NHT SuperZero 2.1 Premium Home Theater Bookshelf Speaker - Clean, Hi-Res Audio | Sealed Box | Mini-Monitor | Single Unit, Gloss Black

My main speakers are open baffles and since really getting used to them, I can really hear the cabinet coloration in other speakers; the worst seeming to be small ported bookshelves on a desktop against a wall. I bought these for TV/music in the bedroom on top of a dresser. I did not want boomy bass. These work great in that arrangement; the bass is not bloated or boomy due to the sealed cabinets which I wish were more common these days. It's hard to critique as an audiphile with the speakers on top of a dresser, but I've heard some potential for really good imaging. The tweeters are crisp, mids are clear and the speakers are quick on the their feet. I really want to try them in my main system but I don't have any stands. I have a feeling they might surprise me.

While I have listened to the NHT speakers years ago in audio shows, never owned one until now. Although I thought NHT speakers sounded very good, it wasn’t necessary a great value as they were at much higher prices years ago than today. I was very surprised to see a pair of the SuperZero can be had for less than $120! Since I was never happy with the KEF Q100 as my desktop speakers, I decided to give the SuperZero a try and I am glad I did.First, the build quality is far better than expected. Better than the KEF Q100 or even more expensive speakers. Although some people do not like the piano gross black finish, I like it. The speaker banding post also is far better than most if not all in this price range. It can take different type of connectors including Y and Bananas.The most important factor of a pair of speakers of course is how they sound and the NHT really shines. Just as I did with the KEF Q100, before I put the NHT to my desk as intended, I try them out on my main and secondly stereo system to get a reference feel. The sound stage is very wide and the highs and mids are very clear and sweet. While the speakers will not produce deep base, the base they produce are very tight, not booming at all. The cannon shots in the Mercury and Telarc’s 1812 recordings are reproduced clean and tight and all the echo details. While a lot of people seem taking brightness as been clear and booming as strong base, the SuperZero really shows what a clean musical speaker should be. In comparison, the KEF Q100’s highs are way too bright, even when driven by tube amps. On the other hand, the Q100 does not able to reproduce the finer details as the NHT. Although as book shelf speakers, one would not expect the Q100 to have extended base either, one does however expect it to go deeper as it has a bigger woofer. But over here the Q100 also fall short of the SuperZero. While the Q100 may go a few Hz lower, its sound at the low end is nowhere as tight as the SuperZero.Putting on the desktop, the SuperZero shows it is also a far better a near field speaker than the Q100. Not only the sound stage remain wide with a much shorter spacing, the highs of a good soprano recording also remain clean and details without been ear piercing.While in absolute terms, these NHT SuperZero 2.1 still are no match for my main or even secondary speakers, the NHT are only at a fraction of cost of those. Compares to a closer match of KEF Q100, it is far better in all aspect of music at less than half (Paid $250 for the Q100) or even one quarter (Q100 often priced at $550) of the price. If people think Q100 a great bargain at $250, than at less than $120 for a pair of SuperZero 2.1, the value is unmatched in audiophileEdit: 8/24/2019Brought a pair again. My previous review was more focused to compare SuperZero with KEF Q100. In this follow on, I will add comparison to SuperOne.Some reviewers claimed the SuperZero doesn't have enough base and people should get the SuperOne instead, will I don't think so.While it is true a small speaker like SuperZero doesn't have deep base and one should not expect it, the bass it does put out is very tight. The SuperOne on the other hand, While goes a little deeper, it is less tight and depends on how you place them, the bass can be a little booming. More importantly, may be due to its larger size and front surface, even with the same twitter, the high and mids of the SuperOne is not as resolve and clean as the SuperZero. The sound stage is also not as wide and deep as the SuperZero.Since even SuperOne still require a subwoofer, it is far better to get the SuperZero with a good musical subwoofer.For those also have HT in mind, using 5, 7 even 9 SuperZero plus a subwoofer or two will get you not only a speaker system that meets both audiophile and HT applications, but also very budget friendly and certainly best value.

Using a pair of the SuperZero 2.1 Minis as front height speakers in a home theater set-up. They are solid little speakers, excellent finish and rear connectors, easy to set up, perfect size for the application and they sound great... adding a new dimension to home theatre sound that I hadn't realized I was missing! I recommend them for their reasonable price and good quality.

I, like many others, decided to pull the trigger on these little speakers based on the highly positive (that's an understatement) review of in Stereophile magazine. I was looking for a budget pair of speakers that would punch well above their price category, and basically blow my mind on the cheap. Isn't that what we all want--incredible sound at an unbelievable price? That's what NHT claims about these little black boxes. As it turns out, after spending about 8 months with these lil guys, I would have to agree.First of all, they look great for the price. The gloss black finish looks classy, if you keep them dusted. The dust grills are thin black fabric and fit snugly into recessed rubber holes in the speaker face. The speakers have very good quality binding posts on the rear. They are definitely small, the top is the size of a cd case, and it's shorter than two cd cases tall.But how's the sound??? I'm glad you asked. It's spacious, detailed, and airy. They are great at imaging. I have heard music seeming to come from off beside my seated position to the left and right. I have heard music seem to be behind me. I have on a number of occasions heard the music in an half circle arc stretched out in front of me, and on one song an effect seemed to come from the right, circle around behind my head, and zoom back to the front left. Wow. The dust covers have to be taken off while listening if these kinds of effects are to be heard. The speakers should live on stands and be at the right distance from the listener, at ear level, etc. If you take them seriously, they will reward you.They do texture really well. Textural electronic music sounds great with these. The Tron Legacy soundtrack is a real ride. Thankfully, also, the timbre of certain instruments sounds right with these speakers. When they reproduce drums, it sounds like the skin on the drum head. Vocals are expressive and usually sound forward and present in the room.So what's the catch? I mean these puppies are cheap--and sound that good? Well, there is one thing...or maybe I should say there isn't one thing. Bass. There's NO BASS. If you've been researching these speakers at all, you already knew that. But they aren't meant to have any bass. That's why NHT offer the Super 8 sub to match with them. Once you get used to them, you may not need the sub. The question becomes whether you want to spend the $350 on the sub to beef them up. I've been listening without the sub, and am on the fence about buying it. I don' t mind sacrificing bass for detail, airiness, and imaging.Overall, there is no way you could get the quality of imaging and airy sound at this price except by spending a lot more money. Highly recommended.

Amazing speaker. Currently powering them with my Logitech z2300 sub that only outputs 22W in a near-field setup (on a computer desk). They are great for TV shows but really excel at playing music.With my setup the 80hz-150hz range is muffled due to the sub having a ridiculously high crossover of 150hz. No stars were removed since this probably has nothing to do with the speaker. Receiving a Lepy LP-2020A soon to verify that is the issue and will update the review.