Audio Nirvana Speakers For Sale

"A little about me; I co-founded DIGITAL DESIGNS, now DD Audio, in the early 80's. I have been designing very high quality transducers and speakers for over 30 years. My speakers have been used as near-field monitors for Universal Studios, Walt Disney Studios, GTE Imagatrack, The Record Plant, and countless TV, radio stations, and recording studios world-wide.

I am also a professional musician, playing the trumpet with two nationally distributed CD's to my credit. I know what music sounds like, and what technical expertise, as well as applied art, it takes to create a speaker that sounds like real music.

I have found a recent interest in single transducer full-range speakers, for all of the obvious technical reasons. I purchased a pair of your AUDIO NIRVANA SUPER 10's. And. . .

Damn, Damn, Damn! Truly Unbelievable! Without a doubt one of the FINEST speaker systems I have ever heard at ANY price! Truly recreating the sonic texture and time domain of a LIVE performance! Well pleased."--Dr. Paul D. Vogt

We have a policy at CommonSense Audio that we won't sell a more expensive speaker, unless it sounds better. So, if you pay more, you will get more.

Generally speaking, a well designed larger cabinet is always better than a well designed smaller one. Similarly, a well designed larger fullrange speaker is also better than a well designed smaller one. Why? We can't say for sure, but our guess is that the larger cone can more accurately reproduce vocals and most musical instruments. There is a fullness and richness to larger fullrange speakers that most smaller ones can't achieve.

The only exception to this rule is our 'Super 8 Alnico'. There is some special magic associated with alnico magnets (made of aluminum, nickel, and cobalt), and the necessary design parameters for using them. This might be our best sounding speaker to date and a 'perfect storm' of a design. Everything just came together perfectly. We think it is superior to Lowther alnico models costing from $1300 to $3000/pr. And the Audio Nirvana 'Super 8 Alnico' is only $448/pr.

In the past, the main reason to use a smaller fullrange speaker was because a larger one wouldn't go high enough in the treble. However, all Audio Nirvana speakers have extension beyond the limits of human hearing (with the exception of the 'Super 15 Cast Frame' which goes high enough for most people). So, unless a cabinet choice requires a smaller speaker, we recommend purchasing the largest Audio Nirana speaker that fits your preferred cabinet.

The 'Super' models include a phase plug to prevent cancellation across the whizzer cone. These also feature 'open' voicecoils which extend high frequency response.

We'll be happy to discuss your particular needs. Just call or email us.

Frank does wonderful work at very reasonable prices. He will sell you everything from kits to completely finished systems (we send the speakers directly to Frank for installation). He can work with inexpensive woods, to keep the price low, or do the most beautiful cabinets in exotic woods. We encourage you to checkout his website at the link above. Here's an example of some exotic 2.8 cabinets, in burl, that he made for a customer in Hong Kong

We have been designing, building, and selling speakers--using fullrange and coaxial 'pointsource' drivers--for more than 15 years now. We are one of the largest manufacturers of these types of speakers anywhere in the world. Some years ago, after many years of using other company's products, we decided to add our own range of fullrange speakers--Audio Nirvana. For the first time, it's possible for you to buy directly from a manufacturer. In this way, you get the most value for your money.

A lot of work goes into making a true 'fullrange' speaker, one that approaches 20,000 cycles in the treble. And it's expensive. It is necessary to fit powerful magnets to obtain these high frequencies. Our Audio Nirvana speakers use magnets much stronger than any comparably priced fullrange speaker.

Getting the midrange 'right' is especially difficult. It takes extensive testing to optimize the 'whizzer cone', which supplies most of the midrange information. We went through many different sizes and shapes to optimize the midrange in each model. And we developed special copper plated, machined aluminum 'phase plugs', for our 'Super' models, for extended high frequencies and a more detailed midrange.

Getting the bass 'right' is also a difficult proposition. What should the cone excursion be? What type of material should be used for the cone, the surround, and the spider? What size of voicecoil should be used? We have optimized all of these variables to bring you smooth, full bass response.

The result is that our Audio Nirvana speakers are as good--or better--than any other fullrange speakers available. And you can purchase them for far less money.....

You'll also be surprised to discover that--despite our very low prices--our Audio Nirvana speakers are better than the world's best multi-driver speakers. Our goal is not to sell 'affordable' speakers, but to make the world's best sounding speakers 'affordable.' We've heard most of the world's most highly regarded speakers--Wilson Grand Slamm, JM Labs Grande Utopia, Genesis 1, Dynaudio Evidence, etc. (all over $50,000/pr). None of these speakers sound as natural or musical as our Audio Nirvana designs. It sounds ridiculous, but it's true. You are welcome to bring any speaker by for a direct A-B comparison. We've made these comparisons many times and that's why we can make this statement. And it's not just our opinion. See what our customers have to say at the bottom of this page.

We're not just a business. We love music as much as you do. Our goal is to make great sound affordable for everyone.

We honestly feel that the Audio Nirvana speakers we sell give the best sound possible.

Because of our experience. We have been building speakers using fullrange, coaxial, and triaxial drivers for more than 15 years.

Audio Nirvana fullrange speakers with free cabinet plans, parts list, and setup tips--beginning at only $98/pr

Custom design work, so you can build cabinets to your own specifications or modify your existing cabinets--$25 (free if you purchase speakers from us)

1. Because Audio Nirvana speakers are fullrange. There is no separate woofer, no tweeter, and no crossover.

2. Frequency Response: 27 hz to 20,000 hz (varies by model).

3. Clarity, detail, accuracy, and realism are unmatched because the sound comes from a single voicecoil.

4. Imaging and soundstage are incredible because the sound comes from a single point in space.

5. Audio Nirvana speakers are precision made with very light paper cones and incredibly strong magnets for precise control.

