very well that this is all mic placement and control room imagery and not the actual facts of the studio setting, but I believe that's what the producer/sound engineer intended, and that's what I heard. I listened to several tracks from Pierre Bensusan's album Spices, and I don't think I've ever heard the right-hand technique of a bass player so clearly coming out of a pair of speakers......that is quite a task for any speaker, regardless of cost, to reproduce with accuracy and credibility. Listening to Dire Straits Your Latest Trick, I discovered that the trumpet wasn't entirely stable in the recorded soundstage (flaw in the recording?), and that I could hear the drummer varying the position he chose for his rim shots on the snare with a clarity that I don't remember from any of my previous listenings to the album. In other tracks, I could actually hear the varying amounts of compressor/limiter applied to the snare beats. You have developed some really world class speakers. Congrats! I'm a very happy customer."-- Anders Rydell (from Sweden)
"I just had to let you know, I've been sitting here listening to these babies crank out tune after tune, and I can't remember the last time I tapped my toe this much. OK maybe with a big 3 cubic foot bass reflex cabinet a bit more low bass can come out but, man, I'm telling you these speakers are working great in these sealed 1.75 cubic ft cabinets. I'm just smiling ear to ear! Fantastic on voice, great saxophone, nice drum sets, real, real nice! And I haven't even hooked them up yet with my high end rig, just a cheapo flea powered receiver. Very nice. Thanks for a great product."--Robert Hensley
"The 1.3s sound simply gorgeous, with all program material; no shrillness, ample bass. Detail is amazing. Bell tones are startling in clarity, strings are very rich, full and present, the sound stage is only limited by the sound source. Stuck one pair of Super 12's into some plywood open baffles. Wow. This is a big sound, even without the boxes. Midrange and detail just spectacular -- bass presence and articulation effortless. I'm listening to everything from Bonobo to Steppenwolf. Wow. I think you have the sound success story of the century. Thanks for a truly great product."--Brian Jarvi
"I cannot believe the clarity of this speaker. I've listened to some really expensive speakers in my 65 years. To my ears, these are as good or better than any I have heard. I can hardly control myself! These speakers are something else. Thank you for the advice during my selection process. All I can say is thank you and keep up the good work."--W. Cotton
"The mids and top end are open and detailed. Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane solos sound amazing. The overall sound is well balanced, detailed, and instruments have good weight on the low end. These are the best full range drivers I have ever heard."-- David Wilkerson
"I am an audio technician and have been building the "perfect system" since I was a teenager, amps as well as speakers. I am enjoying your speakers on a daily basis and everyone who has heard them agrees that they sound incredibly live. Coupled with a tube amp (Dynaco ST70) this is the best system I have ever put together. Thanx again."--Jon Marek
"I have been using the Super 12 Cast Frame drivers in the 2.8 enclosures for a few weeks now. They really are sounding fabulous. Much better then my Sonus Fabers, not even close! The speakers are so transparent and dynamic, with a real ease and life to the music. Everything else now seems like it has several blankets thrown over them. Love them."--Anthony Moore (from Australia)
"The 'Super 8's' just blew me away! They put my Reference 3A's to shame (no easy feat). I threw them in a crappy old pair of boxes left over from a pair of Klipsch KG2's (10 passive radiator in rear) and still can't get over the sound in a crummy box!"--Dave Hutchings
"These speakers are amazing! I can hear everything so clear. When I switch across to my Lockwoods, with 15" Tannoy HPDs (Ex Abbey Road Studios) the sound now seems blurred, without definition between the different instruments. I've been playing my old studio multitracks and everything just sounds great."--Gary Stoner (from the UK)
"I have no words to explain how warm and perfectly balanced the speakers sound. I was blown away by the most natural response (and) effective output. We were totally speechless at the rate of sensitivity, clarity and depth. We are seriously thankful for your technical support and guidance."--Mahmood Hayat (from Pakistan)
"I received the speakers today and they sound excellent. They have much better detail, pace, and tonality than the Mirage OM-9. The Audio Nirvanas sound great."--Stacy Bragg
"I just completed a pair of Minimonitors with the Audio Nirvana 8" speakers and am delighted with them. When I compare them to my Paradigm Titans, it is like comparing a high resolution image to low res, if I can use a photo metaphor."--Scott Cullen
"The soundstage and dynamics, from the Super 12 Cast Frame, leaves the Sonus Faber GP's way behind. The mids, highs, and mid bass are totally in a different class. You were correct, (by comparison) the Sonus Fabers sound like they don't have tweeters. And the Sonus Faber GP's cost about 6 times the price. The high end response is amazing. Very revealing is an understatement. Your speakers are amazing. To be totally frank, they are nothing but perfect ."--Paul Wood (from Australia)
"Initial impressions are: Very sensitive, great imaging, stage and presence. Smooth and detailed, plenty of bass (these are horn loaded into floor-coupled labyrinth). Surprisingly good on complex orchestral passages (tried some Mahler, Wagner, Dvorak), and just magic on chamber, piano and acoustic. Rounded off the evening with the Janet Monheit DVD, wasn't aware of the speakers at all, they just disappeared. I expect them to be even smoother when they bed in. Excellent units, very pleased. My Tannoy Broadcast Monitors are destined for the bedroom"--Ken Thornton-Smith
