The NOLA Brio Quatro System - Florida 2019
February 20, 2019 · by Eric Shook
The Brio Trio three piece system (two semi-open-baffle monitors and
one sub-woofer) was something I wrote about as a static display during
my visit to Denver in Fall of 2018 at Rocky Mountain Audiofest that
year for our sister site PartTimeAudiophile.
Originally I was rather charmed by Nola’s tower speakers and their
signature live sound. Seeing the small Brio Trio did intrigue me, so
when I saw an active Brio display was scheduled to happen at the
Florida Audio Expo, I couldn’t wait to give it a spin. The Nola’s Brio
Quatro, is a four-piece high-end speaker system that employs the same
"1-1/2 way-loaded monitor as the Trio. Each satellite monitor is
compact and features identical 3-1/2 inch drivers; the upper loaded in
Nola’s signature open-baffle configuration, while the second (and
lower) driver is loaded into a rear-ported enclosure. Recommended
stands for these full-range satellites is stated at 31-inches. A
little known fact about the Brio satellites is that because the upper
and lower drivers are identical, without crossover, and only differ in
loading — they operate at mid-range and high frequencies as a line
source. Which when it’s all said and done, they do sound amazing.
In the Quatro configuration it is two sealed 8-inch powered
sub-woofers round out the lower frequencies in true stereo. Each
sub-woofer is powered by a stout 250 watts of class-A/B
amplification. The amplifier used is similar to the one used in the
Nola T-Bolt system, however in this iteration, just smaller. Each
sub-woofer features continuously variable level and crossover
frequency controls (from 40Hz-180Hz, 24dB/octave), 6dB at 35Hz
switchable EQ, a phase switch, line-level and speaker-level inputs,
enabling it to be seamlessly matched to the Brio main satellite
speakers. Available in gloss black (as pictured) for $5,000 USD. If a
single sub version is still better to your liking, the Brio Trio (same
as above, with one less sub-woofer) still is in the product line-up
and is available for $3,500 USD.
Personally, I found the use of stereo sub-woofers to be almost too
addictive to pass up. However if budget and space is an issue, start
with the Trio, and possibly build to the Quatro over time. Stereo bass
with two sub-woofers isn’t about adding more bass, it’s about fully
realizing true stereo reproduction of instruments across the entire
frequency range.
Speaking of range, the stated frequency range of the system, is 28hz
to 20khz, and from my own experience and still young ears, I say it
covers them all with flying colors. Also of note, is that the
satellites are to be driven by the electronics of your choosing, while
the sub-woofers being still self-powered, it is ideal to "sample"
their input frequency directly from the amplifier’s output terminals,
or from the rear input terminals located on the Brio satellites. This
allows the signal at both satellite and subwoofer to be of the same
character. It’s truly the only way to go, but you have options
still.