https://www.audioholics.com/soundbar-an ... tests.html”MrClean, post: 269167
I heard the 803s in another room and was very underwhelmed. Without saying a word about my impression, the dealer started making excuses for the sound, blaming it on the preamp/amp, which included either Plinius or McCormack (it's been a while). I heard a pair of 800Ds in virtually the same location as the Xds and walked out of the store with the Xds. Money was not the determining factor, as I was replacing over $20K in gear from Genesis and Pass Labs. The money saved was icing on the cake. The weird thing is, many dealers seem to be going out of their way to hide this product - I got a great deal on the demo as the dealer seemed happy to get them out of the store.
Another great attribute that Romanesq brought up is the ease of setup, and the absence of a sweet spot. These things sound very good with little fuss - of course, they would sound even better in an optimized room, but sometimes that isn't practical. When I moved from Houston to LA, my listening environment changed drastically, and the old stuff did not work at all. Not only does the new system sound way better in the room, I have never encountered speakers that don't force you to sit in that one perfect spot to enjoy them. You can get up and walk around the room, and the image pretty much stays intact.
I must come off sounding like a dealer or something - I assure you, I am not. I'm just a very satisfied customer. NHT has developed a great product. When you look at it closely, you can only marvel at the level of thoughtfulness and detail that went into it. Is it perfect? No, but at this price point, it is extraordinary.