"Just wanted to drop you a line, after listening to a pair of your Super 10's for four months now. They continue to become more refined as time passes. I would have to say that these are the best speakers I have listened to. What is the most pleasant aspect of the Super 10's, is the three dimensional nature of the sound stage. Well microphoned acoustic recordings give an illusion of being in front of the listener at a specific spot. You feel like David Sanborn is standing in front of you. Nuances of the recordings are evident; you can hear David take heavy breaths between phrases. The highs (are) detailed, with no harshness. The 10 watt SE amplifier fills a large 20 x 20 room with sound which testifies to their sensitivity. The bass response is there and acceptable with acoustic bass recordings. Upon arrival of the drivers, I found the shipping container, box, and associated packing materials for the speakers were excellent. The quality of the construction of the drivers is impressive, at this price point. Front aesthetics of the drivers are top notch; I hate to cover them up with a speaker grill. Compared to conventional speakers, with the cost of 2 to 3 drivers and cross over components, this has to be the best performance to value for any speakers, anywhere, any time."--Michael Dubay
"I must say I might not send the $2500 AER speakers in for repair after all! The ANs beat the AER (and also beat Fostex) greatly in the highs. I hear loads of detail in the highs that were not there with the AER. I can't hear significant losses of detail, compared to the AER, which is surprising given the cost difference. By far the most important factor for me is cone 'breakup'. The ANs beat the AER's handily in this area. Best value in drivers I've come across."--Nicholas Perry
"I purchased the Super 12 Cast Frame drivers and I must say I'm hooked. I've owned the top of the line PHY30SAG from France, which were $2700/pr, not including the open baffles, and the Super 12 Cast Frames blew them away. The Audio Nirvana Super 12 cast frame speaker is well balanced from top to bottom. I'm using the Trend TA-10.1 that I had almost forgotten about on a shelf. This is a great combination, with either my Emotive Audio or Reference line preamp. Please Don't miss out on a great musical experience."--Alphonzo Edmonds
"Why did it take me so long to find out about this? If I can build these things, anybody can. Loosely translated, that means build it, find any kind of an amplifier that exceeds a handful of watts, and you have instant gratification. My system that sits idle is a $13,000 custom. I hate to sell the expensive speakers, but folks, this is just too good to be true. I even quit watching TV--well, except for football. I painted the speakers flat black and my wife loves them. Go figure. She says they don't scream 'speaker.' She sits with me and listens to the tunes we listened to when we fell in love 37 years ago."--Jack Leebron
"I have been in this hobby for 45 yrs, since I was 15 yrs old. I have bought and sold so many speakers, over that time, I can?t even count. I have owned Spendor SP1?s, Spendor LS 3/5?s, Vandersteen 2C?s, Monitor Audio RS6?s and many, many more. These Super 8?s are the most natural sounding of them all."--David Kaiser
"I bought the 'Super 8 Cast Frame' about a month ago. I'm using them in some Tannoy Saturn 8 cabinets, for now, until I finish my new ones. All I can say is they are totally awesome. They most definitely beat any other point source driver I have ever heard, and that includes 3 different sets of Tannoy dual concentrics.The midrange and vocal qualities are incredible and just seem to get the music right no matter what I play through them--analog sources, digital sources, tube amplification, solid state, low volume, high volume."--Kenny Carpenter
"Audio Nirvana Super 12 Cast Frame is an excellent speaker for "open baffle construction"!!!!! The sound is quick, big, open, 3D, very fundamental, silky, dynamic and very, very musical! The vocals are warm, very airy, focused with high resolution... The sound has weight, body, with plenty of colours. Listening to it is very thrilling... The piano really sounds like one. In sound quality this- "AN 12 CAST FRAME -can compete with... 5x more expensive speakers..."--Igor Macek (from Slovenia)
"Thanks for the great speakers, and good service. It's amazing. You have written a fairytale in the HiFi business. This is musical art on its highest level. Good luck for the future! I use the speakers in an open baffle from J.E. Lab and the A.N. sound fantastic with my Audio Note 10W tube amplifier."--Kjell Egil Pinås (from Norway)
"I built myself a pair of open baffles with Audio Nirvana 'Super 12 Cast Frames' six months ago. When I took them to my brothers house last week, he was so astounded by the sound of these,--driven by a Tubelab Simple SE that I made (5 watts)--that he asked me to make him a pair. He is a drummer, and likes his music loud! These guys are so open and clear sounding that they blew away his infinity RSIIIB's."--Paul Foreman
"As soon as I switched on the AN12 cast frames, they sounded very, very convincing, straight out of the box without burn-in. I have always been a fan of high-end minimonitors, I have admired their precise, box-free soundstage. The open baffle ANs deliver all these and more. The sound is bigger, more natural, and easier to listen to. I still cannot believe the transients that these speakers produce, perhaps the best string reproduction at any cost...And the bass is simply amazing!! I thought that they would be producing too little bass in open baffle, but they actually produce quite a lot and it's very natural, totally free of boominess of any kind. It's just perfect for the sort of music I listen to (classical and jazz). The transparency and clarity of the midrange is unbelievable, perhaps the best I have heard so far. The highs of AN12 are smooth and effortless."--Zoltan Temesvari (from Hungary)
"Sound is class A. Wow, what a great speaker at a great price. Have been in this hobby seriously for 56 years and am very impressed. Best deal of my life."--Frank Giovino
"They sound absolutely amazing! The highs are nice and detailed and the bass is just right! Thank you very much!"--Doug Woodliffe
"I have built many pairs of speakers using Corals, Jordans, Fostex, Philips. The Audio Nirvanas are my favorites, period."--Lewis Wagoner
"The Nirvanas resolution is unmached by any of my previous speakers! (too many to recall). The sound is very good indeed."--Sergio Avila
"The depth of sound is truly amazing, as is the stereo imaging. Many thanks."-- Michael Green
"Got them in (Cain and Cain Abby cabinets). Huge improvement. Performance is better in every way. I think anyone with the Abbys would be thrilled with the substitution."--Dave Harding
"I put the 6 1/2 inch speakers in and they are fabulous. The Audio Nirvana's are so much sharper with vocals and guitars.....that sound like mud in the old speakers. Thanks-I've been converted!"--Steve Rohrbacher
"I have made a new horn and mounted a Fostex 206 speaker for testing. You are right, Audio Nirvana sounds better, more clear and with a lot more bass sound output."--Rune Weltzien (from Norway)
