Nola Concert Grands

Elliot G. · Feb 17, 2014

I dont know why these speakers are not talked about more. I have recently had the chance to listen to them in a clients home a few times and they are simply amazing. I know there are many excellent speakers being made however most of them are similar in sound since they are using closed box designs.
Is this a west coast east coast thing? Looks? I dont get it

mep · Feb 17, 2014

Elliot-Have you heard the Nola KO speakers? If so, what do you think of them?

Elliot G. · Feb 17, 2014

mep said:
Elliot-Have you heard the Nola KO speakers? If so, what do you think of them?

I have heard them a few times and the second time I listen to them it was in a pretty good room. I think that they are really an excellent value and I would own them without hesitation. I got to listen to them with an ARC REF 75 and an analog front end. I have spent more time listening to baby and micro grands but these really have the flavor of the more expensive speakers without the price. I like the fact that Nola's are pretty straight forward in set up an produce a really large sound field. I guess that is what I prefer rather than other types of speakers. IMHO this is what the sound of live music sounds like to me.

mep · Feb 17, 2014

Thanks Elliot. I heard them also with the REF 75, but it was with a digital front end. Still loved the way they sounded though.

rbbert · Feb 17, 2014

I think we have talked about them some here. I know I've posted a couple of times (once in the Magico vs. Wilson thread) that in their respective price ranges I would take the Baby Grands and the Concert Grands over any others, although my listening experience is limited. Likewise the KO's are an excellent value.

Elliot G. · Feb 17, 2014

rbbert said:
I think we have talked about them some here. I know I've posted a couple of times (once in the Magico vs. Wilson thread) that in their respective price ranges I would take the Baby Grands and the Concert Grands over any others, although my listening experience is limited. Likewise the KO's are an excellent value.

I have seen some of that but the Concert Grand Golds are a very different beast. These are IMHO really something special and should be discussed with the best the Industry has to offer. The system I heard was truly special and rivaled anything I have ever heard

rbbert · Feb 17, 2014

Elliot G. said:
I have seen some of that but the Concert Grand Golds are a very different beast. These are IMHO really something special and should be discussed with the best the Industry has to offer. The system I heard was truly special and rivaled anything I have ever heard

I agree. So does Harry Pearson, apparently.

microstrip · Feb 17, 2014

rbbert said:
I agree. So does Harry Pearson, apparently.

Most of their marketing effort is linked to The Absolute Sound and Odin cables ... I have watched several times the effects of these cables in a few systems, so I take the opinions with two grains of salt.

Nola's are not easily available in Europe, otherwise I would surely listen to them - I have read they seem to be a fantastic match with one of my preferred brands, Audio Research.

Priaptor · Feb 17, 2014

rbbert said:
I agree. So does Harry Pearson, apparently.

Well I own a pair and have been reluctant to do battle over "the best". Not because I own them but because I believe it, these are the most unique speakers I have ever owned or heard. I have owned Wilson, Magico and Avalon. They are magnificent.

rbbert · Feb 17, 2014

microstrip said:
Most of their marketing effort is linked to The Absolute Sound and Odin cables ... I have watched several times the effects of these cables in a few systems, so I take the opinions with two grains of salt. Nola's are not easily available in Europe, otherwise I would surely listen to them - I have read they seem to be a fantastic match with one of my preferred brands, Audio Research.

AFAIK, HP's departure from The Absolute Sound was somewhat acrimonious. I don't know if TAS has reviewed any of NOLA's better speakers (I think the Metro Grand Reference at ~$30k is the highest one) but none of them are on their recommended speakers list.

Priaptor · Feb 17, 2014

FWIW they (Nola in general) deserve a listen when looking at any speaker. I am obviously a big fan but understand it is ultimately ones choice. What is so amazing about the CGRs are how accurate and seamless they are and incredibly powerful and three dimensional even at low SPL.