6. Audio Nirvana speakers are very efficient--at least 95 dB in cabinets.

The Audio Nirvana 'Super 15 Cast Frame' has a frequency response from 27 hz to almost 15,000 hz. You can expect at least 99 db efficiency in any of our cabinets. It handles 50 watts continuous RMS (normal listening level will be about 1/10 watt). Impedance is 8 ohms. Voicecoil is 2.0 inches (50 mm). Magnet weight is 4.3 lbs. Total weight is 18 lbs. The cone is made of paper. The surround is accordian style and made of treated cloth. A separate tweeter is not necessary. Few people can hear above 14,000 cycles, so the upper limits of this speaker are all most people will ever need. You might be interested to note, for example, that FM radio is limited to 15,000 hz.

The Audio Nirvana 'Super 12 Cast Frame' has a frequency response from 36 hz to almost 20,000 hz. You can expect at least 99 db efficiency in any of our cabinets. It handles 30 watts continuous RMS (normal listening level will be about 1/10 watt). Impedance is 8 ohms. Voicecoil is 1.5 inches (38mm). Magnet weight is 3.2 lbs. Total weight is 10 lbs. The cone is made of paper. The surround is accordian style and made of treated cloth. This is not just a regular 'Super 12' with a cast frame. It is a total redesign.

The Audio Nirvana 'Super 12' has a frequency response from 33 hz to almost 20,000 hz. You can expect at least 99 db efficiency in any of our cabinets. It handles 30 watts continuous RMS (normal listening level will be about 1/10 watt). Impedance is 8 ohms. Voicecoil is 1.5 inches (38mm). Magnet weight is 3.2 lbs. Total weight is 10 lbs. The cone is made of paper. The surround is accordian style and made of treated cloth.

The Audio Nirvana 'Super 10 Cast Frame' has a frequency response from 34 hz to almost 20,000 hz. You can expect at least 99 db efficiency in any of our cabinets. It handles 30 watts continuous RMS (normal listening level will be about 1/10 watt). Impedance is 8 ohms. Voicecoil is 1.4 inches (35.5mm). Magnet weight is 3.2 lbs. Total weight is 8.5 lbs. The cone is made of paper. The surround is accordian style and made of treated cloth. This is not just a regular 'Super 10' with a cast frame. It is a total redesign.

The Audio Nirvana 'Super 10' has a frequency response from 36 hz to almost 20,000 hz. You can expect at least 99 db efficiency in any of our cabinets. It handles 30 watts continuous RMS (normal listening level will be about 1/10 watt). Impedance is 8 ohms. Voicecoil is 1.4 inches (35.5mm). Magnet weight is 3.2 lbs. Total weight is 8.5 lbs. The cone is made of paper. The surround is accordian style and made of treated cloth.

The Audio Nirvana 'Super 8 Alnico' has a frequency response from 46 hz to almost 20,000 hz. You can expect at least 95 db efficiency in any of our cabinets. It handles 20 watts continuous RMS (normal listening level will be about 1/10 watt). Impedance is 8 ohms. Voicecoil is 1.4 inches (35.5mm). Magnet weight is .8 lbs. Total weight is 7.3 lbs. The cone is made of paper. The surround is accordian style and made of treated cloth. Alnico is made of aluminum, nickel, and cobalt and is much stronger than normal ferrite/ceramic magnets.

The Audio Nirvana 'Super 8 Cast Frame' has a frequency response from 42 hz to almost 20,000 hz. You can expect at least 99 db efficiency in any of our cabinets. It handles 30 watts continuous RMS (normal listening level will be about 1/10 watt). Impedance is 8 ohms. Voicecoil is 1.4 inches (35.5mm). Magnet weight is 3.2 lbs. Total weight is 8.2 lbs. The cone is made of paper. The surround is accordian style and made of treated cloth. This is not just a regular 'Super 8' with a cast frame. It is a total redesign.

The Audio Nirvana 'Super 8' has a frequency response from 37 hz to almost 20,000 hz. You can expect at least 99 db efficiency in any of our cabinets. It handles 30 watts continuous RMS (normal listening level will be about 1/10 watt). Impedance is 8 ohms. Voicecoil is 1.4 inches (35.5mm). Magnet weight is 3.2 lbs. Total weight is 7.8 lbs. The cone is made of paper. The surround is accordian style and made of treated cloth.

The Audio Nirvana 'Standard 8' has a frequency response from 40 hz to almost 20,000 hz. You can expect at least 99 db efficiency in any of our cabinets. It handles 30 watts continuous RMS (normal listening level will be about 1/10 watt). Impedance is 8 ohms. Voicecoil is 1.4 inches (35.5mm). Magnet weight is 3.2 lbs. Total weight is 7.8 lbs. The cone is made of paper. The surround is accordian style and made of treated cloth.

The Audio Nirvana ' Super 6.5 Cast Frame' has a frequency response from 55 hz to almost 20,000 hz. You can expect at least 98 db efficiency in any of our cabinets. It handles 30 watts continuous RMS (normal listening level will be about 1/10 watt). Impedance is 8 ohms. Voicecoil is 1.2 inches (30.5mm). Magnet weight is 3.2 lbs. Total weight is 8.0 lbs. The cone is made of paper. The surround is accordian style and made of treated cloth.

The Audio Nirvana ' Super 6.5' has a frequency response from 46 hz to almost 20,000 hz. You can expect at least 98 db efficiency in any of our cabinets. It handles 30 watts continuous RMS (normal listening level will be about 1/10 watt). Impedance is 8 ohms. Voicecoil is 1.2 inches (30.5mm). Magnet weight is 3.2 lbs. Total weight is 7.5 lbs. The cone is made of paper. The surround is accordian style and made of treated cloth.

The Audio Nirvana ' Standard 6.5' has a frequency response from 51 hz to almost 20,000 hz. You can expect at least 98 db efficiency in any of our cabinets. It handles 30 watts continuous RMS (normal listening level will be about 1/10 watt). Impedance is 8 ohms. Voicecoil is 1.2 inches (30.5mm). Magnet weight is 3.2 lbs. Total weight is 7.5 lbs. The cone is made of paper. The surround is accordian style and made of treated cloth.

