nsmt2's blog

Introducing NSMT's Jamaica Speaker System

Submitted by nsmt2 on Tue, 08/28/2018 - 23:54

The new Model 50/Jamaica speaker system is a powerful speaker that is designed to replace many monolith speakers.

transparent, revealing, musical, powerful

Specifications

Dimensions: 42 X 9.5 X 8.75 (H X W X D)

Sensitivity: 101 dB

Frequency response: 28 to 20,000 Hz

Proprietary short dual transmission line design

8 inch paper cone woofers

1 inch soft dome tweeter

Time coherent, minimum phase design

Crossover-less broad band woofers, second-order crossover to tweeter.

Rated impedance: 8 ohms

Minimum DCR: 7.7 ohm

Shipping Weight 60 lbs. each

Introductory Price

$1,795 per pair (single wire)

$1,895 per pair (bi-wire)

Heritage

The previous NSM (NSMT) Model 50 was highly regarded. In his 1995 review of the Model 50, Julian Hirsch of Stereo Review had this to say:

"The NSM Model 50, despite its conventional appearance, is not just another conventional column loudspeaker. The goal of its designers was to produce a "compact acoustic suspension system with the bass response of a subwoofer, and the imaging and soundstaging of a minimonitor."

"The Model 50's measured sensitivity was 85 dB, exactly as rated. The room response above a few hundred Hertz was very uniform and smooth, with a variation of only +2.5 dB from 300 Hz to 20 kHz."

"Even at 32 Hz, the output was only 6 or 7 dB below the average midrange level, and (as listening confirmed) it was perfectly audible and usable at that frequency."

"The Model 50's group delay (an indicator of its phase linearity) was among the lowest and most uniform we have measured to date, with a peak-to-peak variation of less than 0.2 millisecond from a few hundred Hertz to 20 kHz."

"All of this suggests that the NSM Model 50 is a very good speaker, which had been apparent from our first listening. How did it sound? For one thing, it was unobtrusive, in the sense that we were never particularly aware that the sound was emanating from those black boxes, even when quite close to one of the speakers."

"I suspect that the NSM speakers were the more "accurate" of the two..., and that its spatial performance was more realistic. I like sonically-unobtrusive speakers that do not call attention to themselves yet give a believable impression of a concert-hall performance. By those criteria, the NSM Model 50 is a great success. Hear it for yourself if you can."

When we ceased production of the Model 50 in 1998 its price was $1,795, which is equivalent to $2,785 today. Today we are introducing the Model 50/Jamaica, a very worthy successor to the original Model 50 at an introductory promotional price of $1,795. We will make subsequent price increases until we reach $2,785, the equivalent price of the original Model 50.

Our Outrigger kits will improve the performance of your small tower speakers

Submitted by nsmt2 on Tue, 08/14/2018 - 01:51

We are pleased to introduce our custom speaker outrigger kits.

Our outrigger and spike kits dramatically improve performance by rigidly coupling loudspeakers enclosure to floors to improve clarity and stereo imaging and to tighten bass response.

They are especially effective on uneven floors and floors with thick carpeting.

Read more here or visit our new accessories section.

New Passive Model 100

Submitted by nsmt2 on Wed, 11/29/2023 - 00:04

We are pleased to introduce a passive version of the Model 100. We have long thought about how we could reduce the price of entry for our much heralded Model 100.

The passive Model 100 is essentially the same as the Model 100 with the exception that the subwoofer is passive. The performance specifications are roughly the same as those for the active Model 100 set to our recommended settings. In addition, the passive Model 100 is designed so that the active subwoofer feature can be added later.

In general, the price of the passive Model 100 is $2,000 per pair less then the Model 100s with active subwoofers. The prices are: $9,995 for black and light wood, $10,495 for natural birch plywood or red birch plywood, and $10,995 for sapele plywood. Other finishes and options are available at additional cost. Kindly email us if you have questions.

Differences Between Transmission Line And Acoustic Suspension Speaker Designs

Submitted by nsmt2 on Wed, 05/04/2022 - 12:19

I received an email recently from someone who was questioning my approach to transmission line speaker design as a special case of acoustic suspension speaker design. He said his first speakers were AR 2A speakers. He said he is “a big advocate of sealed boxes since there's no question properly designed they have better bass control than ported designs(no matter how well they are designed.”

