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

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

 

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.

@p05129 - somewhat true :-) Except it is also possible with Dirac (my HT system has full size speakers (Tannoy D700), no sub and has good bass at normal volumes. BUT - I tried to add Dirac capable EQ (MiniDSP SHD) into digital chain (before the DAC) and was not satisfied with the results.

However. GR products are also just well engineered at reasonable prices. For example, no ringing, wide imaging (no need to sit in sweet spot), sensitive passive part, not bright but not 'rolled off' either. Pair of RELs and a pair good speakers would set me back for well over $5600 or so I paid for Bullies. I’d guess $10-15K.

I didn’t say you need a sub to get good bass. I don’t have subs in my current setup nor did I have subs in my large dedicated audio room. But I had large speakers with 11” woofers and used the Cardas/Jim Smith speaker positioning to get maximum clean bass. 
My reply was to the OP was to add subs to get better bass at lower volumes especially in a larger room. No matter what size of speaker you have, the lower the volume, you won’t have the volume of air to get bass. This also is true in a smaller room because you can’t turn the volume up to get the woofers moving.

In my new smaller room, I went down in woofer size (multiple smaller woofers) and now at lower volumes, I get great clean bass. My larger speakers with my larger woofers over powered my room, even with thousands of $$$ of room treatments.

I’ve been watching Danny’s videos for years.  I find them mostly entertaining and a little bit educational. I have used some of his No Rez in a subwoofer I built and it worked well.