We offer more than 10 different cabinet designs for Audio Nirvana fullrange speakers. You will receive a free cabinet plan, parts list, and setup tips with any purchase.

'Micromonitor' (16T x 10W x 7.25D)

'Minimonitor' (19T x 10.5W x 11.25D)

'Monitor' (24T x 13.5W x 11.25D)

'1.3' (32T x 10W x 10D)

'2.8 Mk II' (38.5T x 12W x 13.75D)

'2.8 Series I' (38.5T x 14.5W x 11.25D)

'2.8 Mk II Ambience' (38.5T x 12W x 13.75D)

'2.8 Series I Dynamic' (38.5T x 14.5W x 11.25D)

--Also Available in 'slimline' MkII style cabinet

'5.6' (44T x 18.75W x 14.75D)

'13.6' (48T x 24W x 24D)

'Open Baffle' (30T x 24W x 15D)

A well designed larger cabinet will always sound better than a well designed smaller one. So, if you have the space, we recommend going with a larger design.

For those requiring a smaller system, we have three different 'bookshelf' size bass reflex cabinet designs available:

The Micromonitor (.41 cubic feet) was designed primarily as a surround speaker for home theater. It still makes a nice 'extension' speaker for small rooms. It is also an excellent computer speaker. You can supplement it with a subwoofer for more bass output. Many people choose it as a center channel as well.

The Minimonitor (.87 cubic feet) is really our smallest stand alone system. It has full bass and dynamics and a satisfying overall balance. It also makes a wonderful center channel or surround speaker.

The Monitor (1.5 cubic feet) is our largest bookshelf system. Similar in size to the classic bookshelf systems of the 1960's and 1970's, it gives the bass of many floorstanding systems in a smaller package. As with all the bookshelf systems, they can be placed upright or on their side. This cabinet was specially designed for the 'Super 8 Alnico' and the performance is stunning. But it works well with all our other models, including the 10 and 12 inch sizes.

For those who want a floorstanding system, we have the following bass reflex systems available:

The 1.3 is our smallest floorstanding system. It makes satisfactory bass for those who have space limitations.

The 2.8 comes in two versions. The Series I has a wide front baffle but is shallow in depth. The MkII has a thin front baffle but is deeper. The difference is mainly in the styling. Both versions are available with two different porting arrangements. The "Big Port" version offers more mid bass at the expense of some low bass output. The "Twin Port" version has 1/3 octave more extension, at the expense of some midbass output. We generally recommend the "Big Port" version for most customers. Both porting arrangements are shown on the same plans.

We also offer two different dual driver designs: the 2.8 Dynamic and the 2.8 Ambience. The Dynamic gives a big, powerful sound while maintaining the same overall tonal balance as the normal 2.8. The Ambience puts a lot more weight on the bottom end and adds a sense of 'air' to the music. It's our favorite version of the 2.8.

The 5.6 offers more bass and dynamics in a cabinet that is not too large for most rooms.

The 13.6 is a huge cabinet that works best with the larger Audio Nirvana models.

And for those of you looking for something 'different', we offer an 'open baffle' type of enclosure:

The Open Baffle is basically just a piece of wood supported by two 'wings' to hold it upright. It doesn't generate a lot of bass and rolls off below 63 cycles. However, the sound from the back of the speaker is free to reflect off rear walls and join the sound from the front of the speaker. This gives a 'fat' sound that is very nice for classical music or for people favoring this type of sound. Supplemented with a quality subwoofer, this system gives an unusual presentation. It works best with the largest fullrange speakers which can generate more bass.

We are often asked 'what's best?' The best sound we can sell you is our 'Super 15 Cast Frame' in either our 5.6 or 13.6 enclosure. If money's tight, you can save $150 and fit the 'Super 12 Cast Frame' in either enclosure instead. If the 5.6 or 13.6 enclosures are too big (the numbers reflect the size in cubic feet), then we would recommend the 'Super 12 Cast Frame' in the 2.8 Series I enclosure. Want a narrower enclosure? Then you can fit the 'Super 10 Cast Frame' in the 2.8 MkII, but you won't be able to fit grills. In the smaller enclosures--or if you want to use the thin 2.8 MkII with grills--use the 'Super 8 Alnico'. We feel it's the best 8 inch fullrange speaker ever made and we've heard almost every other one. Too much money?  Then fit the 'Super 8 Cast Frame' in the 2.8 MkII or one of our smaller bookshelf enclosures.

Audio Nirvana speakers are very heavy, because of the large magnets. Shipping prices range between $25 and $45 (depending on model), here in the US. Insurance is included. Overseas customers should email us for shipping prices at speakers@charter.net

All speakers are covered by a one year warranty against original manufacturing defects.

We're happy to share our 40 years of audio experience with other enthusiasts. Feel free to contact us with any questions you might have on any audio subject.

You can purchase any of our cabinet construction plans for only $25. We will also include a parts list and setup tips. If you later purchase speakers from us, we will refund this $25.

We guarantee your satisfaction. If you are unhappy with your speakers--for any reason--you can return them (in new condition) for a full refund.

You can purchase speakers, with a free cabinet plan, parts list, and setup tips, for as little as $98. We can also help you adapt existing speaker enclosures for Audio Nirvana speakers. Let us know how we can help you reach your goal of obtaining the best sound possible at an affordable price.

"A little about me; I co-founded DIGITAL DESIGNS, now DD Audio, in the early 80's. I have been designing very high quality transducers and speakers for over 30 years. My speakers have been used as near-field monitors for Universal Studios, Walt Disney Studios, GTE Imagatrack, The Record Plant, and countless TV, radio stations, and recording studios world-wide.

