Cube Audio Nenuphar Single Driver Speaker (10 inch) TQWT Enclosure


Cube Audio (Poland) designs single drivers and single driver speakers. 

Principals are Grzegorz Rulka and Marek Kostrzyński.

Link to the Cube Audio Nenuphar (with F10 Neo driver) speaker page: 

https://www.cubeaudio.eu/cube-audio-nenuphar

Link to 6Moons review by Srajan Ebaen (August 2018):

https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/cubeaudio2/

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Parameters (from Cube Audio):

Power: 40 W

Efficiency: 92 dB

Frequency response: 30Hz - 18kHz ( 6db)*

Dimensions: 30 x 50 x 105 cm

Weight: 40 Kg


* Frequency response may vary and depends on room size and accompanying electronic equipment.
david_ten

Showing 25 responses by mozartfan

new driver is "different " rather than better. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Yes correct I just cked the web site, Cube mentions **Our Mark 2 cone is now in our speakers..** But Cube does not specify exactly what is so dif in cone material. Cube fails to mention exactly what the original cone material is made of, nor what is so dif in the new cone composition. The pics look identical. I see nothing new in the photos. \ = Cones look identical. Someone please tell me whats going on? I think we all deserve to know. The prices seem to be the same. Cube needs to come out with a video explaining exactly what is the dif between old cone vs new cone. And in terms of bass, mids highs between the 2 cones. I think Cube handled this new upgrade with a stand-off-ish-ness. A bit too rushed , or lets say, lack on planed implimentation..in the intro of the new **break-through*.
Just my two cents. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Well thats all we got to go on right now as things stand,, 2 cents and a opinion, buys you not even a StarBucks cappicino.

Can you share more about the process for ordering and returning the V1 drivers? For example, do the V1 drivers go back to the dealer or do they go back to Cube Audio? How much time does the owner have to return, should they want to A/B a few times? What is the cost if one wants to hold on to the V1 drivers? Etc.

 

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YOu see its things like this that leave me in doubts about **Cube Audio**. Something just aint smelling right about this company. Here they are blabbing their **all new cone is , so much better..**, yet give no details on how to go about taking old drivers out, shipping drivers to who knows where,,, who will pay ship cost both ways.. which carrier to use. Pre paid label?? How long turn around time, give or take 1-2 days..etc etc. Cube is leaving their fans in *The Lurch**, ,,canoe up s**t creek, w/o a paddle. IMHO I wouldn/t go for it. Its too risky, you might like the *old* style cone better.

vinpic29 posts 12-26-2021 12:55pm No change, still amazing ☺️ V2 it’s a welcome evolution (no revolution). As I write this I am listening to Grant Green’s Idle Moments masterpiece. With the V1 the Gibson and the saxophone edged on the shiny/dominant side creating a sense of imbalance vis a vis the other instruments. The V2 adds meat to the bones of the bass / drums / cymbals whilst making the Gibson/sax sound more truthful (at least to my ears). The overall balance and listening pleasure goes up one to two notches depending on the piece of music. The most impressive difference I’ve listened to date has been on Willem De Vriend’s Beethoven 7th (DSD file played off the MU1 ssd). The V1 was a bit too bright and did not reproduce accurately the dark/grave strings base (I did know it was there by listening thru my Susvara’s). Spent months trying to tweak my system to no avail. V2 got everything in the right place without losing an inch of the Nenuphars’ mid-range magic. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

WEll now jusr wait 1 minute there

 

Are you going to tell us,,,

folks who ~~just purchased~~ past year lets say,,, the V1,,,with consideration of your ***accurate and unbiase test listenings*** That these V1 owners are now left with a speaker that is **a bit, if not to say a significant nuances*** less than what the V2 delivers????

If your listening tests are indeed accurate and spot on,, then seems to me to be ~~~FAIR in ALL THIS~~~, that Cube would offer free ship both ways, and free new cones at a nice easy going price cost to their loyal and haappy,,well once were happy,, now left in a lurch... Cube owes its owners some recompense for what they thought was the best Cube had to offer,, the V1. Now we hear the V2 is really *The Real Deal**. Something just aint right here. Something is smelling fishy if you ask me. Cube ought to take the hit,,and secondly,, why is Cube CONTINUINGG to list the V1 w pics.

Almost no info on the new V2 on the web site???? WE all need answers, Cube has alottttt of explaining to do on this ,,,to put it nicely,,,Conundrum,,otherwise know by another more common street slang term. You guys can do what you want,,, go at your own risk.,

,and expense.

 

Well if the V2 out performs the V1,, well then we will see some half off offers from  Cube on the V1's.