Shaffer · Feb 17, 2014

rbbert said:
AFAIK, HP's departure from The Absolute Sound was somewhat acrimonious. I don't know if TAS has reviewed any of NOLA's better speakers (I think the Metro Grand Reference at ~$30k is the highest one) but none of them are on their recommended speakers list.

Sure sounded like it in HP's editorial (after leaving TAS).

MylesBAstor · Feb 18, 2014

Shaffer said:
Sure sounded like it in HP's editorial (after leaving TAS).

In any case, losing your baby and then leaving it behind is hard. No matter what the circumstances.

JackD201 · Feb 18, 2014

I remember HP hosting the former NOLA top dog years ago (4 towers) and HP driving them with ASL Hurricanes some years back. Does TAS have anybody on their writing staff that can actually accommodate really big speakers (or want to for that matter) at home?

MylesBAstor · Feb 18, 2014

JackD201 said:
I remember HP hosting the former NOLA top dog years ago (4 towers) and HP driving them with ASL Hurricanes some years back. Does TAS have anybody on their writing staff that can actually accommodate really big speakers (or want to for that matter) at home?

Certainly Jacob Heilbrun could. He's using XLF and Thors IIRC and has a big custom built room. Not sure of the others.

rbbert · Feb 18, 2014

My post was made in response to micro's assertion that NOLA's marketing efforts are focused on TAS and Nordost; although certainly NOLA likes Nordost, they also obviously like Audio Research, and I don't think The Absolute Sound has anything to do with NOLA, nor have they reviewed or recommended their flagship products. HP himself has and does, though.

asiufy · Feb 18, 2014

MylesBAstor said:
Certainly Jacob Heilbrun could. He's using XLF and Thors IIRC and has a big custom built room. Not sure of the others.

Harley's room is not small either, from the pictures with the Q7s. And Harley had the big Focals and Wilsons in there before the Q7s too.

And TAS has reviewed plenty of NOLA product, at least once every year, for the past couple of years.

alexandre

Elliot G. · Feb 18, 2014

I think its actually good for a change for a manufacturer to take a stance on product to use with their products that will provide an excellent result.
I am sure that other products can give a good result as well but for many this is a great thing to have as a starting point.
I think that perhaps all of you place too much at the feet of reviewers. I dont want o bash anyone but their may be other factors involved in what gets reviewed by who m and when. This whole process has gotten way out of hand and out of control and it seems that all the press wants is whats new, not whats great.
The Industry as a whole suffers when there are very few opportunites for music lovers to actually hear what a great product is capable of. This is very hard to solve since shows and most showrooms are not the answer for a state of the art product that deserves to be in a room of its own under close to ideal situations.

FrantzM · Feb 18, 2014

Hi

High End Audio tends to ignore systematically some brands while some are reverred to an astonishing fashion and this regardless of worth or performance of the products lineup or individual products.

Nola is just part of a group of US Brands rarely mentioned even though their products are consistently good to superlative. From the top of my head:

Nola, Scania ( Superlative BTW)

To lesser extent Von Schweikert, Genesis (that is mentioned a little bit more at least here in this forum) ...

Nola, Scania, Genesis, Von Schweikert top-of-the-line products could be well be at the very summit of the world best speakers ..yet they are not that well known... Politics?

There could be other but those came to my mind first.

microstrip · Feb 18, 2014

FrantzM said:
Hi

High End Audio tends to ignore systematically some brands while some are reverred to an astonishing fashion and this regardless of worth or performance of the products lineup or individual products. (...) .

Good point Frantz,

However, more than who is who, the interesting debate will be the why's.

IMHO, this happens because at some moment audiophiles feel they can trust a brand. And in this aspect a proper distribution and dealership is needed. Marketing is a crucial part of it - people like to know who is building their products, what was the success of their previous products and who will take care of them when something goes wrong. Although we have exceptions, products that are revered to an astonishing fashion usually have flighted for it and deserve it. Yes, I know I am an optimist concerning high-end ...

Designing and manufacturing a great product is not enough. You have to show it to people, persuade others of its quality, as people say, go in the fields. Or find some one who goes in the fields for you ...

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