I am also a professional musician, playing the trumpet with two nationally distributed CD's to my credit. I know what music sounds like, and what technical expertise, as well as applied art, it takes to create a speaker that sounds like real music.

I have found a recent interest in single transducer full-range speakers, for all of the obvious technical reasons. I purchased a pair of your AUDIO NIRVANA SUPER 10's and put them in an anechoic open baffle configuration with a -3dB down point of approx 150 Hz, and utilized a 12" powered subwoofer for the last 2 octaves. And. . .

Damn, Damn, Damn! Truly Unbelievable! Without a doubt one of the FINEST speaker systems I have ever heard at ANY price! Truly recreating the sonic texture and time domain of a LIVE performance! Cudos to you David, you ARE the man! Well pleased."--Dr. Paul D. Vogt

"I exhibited at the HiFi Wigwam show yesterday and demonstrated my Audio Nirvana 2.8 MkII's. They went down like a storm! I had about 50 visitors to my room and not one adverse comment. Many were 'blown away, amazed, stunned', etc. My primary target audience, those who are contemplating a diy project, were universally convinced, and many left vowing to 'get started straight away'. Many came around two and three times, saying that my modest system was making the best music of the show!! Many also took photos and asked all sorts of questions about cabinet construction, etc. and couldn't believe the simplicity, some getting on their knees to look through the 'Big Port' to glimpse inside.

Attached are some pics of my other 'Ambience' speakers. I have to say the sound is sensational--a massive soundstage with huge depth, amazing detail, and tons of bass wallop when called upon. I'm delighted. They could probably do with some grills but I'll get round to that when I can tear myself away from listening to them. Thanks."--Steve Dixon (from the U.K.)

"I have to say that I was not prepared for the sound that emerged! These drivers are truly amazing. The imaging, articulation, precision and smoothness were truly exquisite. The next day my principle engineer, Gary Fulton, arrived along with Joe Mendyk, who was our first engineering mentor and still is one of the finest rock tracking recordists I know. I eagerly awaited their evaluations and we spent an hour and a half listening to various tracks and different genres of music. I chose the same cut for the debut performance and with great pleasure watched the expression of astonishment form on the faces of these two veteran sound men. (Gary has an additional specialty; he has mastered over two hundred CDs along with some extensive restoration and forensic audio work). We heard things in familiar recordings that we had never noticed before. When the audition was over, Gary looked at me and said, "I have to have a pair of these". That was good enough for me."--Dan Harrison, Jaguar Music

"I LOVE YOUR SPEAKERS!! I LOVE THESE THINGS! After an hour and a half of listening, right out of the crate, no break-in whatsoever. The mids and the highs are wonderful and, best of all, they are so coherent - how could they not be, being single-driver? The 3W 2A3 does drive them just fine. Most of all, though, it's the Audio Nirvana's purity and coherence that have me. Vocals, bass, percussion, and horns are all spot-on. Beautiful job. I will never sell these speakers, as to me--right now--they are a testament to what $650 in speakers ought to be able to buy. They are a testament to audio sanity, as it were. Paired with a cheap, fast sub - like an ACI Force for $700 - this would be a killer speaker system that would not be embarrassed by anything, not anything, and I'm talking up to $40K. I've heard just about everything. The build quality is fantastic, too - they are beautiful. Cabinets are nicer, frankly, then I was expecting."--Paul Folbrecht

"To say I was absolutely AMAZED, is an understatement. Since I have never listened to a single point source driver, I had no idea what to expect. What I heard was crystal clear music. The midrange is better than I have ever heard before and the highs are precise. I still find it hard to believe that ALL that sound is coming from a single driver. Needless to say, the plans are already on the board for the next set of speakers I'm going to build. I will never have any speaker other than a single point source driver for my critical listening. Thanks for offering such a great product."--Richard Chase

"Well I finally fired the Super 12 Cast Frames up yesterday and, boy oh boy, I was bloody well flabbergasted. These are an awesome speaker. My wife is still shaking her head and doesn't believe they could sound so good, she is amazed at the sound. So am I, and with excellent bass, just blows my $16,000.00 Charios out of the water. One happy camper."--Murray Smith (from New Zealand)

"Wow, wow, and WOW! I'm currently listening to "Kitchen Sink" from Amon Tobin's disc Foley Room. I am completely blown away by your Audio Nirvanas paired with the Creek amplifier. Thank you!"--Stephen Aichele

"I just wanted to say thank you for the best speaker I have ever heard. I did the 2.5 Big Port enclosures and all I can say is 'WOW'! I will be buying some more speakers from you soon. Again thank you for making such a great speaker."-- Dallas Richardson

"Full , rich, natural sound. After this I will never buy manufactured speakers again. Fullrange speakers........are the only way to go. They sound better than anything out there. The sound out of this system is the best, bar none "--Kevin James

"After two days, I just keep putting on records and saying, 'Damn! Damn! Damn!' I've never owned speakers with such beautiful high end and rich textures. It's truly psychedelic sound. I'm running a pair of my own single 45 tube amps, with my own preamp, and there is no problem with the low 2 watt power driving these."--Jeff Brown

"I don't remember a time, even when I was in the stereo business, that I have enjoyed my speakers so much. These Nirvanas rival anything I have ever heard--electrostatics, ribbons, horns, even Tannoys. Our PBS station, WUSF (University of South Florida) made the switch to all digital sometime last year and there are times I would swear the sound was live, right here in the room! Now don't let this praise cause you to raise the price of the Nirvanas, but they are great! Thank you!"-- Al Cook

"Speakers complete. WOW!!!!! They sound incredible. I was worried about the bass response but these are beyond what I expected. I'm finally hearing things in the recordings I haven't heard before. The imaging is awesome and I still haven't played with positioning to get the best image. Thank You!"-- Paul Blais

