fast,clean,detailed and an enjoyable listening experience

small footprint,transparency

These are great little speakers. Very natural and if you like drums these speakers are the ones for you, very fast and detailed. I just wished the footprint was larger and they had a little more transparency. If you want it all though, you have to pay out the big bucks! For the money you would be hard pressed to get something better. If you find these speakers go for it, just make sure your equipment is at least Mid-Fi.

Similar Products Used:

EPI,Paradigim

Just thought you may be interested to know that after using the NHT2.5i since X-mas my opinion hasn't changed - they are outstanding! My only regret is why didn't I up-grade to NHT earlier from previously owned Bose, AR and JBL speakers. If you are not sure whether to buy NHT - don't be just to it. Regards

Great bass, typically transparent NHT midrange and high-end.

Requires quality amplification – can be painfully revealing of poorer-quality recordings, but less so than NHT’s bookshelf models.

I fiddled with sub/sat systems for a long time before purchasing these speakers, which I could not resist after seeing them at Onecall for 50% their original price. I now realize that there is no substitute for full-range, floor-standing speakers. While a sub/sat system can sound good with very careful placement and tuning, you simply can’t replace the driver area/sound energy that a pair of larger speakers can give, except with larger bookshelf speakers and more than one sub (which causes other problems). The NHT “sound” is well known and described throughout the reviews here – their transparent mid’s, hi’s, and consequently their brutal ability to expose harsh recordings, and worse, harsh electronics. I had been through it all – starting with the Super Zeros on an OK-sounding Harmon Kardon receiver, upgraded to a worse-sounding, low-end Sony ES digital receiver, then the NHT 1.5s on the much better sounding Sony 777ES receiver, and even a stint with the Outlaw 1050 receiver, which I have to say was a poor match (sizzling highs – in the literal sense of the word). All along, I always felt I was missing something – the sound was never as “full-bodied” as what I remembered from my younger days with my old JBL 3-ways. Playing around with subwoofers helped some, but this just created more problems, and was really a pain in the $&^. Enter the 2.5i – Wow! There was the “fullness” that was lacking, along with the trademark NHT detail and clarity. And no finicky room acoustic problems (compared to dual subs, that is; the 2.5i’s, like any speaker, still require careful positioning). Although the Sony receiver sounded just fine (pretty damn good, to be honest), I upgraded to an ATI-1505 150 watt amplifier just to be safe. The additional power and control added another dimension to the 2.5i’s performance. I can now listen to many of my older CDs that had become unbearable on my previous sub/sat setups. Bass response is excellent, going deeper than my previous subwoofers (NHT’s Super Subs), but I was able to push the 2.5i’s 8” woofers to their limits in some movies and pieces of classical music. I currently have them crossed over at 40 Hz to a Velodyne HGS-12 subwoofer, just to fill in the bottom octave and protect the speakers from being over-driven. This setup is, so far, virtually bomb-proof. I have not yet been able to over drive it, despite rattling every

Similar Products Used:

Only other three-way ever owned was JBL LX-44. Plenty of two-way bookshelf speaker/sub combos, including NHT Super Zeros and (later) NHT 1.5s with NHT Super Subs, Acoustic Energy Aegis One, Polk Audio

Excellent bass, clean highs, clarity & accuracy all the way around. NEUTRALITY!! The best speaker Ive ever heard.

Brings out poor equipments flaws, shows poorly done CDs.

Background: I don''t claim to be an audiophile, as I''ve recently begun to get into "really nice" audio equipment. I used to own a Pioneer component system with Cerwin Vega bookshelfs..... *puke* Anyhow, I began my quest about 2 months ago to find the "ultimate speakers" for a reasonable cost. I auditioned many speakers: Klipsch (I dont remember the models), B&W 603 & 604s, nice Paradigms, Polks, Infinitis, Boston Accoustics, etc.... you name it. I initially assumed a good speaker could be had for $1000 or less, and I sade an effort to keep the cost down. BOY WAS I WRONG!! Review: My initial impression upon THE VERY FIRST MINUTE of the NHT''s was that.... THIS IS HOW MUSIC SHOULD SOUND!! I was no longer hearing speakers, but I was hearing music. Crisp clean highs, slamming bass, clear mid range... each individual instrument easily discernable and with a clear location in space. This bad mother does NOT get in the way of the music and present it to me the way some engineer thinks it ought to sound.... it gets the hell out of the way and lets you hear it all. If your CD was recorded by a bad engineer or bad equipment, if there are music errors in the performance, or some unintended background sound makes it onto a track, BE PREPARED TO HEAR IT. This greatly detracts from the musical experience of many CDs, and they actually sounded better tome on the B&Ws or Paradigms. The NHT''s presentation is my idea of what it should be. No brightness or warmth, no coloration, no distortion (noticable to me). Its all there.. be it good or bad. I have yet to hear the 2.5 bigger brothers (2.9 or 3.3), but I assume I will be all the more impressed. As I feel a perfect 5 stars should be reserved for only the ultimate speakers, such as I can immagine the 3.3 or a similar one would sound, I give this a 4.5. I will round up, as it was truly amazig and better than I immagined. RUN, dont walk, to buy these.

Similar Products Used:

B&W, Paradigm, Klipsch, Boston Accoustic, Cerwin Vega, Polk, Infiniti.... umm... and *cough* Bose.

Midrange and Highs are almost perfect. Tone is neutral. Superb imaging and definition.

Low efficiency speakers need lots of power. Bass Response peaks at 100 HZ, making this slightly boomy.

