Chris K. Review

“If you are looking for the most immersive musical experience leaving you feeling like you heard sounds from another dimension without the use of hallucinogenics, then the SonicNEST is it.  Period!

At first glance I notice the unobtrusive design of what appears to be a simple elevated meditation platform large enough in diameter for anyone to sit on. Myself weighing in at 190 lbs, I decided to test the sturdiness of the construction by standing and hopping on it which felt solid without any sway, bend, pivoting, or the like.  Sitting down it was comfortable on the memory foam seat.  Tom tells me to close my eyes, and just simply relax as he puts on some music.  While I don't know the name of the song for reference purposes, it was a meditative serene tune with what sounded like a water stream in the background.  Now what I will now write is based on personal subjectivity to be the most immersive, definitive, audibly distinct experiences I ever had.  For a moment I felt as if I was seated in a stream with the water flowing against the rocks around me that at one point I put out my hand as if I wanted to run my fingers through the water just to realize it was nothing more than the crystal clear amplified sound coming from the speakers.  You can literally hear the drops of water falling back into the stream after gently hitting against the rocks.  Something that if you would sit in an actual stream to replicate it couldn't be done because of how these speakers create an amplified true 360 degree surrounding atmosphere around you.   

    With my eyes continued to be closed Tom then played another atmospheric segment, where I could literally envision myself in an alley along the romantic cobblestone streets in Italy drinking coffee outside watching people passing by and when a scooter reminiscent of the engine of a Vespa drove by, I literally heard the engine from a distance in my left passing in front of me and fading off to the right.  People walking around me was distinct.  It was as if while seated it was real people you can feel walking in front, behind and to the sides of me talking with conversations fading in volume as they drifted further away.

     Then when Tom played an atmospheric meditative tune, I can honestly say it was the first time ever in my life without doing all the pre-meditative exercises and countdowns to get into such state that it was nearly automatic.  I truly felt as if I was in a trance like state fully relaxed, yet focused and aware of my surroundings taking it all in.

     Now with any review one must objectively not only highlight the pros but the cons as well.  Being a musician playing drums and bass guitar I have an innate nuance for the lower frequencies.  In a clear tone or song, the SonicNEST thrives beyond any other surround speaker system I have ever experienced.  However, if you want to listen to heavily distorted tunes in the multiple genres of metal, then perhaps you may not be totally captivated. I had Tom play "Unbreakable" by Lorna Shore, and I was able to pick up very distinct nuances especially in the mid and treble range, but low end like the bass guitar and in particular the kick drums would get lost in the mix, and not as noticeable. 

Another is positioning.  If you sit criss cross applesauce or similar yoga meditative positions, then there is absolutely nothing like the SonicNEST to provide you with the most unique and immersive atmospheric experience especially when conducting meditation exercises.  However, if you suffer from back pain, or cannot be seated in that position for more than 15 minutes, you may find the experience less desirable as you would begin to focus on physical discomfort and not what the SonicNEST was intended for.

Overall, with being a musician for over 30 years, owning six different sets of headphones, multiple amps throughout the decades, three different custom sound systems in my home, while playing and attending countless concerts of all genres from a 25 person small coffee shop venue to a stadium size concert, nothing and I mean nothing provided a more definitive immersive atmospheric experience with such true clarity and detail as the SonicNEST. “

Chris K., Berlin CT