His said his “second speakers were IMF Studio 2 transmission lines and living in Philadelphia [he] became a life long pal with Bud Fried.” He said he knows something about transmission lines and “don't get the comparison I make with transmission line and acoustic suspension speakers.” To quote: “I might add that Bud would be rolling in his grave with the comparison. He [Bud Fried] disliked acoustic suspension speakers. “I'm not trying to be smart [He said.]. It's just that your comments take me back to my early days and I'm seriously asking for an explanation that I didn't find on your web site.”

In my reply I mentioned that I met Bud Fried at summer CES in Chicago 1992/1993 where we were both exhibiting and that at the time I had no particular interest in transmission line designs and that I hope Bud is tolerant of other ideas and is resting peacefully.

Rather than write a long treatise defending my approach, I referred him to roleaudio.com to read reviewers' comments about the following acoustic suspension speakers: Skiff, Kayak, Discovery, and then to read reviewer's comments about the acoustic suspension speaker's transmission line analogues: Sampan, Windjammer, Enterprise, especially with reference to the Sampan, Windjammer and Enterprise bass performance. In each case the transmission line speaker is using the same exact driver and the same crossover components as its acoustic suspension analogue. The primary difference is the cabinet.

I have a totally different approach to TL design and as you can see it works.

ER

As an addendum, I note the following quote regarding Bud Fried's role in promoting TL designs:

"Of course, Bud, had called it the IMF, and therefore, perhaps mistakenly we registered IMF and formed an IMF company... At no time did Bud Fried have any input on the designs. We sold him speakers and he was the US Distributor... Bud Fried was never a Director or shareholder of IMF Electronics. IMF electronics were the only company manufacturing the transmission line speakers. The name IMF was adopted because Bud Fried had demonstrated the first prototype speakers at the New York hi fi show, and because of the publicity and the fact that he had used his name on the then unnamed speakers, we stuck with the name which was a mistake on our part. It was never his company. After our lawsuit he called his speakers Fried."

It seems Bud Fried may not have been the theoretician of TL speaker design he and others claimed he was. You can read more here under "Classic era transmission line loudspeakers."

ER

Coming: A new Model 20M Armada Sysyem

Submitted by nsmt2 on Fri, 01/22/2021 - 11:16

Cabinetry: hand rubbed walnut plywood (also available in other finishes)

Frequency response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz

Height 42 inches

The new 20M Armada speaker system is a combination of the latest version of our 20M minimonitor and our new active Bass Foundatioon subwoofer. Previously the 20M Armada system consisted of a pair or 20Ms, two 15 EXP subwoofers and a pair of custom NSMT Sandbags speaker stands, as shown here. Instead of stands and subwoofers the new 20M system uses two Bass Foundations subwoofers as platforms to create a transcendent high fidelity system.

The Model 100 Advances

Submitted by nsmt2 on Sat, 10/31/2020 - 16:28

Shown: light sapele plywood

"...these are the best speakers I have ever heard..."

"These unassuming speakers may be the best on the market today."

Since Terry London's review of the Model 100 in Six Moons, we have made the following improvements to the Model 100. First, we replaced the 200 watt 115 volt subwoofer amplifier with a more powerful and more versatile 250 watt 115/230 volt amplifier. Second, we replaced the subwoofer with a more powerful paper cone subwoofer that has more linear frequency response and produces more lower bass energy. Third, we replaced the stamped steel frame woofer with its deluxe cast version which has a more linear response. As a result, the speaker with arguably the best bass on the market now has improved and more extended bass performance and improved performance across the board. Frequency response is 20 Hz to 20 kHz +/- 2.5 dBs. These improvements have been made with no increase in the price of the Model 100 so far.

With regard to cosmetics, we are now offering matching wood plinths with color coordinated ports as a $995 option. The Model 100 is now available in sapele, walnut, and natural birch plywood, and natural cherry and satin black MDF cabinets. Other finishes are available at additional cost.

We are offering WBT terminals as an option and we can accommodate your choice of optional crossover components.