Name: NHT SW2P Subwoofer with MA1 amp | Holm Audio
Price: 595.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Description

The NHT SW2P subwoofer system, paired with the NHT MA-1 mono amplifier, represents one of the most distinctive modular subwoofer designs of the early 1990s. Created by the American loudspeaker company Now Hear This (NHT), the system was designed to provide accurate, musical bass extension while offering flexible integration with both stereo and home-theater systems. Rather than building the amplifier directly into the subwoofer cabinet, NHT opted for a separate subwoofer and external amplifier/crossover, allowing greater placement flexibility and improved heat management.

The SW2P system centers on the SW2 subwoofer, a compact 10-inch driver housed in a vented 16-inch cube enclosure finished in NHT’s signature gloss-black laminate. Despite its relatively small size, the design was engineered to extend low-frequency performance into the low-20 Hz range, enabling it to reproduce deep bass notes that smaller bookshelf speakers cannot handle on their own.

NHT originally developed the SW2 series to complement its popular satellite speakers such as the SuperZero and SuperOne. When paired with those speakers, the subwoofer helped create a full-range system capable of delivering powerful low frequencies while preserving the clarity and imaging of compact monitors. According to technical descriptions, the SW2 could extend the low-frequency response of compatible NHT speakers to –3 dB at roughly 21 Hz, an impressive figure for a relatively small enclosure.

Driving the subwoofer is the MA-1 amplifier, a dedicated single-channel power amplifier and electronic crossover specifically designed for the SW2. The amplifier was engineered by NHT designer Ken Kantor, who focused on achieving accurate crossover integration and stable power delivery for the subwoofer system. The MA-1 provides 80 watts of continuous power into 8 ohms, with dynamic peaks up to about 120 watts into lower impedance loads.

One of the MA-1’s defining features is its flexible crossover system. The amplifier can route signals to the main speakers while simultaneously sending low-frequency information to the subwoofer, making it possible to integrate the SW2P into systems without a dedicated subwoofer output. The crossover can be set to several frequencies—including 50, 80, or 110 Hz—allowing users to tailor the blend between the subwoofer and their main speakers for optimal room response.

The MA-1 also includes both speaker-level and line-level inputs, making the SW2P compatible with a wide range of amplifiers and receivers. This versatility was particularly useful in the early days of home theater, when many systems lacked modern bass-management features.

Review coverage of NHT’s SW2 system highlighted its compact size and strong bass performance relative to its footprint. In an evaluation of NHT’s satellite/subwoofer systems, Stereophile noted that the SW2 was a “true subwoofer with response down in the low twenties,” emphasizing that the small 16-inch cube could deliver deep bass without visually dominating a room.

Another technical review noted that the amplifier and subwoofer combination could produce “levels exceeding 108 dB SPL,” more than enough output for typical domestic listening environments and movie soundtracks.

Today, the SW2P with MA-1 remains a respected vintage subwoofer system among enthusiasts. Its modular design, compact footprint, and musical bass response make it a practical companion for classic NHT loudspeakers and other compact audiophile monitors.

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