"I received the speakers last week, built the 1.3 enclosures this past Saturday, and all I can say is wow! Best sounding speakers these ears have heard in a long time, maybe ever. I'm running them off a Trends Audio 10.1 amp and am getting superb detail. All this and they aren't fully broken in yet!"--Matt Medel

"Congratulations on your extraordinary design. I am just overwhelmed by the sound these babies produce. For me, it was by far the best buy I have made since I am in this hobby. Regards from Austria."--Bernhard Kaiser

"I've heard many speakers in my time. I've been an audiophile, in one way or another, since I was a teenager. I've never heard speakers that sound as good as the Audio Nirvana Super 12 Cast Frame speakers. I feel that accurate detail is as important as, and an integral part of, accurate vocal reproduction. I was not disappointed. I'm very satisfied with the quality of the vocals, as well as the detail of all kinds of instruments reproduced through these speakers. I'm hearing drums like I've never heard them before. I'm enjoying the subtle nuances of a cello, like I've never heard them before. I'm hearing sounds that I'm only accustomed to hearing in live production. I knew that I had something special. The vocal reproduction is amazing. The full range of the vocal spectrum is represented in complete detail, clarity, and warmth. I went between Josh Groban, Loreena McKinnit, Lisa (celtic women), Norah Jones, Metallica, REM, The Corrs, Aaron Neville, Marvin Gaye, Tiesto, BT, ATB, Armin Van Buuren, NIN and many other talented artists with quality recordings of varying genres to critique the speakers. None of them let me down. These speakers reproduced them all in glorious sonic accuracy. I'm convinced that I now own a set of speakers that is appropriate for all genres. They put a smile on my face every time I turn them on. I never tire of their sound. They also improved my gear because I could hear the weakness of my other equipment through them and was therefore able to resolve it. I always felt KEF made a great value for the money speaker, but there is no reason to continue using the reference KEF's that I have at the moment. They simply sound muffled in comparison; like someone speaking to me with their hand over their mouth."--Christian Sjavik

"Popped in the demo disc, and voila, I had the singer right there in my room! The soundstage of the T-Amp, coupled with the high clarity, super detail, and awesome transparency of the Audio Nirvanas, brought the singer and the entire band, holographically into my room. It's like watching, and I mean watching, them live right there! The sensation was surreal and I've never experienced anything like that before.. Man... goosebumps upon goosebumps... The speed of sound reproduction, by the Audio Nirvanas Super 8, is simply awesome. Previously, on my other speakers, I'm straining to hear what's happening in the background. The percussion was being veiled behind a thick fog. It was blurry, dirty and groggy. With the Audio Nirvanas, it's like them being alive! Full of youth, energy, vitality and zest. The fog is gone and I can hear (see) them clearly, bright as day. I'm also able to place each and every one of the players exactly in the soundstage. Such is the awesomeness of the Audio Nirvanas. I began listening to my favorite cds, and am amazed they revealed hidden details with tracks I had listened to more than 100 times!!"--Derrick Lim (from Singapore)

"The 6 1/2's are up and running, and are certainly everything you claim, and then some. Absolutely superb. Fast, detailed, razor-sharp/pinpoint imaging, very natural sounding vocals, stunning dynamics without a trace of overhang, broad, deep stage with a black velvet backdrop. I'm looking forward to the post break-in sound very much if it's better than this. These really are extremely good loudspeakers. Thanks!"--Mark Franklin

" I have had the speakers for approximately a month now and all I can say is 'WOW'! The more you listen, the more you love these wonderful speakers. I have the Super 6.5's mounted in the 3.0 cubic foot "Tall John" enclosures and they have become my reference speaker. Give them a clear signal and just sit back and enjoy. The Super 6.5's are easily the most musical speakers I have ever heard, they bring Jazz alive. I know many have stated that full range speakers need super tweeters and sub's to round out the sound, well that is certainly not true with these. The highs would put many high end tweeters to shame and the low's will bring a string bass right into your listening area. The musical delivery of these speakers are so far above their cost it's ridiculous. Just to think of the times that I have built crossovers, that cost more than these drivers, just makes me shake my head, because now I have finally found the sound that I have been trying to reach. They are rich, open, and very detailed. Thanks for bringing me into the light of full range speaker design. I could not be happier with the Audio Nirvana line of speakers, they have it all. The Audio Nirvana's make all your old music new again."--John Parker

" The Audio Nirvanas, in 0.9 cu..ft. cabinets, carefully damped, sound better than any speaker system I have built to date. Everyone who has heard them agrees. My speaker-building friend in town, who has excellent ears, heard them and was totally impressed. I believe his final comment was, "I have never heard any speakers sound like that!" Having been a professional musician for many years, my ears are well-educated. I have listened extensively to the Audio Nirvana 8" drivers and the 8" Fostex FE206E. The Audio Nirvanas are FAR SUPERIOR to the Fostex FE206E, having more solid bass, as well as much smoother, more natural sounding midrange and highs. If you are purchasing the Fostex FE206E drivers instead of the Audio Nirvanas, you are wasting your money."--Beckon Duel

"I am very impressed with the Audio Nirvana speakers! I am so impressed that they are replacing my Bruce Edgar/ Altec Lansing horn system. It is now for sale on Audiogon! Let me say that this is quite a feat to top. I am hearing much more than I ever have. So, I am inspired with the "no crossover, single driver sound. I (also) built a speaker system using 2 of the 10" and 2 of the 8" Nirvana drivers per side. I am now running them on a 40 WPC OTL amplifier with $10,000 Theta CD front end. The sound of your drivers, no crossovers, no output transformers in the amplifiers and the Theta CD system is the best sound I have ever heard! I am VERY pleased....."--Mike Morrow (Morrow Audio)

"I loaded every driver that I have in a Tractrix front horn. This horn exposes every detail the driver has. The best driver was the Lowther DX3 ($1095/pr) but the Nirvana was a close second . They blew away the Fostex , having much better highs and detail. And your 6.5" Audio Nirvanas will belt out some sound...they rock! I'm convinced , after lots of research , that the Audio Nirvana's can't be beat for the price....."--Les Hudson (speaker designer and manufacturer)

