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

hilde45

What has worked for me over the years: take exactly opposite of what AmirM says. In other words, if he likes something, I will never consider buying it. Scratch from my list. If he does not like something, it automatically goes to my watch list. This strategy has had a very high correlation with what I generally like to hear from any components. 

Ok, so this has become an overall evaluation of Amir’s approach or Amir. Agon is an open forum, so do whatever. I’m not interested in ad hominem attacks on Amir or on objectivism etc. I’m interested in his claims. If you are too, I’d be curious what stood out, right or wrong about those claims. Otherwise, empty your clips or whatever; I’ll be elsewhere.

Oh, just looked at thread on video. Apparently, GR has updated their video, admitted to some errors, doubled down on others. This is all about the details in the video, so be warned.

I'm no expert by any means but 85-90 dbs is awfully loud for a tiny desktop loudspeaker to be playing at full range without a sub to cross over to. The other loudspeaker he used for comparison was the orange to his apple. That's my very amateurish take.

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. 
 

 

The speaker is clearly designed to play near field at probably max 70-80 db.  It clearly wasn’t tested that way.  It’s like taking a Ferrari out on a off road course and pronouncing that the car is designed poorly.