"I have tested your Audio Nirvana 8 inch in our "Saxophon Cabinet". For me, after 100 hours, it is my favorite, a little bit "better" than the FE206E. Both much better than a Lowther DX2."--Horst Moller (from Germany)
"I compared Audio Nirvana Super 8 to Fostex FE206E, and AN is a clear winner, with more transparent sound and more extended highs. And then a friend of mine brought the "AN Super 8 Cast Frame" that he bought from you. This one is even better!"--Arif Wicaksono (from Indonesia)
"The speakers have now clocked over 75 hours. The highs have perfectly balanced out. The one thing that caught my attention was that the same amp never used to play the soundstage as accurately as it does with your speakers. My previous Harbeths were so famous for their naturality and yours beats it hands down, with very accurate imaging and produces a very strong 3D effect! I was also surprised when I saw Arif Wicaksono, from Tube Lover Indonesia, building speakers from your drivers and mentioning that yours are the best he has ever heard. I believe him since he is a very serious tube amp guru and experimenter."--Dixon Chen
"I am sitting and chuckling, laughing out loud even, that sound can be this good. The danger is that I?ll stay up all night listening to just one more song. It just doesn?t get any better. I?m hearing lower register bass lines that I?ve only heard hints of before. Whatever your electronics, you hear what they can do. I did the 3? ports and the bass is both potent and elegant. The overall detail and musicality just exceeds anything you'd expect. I will never need another set of speakers. And the total dollars invested in these, compared to the sound, is just silly! Your plans and Super 12s have made me a craftsman, as this fabulous sound testifies. Audio Nirvana drivers make all generations of music sound amazing."--Brian Jarvi
"Build quality excellent and very well packed--they look great. Very pleased with the sound quality--just what I was hoping for, having read the reviews on your website. Bass is fine, for my room, so I made the right choice with the Minimonitors (with Super 8 Cast Frame drivers). If I had to describe them in one word, I would just say that they are very 'musical'. Detail is there, emotion is there, in voices and there is plenty of 'grind' for heavyish electric blues --but overall I am listening to the music, not listening to a hifi setup. Sorry to say this, but I think you have just lost a customer --I reckon that these will be the last pair of speakers that I buy!"--David Ford (from England)
"First listening: the Fostex are still as I described them, true to the original sound. The Audio Nirvanas add to this without subtracting anything. A bit more air between the notes, an increase in timbral accuracy, better imaging that,--in the near-field listening that I do--is especially difficult. The sound seems to exit the speaker a tad more like it does from the original instrument. I am very happy with my new speakers, I feel even more involved!!"--Jan Middledorf
"Well, I am a believer. These Audio Nirvana Standard 6.5's sounded wonderful from the first note. I compared them to my NEAR 10Ms, which I have always liked. The ANs sang! They are more efficient than the NEARs so it was a bit difficult to a/b due to the volume difference. Clearly the ANs are great little speakers. I am looking forward to getting the 8's . I expect that I am not going to be a one time customer."--Len Hendrix
"Shortly after hooking up the Super 3s I started to doubt my ears. The vocals were incredibly lifelike. Tonal balance seemed right on and the imaging was the best I had experienced. I still have Ascend, PSB and Epos speakers and these Super 3s are clearly better. My observation was even confirmed by my wife, who could care less about my goofing around with speakers and sound quality in general, who made a point to comment about how lifelike the Super 3s sound. She was surprised the "homemade" speakers sounded so good and informed me that I was an idiot for trying all the others if it was this simple. I would challenge a comparison against any of the above, I have or have owned. Every comment you make about the superiority of high quality fullrange drivers is holding true. "--Mike Harmon
"I'm listening to Dark Side of the Moon, one of my fave raves of all time, and it's never sounded better from speakers. The soundstage is amazing, the precision bang on, and they really go very loud indeed."--Steve Dixon (United Kingdom)
"The pair of 8" drivers I bought earlier this year are well housed and performing superbly well. My son was so impressed with mine that he has asked me to build him a set for his 30th birthday."--Anthony Cross
"Your Minimonitor.....is being appreciated.....Nice , crisp, without shouting.....no sibilance.....great driver .....nice BOX.....heavy and well built..... Need another pair to round out the balanced sound....hard to balance with less efficient speakers.....the other speakers CAN'T compete....."--W. Gordon Ray
"I received the speakers I purchased from you last night--8" Audio Nirvanas-- and put them in some appropriately sized folded horn enclosures I made some time back. Directly wired to a T class mini amp, these things are as good as I have heard. Now I am truly excited about listening to cd's again. Thanks for the great bargain and good luck--these drivers are right up there with the other ultra-fi bargains."--Terry Hance
" I have been using the Audio Nirvana 1.3´s for 2 months and I can tell you that I am really enjoying them. I have a pair of Aurum Cantus V2M (US$ 2,000) and the 1.3´s are far better. It is the first time I've had a full range driver and I think it`s impossible to get back to a traditional 2 way monitor after listening the 1.3. They sound great. They disappear and there is only the music. In vocal jazz, the singer is in the room with me. Great!! 3.5 Watts are more than enough to drive the speakers with ease."--Alejandro Schweitzer (from Chile)
"I am enjoying a pair of your Super 8's in Dayton Audio .75 cu. ft. cabinets. I had owned the 8" Fostex in the Omega 8r Grande cabinet, in the past, and these are a big imporvement over them. Mids/treble are fantastic. VERY detailed in my room. Bass.....has great pitch and definition. To my ears, the Omegas were just too peaky. They were fun for some things, but ultimately not enjoyable for the long haul. Thanks for bringing some sanity to the world of audio."--Joe McMahon
