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  • 3.5" titanium full-range driver with neodymium magnet, impedance 8 ohm, sensitivity 87dB 1W/1m, frequency response 80Hz to 20kHz.
  • A 7 ft. pair RJ45 Cat 6 cable that comes with the S-1 signals the Icon's equalizer to optimize the S-1's response characteristics.
  • To optimize the S-1's bass, NuForce advises positioning the speakers close to a wall not too far from the listening position.

Early in my John Blue AudioArt JB3 review, I voiced skepticism about the definition of full range. How full is full? 80Hz to 20kHz from a 3.5" driver certainly does not alleviate an ounce of doubt. The MDF cabinet here boasts a cone-shaped waveguide, which, according to Jason, "boosts the midrange, adding +6dB at 1.5kHz. The active filter in the Icon counters that with a filter range of 800Hz to 2.5kHz and a center frequency at 1.5kHz and -6dB attenuation. The EQ has no other purpose." In other words, you better use the S-1 with the Icon and the Cat6 cables to optimize linear response. A quick peek inside the back panel revealed the looping circuit that connects the two outer conductors of the Cat6 cables - kind of clever. My only reservation is going through the entire cable length to do the secret handshake and coming all the way back. If you have cut a Cat5 or Cat6 cable, you know how the conductors intertwine in twisted pairs. Talking about short signal paths, this compensation circuit surely goes a long and winding way. (Cat5 and Cat6 have the same geometry except the latter is thicker and requires different, slight bigger RJ45 terminations. NuForce supplies Cat5 in 1m lengths and Cat6 in 2 meters.)


While letting the S-1 break in, I tailor made a pair of MYOSS stands with compound marble bases. As part of my hopelessly skeptic nature, I kept thinking about bypassing the equalizer to prove its existence - or reason for its existence. Eventually I had a bunch of DIY RJ45-to-binding-post adapters made up. The first pair of ends had the two outer conductors 1 and 8 floated to plug into the S-1. The second pair to plug into the Icon had the two outer conductors lead out to be connected or disconnected through a mini connector. Hence I not only shortened the signal path by 14 feet (back and forth but I could activate the -6dB (1.5kHz) equalization circuit at will. I settled for light-weight binding posts instead of heavy-duty gold-plated ones because those kept pulling the Icon off kilter. I kept all necessary parts and tools at home since I last completed the modem/router connections to our pre-wired Ethernet outlets. If you don't want to invest in a crimp tool, simply buy the shortest Cat5 or Cat6 cables prefitted with RJ45s and cut them into two shorties (6 to 8 inches). Then you need some binding posts and heat-shrink tubing. All that should cost you less than $30 and the signal paths will surely be shorter than the RJ45CX.

After all the fuss, my curiosity found sanity. I definitely preferred the S-1 with the -6 dB EQ compensation activated. But let me first deal with the original 7ft Cat6 cables that activate the EQ through a 14' trigger. I faithfully conducted this part of the audition in a desktop environment, with the S-1 placed in the two corners, at about 1 foot off the front wall and 2 feet off the sides. The optimal listening position was typical nearfield, between a 45-90-45 and 40-100-40 triangle. I found the S-1 to be just as soft-spoken as the Icon if not more so. One can comfortably associate vocabulary like "flowing, mellifluous, supple, velvety, dulcet". Apart from those, I still want "sparkles, speed, zest and excitement". The S-1 is not a very exciting speaker. It's definitely bass shy; very bass shy. Without the EQ compensation to produce a 6dB peak 1.5 kHz, one gets a false sense of richer bass. With solo vocals, you could almost get away with that except for a small penalty of nasality and muddiness. With other music, I definitely favored the EQ interference.