



NHT’s 3-Way “Top Dawg” Bookshelf Speaker Three
$595.00
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NHT’s “Top Dawg” bookshelf speaker The Classic Three is NHT’s self-proclaimed best bookshelf speaker ever, and the reviewers agree (see below). It’s capable of transforming your living room into a veritable 3D soundstage. Listen to your music come alive with energetic horn solos or the delicate pluck of harp strings. Your jaw may just drop when you hear this speaker’s wide-open, natural mids and highs. The Three delivers accurate, musical bass, too, making it a great match for high-end stereo sound systems, as well as home theater systems.
“As I see it, whether listeners are spending $800 or $80,000 on a new pair of loudspeakers, they want the same thing — namely, to get as close as possible to the heart and soul of the music. No other affordable bookshelf speaker I’ve heard does a better job of that than NHT’s Classic Threes.” —Chris Martens, The Perfect Vision, February 5, 2007
Three-way design for incredibly accurate sound
The Classic Three sports a 3-way design — unusual for a bookshelf speaker — meaning that it uses separate drivers to handle each of the high-, mid-, and low-frequency ranges. The lightweight 3/4″ aluminum dome tweeter produces crisp, accurate highs that extend across a broad seating area. Mounted just underneath this tweeter, the matching 2″ aluminum midrange dome driver reveals rich midrange detail with lifelike subtlety and dynamics. The 6-1/2″ aluminum woofer is housed in it’s own enclosure, keeping it separate from the other two drivers. This placement allows it to produce controlled, accurate bass that pushes the limits of what a compact bookshelf speaker can achieve.
Solid design keeps sound-muddying vibrations at bay Like all Classic Series speakers, the Classic Three features an acoustic suspension (sealed) enclosure design. This means it uses air — nature’s most perfect spring force — to control the driver motion, allowing for clean sound and low distortion. It provides plenty of strength to let the woofer rock out without adding any unwanted resonance to your music and movie soundtracks. Plus, the tweeter is set in a tiny bezel that allows it to be placed as close as possible to the midrange. The result is exceptionally even on- and off-axis response, so everyone on your couch can enjoy the clear, sparkling sound.
Classic looks help create a Classic system This speaker features a beautiful, curvaceous cabinet made of very dense, rigid MDF. It’s covered in eight layers of high-gloss paint and two layers of clear coat that are hand-polished between each layer for lasting beauty. Place the Classic Three on your entertainment cabinet, or on a pair of nice, heavy speaker stands, for a soul-enriching listening experience.
Retailed new for $800 USD ~ $1200 CAD with HST.
Asking $595 for these very impressive, great sounding bookshelf speakers from NHT.
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