"I have to say that these sound terrific! I have heard everything out there, with the exception of the extremely expensive FEASTREX from Japan and the Lowthers from UK. These beat all of the Fostex models I have heard by a big margin. The highs are very accurate, the most accurate I have heard from any Fostex. The mids don?t shout and are also accurate and very involving, perfect! The bass is accurate , very articulate."--Fernando Cruz
"I got the Nirvana speakers mounted in my existing cabinets about a week ago. They fit fine, and the original hole was just about right. They sound great--they have a liveliness to them that none of the other speakers I have heard seem to have. I imagine they take a little time to break in fully. What's amazing to me is that 8 watts per channel (tubes) drives them fine (in a somewhat small, but not tiny, room). All the hype about high power amps and multi-speaker systems is just that as far as I can (now) see! Thanks for the fast service, and more than that, for taking the time to explain how I could use the speakers in cabinets I had."--Tom Larson
"I received your 8"(Super 8 Alnico and Super 8 Cast Frame) and I have compared to the FE206 and Lowther DX4 (a loan from Lowther France). The cabinet was a ML TL by Martin King calculated to fit the DX4 speaker. The Super 8 Alnico sings as you said, relaxed, smooth, and detailed. The DX4 was unlistenable in this kind of cabinet. I compared the two AN to the FE206 and the AN are far better. The 206 has a big distortion in the high frequencies. The Super 8 Alnico has a lot more bass than the others (Lowther, no bass at all). All you said to me, about all these loudspeakers, is right."--Joel Perret of L-Acoustics (from France)
"The Super 8s are in the Lowther Medallion cabs and sound great. The Alnico 8s are killer, as well, in your Minimonitor cabs. The Super 15 Cast Frames sound great in the funky Heathkit cabs, rendering the Altec 604Gs useless!"--Reid Brody
"I've been listening all afternoon to the sharpest transients, steepest wavefronts, and the most transparent sound I've had in a long time!"--Al Cook
"They sure can sing! I am blown away by the sound. In this day of snake oil, etc., these really do the job!"--Ben Garland
"The speakers sound brilliant and very sweet!!! My song collection has got a new life with this system!"--P K Raveendranath (from Oman)
"I have just finished my 1.3 enclosures, with the Super 6.5 drivers, and I must say I'm truly impressed! After only a few hours of break-in time they sound absolutely fantastic! I have never heard such great imaging before! Seriously, in holographic performance I think they even exceed anything I've ever heard."--Harald Gronvold (from Norway)
"Thanks again for your fine drivers. The regular 12" are really showing their stuff in my new baffles. Dynamics are incredible and unrestrained."--David Wilkerson
" The sound is unbelievable! Damn! All I can say is your drivers are absolutely amazing. Even compared to my 15in Altec coaxes. I was worried that with the high sensitivity of the Nirvanas and my higher power(ish) amp, there would be more noise, but they are very quiet."--Jam Hamidi
"I LOVE THESE SPEAKERS! You have sold me a fine product, and I really don?t see any room for improvement. I?m going to keep these for many years to come. I could go into great description about them--soundstage, detail, and all that kind of stuff, but--in a nutshell--my wife and I love these speakers. Thanks for all the help and your unending patience as I settled on which ones I wanted to build."--John Conley
"My Super 8's are now mounted in Voight horns (a quarter wave transmission line with a linear horn taper). The drivers are in line with your ears when you are seated, the sound is beautiful, bass now sounds eerily realistic. The 2.8's are next!"--Andre Jordaan (from South Africa)
"I bought the Audio Nirvana Super 8 Cast Frame. I built an enclosure TQWT and the sound is amazing, wonderful. A friend could not believe what he was hearing. Deep bass, (great) treble and very accurate . I have heard many speakers of very high prices and nothing as real as these. I am very happy with my speakers."--Cesar Lorca (from Chile)
"I finished the speakers and they sound fantastic. It's the classic 'I hear stuff I never heard before?' I could not be happier with this purchase."--Tom Ingledue
"After only a few hours, I can tell these are going to be very good indeed. Live recordings sound amazing."--David Wilkerson
"Got the speakers done and they sound excellent with my old Scott integrated amp. I am no audiophile, but they make my B&W matrix speakers ( with multiple other amplifiers) sound as if they are muffled. Thanks."--Paul Gandy
"I just mounted my Audio Nirvana 12" cast frames. I was so astounded by what I heard. They are a steal. I cannot believe the bottom end, along with the highs on these drivers. They sound unbelievable."-- David R Greene
"The Super 12 goes very nicely down to 28 Hz! The speakers are great. The efficiency of the speakers means that high power is not required! I would certainly recommend your speakers and cabinet design to anyone who wants good sound at an affordable price!"--Ronald W. Anderson
"I have been busy listening to a number of full range eight inch drivers plaved in 150hz tractrix horns. Your Nirvana Super 8's were my favorite drivers in the front horn application. They offer a uniquely liquid, yet detailed perspective that I found very enduring."--Lance Akridge
Lowther
"Unbelievable! Thank you very much. They have exceeded my already inflated expectations."--Gerard Sonnier
"I was absolutely flabbergasted and dumbfounded at what I heard. Imaging like I have never heard before! The speakers disappeared in the sonic soundstaging all around me! All of the other usual superlatives apply here. Your speakers are simply incredible to listen to in every way; very engaging and realistic tone and timbre to the instruments, decent bass (surprising, especially considering the small drivers) and incredibly holographic 3-D sound! The soundstaging is bigger and better than I could ever have imagined it to be. I am now selling my Oris horns on Audiogon!"--Dr. Tristan Jacobsen, Pharm.D., RPh
