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This review first appeared in the March 2013 issue of hi-end hifi magazine fairaudio.de of Germany. You can also read this review of Nubert in its original German version. We publish its English translation in a mutual syndication arrangement with the publishers. As is customary for our own reviews, the writer's signature at review's end shows an e-mail address should you have questions or wish to send feedback. All images contained in this review are the property of fairaudio or Nubert - Ed.
Reviewer: Markus Sauer
Sources: Heed Obelisk DT & Obelisk DA, Garrard 401 in Loricraft plinth, Alphason HR100S arm,
Ortofon Cadenza Black cartridge, Loricraft The Missing Link phonostage
Amplification: Mace digital preamp; Symasym & Ncore power amps; Harman/Kardon HK620 integrated
Loudspeakers: JBL LSR 6332
Review component retail: €670/pr

Expanding horizons. Fairaudio sees itself as a writer's publication. This accommodates the personal experience and tastes of its reviewers. Having only brushed up against Nubert once with one of their floorstanders at a friend's, I welcomed the editor's suggestion to look more closely at their new nuLine 34 as perfect opportunity to indulge personal curiosity and broaden my horizons. The nuLine 34 is set to soon replace the nuLine 32 which colleague Jochen Reinecke reviewed so favorably in June of 2010 as to garner a fairaudio favourite award in 2011. Dimensions except for length remain mostly unchanged. Nubert enhanced cubic volume by adding depth. Studying the tech specs, one difference jumps out immediately. The nuLine 32 response is 68 – 24.000Hz ±3dB which gets boosted to 42Hz with the ATM electronic EQ box. The nuLine 34 hits 48Hz without assist. At least on paper bass reach versus the 32 solo has gained about half an octave to be in a nearly different league. Listening would check on this more closely.

Over the phone Günther Nubert explained that the nuLine 34 isn't mere a tweaked 32 but a complete ground-up revisit. Though looking similar, both drivers benefited from considerable advances. For years now Nubert has chipped away at deep bass. Here the nuVero 14 became a breakthrough which was strategically shared with other models in the catalogue. The folks in Schwäbisch Gmünd are convinced that their new combination of cubic volume, efficiency and LF extension sets new records. Big words for sure but the listed F3 was certainly noteworthy. Questioned whether this was achieved with a high-pass capacitor on the woofer, Günther Nubert explained that he dislikes said solution. He pursues extension the "traditional way". What exactly he meant by that—the usual increase of moving mass for a lower resonant frequency accompanied by a beefier motor would be an insufficient explanation—remains a secret so as to not educate his competition.

The polypropylene mid-woofer's ±12mm linear excursion potential is augmented by a bass reflex opening of stout diameter. The port tube isn't folded but aimed at the tweeter's magnet whereof it just stops short. It's rounded over inside and out to counter chuffing noise from air flow inside the port. That its diameter would be significant doesn't surprise given the claimed extension. The air mass inside the tube has to be relatively high to remain effective at lower frequencies. At my favored SPLs which are from lower to moderate given neighbors, the woofer diaphragm barely moved. Even at stout levels well beyond expectations for such a box the drivers never lost their composure. Günther Nubert takes pride in how gently his loading limits to eliminate sudden distortion spikes which would make dynamic compression far more obvious.

In the treble Nubert talks of a brand-new nuOva tweeter with special mounting plate and damped rear chamber. The acoustically optimized mounting plate allowed for an increase of the edge-distance differential of the firm's always off-center spacing which is claimed to further reduce axial edge-diffraction effects. The asymmetrical layout means each pair comes as a left and right speaker. The boxes themselves are identical of course. The tweeter assembly simply mounts right-side up or inverted to achieve the desired offset without complicating the assembly. Otherwise the tweeter is a typical fabric dome without special visual giveaways. The made-in-Germany enclosure is clad in real-wood veneer (Cherry or Nut) and my samples were impeccably finished. Of course there's de rigueur lacquer too and in a choice of black, Platinum or white. I'll otherwise refrain from tech descriptions seeing just how comprehensive the maker's own website is where interested readers already have all they might possibly need.