Danny Richie on loudspeaker design.

@dz13: One thing Danny is criticized for IS resigning some of the loudspeakers sent him. His critics ask: what makes him (or us) think he knows more about designing than the engineers at, say, Klipsch?

Well, in his videos on various Klipsch models, Danny demonstrates exactly what he found to be "wrong" with them. He found the Klipsch crossovers caused the two drivers to be out of phase at the crossover frequency, causing a deep hole in the frequency response there. And when Klipsch introduced the Mk.2 versions of those same models, what had they changed? The crossovers, and in exactly the same way Danny had! So yes, Danny apparently DOES know more than the Klipsch designers. ;-)

On some speakers he finds no serious problems, and merely upgrades the garbage parts used in most loudspeaker crossovers (regardless of price): replacing electrolytic caps with film ones, carbon resistors with film, the terrible binding posts found on most speakers (which contain ferrous parts!) with his own Tube Connectors, etc.

He also addresses the ringing he sees in his spectral decay measurements (waterfall plots) he takes via compensation parts in the crossovers he designs, ringing left unaddressed by the loudspeaker’s designer (whether for financial or other reasons).

With some loudspeakers he finds the problems to be too serious to correct (often because of the drivers themselves), with others not economically justifiable. All of this is what he talks about in his many videos, a free source of valuable information whether you decide to modify your speakers or not. The info also makes you a more informed consumer, more aware of what to look (and listen) for in a loudspeaker you are considering buying.

@johnk: the OB/Dipole Sub CAN be confusing. The wiring of both the 2 or 3 woofers and the servo-feedback circuit has to be done correctly, or the sub won’t work properly. But the wiring diagram has been posted numerous times on the GR Research website and AudioCircle Forum. Plus, an owner can always call Danny for help---he’s a very nice guy.

When correctly assembled, the sub is like no other you’ve ever heard! Lean, no fat what-so-ever. Makes "normal" subs sound "plump". ;-)

i don't see him talking trash about MANY companies, as one person here suggested. He is only saying that there are going to be inherent problems in ANY design and he specializes in taking the best qualities and rectifying minor (or major) problems and improving a speaker. I have been designing since the late 70's and I would trust this man testing and evaluating MY speakers which 'I' feel are just fine. He knows about the kinds of parameters and how each creates a cause & Effect on a system.
Just last week I tried to give a simple caution to a person who wanted to mod his speakers. It is one thing to be willing to sacrifice a piece of equipment, while trying to improve it, as opposed to someone who actually know the design characteristic and how each play their part in the final sound quality. Of course this person got pretty much bent out of shape becasue 'How dare I judge his abilities' or motives'.
Some people you just can't giver free advice to .

While I wouldn't exactly buy any of his modified speakers from other companies myself, I can reasonably see those things as maybe a viable option for someone else. Maybe one or two his better successes there might be interesting food for thought though. But, if Danny's not saying that most of the speakers out there are schlock, then I suppose I might say it - not that I'm here to launch some kind of campaign against them, exactly. But, that's why I finally went the DIY speaker route, and when I did everything opened up for me and I was able to get everything I ever wanted from a pair of speakers, for the first time ever. I even based the main speakers loosely on one of his original designs and his thought processes have been very influential on me.

His original designs have always struck me as potentially very good, though they tend to have more or less different applications (as many speakers do), but I mean he seems to have a better grasp than even many manufacturers that good, well-thought out crossover design is a critical part of good speaker design.

But, if a maker can willfully screw the pooch on crossover design (and it's often so bad that I don't think it qualifies as simply 'saving money') then my first question is what else in the overall design did they also screw up? I've seen so many bad crossover designs now, that it's no surprise to me that they are often associated with extremely bad driver mismatching as well for example, which can even be the bigger sin...something no good crossover design can remedy. But, for my own purposes, why would I want to throw bad money after good to try and improve the sound if I can avoid spending the bad money in the first place?

To me, it seems most of these speakers are not built to a design standard and not even built to a price point - it's as if they are just being 'built' - that might be the best I can say about some of them. And that they are just being built for no other purpose than to get them out the door. I'm sorry to say it that way, I'm not trying to step on anyone's toes here, but that's roughly about the state of the speaker market in my mind at the moment, at least with the brands and price ranges Danny's been working with and also from what I've happened to experience as a longtime audiophile as well.

But, overall I think Danny does excellent work and I think of him as a 'solid plus' for the industry (he keeps 'em on their toes!) and for the hobby.