RCF TT08 or NX M10-A

[Dave Ferris]

Hi. First post here. I found the forum Googling RCF TT speakers. There's not a lot of user info on the smaller 08s in the US, especially out here in Ca..--seems the TT22/25As are more popular.

 

I'm not a sound guy per se but a Jazz Pianist and sometimes Vocalist. I'm looking to possibly upgrade from my EV SXA 360s to something that will improve my Digital piano sound (Yamaha CP300) and vocal (Neumannn KMS-105) live.

I'm almost 57 but in great shape. That being said, I'd like to keep the weight factor at or under 50 lbs. The rooms I play are more small and intimate so I think a pair 10"s on poles would do. Not sure about the 8"s though.

Sometimes I think the 12"s are bit overkill for piano, for Jazz I don't need that deep low end like R &R guys do.

 

These DPs are the hardest electronic instrument imo to get a smooth, non-honky timbre live. Basically I'm trying to get the sound live I'm hearing in my AKG 240 phones, so something closer to studio monitor quality I guess is what I'm looking for.

Hoping going to a Birch cab over plastic might help.

 

There is a dealer for RCF that has both cabs in stock for me to try but he's up in N. Ca. about a 7 hour one way drive. Right now I don't have time to take a few days off and get up there. There is a local LA RCF rep who has the TT08 but not NX M10-A. The N. Ca. dealer is pushing me in the direction of the NX, he said he thought they would better suited for what I'm trying to hear.

 

From what I understand the amps and drivers in the NX series are a notch below as the TT series. The NX has the same components used in the ART series? I'll hopefully get to hear the two cabs side by side eventually but until I do I thought I'd see if anyone as experience with these newer NX series.

 

I've looked at the Meyer UPJ-1Ps and the L' Acoustics 108P. Haven't "heard" them but from the internet buzz, the RCF comes close at half the price.

 

Thanks in advance.

[BUF1E]

Yes I'm looking at the same 2 speakers myself.

 

Have not heard either though.

 

You are right there is so little info on the net about these speakers ?

 

The NX M10-A looks to be the same as the RCF ART710A's but in a wooden box, I think ?

 

The NX M10-A goes down to 50 HZ against the RCF TT08's 65 HZ due to the bigger woofer

 

TT08 is 11 kg against the NX M10A's 15kg's

 

The TT08 seem to be £1300 in the UK ;) , how much are they in the US ?

 

Philip

[Dave Ferris]

Yes I'm looking at the same 2 speakers myself.

 

Have not heard either though.

 

You are right there is so little info on the net about these speakers ?

 

The NX M10-A looks to be the same as the RCF ART710A's but in a wooden box, I think ?

 

The NX M10-A goes down to 50 HZ against the RCF TT08's 65 HZ due to the bigger woofer

 

TT08 is 11 kg against the NX M10A's 15kg's

 

The TT08 seem to be £1300 in the UK :D , how much are they in the US ?

 

Philip

 

Thought I'd bump this....

 

Thanks for the reply Philip. As far a s price here in the US, the aforementioned dealer in N. Ca. has a pair of open boxed TT08As he'd sell for $2600. So a good price I feel.

 

I'm still working on the in town RCF rep to demo both sets of speakers in my studio. RCF has a very small presence on the West coast so he as to work extra hard to get an NX M10A.

 

Anyone have thoughts as to whether either box would be a significant sonic upgrade from the EV SXA360s ?

[HAHA]

I bought the TT08 (passive) a while ago. I haven't compared to the NX but to various HIFI speakers. I can attest to the high-end sound quality of this little speaker. I'm driving it with a 4*700W Powersoft (1U), which seems to be a good match.

I also got a RCF TTS12 sub (active 1000W) for the low end spectrum. I figured the TTS12 was the most portable and lightweight solution. The TT08 is not fullrange so it needs a sub.

 

Another speaker on my shopping list was the JTR triple 8X from http://jtrspeakers.com/

[Dave Ferris]

I bought the TT08 (passive) a while ago. I haven't compared to the NX but to various HIFI speakers. I can attest to the high-end sound quality of this little speaker. I'm driving it with a 4*700W Powersoft (1U), which seems to be a good match.

