Before i rate, i should let you know that i modified the defaults on the speaker. 1st i found that the mid drivers sounded too plastic-y, so i happened to have a pair of NHT SuperOnes that came with my purchase... i took the mid drivers from those (paper based) and the fit perfectly in the 2.5i... and oh my god i was pleased... far more pleasing to the ear for the mids. 2nd i removed the acoustic foam, provided a much nicer spacial impression (too me at least). I’m working with a small room and raised wood floor and had lots of difficulty with the bass... way too boomy.. so i began playing with bi-amping, allowing me to control the bottom end... WOW!!! Powering these through a 4 channel amp (Adcom 2535)... i’m in heaven !!! Love my set up now.

As mentioned above, platic-y sounding mids, boomy bass (for my small room)... after mods... zip, they are now perfect... oh wait and positioning... finiky, but once you find sweet spot, life is great .

Tonally balanced with all frequencies present in good measure Many reviews have warned that you need a lot of power with these. I don’t agree. I use it with an old receiver Sanyo Plus Series 55.as it. I use it with a Rel Storm III subwoofer, good combination

Base is not the best but good enough to help communicate meaning in music.

Great looking. NHT Focused Image Geometry speakers are the best imaging speakers there is. It's a shame NHT moved away from that design. Very full and articulate bass for a speaker with only 8" bass driver.

The only weakness I can think of, is you really need a good amp that is capable of driving 4 Ohms- even though their specs say 6 Ohm, they are low sensitivity, and they're really power hungry.

I have had these speakers for 13 years. I have also owned other speakers in that time, an arsenal of amps, receivers, cd players, record players, media streamers, and over 13 years, the only thing I have not replaced are the NHT 2.5i's.

And here's why. They're frigging stellar!

I've owned speakers by Dynaudio, Spendor, PSB, Polk, and the NHT's are the only speaker that tells me what my equipment sounds like. They dissapear, in the best way possible. When set up right, there's nothing in my room but music. I don't hear the speakers. Just music. With every other speaker I have owned, it was only a matter of time until I heard the speaker. With the NHT's, I just hear the music (and occasionally, the weaknesses in my audio equipment).

As many users have said before me, they require quality power. It's true. They like current. Just true watts. And something that can come close to doubling it's output into 4 ohms. I settled on a Parasound 250w stereo amp, but basically, just find one with a sound you like, and go forward with it.

When they're set up right, with the right equipment, the NHT's weave a delicate balance between transparency and emotion. It doesn't sound like music coming out of boxes. It just sounds like music in my room. Plain and simple.

They're also one of the only speakers I've ever owned that are detailed without beating me over the head with the fact. My Dyns and old Energy's would occasionally sizzle as if to shout "LISTEN TO THAT GOD DAMN DETAIL SON!!!" The NHT's just gently allude to the fact, sound great at all volumes (especially low-mid ones), and don't seem to have an obvious weakness. If I had to pick anything, it'd be the bass, as it can seem a bit absent at times, and a touch boomy if set up wrong. Compared to some speakers, they can get a little overwhelmed with orchestral music, but love jazz and really jam with rock. And man, they get crazy good with modern ambient and drum and bass!

I can really go on (and would), but ultimately, they're awesome! Better than speakers I've owned that cost more, and can be found for rediculously low prices on the used market now. If you can afford the current they require to make them open up, they'll reward you with some fantastic moments listening to your favorite music. Out of every audio purchase I've made, the 2.5's are definitely the most rewarding.

Neutral, reveals everything in a recording, imaging is superb, bass is firm and goes deep, the highs are among the best i have heard. And they look great!!

low sensitivity, needs to be positioned right for the imaging and bass to sound perfect. I found the guide in the manual to be a big help in positioning them. They also need a proper amp to sound right.

Great looking and sounds great! Best speaker i have had the pleasure fo owning. I just felt the urge to listen through all my cd`s just to hear all the details this speaker reveals. I have heard speakers that cost 5 times what i paid, but my 2.5i actually sounds better than most of them.