Or are they going to only sell the V2.

Delete V1 from their inventory,,and we are stillllllllllllll waiting to 

1) see new pics of the V2

2) read what is the **all new*** V2 cone material made of....what IF the pics of the V2 look almost if not identical to the **old version** V1???

Then what are we to assume???

Lotssss of Q's for Cube to answe,, as folks paid big bucks for these speakers.

Some ~~Fiasco~~ like this old V1, vs NEW V2,,might in the long run do more harm to the company than good.

Faith and confidence starts to take a  hit. 

And furthermore,,,what IF,,we get another review, which has some ((issues** with the above review,,, then what..??.

Who are we to believe.

Review with the 2 thumbs up,, or the audiophile who gives 1 thumb up, one down, and  goes on to say,,,**all in all, I prefer the old model version V1 better***

Then what???

This thing could start to get real ugly, real fast. 

 

FYI, I spoke with the two California dealers the other day and neither one had heard of the V2 driver. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Note ,, **Never heard** as in , they are stepping away from this V2 til Cube can starighten things out, Smart move, And I know neither like what Cube is up to here.
charles1dad7,779 posts12-21-2020 6:18pmHi Mike,
Thanks for sharing your fabulous outcome, sincere congratulations. People who look at the Nenuphar as merely a single driver speaker and question its value just simply miss the point. A speaker doesn’t require multiple drivers, weigh 300-400 pounds with measured bass to 20 HZ in order to be considered superb. There are alternative paths to achieving sonic excellence.
Charles

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yes
Folks worrying over capturing the 20-40hz zone may be going down a  wrong path.
I wanted to add a single sub to my Thor speakers,,so I ordered a sub amp + 10 inch woofer, , a  local tech urged me not to go that route. He said why do you want to add something that will lower the quality of bass the Thors already have. Further research on Troel Gravensens page, where he entions his dual per cabinet Nextel W18003s (Titanium voice coils, which Troels helped Seas to design) gave a  **seemingly rich deep bass as if 20-40hz*** = due to dual 6 inch cone material for bass.
IOW dual W18's provided sonic bass which sounded so rock solid, , to 40hz, as if 20hz were being voiced.
There  is so  little music in the 20-40hz zone in my classical collection where i feel there is no loss missing these few  rare notations. 
Caveat here is employing high quality Mundorf caps to acheive this extra punch from the W18E001 Excel. These caps are not cheap. 
Troels also mentions, high quality speakers deserve high quality caps. 
charles1dad7,779 posts06-01-2021 11:56am

"There are trade-offs with either approach. Matching YOUR needs and preferences should take priority".

Agree 100% David.
With this speaker I'd prefer tubes (I just like what tubes do). However no question that there has been much success reported by those who have chosen solid state amplifiers. Superb outcomes are possible with either.
Charles

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I can agree with this assessment. 
But as with you, I prefer employing tubes. 
a High quality tube amp , on the used market can be had for under $1500, I just don't think there are ss amps under $1500 that can compete. 
I see tubes as the wave of the future. 

ricevs
673 posts
06-01-2021 3:04pm
The standard Cube Nenuphar retails for $15.9K......as far as I can see. The drivers list for 6690 Euros ($8176 USD) the pair plus shipping and duty. The mini retails for $12.0K.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OK so we have  some vital important info, which i could not find on the Inet.
I would say the speaker/driver looks interesting, but not when I compare Cube to my 1st choice in **Full* Range* which is the Voxativ line.
Should be September when i add the Vox AC1A's. 
I will build the cabinet , using sanded ply from HD, cost of material,,,,under $100. Will take me 6 hours/or less to build. 
Weight each cabinet = 30 lbs +/- 5 lbs. 
The Vox will be for entire midrange, Seas W18 Excel as bass, some type of AMT/horn for ultra highs 10k+hz range. 
Basically it will be a  3 way. 
xover points will overlap. I have no idea how low/high the Vox voices. 
That is to say, if it does roll off either end of the spectrum, no big deal, as i have  both end spectrum handled by other speakers. 
Just listened to the Cube’s over on YT, of course my $10 comp speakers are only going to give a hint of how they might sound.
Thus I withhold my opinion.
I will say I also heard the Vox on YT and I loved what I heard on my $10 comp speakers.
Just saying........
2 Cent opinion.
Some here are complaining about 1 whizzer cones, the Cube seems to have *3*.
>>>>>EDIT,,Just got back from YT, yes indeed  has not 1, not 2, but  Three whizzers. 
Vox has 1