"My dad was a hard bit audiophile for many years. He claims he is getting sound now, with the Super Nirvanas in the 2.8 cabinet, that is as good as anything he's ever owned. I have to agree. My friend Mike was using Von Schweikert VR3s, a speaker that I liked and was hoping to compare with the 2.8s. We were both quite shocked to hear that the 2.8s not only were more open, unveiled, and detailed on the top, but were pretty close in bass extension as well. The Von Schweikert VR3s were an expensive speaker. The Nirvanas, in the 2.8 cabinet I built out of $60 worth of MDF and materials, had no right to sound as good as they did. Needless to say, I am very happy with the results and I am confident that I finally have a speaker I can trust to tell me how good/bad the other components are sounding."--Tom Rogers

"OK.....I am now the latest "true believer" in the cause of single driver speakers. After about 150 hours of break-in, it is apparent that those who are willing to suspend disbelief can experience something very special....even magical at times......The Audio Nirvana 8 inchers were a revelation. A whole new way of experiencing music....and probably the best way. The sound stage, spacing between voice and instruments, shear depth and width, is quite impressive. Tonality is honest to the front end of the chain."--Paul Van Name (Gateway Sound)

"I must say there is no exaggeration whatsoever in what you claim at your website. The immediate impression was that of a very distinct, but in no way aggressive mid, and an equally pleasant and "shimmering" treble, right in harmony with my sound ideals. The soundstage was very well defined, both in terms of width, depth and height -- true 3D. Then, the more I listened, the more I realized that the Super 8's brought out "micro-details" that the Fostex/EV350 combination wasn't able to reveal. Here was the "musicality" that I had been longing for. I listened to Leonard Cohen's Take This Waltz, and I got the impression that I could pinpoint to the inch the varying distances from his mouth to the microphone over the length of the song. Enter the solo violin, where I felt I could establish the amount of rosin on the bow. In the duet with the chorus girl, it was very obvious from the reproduced perspective that Cohen was sitting down, and she was standing up, right behind him, in my imagination with her hands on his shoulders. I know very well that this is all mic placement and control room imagery and not the actual facts of the studio setting, but I believe that's what the producer/sound engineer intended, and that's what I heard. I listened to several tracks from Pierre Bensusan's album Spices, and I don't think I've ever heard the right-hand technique of a bass player so clearly coming out of a pair of speakers......that is quite a task for any speaker, regardless of cost, to reproduce with accuracy and credibility. Listening to Dire Straits Your Latest Trick, I discovered that the trumpet wasn't entirely stable in the recorded soundstage (flaw in the recording?), and that I could hear the drummer varying the position he chose for his rim shots on the snare with a clarity that I don't remember from any of my previous listenings to the album. In other tracks, I could actually hear the varying amounts of compressor/limiter applied to the snare beats. You have developed some really world class speakers. Congrats! I'm a very happy customer."-- Anders Rydell (from Sweden)

"I just had to let you know, I've been sitting here listening to these babies crank out tune after tune, and I can't remember the last time I tapped my toe this much. OK maybe with a big 3 cubic foot bass reflex cabinet a bit more low bass can come out but, man, I'm telling you these speakers are working great in these sealed 1.75 cubic ft cabinets. I'm just smiling ear to ear! Fantastic on voice, great saxophone, nice drum sets, real, real nice! And I haven't even hooked them up yet with my high end rig, just a cheapo flea powered receiver. Very nice. Thanks for a great product."--Robert Hensley

"The 1.3s sound simply gorgeous with all program material; no shrillness, ample bass. Detail is amazing. Bell tones are startling in clarity, strings are very rich, full and present, the sound stage is only limited by the sound source. Thanks for a truly great product."--Brian Jarvi

"I cannot believe the clarity of this speaker. I've listened to some really expensive speakers in my 65 years. To my ears, these are as good or better than any I have heard. I can hardly control myself! These speakers are something else. Thank you for the advice during my selection process. All I can say is thank you and keep up the good work."--W. Cotton

"The mids and top end are open and detailed. Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane solos sound amazing. The overall sound is well balanced, detailed, and instruments have good weight on the low end. These are the best full range drivers I have ever heard."-- David Wilkerson

"I am an audio technician and have been building the "perfect system" since I was a teenager, amps as well as speakers. I am enjoying your speakers on a daily basis and everyone who has heard them agrees that they sound incredibly live. Coupled with a tube amp (Dynaco ST70) this is the best system I have ever put together. Thanx again."--Jon Marek

"The 'Super 8's' just blew me away! They put my Reference 3A's to shame (no easy feat). I threw them in a crappy old pair of boxes left over from a pair of Klipsch KG2's (10 passive radiator in rear) and still can't get over the sound in a crummy box!"--Dave Hutchings

"I have no words to explain how warm and perfectly balanced the speakers sound. I was blown away by the most natural response (and) effective output. We were totally speechless at the rate of sensitivity, clarity and depth. We are seriously thankful for your technical support and guidance."--Mahmood Hayat (from Pakistan)

"I received the speakers today and they sound excellent. They have much better detail, pace, and tonality than the Mirage OM-9. The Audio Nirvanas sound great."--Stacy Bragg

"I just completed a pair of Minimonitors with the Audio Nirvana 8" speakers and am delighted with them. When I compare them to my Paradigm Titans, it is like comparing a high resolution image to low res, if I can use a photo metaphor."--Scott Cullen

"Initial impressions are: Very sensitive, great imaging, stage and presence. Smooth and detailed, plenty of bass (these are horn loaded into floor-coupled labyrinth). Surprisingly good on complex orchestral passages (tried some Mahler, Wagner, Dvorak), and just magic on chamber, piano and acoustic. Rounded off the evening with the Janet Monheit DVD, wasn't aware of the speakers at all, they just disappeared. I expect them to be even smoother when they bed in. Excellent units, very pleased. My Tannoy Broadcast Monitors are destined for the bedroom"--Ken Thornton-Smith

