Sound too good to be a mini-system -- just lose the speakers.
Written: Sep 28 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Clear, transparent and dynamic audio from a truly gorgeous looking set of component.
Cons: The speakers aren't nearly as good as the rest of it; some chintzy parts.
The Bottom Line: This is a great mini-system that truly surpasses all others in clarity, transparency and dynamics. Held back by Sharp name and middling speakers.
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| mediageek's Full Review: Sharp SD-NX10 CD Shelf System |
Introduction
I consider myself part of the "Minidisc Underground." Although MD equipment is still available at most electronics stores, and Sony has sold millions of recorders and players, minidisc is still a niche format in the US.
Because of this niche status, most American minidisc-o-philes know that the best MD equipment is only available in Japan and other Asian countries. There, minidisc is taken as seriously as cassette once was here in the States. Thus, the inclusion of a minidisc recorder is about as mandatory in Japan as the inclusion of a cassette recorder is in the US.
So if you want to get the latest and greatest in minidisc gear in the US you typically have to either go to Japan yourself or order it through a "grey market" importer. This is especially true if you want something other than a portable recorder or one of a dwindling number of minidisc decks.
Increasingly, if you want a more high-end MD component, a decent mini-system or boombox, you're out of luck in the US, unless you're willing to spend bigger bucks on imports.
That must be why the SD-NX10 slipped right past me when it was introduced nearly three years ago.
But unlike most minidisc-equipped systems, Sharp actually brought this one ashore the US... for $1800!
Apparently, the American minidisc buyer had the same reaction as I do to that price, because Sharp rather quickly reduced the price to a mere $800.
I still didn't notice.
What brought the SD-NX10 to my attention was a little notice on the Minidisc Community Webpage ( http://www.minidisc.org ) in Aug. 2003 saying that these little stereos were being found for about $200 on Ebay. That got my attention, so I decided to investigate this little stereo a little more closely.
Unfortunately, not too much had been written about the SD-NX10, due in no small part to its price and the obscurity of minidisc, I'm sure. But the few reviews and message board posts I found praised it's sound, operation and good looks.
What's So Special About the SD-NX10?
The SD-NX10, actually, is quite an odd bird and quite unlike most other mini-systems or stereo components. It's kind of a hybrid of the two -- but, really, it's a whole other beast.
The remarkable thing about the SD-NX10, and the reason for its initially high price, is the unique amplifier technology Sharp used in it. Sharp calls it a 1-bit digital amplifier. It's a bit tough to cut through all the marketing lingo, but from what I can discern the digital amplifier is different because it takes digital signals as its input, then resamples them from a 16-bit (CD/MD standard) into a 1-bit signal at a very high rate. The SD-NX10 does this at 2.8 Mhz (or 2.8 million times a second), which is 63 times the sampling rate of CDs and MDs (which is 44.1 Khz, or 44.1 thousand times a second).
The amplifier then waits to turn this into analog audio until the very last stage of amplification. This is supposed to be very efficient, since it allows the amp to switch on and off as needed, as opposed to conventional amps that must stay on (to some extent) regardless of whether there's audible sound being output.
Many modern amplifier designs already use this "switching" method to develop fairly high power in more efficient and inexpensive packages. But, in turn, many audiophiles and high-end designers criticize this method, preferring more expensive, and inefficient designs where the amplifier is essentially always on. And, to an extent, I agree with some of those criticisms, because I've heard a lot of really mediocre sounding receivers and mid-fi switched amps. The problem with the unswitched amps is that they're big, heavy, and generate a lot of heat.
The difference with the Sharp 1-bit digital amplifier is that its switching happens at its sample rate: 2.8 million time a second. In fact, I believe that this sampling rate matches the one used by http://www.superaudio-cd.com, which also have a high-resolution 1-bit methodology for producing better-than-CD sound.
So, it seems as though the 1-bit digital amplifier is Sharp's bid to create the better mousetrap: an amp that enjoys the efficiency of switching, while overcoming its limits with cutting-edge technology.
In fact, Sharp is so confident in this new approach that they created a high-end stand-alone amplifier based on this technology that has a retail price of $15,000. I've even read positive reviews of this amp from typically persnickity audiophiles.
The biggest problem I see with this amplifier technology, and, by extension, the SD-NX10 has to do with the company behind it: they're both Sharps.