Similar Products Used:

Qln 199, audiopro ego 515, proson reality 63 mk2

Neutral, reveals everything in a recording, imaging is superb, bass is firm and goes deep, the highs are among the best i have heard. And they look great!!

low sensitivity, needs to be positioned right for the imaging and bass to sound perfect. I found the guide in the manual to be a big help in positioning them. They also need a proper amp to sound right.

Great looking and sounds great! Best speaker i have had the pleasure fo owning. I just felt the urge to listen through all my cd`s just to hear all the details this speaker reveals. I have heard speakers that cost 5 times what i paid, but my 2.5i actually sounds better than most of them.

Similar Products Used:

Qln 199, audiopro ego 515, proson reality 63 mk2

Excellent full range sound. Recommend bi-wiring. Good soundstage provided you have the room and floor dimensions.

None! These speakers just need a little breathing room. Not their fault!!!

I can't say enough about this speaker! This is actually my first floor standing speaker. Always ran with the bookshelf/sub set up which I had a lot of success with, but decided to shop for a full range speaker that can deliver a satisfying frequency range response and soundstage. OneCall.com had these speakers for almost half price with full manufacture warranty. After lots of research and auditioning at this high end store down south from where I live, I jumped on them. What a great buy! My amplification consisted of the Rotel RB 1070 (130 watt per) and it sounded pretty dammed good. Decided to upgrade to a pair of 200 watt monoblocks (Sherbourn. These mono's can produce 300 watts @ 4 ohms. I must say that the speakers really opened up, which reinforced my thought that these 2.5i's can be a bit power hungry. Again, the Rotel did an excellent job with current delivery, but the Sherbourns took my speakers to the next level. Now the bad news that are not the fault of the NHT's. Decided to leave the spacious apartment life and buy a home. My living room is fairly large, but dimensionally not the best. I had it made with my previous apartment, but with my proud, humble home, I don't have that ideal speaker placement that I once had. Enough said, I'm still sold on these NHT's! The best I've auditioned for under $2k.

Similar Products Used:

Energy C-2's, Klipsh 2.5's w/ KSW 12 sub. Current assc. equipment: Parasound P3 preamp, Sherbourn M/300 mono's, Denon DVD 2900, Chang Litespeed 6400 and PS Audio speaker, IC's and power cords.

Open, accurate, balanced, well built, loves current

Loves current. No reciever need apply

I've read and listened to many reviews of this particular speaker, and I'm confused to what speaker could these guys be listening to. Several reviews have this speaker sounding bright, non transparent, and I even heard someone say that the bass was weak. Now let me say a few things about this speaker here. I've had this speaker since July 2001. First thing I would say is that this is not a wimp speaker. It is not to be mated with a reciever, I don't care what brand. It needs a real amplifier, with real current. If you can manage this you will get a speaker that opens up like no other $1,500.00 speaker on the market, but you must get current. The speaker wire is also a determining factor. If you have that can carry ultrawide bandwith and some good current, you have a match made in heaven. You must have a source that can deliver true open sound. When I upgraded my power cord (PS Audio), it was able to reveal all of the improvements that the cord made. And the soundstage is awesome, especially if you can get the correct placement. And I don't even think mine are placed at best location possible, but they fight their way thru anything. What a speaker. I've heard the Thiel 1.6 and 2.3. I've heard the Martin Logan Aoen's. I've heard the Polk Audio LSI series. and also some other top notch speakers. And when I got back home I fell in love my system all over again. Way to go NHT. Too bad NHT wants to focus on hometheater, because they were kicking serious booty. P.S. Don't forget, you must have current and loads of it. And for you tube single ended wimps don't even try, your amp will cry for mercy. Stick with those 98db efficient wimps.

Similar Products Used:

JBL'S, SPECTRUM AUDIO, and KEF

Very emotionally engaging speakers. True full range speakers, with great balance and tonal neutrality.

Very revealing speakers. Not 'bright', but revealing, especially unforgiving of poor amplification. A solid amp partnered with a laid back preamp serves them very well.

