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A brief review of GR Research Bully

I was looking for speakers that would allow me to enjoy classic rock at reasonable volume. NOT at a venue volume. I don’t like loud music at all. Thus something that allows me to have full spectrum sound without having to crank in up. First I tried ProAc 38R, which were nice, but lacked bass at low volumes. Accuphase amp has loudness and tone controls, but they did not quite worked to my satisfaction.

So I ordered a pair of GR Research Bully, assembled. GR typically sells kits, but I am not into finishing cabinets so rather prefer it professionally done. It took about 12 weeks from the order to delivery. I did not buy matching stands and instead ordered custom metal made for me.

I am very satisfied. The bass section is powered - the amp is Rhythmik. It is, effectively, a subwoofer and is very adjustable - crossover frequency 40-120Hz, phase 0-180 and even includes parametric equalizer. This allowed me to adjust amount of bass to the volume level I prefer.

The speakers come with printed measurement chart (in GR Research room). I also performed a number of measurements in my room with UMIK-1 and REW for Windows. I could make frequency response pretty close to linear, but prefer a bump below 100 Hz to compensate for lower listening volumes. Waterfall is also very clean, no ringing.

Associated gear: Denafrips Terminator with DDC, Rega P6 + SoundSmith MC, Pass XP-12, Accuphase E650. The room is 30x16x8 with some acoustic panels and ASC Tube traps.

Room frequency response

Room waterfall

mikhailark
mikhailark OP
387 posts
 

@moonwatcher - since you can dial sub part, you can add enough bass for YOUR level of listening, compensating for the typical loudness curve loss and room issues. I only wish they would have remote with different presets :-) so I could flip between levels for different recordings or my mood of the day...

Dialing in took a while. I first dialed to my general taste using favorite recordings, then measured using REW software and UMIK-1 mic. Moved speakers around quite a bit and found that they like to be quite close into corners. I didn't need parametric EQ although there is a room mode dip so I may try and compensate later. 

Now, imaging is surprisingly wide. I don't have to be in a sweet spot - as compared to, say, ProAc 38R that I also own.

I think $5-6K Bullies sound like many $20K+ speakers. I am pretty happy with value for money. Wish they would use higher end finish and have remote for the sub.

cdc
1,929 posts
 

Someone's been a very bad boy.cheeky

moonwatcher
529 posts
 

To the OP, @mikhailark having a remote for changing the response "on the fly" for various music genres and volume levels would be icing on the cake.  You might want to mention that to GR Research. Maybe they would make it an option one day. Have fun and happy listening! 

deep_333
1,912 posts
 

Wish they would use higher end finish and have remote for the sub.

In case you didn't know, you can paint over the duratex finish... a rustic wood or whatever.

Not sure if the sub section includes a line-in which could accept a separate line-out from your amplifier.... If that's the case use this unit and you will have a remote control.  

https://www.newark.com/mcm-custom-audio/50-8394/line-level-volume-control-rohs/dp/79X4195

 

p05129
529 posts
 

A couple of things. IMO, The OP tried to do the impossible in the beginning, no passive speaker was going to provide decent bass at low volumes, and IMO the only way to get even bass at low volumes is to get 1 or many powered subwoofers. GR makes very nice speakers, but you could have purchased hundreds of other speakers with a couple of REL subwoofers and achieved what you were looking for. Many other speakers in the past couple of decades have provided powered subwoofers in their speakers, like definitive technology. 
 

quickjacks replies were very odd to say the least. If I were quickjack, sell those speakers, and save your money to buy a pair of good speakers. Spending $100 (especially $1,000-$2,000) on crossover upgrades on your speakers is like putting lipstick on a pig. I remember some of those speakers in many years past and they weren’t that good when new. The 2ce’s were ok but I still wouldn’t upgrade them. Current technology is light years ahead of any of the old stuff.

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