"I've had your 2.5/DX3s for over a year now. They continue to amaze me... "suspension of disbelief" amazed! They really ARE the best! Additionally, what has surprised me the most is how great they sound with such a wide variety of music. We've all heard speakers that work well with certain genres of music but not others: not these- they are sensational with everything from folk to symphony and everything in between. I'm convinced that your 2.5 is a "breakthrough product". Last night, I came into the living room to see my son (age16) in a zen- like trance, on the couch, listening to Led Zeppelin. He opened his eyes and shouted with glee "It's right there, the snare drum- I can SEE it" as he points to a very specific spot between the Lowthers. I responded "Yes- the Lowthers- they're really something!" Perhaps a seemingly insignificant moment EXCEPT that it happens all the time now- since you shipped us your 2.5s. Whether it's rock, classical, jazz, blues, ballads...anything and everything...your 2.5 cabinet housed Lowthers make music like no other speaker I've heard. I'm SO glad that I went with your 2.5s...especially when I think about the speakers that I almost bought instead and how disappointed I would have been if I had. Thanks for the great music. The 2.5s bring the whole picture into focus: spatially & temporally!"-----Gary Dehmcke
"Holy shit! I've never heard imaging like that. I could hear reverbs, breathing, seat cusions squeaking, all kinds of stuff I never noticed. I put them up in my studio as nearfields and spent some time aiming them and finding a sweet spot. Once dialed in I put in some nice acoustic recordings. It was very seductive. The music came out of the speaker and threw me into an "environment" that the other speakers couldn't do. I sat back, closed my eyes and listened to some of my favorite music in a new way. It's like they were engineered by listening and not by math and scopes. Actually they sound incredibly real. The harmonic richness is just ridiculous. I can tell that they will be incredibly useful tools for mixing and mastering. It's such a drastically different sound when I switch to them from my other monitors. They are way efficient. The imaging that these do is so many times greater than what I had thought before was excellent. Like I said it's like the music comes out and creates an environment. My Dynaudios dont do that at all. They still sound like a speaker making sound. The Lowthers seem to dissapear and you're just left with the music. Thanks for turning me on to them. I'm so surprised to have discovered something like these."-----Brad Sarno
"For music, what can I say except truly remarkable. Once you break the Lowther's in you will never want another speaker for life. I challenge anyone to listen to the Lowther's for one month and then go to a Hi Fi shop with your favorite music CD and listen to the best loudspeakers they have. I did that and I could not stand to listen for more than 10 minutes before I walked out due to lack of clean detail and simply giving me a headache. For movies, they produce a truly believable sound with stacks of bass as they are. There is no asking someone sitting next to you ?? what did that actor say?? The sound and voice is crystal clear first time and every time. Ask me what the sound is like ?? The answer is 'out of this world' you have to hear it to believe it."----- Paul Papadimitriou
"Still running in, but "WOW" they are beautiful. Harsh edgy sounds from all my previous loudspeakers have dissolved into a wealth of inner details that I have never heard before. They really are very special! Thank you so very much." -----Laurence Platt
"I just wanted to report to you that my 2.8 Ambience speakers have arrived from Frank Wyatt, with the Lowther DX3 and Audio Nirvana drivers. I have been using them for three days now, and I must say the sound is absolutely stunning! They give the most beautiful and crisply precise sound I have ever heard from any speaker. I am absolutely delighted with them. My DIY OTL amplifier has no trouble at all driving into the 4 ohm load of the paralleled drivers. As you had predicted, they easily win out against the Klipsch Forte II's."--Christopher Pope
"Ok , I give up.....you have a bad ass box design.....All I can come up with is that it has acoustic properties similar to an acoustic guitar , where the hole and it's location amplify the mid/bass.....your box sounds much better.....it's very musical.....I have a new found respect for what I once thought was a remedial design , but it's genius....."-----Les Hudson (a speaker designer)
"Regarding the Lowthers, I was a bit skeptical. I had grown tired of giant sized speakers and the required ancillary power needed to drive these bloated driver systems. Nevertheless, after hearing the Lowthers, I soon sold my Legacy Focus speakers and Mark Levinson N0. 23 Power Amplifier to get a much smaller integrated tube amplifier (a 1963 Scott 222c) and the results were nothing short of outstanding. Particularly amazing were high quality recordings with female vocal tracks. But actually, I now hear instruments that were either not audible previously, or can be heard with such enhanced clarity compared to previous setups, that it is difficult to go back to the old speakers. Exceptional cases exist, but for a majority of my listening, the Lowthers are it. It may take you 30 or more hours of playing time to gradually break in the drivers, so be patient. I must also mention that the amount of clean bass output will surprise you as it does everyone that hears my system. Output below 40 hz or so is not very much in evidence but above that, it is quite a nice surprise, and not boomy, either."-----Dr. Gary Yavitz
"What I like about the Lowthers is best put this way very crudely--They put tears in my eyes and they make the hair stand up on my neck. Compared to any other speakers I have heard, it is like the difference in listening to a really good high-end boom box vs.: having a live performance in your room--the performer is just right here, just singing or playing to me, only. Bass performance is tight, realistic and more than adequate."-----Robert Howard
"We were absolutely impressed by the performance of your bass reflex cabinets. Let me tell you that I was finally very happy indeed to find a system configuration which rather brilliantly passed the hard test of Carmignola's dazzling violin in an extremely vibrant and exilirating, all Italian-spirited Vivaldi interpretation. We have seen very expensive systems COMPLETELY FALLING APART on these two tracks. My trust in your advice has been well compensated."-----Marcho Bianchi
"I got the DX3's this evening and got them in the enclosures. I can only say WOW!!....These are truly great speakers...the detail speed and resolution is not to be believed...and with 3 or 4 watts from my Zen triode monoblocked amps.. they rock!! Thank you very much."-----John (last name withheld by request)