No speaker does it all and [certainly] they do it differently for each one of us. I cannot see going wrong with either choice.

~~~~~~
I could understand if this statement was refering to a choice between Voxativ and Feastrex Field Coils. 
Here the 2 speakers are completely different construction. 
They most likely will not sound as competitors. 
charles1dad7,783 posts06-07-2021 9:00am
"You probably know this, but in case you do not: Srajan Ebaen of 6Moons has extensive experience / exposure with Voxativ and yet the Nenuphars moved him in a significant way."

This is true.
Charles

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From what I am reading on the comments about Voxativ, I am not sure there is another speaker in its class. 
The Voxativ room at any  audio shows are packed.


charles1dad7,785 posts06-07-2021 2:36pm@mozartfan,
Choices are plentiful. You’re very enamored with the Voxativ and it has garnered much respect and praise. I could see you being happy with them and understandably so.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Intuitively I know the Vox will perform as expected = what I've always been searching for.
Some  of the Vox speakers have low sensitivity, 91db, which may not be so bad, provided the midrange is high fidelity, with no stress, no distortion. 
Their new model AC1A is rated 97db, I have the power to run the 91db Vox, but why not go for the super sensitivity at 97 for the same price??
btw the Cube is rated 92db, thats below my standard.
made by the German company AER.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
just cked out the AER web site,
The speaker looks good.
Will stay focused on Voxativ AC-1A.

EDIT
WOw that was fast, back froma  snippet of a YT vid on the AER.
huumm
might have to rethink this ,,,i mean, not sure if a  decision can be made overa  YT vid, but based on this clip, its unreal.
Not sure what AER driver is in this cabinet.
Going to discuss this with Richard Gray, see if he has any ideas which direction I shpuld go. 
Most likely buy one lab(Vox) late sept, then the other labs late next year  have  a  shootout and sell one pair. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4JiATvSVeY

so like i was doing some reserach on the AER, 
there is a  **SINGLE** driver for sale $900, hummm, why just 1???
so I got to thinking,,,just wondering if the AER price list is for a  SINGLE DRIVER,,,,so I found another web page that lists AER's price list,,
Sure enough, these retail asa  single driver.
This is why Vox, makes  sure you understand their price list is  for a  ~PAIR~~
Why list a  speaker at a  single price????
I have no further interest whatsoever in AER.
Thanks , but no thanks.

https://aer-loudspeakers.com/retail-pricelist-2/

david_ten
 OP
4,484 posts
06-07-2021 8:33pm
A reminder that this thread is for the Cube Audio Neuphar speaker. Thanks.

~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thats ok, When I get my Voxativ speakers sometime late september, all comments are welcome, mention any speaker you wish.
= Open forum.
Regards
The Hifi Guy

Rated or hated?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I rate the Voxativ AC1A, very low, = No points, So yeah, i hated them. 
Not sure about these Cube things. 
10 inch??
nah, I'll stay with my DLVX8. 

,,,,just waiting on david to get back with me on settinga  time to hear his Cube Neuphars...... David are you cking your  mail box????

 

Hey David, Yes, I will  reach out to Grzegorz and see how it is possible to audition a  Cube Neuphar speaker.

I am approaching this DIY, and so makes sense to ordera  single driver pair and go from there.

Speakers look great.

Alittle out my budget on the Nd magnets.

I'll try the intro model the FC8 ferrite magnet.

btw feel free to come on over and hear the Davidlouis VX8 and soon the VX6 speakers. 

Just PM me when you have time.

My schedule is open, I'm in Kenner

paul

Every review on Cube has the speaker as their Reference Fidelity Speaker. I can’t say until I make a real time hearring

I did visit the several YT uploads, and prefer to withhold making any comments as to what I think I MIGHT BE hearing.

My Reference Speaker is the DavidLouis

So when we do get a shhotout it will be

Reference vs Reference,,we will see, or better we will hear.

Both have stunning magnet systems.

Impeccable highly crafted designs

The 1 thing that separates these 2 drivers ,,well Cube has multi whiizers and the models witha single whizzer the cone is very large,,, is the cone type material

Cube offers some kind of paper with a NEW coating.

vs

DavidLouis wood cone, and some sort of heavy paper whizzer.

Thats the only thing different.

As we all know cone material makes all the difference in how a speaker responds to fq imput from the source/amplification electron energy.

As the electrons strike the cone, this produces a electrical energy charge being composed of musical notations.

This energy is transfered to the magnet and the magnet pushes this musical notations out via the cone material.

Thus cone material being different, both speakers will project a different sound image.