"Just wanted to drop you a line, after listening to a pair of your Super 10's for four months now. They continue to become more refined as time passes. I would have to say that these are the best speakers I have listened to. What is the most pleasant aspect of the Super 10's, is the three dimensional nature of the sound stage. Well microphoned acoustic recordings give an illusion of being in front of the listener at a specific spot. You feel like David Sanborn is standing in front of you. Nuances of the recordings are evident; you can hear David take heavy breaths between phrases. The highs (are) detailed, with no harshness. The 10 watt SE amplifier fills a large 20 x 20 room with sound which testifies to their sensitivity. The bass response is there and acceptable with acoustic bass recordings. Upon arrival of the drivers, I found the shipping container, box, and associated packing materials for the speakers were excellent. The quality of the construction of the drivers is impressive, at this price point. Front aesthetics of the drivers are top notch; I hate to cover them up with a speaker grill. Compared to conventional speakers, with the cost of 2 to 3 drivers and cross over components, this has to be the best performance to value for any speakers, anywhere, any time."--Michael Dubay

"I must say I might not send the $2500 AER speakers in for repair after all! The ANs beat the AER (and also beat Fostex) greatly in the highs. I hear loads of detail in the highs that were not there with the AER. I can't hear significant losses of detail, compared to the AER, which is surprising given the cost difference. By far the most important factor for me is cone 'breakup'. The ANs beat the AER's handily in this area. Best value in drivers I've come across."--Nicholas Perry

"I purchased the Super 12 Cast Frame drivers and I must say I'm hooked. I've owned the top of the line PHY30SAG from France, which were $2700/pr, not including the open baffles, and the Super 12 Cast Frames blew them away. The Audio Nirvana Super 12 cast frame speaker is well balanced from top to bottom. I'm using the Trend TA-10.1 that I had almost forgotten about on a shelf. This is a great combination, with either my Emotive Audio or Reference line preamp. Please Don't miss out on a great musical experience."--Alphonzo Edmonds

"Why did it take me so long to find out about this? If I can build these things, anybody can. Loosely translated, that means build it, find any kind of an amplifier that exceeds a handful of watts, and you have instant gratification. My system that sits idle is a $13,000 custom. I hate to sell the expensive speakers, but folks, this is just too good to be true. I even quit watching TV--well, except for football. I painted the speakers flat black and my wife loves them. Go figure. She says they don't scream 'speaker.' She sits with me and listens to the tunes we listened to when we fell in love 37 years ago."--Jack Leebron

"Sound is class A. Wow, what a great speaker at a great price. Have been in this hobby seriously for 56 years and am very impressed. Best deal of my life."--Frank Giovino

"They sound absolutely amazing! The highs are nice and detailed and the bass is just right! Thank you very much!"--Doug Woodliffe

"I have built many pairs of speakers using Corals, Jordans, Fostex, Philips. The Audio Nirvanas are my favorites, period."--Lewis Wagoner

"The Nirvanas resolution is unmached by any of my previous speakers! (too many to recall). The sound is very good indeed."--Sergio Avila

"The depth of sound is truly amazing, as is the stereo imaging. Many thanks."-- Michael Green

"Got them in (Cain and Cain Abby cabinets). Huge improvement. Performance is better in every way. I think anyone with the Abbys would be thrilled with the substitution."--Dave Harding

"I put the 6 1/2 inch speakers in and they are fabulous. The Audio Nirvana's are so much sharper with vocals and guitars.....that sound like mud in the old speakers. Thanks-I've been converted!"--Steve Rohrbacher

"I have made a new horn and mounted a Fostex 206 speaker for testing. You are right, Audio Nirvana sounds better, more clear and with a lot more bass sound output."--Rune Weltzien (from Norway)

"I have tested your Audio Nirvana 8 inch in our "Saxophon Cabinet". For me, after 100 hours, it is my favorite, a little bit "better" than the FE206E. Both much better than a Lowther DX2."--Horst Moller (from Germany)

"I compared Audio Nirvana Super 8 to Fostex FE206E, and AN is a clear winner, with more transparent sound and more extended highs. And then a friend of mine brought the "AN Super 8 Cast Frame" that he bought from you. This one is even better!"--Arif Wicaksono (from Indonesia)

"Build quality excellent and very well packed--they look great. Very pleased with the sound quality--just what I was hoping for, having read the reviews on your website. Bass is fine, for my room, so I made the right choice with the Minimonitors (with Super 8 Cast Frame drivers). If I had to describe them in one word, I would just say that they are very 'musical'. Detail is there, emotion is there, in voices and there is plenty of 'grind' for heavyish electric blues --but overall I am listening to the music, not listening to a hifi setup. Sorry to say this, but I think you have just lost a customer --I reckon that these will be the last pair of speakers that I buy!"--David Ford (from England)

"First listening: the Fostex are still as I described them, true to the original sound. The Audio Nirvanas add to this without subtracting anything. A bit more air between the notes, an increase in timbral accuracy, better imaging that,--in the near-field listening that I do--is especially difficult. The sound seems to exit the speaker a tad more like it does from the original instrument. I am very happy with my new speakers, I feel even more involved!!"--Jan Middledorf

"Well, I am a believer. These Audio Nirvana Standard 6.5's sounded wonderful from the first note. I compared them to my NEAR 10Ms, which I have always liked. The ANs sang! They are more efficient than the NEARs so it was a bit difficult to a/b due to the volume difference. Clearly the ANs are great little speakers. I am looking forward to getting the 8's . I expect that I am not going to be a one time customer."--Len Hendrix