"The Ambience are the best speakers I have ever owned. This includes Quad electrostatics, Magnepans, Merlins, Vandersteens, Rectilinears, Dynacos, Spendors, and the $18,000 Arabesques which I presently have. Their speed, natural musicality, and the ability to resolve musical textures and nuances are unparalled in my lifetime experience as an audiophile. Right out of the box the tonality is wonderful and the midrange on choirs, voices, and solo instruments beats my kilobuck system hands down. I am amazed at how I have been hoodwinked by all the high-end hype for all these years."-----Gene Sienkiewicz
"How this driver is capable of such (bass) extension with so little cone movement is truly a marvel to me. The small cone movement would explain the drivers incredible timing and transparency. If nothing else, this test has given me an even greater respect for these truly amazing drivers. In my limited experience, their only really limiting factor is the quality of the upstream components feeding the Lowthers. Any change in my system, no matter how trivial, is revealed by the Lowthers. It is truly the best money I've spent on my audio system. I wish you continued success in your business and the fight to open the minds and ears of the audio public to the astounding combination of the Lowthers and the bass reflex enclosure."-----David Highly
"I finally finished the cabinets, with the help of a friend, and I have to say the sound is absolutely stunning!!!!! GOOD JOB ON THE DESIGN! I heard things in the music I didn't know were there!"-----Damon Coffman
"I borrowed a friends amp/preamp and have been listening to the Lowthers and they sound amazing. I am hearing stuff in albums I have listened to for 20 years that I have never heard before. Also the tone and timbre are incredible. Surprisingly, the bass is great as well."-----Robert McDonald
"I'm still enjoying the wonderful Lowthers you delivered to me several years ago. As you predicted, they are more satisfying than the Altec Lansing 'Voice of the Theater' 15-inchers in my great room."--Frank Lineberger
"Thought you might be interested to know I finished my living room remodel with the built in speakers and was blown away with how good they sounded in their new enclosures! You were right no sub is needed! They have plenty of bass. I can't believe these 8" speakers sound so good."-----Terry Moore
"I am listening to the MKII, built yesterday. They give a deep and strong sound, with much energy with only 0.5 to 1 watt coming from my power amp. The bass is better than before. I have listened to different kinds of music including some of the CD's shown on your web site. I have also tested with my CD tones to hear the frequency response, I get a good bass down to 40hz, the 63hz is a little bit stronger then 50hz and 80hz, the rest of frequencies is good. They have become my new reference speakers. Many thanks."-----Franck Meziani (from Italy)
"I set the amplifier and speakers up yesterday afternoon and have played the demo CD and a few of my CD's at a low volume just to slowly break everything in. Well, a few minutes ago I decided to turn up the volume a bit, on a song called Peel Me A Grape which is on a SACD I have by Diana Krall, and it sounded spectacular. My wife just looked at me and said. "Wow." The sense of three dimensions in space was quite impressive. I think this combination is going to be a great fit in my living room. Thank you so much."--Tom Barkman
"Took your suggestion & put PM6As in minitowers - wow! Much more bass than my monsters. I guess you cannot fitz with plans. Lack of warmth not a problem with minitowers and PM6As."-----Harry Haacke
"Drivers arrived in good order. Thank you for making these available on the net! I installed them in a pair of ugly 1970's BIC cabinets with tweeter removed, driven by a decware zen se amp with msb dac and Dynalab tuner as sources. Unbelievable clarity, speed, and huge soundstage, the entire wall of my small den is alive with music! Clear , accurate ,but not harsh."-----Richard Saeli
"I'm not sure which part of the amp/speaker/Marantz CDspecial combo makes the whole thing as awesome sounding as it is but the presence is astounding. I'm very happy with the speakers; once I got them out of the boxes and up to the third floor of the house that is. So... thank you, thank you, thank you."-----Ben Rudnick
"They just sound so much more right/correct than anything else. I am confident that you speak the truth about your designs because I have tested your claims directly. I am itching to help turn others on to these products."-----Lance Akridge
"I appreciate your good job. The packing is complete. I was amazed at the sound. The sound from the speaker is smooth but accurate. I can now indulge in the music itself."--Hiroshi Sera (from Japan)
"Finally put the Infinitys back together and did a side by side test with the Lowthers and your ultra cd. First apparent observation is the Lowthers sound more continuous from lows to highs where the Infinitys have some strong areas within each of the 3 speakers ranges and but also weak areas that get missed. Although the bass response on the Infinitys might be a little stronger, the Lowthers have greater balance between all the ranges and sound more natural. I am definitely spoiled now."----Ray Sussman
"I find the amazing sound from these Lowthers can't be beat. I was worried about low bass response but this is not the case."-----David Stahl
"Absolutely AMAZING!!!! I love my drivers! I was watching a movie the other night and there was a couple in the background eating and you could hear their forks hitting the plate ... and these were the people in the background!!! I cannot believe the detail of these drivers!!!!"--Ben Fine
" I set up the DX3 in a closed 1.5 cu. ft., 3/4" birch ply cabinet .---- I can't believe the amt. of bass from this little 8"!!---- Mids are also open and rich, with very good texture."--Peter Panaro
"The drivers have an uncanny ability to reproduce music accurately and maintain a natural (you are there) sound. In addition, they are the most comfortable speaker to listen to that I have ever owned. My ProAc studio 100's are used in many of the top recording studio's worldwide, however, they cannot reproduce the low level information of the Lowther driver and they will induce the so called 'listener fatigue'. I believe that a pair of Minimonitors with a single or pair of matching subwoofers will provide an audio hobbyist with a system that will exceed expectations. I don't easily give praise to products, but yours deserve it."--Mark Thorne