Maybe it's different in Asia, but here in the US Sharp is mostly associated with relatively cheap, low-end gear. If you're buying a stereo or camcorder, you buy the Sharp because you don't want to spend as much money as it would take to get a Sony or an Onkyo. But you want a brand name rather than some unknown off-brand. And, given the dubious sound and picture quality of a lot of Sharp products, you buy them because ultimate quality isn't a great concern.
How Is It?
So, with that out of the way, let me get right to it: the SD-NX10 is great stereo. I bought mine for $200, brand new on Ebay, and I couldn't be happier.
I had been thinking of getting a nice 2-channel stereo system for my living room. I have a home theater that is fine, but it's not really a "listening room" and, frankly, I think most surround sound A/V receivers are kind of weak for listening to plain old stereo music. So I was sniffing around the entry level high-end for some nice components to build a neat, unpretentious stereo hi-fi.
I was even looking at some "higher-end" integrated "mini-systems" from the likes of Marantz, Denon, Onkyo and Bang & Olfuson. The problem with those systems is that the ones I could afford all at once weren't really much of a step up from my surround-sound receiver, and for the price of a good system I could easily build something better with individual components. Not a good compromise in my book.
So, when I invetigated the SD-NX10 and Sharp's digital amplifier technology I was intriguiged. But the SD-NX10 is not just an amplifier.
The Details
The NX10 is a two-piece system: an integrated CD/MD player receiver and an amplifier. The integrated receiver essentially has all the sound sources (CD player, MD recorder and tuner) and a preamp together in a very attractive package.
Indeed, attractive looks are one of the biggest pluses with the NX10. The integrated receiver has a handsome brushed aluminum face plate with a rectangular LCD diplay in the center that has all the vital system information. A neat, but kind of useless feature is that the display can change color. You can set the color to be always the same, to change by source or to change randomly every time you switch function.
Now, on most mini-systems I would expect this color change trick to be garish and over-done. But, surprisingly, on the NX10 it's cool and tasteful. No blinking lights or useless pulsating bar graphs -- just a subdued glow.
The face of the integrated receiver is very clean because all of the controls are on the top of the unit. Unlike most systems and components, the NX10 is tall and shallow, rather than short and deep. This works to its advantage since the front face finish is so nice and attractive.
The buttons for the controls are all clearly marked, but identically shaped buttons. Aesthetically the consistent line of buttons is very nice looking, but functionally a little more confusion, since you have to really look at the buttons to know what the function is.
Both the CD and MD players have slot-in loading instead of trays. The slots are hidden behind a single motorized door which opens whenever you press the eject button for either function or press the individual door open/close button. Extra little motors and doors always concern me a little, but this one moves quietly and smoothly.
More so than most mass-market stereo equipment, it really seems like Sharp sweated the details on the NX-10... but, unfortunately not all of them.
While the front of the receiver is nice aluminum, the rest is grey plastic. It's not too cheesy, but how much more could it have cost to make it regular aluminum?
The CD player and tuner have all the regular features you'd expect, and are unremarkable otherwise. The CD player does not include any ultra-modern features like MP3 playback.
The minidisc recorder has MDLP, giving you the option of the longer-play LP2 (2.5 hour) and LP4 (5 hour) modes in recording and playback. This is nice for me since I have a bunch of minidisc equipment and often utilize the LP2 and LP4 modes for music discs. The NX10 will also dub digitally direct from CD to MD in real-time and double-speed, as well as record MDs direct from the radio or an auxiliary device.
The amplifier is also one sweet looking piece of equipment. The main attraction is it's front face, which is a mirrored aluminum that is simply gorgeous. Sharp even includes a little micro-fiber cleaning cloth so you can keep the finish bright and smudge free.
Sizewise, the amp is the same height as the receiver, but half the width, and several pounds heavier. The amp is rated for 25 watts per channel, but I must note that the amp is much heavier than many receivers I've used that are supposedly rated for several times that amount of power.
Unfortunately, Sharp cheaps out on a few things on the amp, too. Like the receiver, the rest of the body is plastic. The most egregious cheap-out move, though, are the speaker jacks. Most semi-serious mid-fi equipment, and all high-end equipment, has sturdy binding-posts that allow you to hook in severl different types of speaker wire connectors, including regular bare wire, and then screw down the connection nice and tight.
But not the NX10. No, you get cheapy spring-type connectors like you see on $79 Wal-Mart special mini-system. This means it's a pain to use better cables. Sharp offsets this slightly by including decent 16-gauge speaker wire with tinned ends, so they don't fray.
