Secondly, although there are three cabinets in the T&T range, there are six models. Both the Joy and the Nel are available in different versions, offering different levels of performance. Outwardly all but identical, there are significant price differences too, although in a model perhaps most familiar from the Living Voice range, these seems to add to rather than undermine customer confidence. If we use the Nel as an example, it is available in three different guises:
The standard Nel uses a 170mm aluminium coned bass/mid driver, paired with a 29mm ring-radiator hf unit. The internal volume is 17 litres, it stands a Metre tall, the cabinet resting on a plinth base with a footprint of 255mm wide by 265mm deep. It is available in a range of high-gloss or matt lacquers and is priced at €6,700. Sensitivity is rated at 86dB while the -3dB point extends down to a surprising (given the compact dimensions) but entirely believable 40Hz. A large diameter, downward firing port is tuned to 37Hz. All told, that’s an awful lot of awfully nice looking speaker (and music) for the money.
The Nel Ultime (€8,900) employs the same driver line up, installed in the same cabinet, delivers identical numbers and looks all but identical. However, internally, the Ultime uses a dedicated cable design from Absolue Créations (in place of the standard version’s Jantzen wiring), better crossover components and superior connectors.
Finally, the Nel Extreme (€12,200) again employs the same cabinet and delivers the same basic numbers, but this time around, the tweeter employs the same motor paired with a Beryllium dome diaphragm. Crossover components are further refined in terms of quality and matching, while an even better cable was developed by Absole Créations, specifically for this project. Mechanical damping of the cabinet, drivers and crossover components has been further refined, as has damping of the internal air volume. Even the spiked feet have been improved, to enable a firmer footing and more precise set up.
Which of these outwardly almost identical loudspeaker models is the most popular? According to Pierre Faverieux, the Extreme significantly outsells the others. It’s testimony to the obvious musical benefits of the most refined model, but also suggests the quality of the foundation on which it is based. The Nel Extreme is genuinely, even spectacularly impressive – but the standard Nel is certainly no slouch, especially given its affordable price.
The Joy (€5,300 in standard form) is also available in an Extreme version, with refinements as described above. €8,400 is a steep ticket for a compact stand-mount, but I suspect that it also punches way above its weight. The flagship Nora weighs in at €21,000, is the only three-way model in the range and is effectively already an Extreme model, embodying the same crossover and cable upgrades employed in the other Extreme versions. Tweeter is the same Beryllium unit, teamed with an Audiotechnology 150mm midrange driver and 230mm treated paper cone bass unit in a 32 litre enclosure, a line up that delivers a -3dB point at 36Hz against a sensitivity of 89dB.