"Anyway, I'll spare you my personal saga and just say thanks for the good service--your patience on the telephone, the good packing, and the high quality of the merchandise. It's been a pleasure, and a real pleasure listening to this piece of equipment."-----Billy Rhinehart
"I can't help but give you praise. My experience w/ you, is nothing short of exemplary. Is there a rating system somewhere on your website, or Audioweb, because it would give me great pleasure to leave you some pos. feedback."-----David Celestin
"Just a note to let you know how pleased I am with the Lowthers that I purchased from you. They have aged very well and I have finally gotten my brain used to properly reproduced sound. They are the best part of my system."--Rob McDonald
"My new speakers are here, and I am very happy with them. Thank you so much for getting them packed beautifully, and for being very helpful in general! I will recommend your services to anybody who is interested. Many thanks again."-----Eddie Balzer
"Big port and DX3 are showing their great ability day by day!"-----Kaname Higa (from Japan)
PAudio
"In real world A/B comparisons, no speaker rivals the PAudios in "realism, clarity, accuracy, speed, truth of timbre, lack of distortion, phase accuracy, time delay, imaging, soundstage, and efficiency". I have personally heard Lowther drivers, which are nearly equal in everyway to the PAudios, except for the great amount of bass and dynamics that these PAudios can produce. This is the ONLY system I have heard that actually creates a 'holographic' 3D soundstage from a stereo source. The singer is actually in the room, along with all the other instruments, exactly where they are supposed to be--as if you were sitting first row center at a concert. At times I forget I am listening to speakers at all, its an amazing experience."--Scott Wertheim
"I set up the speakers last night. I was floored, for the next few hours, as I started to hear things on my records that I hadn't heard before. As far as power is concerned, the 1.3 cabs are more than ample for my 14 by 14 room. The presence and multidimensionality in the music are nothing I experienced with any system I've used earlier. Also, the switches are perfect for the variation in recordings. Many, many thanks."-- Daniel Lobanovsky
"Well, I've run up about 200 hours on the PAudio 18's so far, and the difference between them and any other speaker I've heard is staggering. Everything you said about these speakers is absolutely true. I won't be needing a sub as I find the bass output to be more than adequate, and the magic switch is indeed magic. I can't thank you enough."--Lance Weaver (from New Zealand)
"I am very proud of my first speaker project and you did not promise too much. The sound is very fresh--but not hard--dynamic and detailed over all frequencies. The speakers are not critical to place in the room, and can be put near the wall, which increases the lower frequencies. The problem with the increase of some bass frequencies, as I always had with my ProAc Response 2.5, has completely gone. The PAudios just sound 'right' and natural, what I missed so long with the speakers I had. The system seems to have the natural sound of a fullrange speaker, but with more crisp top end. As the speakers still are in breakin process, and I have some problems with my electronics, the sound will become even better."--Reto Bologni (from Switzerland)
"Wow, amazing (BM8CXA). I am wondering why do we have to live with this normal crap speakers stuff? I find myself playing louder than I should. And still I turn the volume up. The speaker is a very easy load to the amp. I have little listening fatigue. Time just goes by and it is hard not to put on another record and just listen. I find myself not working or doing something else. At proper (still loud) sound levels, the speakers deliver definition, imaging (on CD's that have that information) very sweet vocal performance and great dynamics. The bass is very dynamic. Has no hesitation in crescendos and the sound image does not collapse. The sound does not become muddy in complex passages."--C. Kabrell
"I am very satisfied with my set-up. The Arcam Solo drives the the PAudios easily and the capacitor configuration you built works well in the middle position. I found your website early on, in my months long research project on speaker design. I decided early on that I wanted a point source solution and I found myself going back to your site over and over again. The price/value frankly appears too good to be true, but the quality speaks for itself. Anyone considering your products should buy with complete confidence."--James Derby
"After months of silence, I thought I'd send you an update. First off, I REALLY like the PAudio's. Now, I have to make the cabinets look as good as they sound! My father has been in the audio industry (mostly high-end) for 40+ years. Growing up with him, going on to work in a few audio stores, and because speaker building is a hobby of mine, I can say that I have easily heard hundreds of speakers. It is my opinion that the PAudio coaxials are among the best sounding speakers - at any price. Thanks again for all your advice and for the speakers! It's been fun!"--Chad Phillips
"The detail is super. Time has given the speakers a sweetness that is just so pleasing to listen to. Overall, these PAudio speakers are great. At the price you sell them, what a steal. When I tell listeners that I made these speakers, jaws drop. When I tell them what I paid for the drivers, they don't believe me!"--Rob Parkhurst
"Now after listening to some "Yello" and Peggy Lee , along with some friends , you couldn't pay me to return them...they are now the reference speakers in my collection."--Les Hudson
"The PAudio 8 Minimonitor.....is a GREAT speaker.....rest assured, I'm SO impressed that I'll be buying more drivers.....and plans.....to build some "boxes" myself...."--W. Gordon Ray
"There is something very special going on here. They exhibit a very competent presentation across a broad range of complicated, demanding recordings, with no hint of congestion or over extension. I find that I can listen deeper into the mix, and hear things that were hidden before. Another very pleasing observation is that this.....produces a rather large sweet spot. In fact, it's not accurate to call it a sweet spot at all. You can almost walk around the room and get a feel for instrument placement."--Geoff Daniels
"The 8's, when I built them, were the most detailed sounding speakers I had ever owned. It's not like listening to boxes, as so many of my previous speakers sounded. For the money, these 8's couldn't be touched by anything I had heard for ten times the cost.