The amp connects to the receiver with both regular RCA cables and a special proprietary cable. It's important to note that the amplifier cannot be used with any other preamp or component. It will only work with it's mate.
Also included in the package are decent RCA cables with gold connectors, rather than the el-cheapo cables often enclosed with even expensive home audio equipment. There's also a remote and two speakers.
On the speakers, I'll first just say this: they're ugly, looking like something off the set of Buck Rogers TV show from the 1980s. They're also kind of lightweight and cheesy, made mostly of silvery plastic that looks all the more cheesy when compared to the nice finished on the front of the receiver and amp.
What's Really Important: The Sound
When I was investigating the NX10, the few reviews I read had mostly positive things to say, but nearly everyone who has one of these stereos agrees on one thing: the speakers are the weak point of the system. I agree.
I had this in mind when I unpacked my NX10 and set it up. So when I first fired it up and played a CD, I was pleasantly surprised. The midrange and the highs were much clearer, distinct and transparent than I think I've ever heard on a mini-system of any type.
The bass was there, but not in great quantities. Lots of posters to minidisc discussion boards complained about the lack of bass in the system. But I will say that, happily, part of the reason for weak bass is that Sharp didn't use any cheap tricks to enhance bass, which typically just results in throaty, boomy thumps that I don't want to hear in the first place. Realistically, small speakers can only produce only so much bass, and the Sharps do OK for being about eighteen inches tall and six inches wide and deep.
At moderate listening levels the sound is smooth, and pretty balanced. There is a definite emphasis on the upper midrange and high-end. I'd say, it's too much emphasis, because when you crank up the volume things get pretty shrill and messy.
The volume control is all-digital (because the amp is all-digital -- no analog knobs here), and goes from 1 - 40. At 40 the amp and speakers are at full clip, and it's unlistenable. Still, things were pretty good up to about 35 or so.
It's important to keep in mind that this system is only 25 watts a channel. But these are 25 good watts, and I'll guess it's a much more conservative rating than most mid-fi stereo equipment at your local Circuit City or Best Buy. When I look at the stereos there boasting 100 watts a channel I make sure to take along alot of grains of salt. By comparison, the NX10 earns every one of its 25 watts.
The NX10's digital amp has plenty of power to spare for most listening, and dynamic range is just short of incredible. At .02% the total harmonic distortion of the NX10 is darn low for any piece of audio equipment, regardless of price.
And it's quiet as hell when it's supposed to be. With any minisystem or A/V receiver, just try jacking up the volume all the way with no input. You're likely to hear some noise in the form of static -- probably a lot of it.
Jack up the volume on the NX10 with nothing playing and what do you hear? Nothing. Silence. That blew me away.
To the extent that the speakers will reveal, CD and MD playback is very good -- comparable to or better than any CD or MD unit available for less than $600. The NX10 performs to the limits of what the CD and MD format have to offer.
Room for Improvement
I had the NX10 for about a week before deciding that I would definitely upgrade the speakers. The sound with the included speakers was never less than pleasant and mostly engaging, but I was convinced that there was all sorts of untapped potential there.
However, although I strive for great sound, I'm also cheap and like to drive a bargain. Plus, I think it would be absurd to buy $1000 speakers for a $200 mini-system, even if it's better than any $200 mini-system you'll find in your local Best Buy.
Keeping an eye on the audio press, I found a pair of bookshelf speakers that came very highly regarded by Stereophile magazine. Stereophile is typically the domain of equipment that costs more than a new family sedan, so I was surprised to read their reviewer praising the $299 a pair Polk RTi28 bookshelf speakers, which are available at (horror of horrors) Circuit City. I decided to keep an eye out for deals on these speakers, give them a listen at a local store, and wait a few months 'til I had 300 bucks to spare.
But when I went to my local Circuit City this weekend to check them out, I found a pair of Polk RT600 towers on open box clearance for $65 a piece. Suggested retail price? $375 each! Bingo! They went home with me several minutes later.
The Polk RT600s are actually a 3 foot tall tower version of the one foot tall RTi28 bookshelf speakers, sporting the same drivers in a bigger cabinet, and therefore offering more bass. Now the Polk RT600s are hooked up to my NX10 in my living room.
After listening to an array of CDs, I have just one word:
Wow!
A mini-system simply has no right to sound this good. The upper midrange and high-end that was shrill and rough with the stock speakers has been smoothed out. Details have become clearer and the soundstage opened up. Imaging is amazing and puts my Pioneer A/V Receiver with decent NHT speakers to shame.