"I'm listening to Dark Side of the Moon, one of my fave raves of all time, and it's never sounded better from speakers. The soundstage is amazing, the precision bang on, and they really go very loud indeed."--Steve Dixon (United Kingdom)

"I have received my speakers, thank you. They are beautiful, the photos don't give the real idea of these drivers, they impressed me."--Gianpaolo Morelli (from Italy)

"The pair of 8" drivers I bought earlier this year are well housed and performing superbly well. My son was so impressed with mine that he has asked me to build him a set for his 30th birthday."--Anthony Cross

"Your Minimonitor.....is being appreciated.....Nice , crisp, without shouting.....no sibilance.....great driver .....nice BOX.....heavy and well built..... Need another pair to round out the balanced sound....hard to balance with less efficient speakers.....the other speakers CAN'T compete....."--W. Gordon Ray

"I received the speakers I purchased from you last night--8" Audio Nirvanas-- and put them in some appropriately sized folded horn enclosures I made some time back. Directly wired to a T class mini amp, these things are as good as I have heard. Now I am truly excited about listening to cd's again. Thanks for the great bargain and good luck--these drivers are right up there with the other ultra-fi bargains."--Terry Hance

" I have been using the Audio Nirvana 1.3´s for 2 months and I can tell you that I am really enjoying them. I have a pair of Aurum Cantus V2M (US$ 2,000) and the 1.3´s are far better. It is the first time I've had a full range driver and I think it`s impossible to get back to a traditional 2 way monitor after listening the 1.3. They sound great. They disappear and there is only the music. In vocal jazz, the singer is in the room with me. Great!! 3.5 Watts are more than enough to drive the speakers with ease."--Alejandro Schweitzer (from Chile)

"I am enjoying a pair of your Super 8's in Dayton Audio .75 cu. ft. cabinets. I had owned the 8" Fostex in the Omega 8r Grande cabinet, in the past, and these are a big imporvement over them. Mids/treble are fantastic. VERY detailed in my room. Bass.....has great pitch and definition. To my ears, the Omegas were just too peaky. They were fun for some things, but ultimately not enjoyable for the long haul. Thanks for bringing some sanity to the world of audio."--Joe McMahon

"I have to say that these sound terrific! I have heard everything out there, with the exception of the extremely expensive FEASTREX from Japan and the Lowthers from UK. These beat all of the Fostex models I have heard by a big margin. The highs are very accurate, the most accurate I have heard from any Fostex. The mids don’t shout and are also accurate and very involving, perfect! The bass is accurate , very articulate."--Fernando Cruz

"I know they are not broken in yet but so far I am very impressed. I didn't choose the Audio Nirvana drivers over the Fostex because of price, but because you guys obviously know what you wanted in a driver and probably had input. The cabinets are really nice and a nice surprise. Really done well. One thing about these drivers--if I blow them up, they won't cost a fortune to replace. Anyway, you have a really fine product here."-- Mike Duffy

"I got the Nirvana speakers mounted in my existing cabinets about a week ago. They fit fine, and the original hole was just about right. They sound great--they have a liveliness to them that none of the other speakers I have heard seem to have. I imagine they take a little time to break in fully. What's amazing to me is that 8 watts per channel (tubes) drives them fine (in a somewhat small, but not tiny, room). All the hype about high power amps and multi-speaker systems is just that as far as I can (now) see! Thanks for the fast service, and more than that, for taking the time to explain how I could use the speakers in cabinets I had."--Tom Larson

"I've been listening all afternoon to the sharpest transients, steepest wavefronts, and the most transparent sound I've had in a long time!"--Al Cook

"They sure can sing! I am blown away by the sound. In this day of snake oil, etc., these really do the job!"--Ben Garland

"The speakers sound brilliant and very sweet!!! My song collection has got a new life with this system!"--P K Raveendranath (from Oman)

"Thanks again for your fine drivers. The regular 12" are really showing their stuff in my new baffles. Dynamics are incredible and unrestrained."--David Wilkerson

" The sound is unbelievable! Damn! All I can say is your drivers are absolutely amazing. Even compared to my 15in Altec coaxes. I was worried that with the high sensitivity of the Nirvanas and my higher power(ish) amp, there would be more noise, but they are very quiet."--Jam Hamidi

"I LOVE THESE SPEAKERS! You have sold me a fine product, and I really don’t see any room for improvement. I’m going to keep these for many years to come. I could go into great description about them--soundstage, detail, and all that kind of stuff, but--in a nutshell--my wife and I love these speakers. Thanks for all the help and your unending patience as I settled on which ones I wanted to build."--John Conley

"My Super 8's are now mounted in Voight horns (a quarter wave transmission line with a linear horn taper). The drivers are in line with your ears when you are seated, the sound is beautiful, bass now sounds eerily realistic. The 2.8's are next!"--Andre Jordaan (from South Africa)

"I finished the speakers and they sound fantastic. It's the classic 'I hear stuff I never heard before…' I could not be happier with this purchase."--Tom Ingledue

"After only a few hours, I can tell these are going to be very good indeed. Live recordings sound amazing."--David Wilkerson

"Got the speakers done and they sound excellent with my old Scott integrated amp. I am no audiophile, but they make my B&W matrix speakers ( with multiple other amplifiers) sound as if they are muffled. Thanks."--Paul Gandy

"The bottom line, in my opinion, is that these drivers, in the BR enclosure, are definitely keepers. They sound good with a wide range of tube amps including low power SET's and higher power PP's."--Fred Thompson

"I have been busy listening to a number of full range eight inch drivers plaved in 150hz tractrix horns. Your Nirvana Super 8's were my favorite drivers in the front horn application. They offer a uniquely liquid yet detailed perspective that I found very enduring."--Lance Akridge

"My order arrived here in Ottawa safe and sound. Your packing was bulletproof. Again thanks for the timeliness and efficiency of your order processing. It was competely painless."-- Brian Irwin (from Canada)