Fascinated By GR Research Channel


Lately I've watched a number of the videos on GR Research's youtube channel and been very intrigued. If you aren't familiar with them, they design and sell some speakers, but most of their business is DIY speaker kits, and doing upgrades on customer's speakers. In the videos, they show how they measure the performance characteristics of speakers sent in and then explain the thought process and methodology of choosing improvements. 

If nothing else, anyone wanting to better understand the technical section of reviews (e.g. John Atkinson's in Stereophile), would likely learn something watching.

Another interesting aspect of these videos is the clear untangling of various manufacturers' choices in balancing cost for performance and the sonic impact of various compromises. 

Get your popcorn and check it out. 

I'm also curious to hear of your experiences with any of their kits or products and if your findings match their messaging. I've always understood that better parts quality will improve sonics, but this channel demonstrates exactly how with great clarity...fascinating! Cheers,

Spencer 

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I recently just built a set of his NX-Studio speakers. Holy balls are those things absolutely amazing. Comparing them to anything I've heard before would be an insult to how much better they are. They are so open and transparent sounding it is unbelievable. And since it was all done with my own sweat equity it was at a fraction of the price compared to purchasing retail thus affordable to the average joe.

On the subject of Danny and his business, yes he is a business man. He has a job to do of promoting his products and his services. He is no different than any small business owner except his job is pretty freaking awesome working in the audio industry. The dude knows his stuff, but doesn't have a poker face when dealing with "cheesy parts" as he would say. I know he wouldn't intend to offend anybody for buying or making speakers built to a price point. It's the same as buying a Chevy Malibu instead of a Ferrari 458. Some people love their Malibu because it fits their lifestyle and their budget while some demand the performance and status of a Ferrari. Their company just tries to close the gap between the two.

This endorsement was not paid for or approved by GR Research, just a happy customer with only good interactions with the guy and his staff.

I can verify that the man knows what he's doing. I bought into the Klipsch RP600M craze and unfortunately was left disappointed. Wish I would have caught Ron and New Record Day's review before purchasing. The shortfalls he described are exactly what I was hearing. Luckily he recommended Danny at GR Research and had an interesting comparison video trying to illustrate the difference before and after.

Picked up the upgrade from Danny. Skipped the tube connectors and instead kept the original binding posts. I took measurements before and after to verify that I had everything set up correctly. Sure enough the speakers measured flatter after the upgrade. The big valley between the woofer and tweeter was largely gone. The peaks in the tweeter we're smoothed out and response was nice and flat.

In the end I have a set of speakers that I can run without any sort of EQ and I am very happy with how they sound. Can't recommend his upgrades enough if there is something you're unhappy with in your current speakers and would rather not run EQ.

Only thing I don't find value in are things like tube connectors and special cables. If you're chasing that final 1% I could see it, but personally I'm okay with skipping that stuff. Not dismissing it, but I bet there are people who would be turned off by the way he pushes that stuff, especially when the whole measurements vs trusting your ears debate seems to be so heated lately.

 

GR Research is over on Audio Circle.  He is one of many audio Industries that have a site on AC.  I spend a lot more time on AC than Agon, WHY?  They is the friendly knowledgeable posters.  His articles are well documented with pictures and he answers the why do it this way.  Unfortunately, for me, he does not do planar speakers.  I will eventually consult Richie for a better xover in my 1.7i Maggie's.  There are many nice knowledgeable folks on Agon, but, I get very tired of wading through the politics to get to the gems.  

@dwmaggie the issue with Audio Circle is that it's the equivalent of a communist country.  The moderators will take any negative comments out because the companies that have "circles" pay for those in advertising.  So anything that is viewed negatively by the company they will have the moderators delete it. 

Felt that applied since you brought up politics. ;) 

But using that as an example of what kind of feedback you get there isn't really worth anything.

But I remember Danny being involved with av123/Mark Schifter back in the day too.

@dwmaggie Gr Research does have a crossover upgrade kit for the Magnepans. I did it with my 1.7i's and would say it was a worthwhile upgrade.