IOW Cube and Davidlouis will not sound the same, even though the magnet structure of both offer high energy.

I do plan next year to order the FC8 and only ifa return policy is offered.

I will pay a 10% - 20% restock fee as is my protocol with any return, tubes, amps, cd players. Although I rarely make returns.

Its just good business etiquette,,and keeps everyone happy.

hummm Interesting

V2 a  *new* version of the Nd 10.

Can't be any changes on the magnet, at 3 lbs of Nd power, whats there to **upgrade*?? 

Cone material/design? 

Wonder if Cube will  swap out the **older** Nd10 for the *newer* version.

With a   small fee attached. 

IMHO I think Cube should have gone in the other direction on cone size. Must be those EU audiophiles wanting, demanding a  **super FR  * that cats as a  sub woofer style bass bang. 

hummm , don't need deep bass, my genre is CM, just some kettle drum s now and then, no deep bass required.

I think Cube should have gone on to develope a  W6 and then  maybe a  W4. But certainly a  W6 before a  W15. 

Will be interesting to see the New *improved*(?) Nd10 V2

Hey David thanks for the update, Keep us posted on futher comments from 6 Moons. 

 

I'd go very carefully with shipping back your drivers to get reconed.

1) are you 100% positive you will prefer the new upgrade over what you have now

2) 1-2 weeks turn around,,

ahhh, any guarantee 14 days by midnight last day of the 14??.

**ohh shipping was slow,,,,shop over loaded with recone orders,,,,some techs are out for various reasons...***

Watch Judge Judy sometimes, the things folks get themselves into.

Just saying....

As for Judge Judy, not sure what you’re alluding to

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

I’m sure Cube will be straight and honest/fair with its Neu owners in the manner they handle the upgrade. Its just that if you watch some of these petty court cases, folks trust the other party to the point of blind faith. Just saying.... You definetly do not want to be w/o music for more than what the agreements states. 14 days should mean 14 days OR LESS. Not 14 days + a few extra. If Cube was straight,, they could say, IF we can’t get the driver back to you in 14 days or less, its a 50% discount off upgrade,,Or something like that. This is my point.

 

That 14 days might just be a hopeful guess. Cna you imagine if it extended beyond 3,4, 5 weeks. Thats my reference to *Judge Judy*. Welcome to the real world which harbors a few surprises.

Here's how I see things as they stand

OK so you ship the driver off in the ~~hopes~~ of improvement in overall sound. 

Got it

A bit risky if you  ask me.

Lets say there si something(s) you like about the **new impvoed* cone,,but then, perhaps you find after some time, you miss the **old style* sound.

Now what?

REship back to have **old style* cone RE-intstalled??

I don't think so. 

Now ya got a  fly in the soup.

If DavidLouis told me, ship your VC8 and VX6 back for FREE reconing, and WE pay ship boths ways.

Our ~~New ~~ cone is so much better in bass.mids, highs.

I'd say, 

**Why? For what? *

I like the speakers exactly the way they voice now.

Just saying...

 

Cube is going to have to figure another option for its owners. 

Persoanlly if it were me, I wouldnt do it. 

1st off, they dont even tell us whats so special about the new cone materail.

have they gone to wood fiber composite now?

If yes, then yes I would ship back. I love wood composite

But if the  new looks darn close to the old, no I would not take the chance.

It’s damn fine as it is imo.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

This is basically how I see..hear things. I mean whats the rush? If it sounds great as **IS*, its too risky going for *2 birds in the bush**

. Seems Cube has the magnet down pack, maybe they feel there was a mod to be done on the cone. As you guys know in FR speaker tech. magnet quality and cone material, Both equally of highest importance. Voxativ has 1 or 2 wooden models, and the rest is this super thin paper garbage. AER has their own in house paper traeted which they will not even whisper 1 word the composition, = *Top Secret** Tang band has a really nice banana fiber which I like , but not up to the wood level in some lower fq;’s. Fostex has smashed Kenaf leaf fiber. And alsoa double sandwiched cone model. So every manufacturer has taken their own specific route in cone material. I’ve looked at Cube’s site, they really dont go into the composition. Seems like paper composite, nice and stiff. Cube w/o doubt has the finest magnet motor with 81 Nd cylinders @ 1480 grams of pure Nd power. That aint cheap ya know.

But then the sens level is a bit too high for my needs/preferences. Small room, near field, low SPL. 95db sensitivity is ideal, or actually I;’d prefer 94 db, sens, but I ain’t complaining.

The DLVX6 is a wonderful 93db sens, which just BARELY allows for me to work it in with the VX8. Had the VX6 been 94db, sens, it would be 1 db sens too high to employ as a backup dual. basically it all comes down to which manufacturer has the cone material that sounds best to you and your music selections.

 

Keep us informed how the new cone upgrade sounds vs the original cone.