It's an old cliche, but it's oft-repeated because it comes true: I'm hearing things in recordings I haven't heard before, or only heard with expensive headphones.
The Polk RT600s have been described by some reviewers as being a little laid-back in the treble, especially compared to competing speakers from the likes of Infinity, which tend to have more "sizzle." I think that bit of laid back quality nicely complements the high-end capabilities of the NX10's digital amp.
The dynamic range of the NX10 has become clearer with the Polks. Quiet passages are clear, detailed and not lost in the noise floor. The Polks have pretty extended, but smooth bass response, and show off the hidden bass hiding in the NX10's output. The Polks are also pretty efficient, so they really make the most of those 25 watts a channel.
Don't get me wrong -- the NX10 will never rock the house to its foundation. But it will get pretty darned loud. But even at loud levels, it's not straining, until about the top of its volume range (around 38), when it's clear the amp is reaching and about to clip.
At more rational listening level the NX10 is smooth, transparent and unfatiguing. Even at low volumes, the entire spectrum remains clean and balanced, and the full dynamic range remains intact.
One small downfall of the NX10 is that it has no balance control -- so you have to be careful with speaker placement. It also lacks any real tone controls or equalizer. It does have an X-Bass setting, which is kind of like the loudness control on some receivers. As such, it pretty much just emphasizes the mid-bass, and makes things sound too unnaturally tubby for my taste.
The "qualizer" has three preset, unchangeable contours settings labeled "vocal," "soft" and "heavy." I guess they're OK if you really must change the sound, but mostly I think they're useless. Anyway, the NX10 is so transparent and relatively uncolored that any correction you'd want to make is due to problematic source material, not the amp or receiver.
The NX10 has one analog auxiliary input (RCA jacks) and an optical digital input. I don't think they can be used simultaneously.
I'm dying to try out a Super-Audio CD player with the system, since I think the 1-bit amp is just made for that kind of high-resolution digital audio (Sharp does make a SACD player with this 1-bit technology, but even on Ebay it's about a grand).
I also want to try a nice turntable, since I think it might be an interesting and sonically rewarding combo. But since the NX10 doesn't have a phono input, I'd need to get a phono preamp. The preamp is the first stage where the sound takes shape, so to really put the NX10 to the test with analog material, I'd want to get a good preamp, not a $25 Radio Shack unit.
Conclusion
Without a doubt the SD-NX10 is an amazing little mini-system that could have been an audio-world wunderkind, but is held back by lackluster speakers, some cheap details and its Sharp family-name.
While that's bad news for Sharp, it's music to the ears of wily would-be audiophiles. Bargain-hunters like you and me can shell out $200 for a SD-NX10 and come home with an integrated receiver and amplifier worthy of a boutique stereo shop that competes with equipment costing hundreds, if not thousands more.
No, this is not true high-end audiophile-grade equipment. But it is so darn close, in the way that some of the better mass market stereo equipment is able to acheive -- think Denon, Marantz, Onkyo, Harmon/Kardon, NAD and even Rotel, rather than Sony, Kenwood, JVC and Technics.
To get a better 2-channel stereo CD and amplifier combo I contend you'd have to shell out at least $1500 in a decent stereo shop. No kidding.
To my ears the SD-NX10 excells with jazz and intimate pop music -- even electric jazz and rootsy rock. It is pushed a little too much by some hard rock and heavy metal, partly because a lot of it is simply recorded with too much compression and too little dynamic range. I must mention again that the SD-NX10 has dynamic range to spare, and should be fed appropriately. I haven't tested it with much electronica or dance music, but I guess that the more challenging and dynamic stuff will sing on the NX10.
If you're looking for a very nice-sounding, transparent and clean little 2-channel stereo system, you just simply can't go wrong with the SD-NX10 -- especially since they're going for $200 these days. (Even Sharp is selling them for that price on their own Ebay store).
If you get one, just do yourself a favor, and get upgrade those speakers. And don't scrimp too much, since the ones that are included aren't that bad. Avoid speaker rands that also make stereo equipment (Pioneer, Sony), noname and brands past their prime (Dual, MTX, KLH) and go for respected brands that just focus on speakers (JBL, Infinity, Polk Klipsh, et al). Even if you just buy a good brand's entry-level bookshelf speaker, you're probably making an improvement.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
mediageek
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Member: Paul Riismandel
Location: Chicago, IL
Reviews written: 25
Trusted by: 4 members
About Me:
I'm a true mediageek--into all sorts of electronics and gadgets for making media.
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