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Interesting ASR review of small GR Research speaker kit

I bounce between various kinds of analysis — more subjective listening reports, more quantitative measurement analyses and, my favorite, those that combine both strategies to tell a useful story about audio products.

Amir of ASR has just done a very powerful takedown of a fairly inexpensive kit being sold by Danny at GR Research. Not only does he prove his point about the speakers, he also makes (to my mind) a very convincing case that Danny put his finger on the scale in how he reported his own measurements. 

I'm not in any camp — Danny's or Amir's or anyone else's. What I appreciate is thoroughness and meticulousness in exposition. Danny does that in his own videos. (Again -- to me. I'm really still learning and cannot easily spot gaps in argument in this subject matter.)

I know people with some of GR's best kits — and I've heard one of them. They sounded incredible. I've watched a bunch of Danny's videos where he criticizes other companies; I've come away thinking, "Wow, he really revealed some of the grift embedded in that product." 

But here, the tables are turned, it seems, on Danny. I hope he responds, both to defend his reputation and methods, but also because it will set in relief where some of the distance may be between these two dominant online figures' methods in assessing what makes for a good speaker.

https://youtu.be/IikqAg38FPs

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Showing 3 responses by james633

james633
911 posts
 

A tiny driver will never be good. No replacement for displacement. They might be ok in the extreme near field (1-2’ desk speakers). 

GR resource made a “rebuttal” video already. 
 

For me? Measurements matter but not everything important is measured. The speakers I have liked long term that have been less fussy have always measured well. Hard to argue with a kipple when used right. 

james633
911 posts
 

Those kipple measurements are right for sure and I imagine the comments are correct. The design of those speakers is just dumb. 
 

GR Research top kits seem like good sound for the money though. I have seen a few comments about the cheap drivers though with plastic baskets etc.   
 

i thought this video was good. Good channel too. 
 

 

james633
911 posts
 

As a 25 year audiophile I can tell you measurements matter a lot but are just a stage gate for me. I am not interested in poor measuring speakers/equipment but that does not mean I like every good measuring speaker as not all things of value are measured. It has to measure well for me to bother hearing it. 
 

for me it goes in this order 

#1 flat frequency response within reason. Measurable 
 

#2 even dispersion, wide or narrow as long as it is even. In a good room give me wide. Measurable 
 

#3 tone,resonances. Does it sound natural? No weird cone breakup or crossover oddities, no crazy port noise, I prefer no secondary port rise at all. This all can be measured but takes a very skilled eye as these are way down in the graph details because of this I like to hear about listen impressions and they are important. 
 

#4 dynamics, distortion can be measured but it is not the whole story. Adding square waves would help imo. 

#5 soundstage, Room setup critical, dispersion at play here. Too many factors and I fall back to experience in listening  

 

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