I also got a RCF TTS12 sub (active 1000W) for the low end spectrum. I figured the TTS12 was the most portable and lightweight solution. The TT08 is not fullrange so it needs a sub.

 

Another speaker on my shopping list was the JTR triple 8X from http://jtrspeakers.com/

 

 

Thanks HAHA for the reply.

 

I'm pretty much set on the actives for portability sake but good to hear of the basic sound quality of the TT08.

 

Again I'm a Jazz player that plays smaller intimate rooms so the low end for Jazz piano trio/solo applications isn't that big an issue.

 

Still working on getting the NX MA-10A to demo, it's like moving heaven and earth here on the West coast.

[Dave Ferris]

I thought I'd report back after all this time for those interested.

 

I was able to A/B the RCF TT08As & the NX M10As in my studio with both digital piano & vocal. It was pretty agonizing, the NX 10s had a fuller overall sound, obviously because of the 10", and were very clear in both the mids and highs on the piano. The 08As though won me over with the overall clarity and suburb definition. They actually sound has defined, maybe a tad more then my DynAudio BM6As. If I had the dough, I would have kept both but Jazz doesn't pay a whole heck of a lot. :D I was going to A/B the TT08s with the L' Acoustics 108P, my friend is a dealer for L' Acoustics and would give me a good price but even still they are TWICE the price of the TT08As. Someday I need to get over to his shop and see if they sound TWICE has good.

 

One thing--the NX10s sound better then TT08As on the floor in the wedge position. I don't know what it is about the TT08s but they do sound a LOT better mounted on the pole then the floor. They get kind of muddy and can lose their clarity.

 

I've used the TT08As in many different gig situations the past months and for the most part they've always come out sounding great. There have been maybe 2 or 3 instances, outside gigs, where I felt they weren't quite making it has far has the coverage issue. In fact I've been doing a semi-steady gig on the Queen Mary (you guys mights have heard of it ) in the bar with Sax, Acoustic Bass, Drums and piano/vocal. The 08As on poles with piano, vocal, mic from the sax and a line from the Ac. Bass fill the room with no problem--it's jazz of course. :D I've been using the newer Allen & Heath 10FX mixer.

 

I was thinking of picking up a pair of the 522As for the little extra oomph that I need sometimes. They've been discontinued for awhile now so I got a pretty good price from a dealer here in California, but my RCF dealer/friend on the East Coast said I'd be let down spending the $2100 on the plastic boxes after the TTs. He has an open box pair of TT22As that I'll probably end up saving my nickels for, but that's down the road a bit.

 

In the meantime I'm thinking about the less costly 710As. I've heard they sound excellent, maybe not quite has nice has the wood box-NX10, but at a considerable savings.

 

Anyone want to chime in on the 710As ?

[MarkPAman]

I don't know what it is about the TT08s but they do sound a LOT better mounted on the pole then the floor. They get kind of muddy and can lose their clarity.

 

Sorry for a grandmother/egg question, but just to check, are you using the floor coupling correction switch when using them as wedges? I've often used mine as wedges and not found them muddy at all.

[Dave Ferris]

I don't know what it is about the TT08s but they do sound a LOT better mounted on the pole then the floor. They get kind of muddy and can lose their clarity.

 

Sorry for a grandmother/egg question, but just to check, are you using the floor coupling correction switch when using them as wedges? I've often used mine as wedges and not found them muddy at all.

 

 

Hi Mark-

 

Yes, most definitely I've engaged that little floor switch and sorry , for me they still don't sound great...more for my vocal then piano. They're not terrible but not has defined when on the poles and not has good has the NX-10 MA sounded on the floor.

Other then that I'm 100% happy with sound of them. Oh, one more thing, I wish they had a handle somewhere on the cabinet. I know there's not a lot of real estate on that box to put one. I bought some speaker bags that velcro at the top with a shoulder strap. Very well made by "Under Cover" covers in NYC. They weren't cheap but they quality is top notch and they should last a long time.