If you listen to speakers for things like soundstaging, transparency, than the NHT's probably aren't the speakers for you. Don't get me wrong. They are fairly transparent, and the soundstage is adequate, but that's not their strength, in comparison to other speakers. The strength of the NHT 2.5i is their unique ability to connect the listener to the emotional experience of the musical event. Listening to Dave Brubeck, one's not so concerned as to where the piano is placed in the soundstage, as they're carried away by the playful and confidant delicacy of Brubeck's fingers dancing on the keys of his piano. Listening to Miles Davis, you're not as drawn to notice the perfect placement of the performers in the holographic space, as you are to notice the emotional genius of Davis' trumpet, and the visceral and emphatic tangents of Coltrane's sax. Listening to Billie Holiday, you hear the way she moves you with the raspy and angelic verse sung so perfectly, all the subtle inflections in her voice, the way she stretches out the words, so naturally it sounds like she's telling a story. You hear the way ambient cues fill the room with emotion, and feel the way they change your mood. If I were to describe these speakers in audiophilic terms, it would completely miss the strength of these speakers. Yes, they do image well. Yes, they throw an adequate soundstage. Yes, they are true full range speakers. Yes, they're pretty close to neutral. But, all that misses what these speakers do well, where so many other speakers fail to even qualify. The NHT 2.5i's allow the listener to emotionally connect with the music coming out of them. They engage you. Not forcefully, not grab out and show you how much detail they have... they simply open the emotional energy of the performance to you, and allow you to connect with it, roll with it, and get swept up and carried away with it. If that's how you like to listen to music, the 2.5i's are probably a good place to start. If you like to listen to music, to 'see' the performers in the room with you, you should probably try something else. Other speakers will do that better. The NHT's won't let you 'see' the performers NEARLY as well as they'll let you 'hear' them, and everything they've been trying to say. I've had these speakers for 6 years. I'll keep them for a long time yet.

Similar Products Used:

Speakers I own or owned... Dynaudio Audience 50 (great little speakers!) PSB Stratus Mini's (pretty good, too) Spendor s3/5 (bass shy, but lovely midrange)

Very emotionally engaging speakers. True full range speakers, with great balance and tonal neutrality.

Very revealing speakers. Not 'bright', but revealing, especially unforgiving of poor amplification. A solid amp partnered with a laid back preamp serves them very well.

If you listen to speakers for things like soundstaging, transparency, than the NHT's probably aren't the speakers for you. Don't get me wrong. They are fairly transparent, and the soundstage is adequate, but that's not their strength, in comparison to other speakers. The strength of the NHT 2.5i is their unique ability to connect the listener to the emotional experience of the musical event. Listening to Dave Brubeck, one's not so concerned as to where the piano is placed in the soundstage, as they're carried away by the playful and confidant delicacy of Brubeck's fingers dancing on the keys of his piano. Listening to Miles Davis, you're not as drawn to notice the perfect placement of the performers in the holographic space, as you are to notice the emotional genius of Davis' trumpet, and the visceral and emphatic tangents of Coltrane's sax. Listening to Billie Holiday, you hear the way she moves you with the raspy and angelic verse sung so perfectly, all the subtle inflections in her voice, the way she stretches out the words, so naturally it sounds like she's telling a story. You hear the way ambient cues fill the room with emotion, and feel the way they change your mood. If I were to describe these speakers in audiophilic terms, it would completely miss the strength of these speakers. Yes, they do image well. Yes, they throw an adequate soundstage. Yes, they are true full range speakers. Yes, they're pretty close to neutral. But, all that misses what these speakers do well, where so many other speakers fail to even qualify. The NHT 2.5i's allow the listener to emotionally connect with the music coming out of them. They engage you. Not forcefully, not grab out and show you how much detail they have... they simply open the emotional energy of the performance to you, and allow you to connect with it, roll with it, and get swept up and carried away with it. If that's how you like to listen to music, the 2.5i's are probably a good place to start. If you like to listen to music, to 'see' the performers in the room with you, you should probably try something else. Other speakers will do that better. The NHT's won't let you 'see' the performers NEARLY as well as they'll let you 'hear' them, and everything they've been trying to say. I've had these speakers for 6 years. I'll keep them for a long time yet.

Similar Products Used:

Speakers I own or owned... Dynaudio Audience 50 (great little speakers!) PSB Stratus Mini's (pretty good, too) Spendor s3/5 (bass shy, but lovely midrange)