I bought these at over 1/2 off from 6Ave. I am powering these with a purist system consisting of a high end Sony SACD player, a homemade volume control box without tone controls or electronic switiching, and a Harmon Kardon Citation 2100 power amp. The sound is totally free of distortion and harsh resonances in the mid and highs. Those aluminum tweeters make everything smooth. Best reproduction of horns from any speakers Ive heard. Definition and clarity are perfect. Imaging is excellent. Speakers are very inefficient, I will neeed to get a more powerful amp. Bass is plentiful, could be a little tighter (typical of a vented design), slightly boomy with a peak at 100HZ (subwoofer crossover) point). Overall best speakers Ive owned.

Similar Products Used:

Paradigm Titan, Camber 3.5Ti, Celestion 11,

Even at $1,200 I believe they are the best bang for the buck.

None...but you must experiment to find the best placement. Seating height is also important with these speakers.

I found these at a company that was liquidating it''s stock for $600pr. WOW! These have been wonderful. I power them with an NAD 208, which is a great match. They sound good with all types of music. Proper placement is vital.

Similar Products Used:

Celestion, ACI, Polk

Outstanding sound on all types of music! Cannot be beat!

Absolutely nothing!

Ive had the 2.5i''s for some time now. I agree with NHT when they say, "this is probably going to be the last pair of speakers you will ever need". Theese are the best thing ever to hit my system, but I feel the best amp one could use to power them is the Aragon 8008bb, but I do recomend using the NHT 2.9''s or the NHT 3.3''s......... Real advice from someone who knows that best sounding equipment doesnt always have to be the most expensive........ Take it from me, Ive been into separates for years now, and am glad I found such a great company as NHT, I dont beleive you will find anything better out there.

Similar Products Used:

Aragon 8008bb, Aragon 28k, Transparent cables, Arcam alpha 7se cd player.

Value, clean sound, beautiful imaging

none that I have found

I have now been using these over a year. Here's the EQ used with these:
Amp/Processor: Sony STR-DA555ES
Surrounds: NHT 1.5
Center: NHT AudioCenter 1
Subwoofer: Velodyne FSR-12
Source: Pioneer DVL-919 LD/DVD/CD
Spk Cables: DIY CAT5 braided

This is my primary Home Theater system, and I have been very happy with this purchase. I know I can probably get a little more out of these guys by bi-amping them. From what I have been reading my 555es (120wpc) is probably about bare minimum for quality & power that you need if you want to use an integrated amp/receiver to power them. But the 555es seems to power them very well for my uses. At high and low listening levels they remain clean and detailed. I replaced my cheap speaker cable with the DIY braided Cat5 cables and it made quite a difference. The toed in front is nice to ensure a good soundstage. These make EXCELLENT music listening speakers, and coupled with a decent quality sub they do HT duty quite well.

I rate these at 4 stars only because of my inexperience with quality speakers, so I am reserving a 5 star rating.

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None, first pair of "real speakers"

Clean transparent highs at any volume
Great bass
Dramatic appearance (in the walnut finish)
Good value

None

My listening room is approximately 14' x 20' with hardwood floors and area rugs. The speakers are placed along the short wall about 6 feet apart. I have them bi-wired to a quality 100 W/channel receiver and use this system only for music (CD and turntable).

All I can say really is that the NHTs sound great on all types of music. Right now I'm listening to chamber music. The highs are clean and not strident, the orchestra is defined, and the whole sound is very full and pleasing. If I decide to listen to rock, or jazz, or R&B, or electronic, or whatever next the sound from the NHTs will be great. For rock no subwoofer is needed; the bass is more than solid.

My 100 watts per channel is plenty about 98% of the time. On those few occasions when I want to really crank up the system, then the NHTs could use more power. I'll probably bi-amp them eventually, maybe with some Marantz monoblocks.

I bought the speakers in the walnut finish and really like the appearance. In the showroom I was a little disappointed that they weren't natural wood. However, on my hardwood floors these NHTs really stand out. Almost everyone who comes in the house comments on how great they look. The fit, finish, and construction of the speakers is excellent.

If you listen to a lot of music and want some great speakers at a moderate price, do yourself a favor and check out these NHTs.

Excellent low end from such a small (8") driver. Wide, wide
soundstage.

Very equipment sensitive. Soundstage not as deep as it is wide.

I had been searching for some time to find a loudspeaker that would perform well in both a HT and a 2 channel analogue setting. I feel that has been accomplished with the NHT 2.5i. After auditioning the B&W CDM1-SE, the Paradigm Active 20 studio monitors and owning several pair of Dahlquist loudspeakers, I tried the 2.5i's.

The amount of low end produced in my 15X24X8 room absolutely amazed me. In spite of hearing alot on this forum about how sensitive they were to placement, I had very little trouble dialing them in. It's really quite simple, if they are closer than 20" to the rear walls, the bass is too heavily reinforced (for my tastes). I currently have them out from the wall about 24" and 32" from the side walls.

Placed like this, they have a soundstage that not only has a tight center, it extends beyond the boundaries of the side walls. The speakers simply disappear.

There have also been comments about the brightness of these speakers. All I can say is that has not been my experience. They are however, somewhat source sensitive. I used to own an Audio Research VT100 and the speakers loved it! They sounded just a bit dark with a Rotel 991 and slightly forward in the upper midrange with a Classe' 200. Actually a Sunfire amplifier worked quite well with them...and bi-wiring them took the speakers to a whole 'nother place. Yes, they do like amplifiers that have good current reserves.

right now I'm using them in a setup that does both home theater and is also used for 2 channel listening. For the money...especially now that you can get them on the used market, they are a smokin' deal. One caveat...don't expect to like them if you have a cheap reciever or underpowered amplifier.

Similar Products Used:

Dahlquist DQ 10 and DQ 30i.