Then you sent me an email that mentioned the CX38 series. That left me wanting to know what I could be missing. The 8's were the best sounding speakers, by far, that I had owned and very few sounded better at any price that I had heard.
It has been a very enjoyable journey. I am loving these 15's. I am listening to more types of music, as everything sounds so wonderful. Jazz is so special, just like they are in the room with you.
My daughter came home from college and found me listening to some jazz with a female voice on it. She said she could hear someone singing and expected to see someone standing in the room singing, not a recording. She then said that see could see the singer if she closed her eyes. She sat down next to me and just listened to the rest of the song. She couldn't believe how real it sounded. It's like being in the jazz session with them.
How did you ever find these PAudio drivers? What a find."--Rob Parkhurst
"Absolutely bloody brilliant!"--Theo Hajicosta (from Australia)
Fostex
"I bought a pair of Fostex FE206E speakers from you and built the MKII cabinets according to your plans. I used 13-ply Baltic birch ply for the cabinets. I placed them in several positions, but found the back wall of my 25 x 30 room, about 3 feet from the side walls, to give the fullest sound. They are directly outside my $13,000 speaker system, which now lies dormant. For about $400, this is all I listen to. I also have a set of Magnepan SMGa speakers, modded with Peter Gunn designed cross-overs. I didn't think those could be beat. These are sweet. Blow your own horn. You deserve it. Thank you."--Jack Leebron
"I am delighted with the stunning performance of the Fostex Ambience 2.5 Speakers. They look good and they sound great. They produce a very open and highly detailed image. It's the next best thing to being there!"--PJ Wagner
"I was very impressed with the professional packing, the quality of the cabinet construction, and of course the sound. The Fostex make my formerly favorite speakers sound lifeless, and I no longer constantly twiddle the amp controls looking for a balance between boom and shrill. My tube amps seem to run cooler, and in fact now seem almost overpowered because of the speaker sensitivity. And the ultimate compliment- when friends and family simply say "wow."-----Joe Strouse
"I just completed construction of the MKII twin port, with Fostex drivers. The clarity of your design is amazing, even before completing the break-in. My main system consists of an Audible Illusions preamp, Sonic Frontiers power and Proac Response 1sc`s. The MKII`s with a modest receiver allow me to hear details that I can`t with the expensive stuff. I`ve been a hobbist for over 30 years and these have changed everything. These have put fun back into the hobby. I was getting burnt out on over priced, under performing components and an industry built on reviewer's hype. I will be singing your praise (and demonstrating it also) to my friends who share our passion."--Ray Kobald.
"The 1.3/FE206E combo has been a great performer in my room. Actually, the best there is. When I can afford, I will consider the 1.3/PM6A or 2.5 II/PM6A."-----Paul Bui
"First of all, thanks for an amazing loudspeaker. A friend of mine ordered a pair of Fostex 206E for himself and for me. We have been speaking of doing this for the past 10 years or so and finally we decided to go for it. Luckily I finished the woodworking first......My friend came down to my house for the first listening session......We were just sitting there and laughing, the sound is amazing, just AMAZING. The clarity and detail is out of this world. And the sound is getting better and better every day. My former loudspeakers were ProAc Response 2.5. They are placed down in the basement for the moment, probably one of my kids will get them in their room, or I will put them on the fire in my garden this summer.!"--Sigurd Krekling (from Norway)
"I have just finished the short run in period of about 30-40 hours. The FE206E are indeed full range drive units. They are mounted in 2.77 cubic foot enclosure with your recommended porting. I am very impressed, there appears to be no frequency peak/ dip that intrudes into the music. Both male and female vocals are beautiful, no hard edge. I am amazed at the sweet high frequencies, no need for a super tweeter. I cannot find anything to complain about, even the low end is correct, not booming or under weight, just there when needed. The FE206E drive units must be the bargain of the century, I have built one of the best loudspeakers systems I have heard for about $300.00. Thank you."-----Laurence Platt
"First of all, I wish you a very happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year spent spreading the cheer of awesome musical reproduction!! I am enjoying your Fostex Micromonitors so much I can't tell you. They are the best speakers, by far, I have ever had or heard, and I have had and heard megabuck speakers from most of the 'big names' in audio. I would endorse them above anything else I know. My space is simply too small for the Minimonitors, and I am happy. Now I read on your site about the Nirvanas. If they are so much better than the Fostex, I am interested."--Jan Middeldorf
"The speakers continue to break in and are awesome, much more detailed and open than the Vandersteens!"--Robert Cavanaugh
"I installed the Fostex FE206E speakers in the cabinet built on your plans last night. I lack words to describe how ecstatic I am with the sound. Thanks!"--Richard Meyer
"I received them today, Tuesday, in fine shape. I'm very pleased. Thanks."-----Doug Criner