I purchased the 2.9's about a month ago for $2,000 after auditioning Magnapan 3.6, Theil, and Hales Rev 3. It came down to the NHT's and the Hales. While the Hales have a slightly higher ambiance, the NHT won my heart with clean highs and a tight bottem end, not muddy like my old 2.5i's, (which are ported). It took about 60 hours of break-in and a little re-arranging of my living room, (wife was not happy), to fully appreciate the sonic clarity. Even my wife made a comment about how they sounded. I would not hesitate to recommend these to ANYONE. They are wonderful speakers and have a slim design which enables easier placement for some.
NAD 5300 CD Player
Sunfire Tube Pre-amp w/ Remote
(2) NAD 2700 Amps (bi-amp)
Tara Labs Time & Space speaker cable
Prizm 55 interconnects
Power Wedge 116

I JUST BOUGHT A PAIR OF 2.9'S AT THE RECOTON FACTORY OUTLET STORE IN LAKE MARY FLORIDA FOR 999.99 A PAIR!!!!! These speakers are awesome and I give them the best rating possible - especially at that price. It seems that this outlet store sells these speakers when they are scratch and dent - but I cant tell anything wrong with mine other than a hairline scratch on the back of the left spkr. They are incredible, I highly recommend them. The store is listed in the book, give them a call for all NHT and Acoustic Research products!!

I was on vacation in Orlando, Florida and saw a television commercial on the WB for the Recoton Factory Outlet Store. I bought NHT 2.9's at 999, just like the other review states. I checked these babys out from head to toe and I couldnt find a scratch on them! For scratch and dent merchandise, the scratches and dents must be on the inside. As for the sound of the speakers, I had to change my shorts!!! My ears are still smiling - well balanced, nuetral, uncolored sound with audiophile accuracy. My highest rating on the best speakers I have auditioned in the under 5k range.

I recently listened to the 2.9's at a local retailer, and was unimpressed. I had listened previously to the 3.3's and had fallen in love, but didn't have the appropriate listening room to accomodate these speakers. I tried the 2.9's with all the electronics I could see in the showroom, but just coulden't recapture the visceral sensations of the 3.3's.
Finally frustrated, the dealer allowed me to take a new pair of Mahogany 2.9's home for a home audition. I requested he include the NHT SA-2 amplifier. After taking the 2.9's out of the box, and setting themup for biamplification, I was ready for my first listen. Right out of the box AWESOME! Even with my modest electronics, these speakers were incredible, and with no break in! I had little or no difficulty setting up the speakers, just following the owners manual guidlines. The speakers are 11 inches out from the rear wall, and have nothing substantial between the speakers, or on the outer sides.

The biamplification made all the difference. I love these speakers almost as much as the 3.3's, and in many instances these speakers captured the visceral involvement that the 3.3 offer. I would definately not recommend these speakers for a small room, and I would certainly recommend individuals audition these speakers with a dedicated subwoofer amplifier.

Associated Equipment: Acurus A100 amplifier; NHT SA-2 subwoofer amplifier; Acurus RL-11 Preamplifier; Denon CD-Changer; Audioquest Type 4 Cables; Audioquest Jade interconnects.

very accurate, very detailed, massive bass, very high output capability, superb imaging, expansive dynamic range

some people may find them too sharp, cool. poor recordings sound awful

What an awesome speaker! With enough power (i'm running 350wx2) there seem to be no limits on how loud it can go. I was listening to a flawless recording of carmina burana at the just below amp's clipping levels and the sound was huge, clean and undistorted. To really appreciate the fantastic sound quality and awesome ferocity of this speaker, you need to hear it in an room that is solidly constructed, with walls and floor/ceiling that won't color its sound. This is difficult since solidly constructed homes (no hollow drywalls) are uncommon in the US.

I could not ask for a better speaker. In a side by side comparison with the B&W's great new nautilus 802, the 2.9 was 90% as good. while costing less than a third as much.

They are very neutral, very accurate. They don't have the warmth or "sweetness" that a lot of people like to hear.

Similar Products Used:

PSB Gold i

Accuracy, detail, soundstage width and depth, tight well defined bass.
I could go on.

ZERO that I can come up with.

I have had these speakers for approx. 6 months. I am continually amazed that sound reproduction of this quality is coming from speakers in this price range.
I have read about the 2.9's lacking in the bass area. I cannot hear ANY deficiancies in bass reproduction. The lowest of the lows are clearly defined and tight and NEVER boomy or distorted.
On quality recordings, the sound stage is truly amazing. Live recordings, whether rock, blue grass, jazz, you name it, present the group in the damn room with you with each instrument easily pinpointed, stationary, or, moving about the stage as the case may be. Try Doc Watson & David Grismon on "Doc & Dawg", AC/DC Live, (1978 world tour),
The width of the sound stage can easliy be perceived way outside of the speakers when the performance calls for it.
Yeah, there are lots of damn good speakers out there, some at reasonable prices and God knows I haven't heard all that many of them. But I have heard much more expensive speakers that the 2.9's could bury. If anyone can find more satisfying listening than the 2.9's without getting ridiculous, I'll kiss their you know what!!!!!!!!!
Associated equipment: Cary SLM 100 mono-blocks; Anthem pre-2L; Cal Audio Labs Icon MKII HDCD CD player; Tara Labs "The Two" interconnects with floating ground station; Audio Truth Sterling speaker cables.

Similar Products Used:

Not important

See other reviewer's comments

See other reviewer's comments

Originally a little disappointed with the imaging and soundstaging of these speakers. (The sound quality was good, very musical, but frustratingly, there didn't seem to be enough substance or body to it.) Then after starring at their 21 degree inwardly angled fronts for 6 months, I tried something which intuitively made more sense to me: I "uncorrected" the focused image geometry design by rotating the front of the speakers outward so that the fronts were in the traditional orientation ie, perpendicular to the listening position/speaker midpoint axis. THERE WAS A MAJOR IMPROVEMENT IN SOUNDSTAGING AND IMAGING AFTER THIS CORRECTION. This is the permanent orienation for these speakers in my home! I'm a little suprised I have yet to read any other audiophile figure this out. Coincidently, by orienting the speakers as such, the woofer drivers are now a little more directly facing the listening position. Think what you will about the nondirectionality of lower frquency sounds, to me, even the bass sounds a little better in this new arrangement for the 2.9's. I like to be able to see all a speaker's drivers from the listening position. Please try it.

imaging, neutrality, tonal balance

very revealing of inferior upstream componants. (Could be a strength)

Every couple of years I get the bug to check out new speakers and experience something new for a while. This time around I had my eyes set on Dynaudio 70s and the new Audio Physic Spark III. The Dyns had a full liquid midrange and the Spark had that great Audio Physic holographic soundstage like their higher priced models but, for the money, neither one had the neutrality or the extended, articulate bass of the 2.9. With my Classe amplification and new WireWorld cables the mids and highs sound smooth and open.
A great tweek I've found is to replace the front spikes with 2 inch hanger bolts to get the speakers tilted back more, which really improves the high end response.
At the retail price and especially at the discounts widely available, these things are a bargain.

Similar Products Used:

Vandersteen, B&W, Totem, Hales, Kef