There were situations where the only preventive measure from pushing still steeper SPL was common sense. Nenuphar could go far beyond what my ears could tolerate though always with iron grip and zero shout. Upon demand it acted like a dynamically gifted open-throated wildling. It was fearless of any repertoire yet never overplayed that aspect.
Everything Nenuphar did above the bass wasn't second-grade either. On the contrary, the midrange is where such purist designs traditionally shine and today's truly delivered. Its point-source transducers provided a tremendously direct, immediate, clear and open experience which grew as euphonic and expressive as my playlist allowed. The sensation of finely sculpted very much living marvelously defined images was constant. I had all vocals as distant or close as they could possibly be and always moist, perfectly focused and pinpoint accurate regardless of scenario. If a given recording had female lips almost touch a microphone, that's exactly what I heard. I could hear and feel such intimacy to a very deep degree.
A potent bass foundation could easily turn many a product into high-performance brutes with little sophistication elsewhere. Not here. Downstairs slam, generous textural tissue and fabulous elasticity weren't primary attractors but supportive measures. Nenuphar was capable of instant mood shifts. It went from bad-ass bass fiend to sensual, polite fully domesticated aesthete on a dime to connect two often mutually exclusive worlds. It was quick, agile and bold yet also euphonic, organic and rich. Tremendous directness and insight engaged regardless of a track's core flavor, pace or tonal emphasis. The ability to display everything not in any forced blunt but very civilized tasteful fashion was impressive. Internal coherence and elegance stripped of any showiness were even more so.
One driver doing all the work always promises great soundstage accuracy and this specimen was no different. Due to that and its inherent directness, the way it painted images was not only admirably clear but borderline physical, unbelievably vivid and present to a point that instruments and voices were with me right here right now. This acute sensation has to be experienced since words here just don't do it any justice.
