Cubette mk2s

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Ukulele Sam
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Re: Cubette mk2s

Unread post by Ukulele Sam »

Ok thanks Doc, can't say fairer than that!

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Quarknosis
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Re: Cubette mk2s

Unread post by Quarknosis »

Having seen the picture of the mk2 Cubettes i have to say that I prefer the plain cube shape to the proper Cubes with their side panels being slightly larger than the main body of the box.

I have had an idea in mind for a pair of diy cubes for a while using some existing speaker boxes that have been cut down. One option had been to go for acrylic front and back panels but these would have been too expensive for me in 20mm acrylic. Thinner acrylic would be cheaper and easier to cut and drill though. I already have a pair of Doc mod drivers and some tweeters available. Steel and acrylic would still have to be bought.

Having said that, looking at the Cubette mk2s i am wondering if it is worth all the time and effort to diy when the Cubettes are so reasonably priced.
Main System. Amp - Luxman LV-120, CD - Pioneer PDX505 & Hitachi DA 401. Turntable - Trio KD-2055/Denon DL-110 & Ortofon VMS20E. Cassette Deck - JVC KD A55. Speakers - Arcam Alpha connected with NVA LS3.

Headphone System - Little Dot Mkiii headphone amp, various vintage CD players into NVA P50 with Sennheiser HD600 and Beyer DT 880

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Dr Bunsen Honeydew
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Re: Cubette mk2s

Unread post by Dr Bunsen Honeydew »

The reasons are because of the nature of acrylic. I can get a cube box with no lips for the Cubettes because it is only 5mm plate (then inside lined) that is rolled with a high thickness accuracy, so they can make an accurate box with no lips. With the 20mm (or even 10mm) they can't as the plate has a wide tolerance on thickness as it is caste. The lips are to pick up that tolerance otherwise the edges wouldn't line up. I prefer the box with lips myself, it looks a bit Gothic.

I don't have Cube 3 built at the mo, but comparison between Cube 2 and Cubette is easy to spot, even discounting bass extension in the 2. The Cubette is built for one reason and one reason only - to get speakers priced to go with the starter system and I am very pleased with the outcome. BUT the proper Cubes still hold their own well up to justify price difference. It is all system price balance to give you music upgrade options. Cubettes is A20 level but will cope with much more, Cube 1 is A80 level but will be happy with less amp. It just gives loads of options and choices.

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Dr Bunsen Honeydew
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Re: Cubette mk2s

Unread post by Dr Bunsen Honeydew »

I am becoming inclined to recommend that new customers don't dive in with a top NVA system, it will be a shock maybe to a level they can't adjust to.

People need to find their music amoungst the hi-fi nonsense they have become accustomed to. A starter system is quite capable on a music level of blowing away £10K or more Naim flat earth, or bling big amp hi-fi systems. The problem is breaking away from the crap and trusting your ears and your music.

Once you do that, you wont want anything else, or the other small number of UK product that are trying to do a similar job.

After that I am asked what are the most effective upgrades to start - well without question it is cable, both interconnect and speaker cables - it is a process of feeding in more and more music.

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Quarknosis
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Re: Cubette mk2s

Unread post by Quarknosis »

Doc, I don't think I have seen the info anywhere, what are the dimensions of the cubettes?

If I were to get a pair they would be for a second system where space for the speakers is tight.

With regard to your post about starter systems, I had my AP20 playing some music yesterday (it mainly gets used for TV sound) and yes it was a bit of a shock at first coming down from the AP70 but within half an hour or so I just got down to enjoying what the smaller system could do and enjoying the music. I wouldn't want to live with it long term after hearing the bigger system though.
Main System. Amp - Luxman LV-120, CD - Pioneer PDX505 & Hitachi DA 401. Turntable - Trio KD-2055/Denon DL-110 & Ortofon VMS20E. Cassette Deck - JVC KD A55. Speakers - Arcam Alpha connected with NVA LS3.

Headphone System - Little Dot Mkiii headphone amp, various vintage CD players into NVA P50 with Sennheiser HD600 and Beyer DT 880

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Dr Bunsen Honeydew
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Re: Cubette mk2s

Unread post by Dr Bunsen Honeydew »

This is the listing for our website, done for the wooden ones, but everything else is the same about the design. I have to change pics when I get new ones done for the new cases.

https://nva-hifi.co.uk/CUBETTE_HTML/

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Hemmo1969
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Re: Cubette mk2s

Unread post by Hemmo1969 »

Dr Bunsen Honeydew wrote: Thu May 17, 2018 12:43 pm This is the listing for our website, done for the wooden ones, but everything else is the same about the design. I have to change pics when I get new ones done for the new cases.

https://nva-hifi.co.uk/CUBETTE_HTML/
Those wood finish cubettes look dam fine. The dove tail joint being a nice (IMO) feature on them.

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Dr Bunsen Honeydew
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Re: Cubette mk2s

Unread post by Dr Bunsen Honeydew »

I know, but only one pair looked that good, we couldn't get them right and it was just too labour intensive. I didn't have time and I couldn't find anyone to take them on.

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Re: Cubette mk2s

Unread post by montechristo358 »

so the 5mm acrylic ones are steel lined?
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Dr Bunsen Honeydew
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Re: Cubette mk2s

Unread post by Dr Bunsen Honeydew »

No new method - ceramic tile lined, not as heavy but primarily does the same job. We used this method with the last pair of wood ones to try and simplify the process and I was happy with the result.

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