I’m in Australia so postage won’t be cheap for completed speakers, but nothing to here is. I’ve got a small room 3.5x3.2x2.6m and I’m running a Yamaha AS2200 amp 90w per channel with my Turntable. I’m sure these would be well suited for me.
If the MSRP is not above $100,000 Jay is not coming back down the HiEnd/HiFi Ladder! He is still climbing! All we can do is find the Best in each of our own Budget Ranges!
This is the presentation I have been waiting for on these particular speakers. Thanks Danny for the information on this particular speaker product. It answers many questions I have been wondering about. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
I completed a pair a few months ago and am driving them with a Nelion Audio upgraded Carver amp and tube pre. Super happy w the overall sound - very smooth and natural, non fatiguing. Best part is knowing I made them and know what is inside.
Took a few weeks. I am pretty good with tinkering so just bought the baffle and made the boxes, then used pressure activated veneer. Came out really nice. If you aren’t that confident buy the flat pack. There are a few videos on how to build with them. Also check out the forum button on GR’s website, another great resource.
@@divadsnetram8039 I was not aware that I could buy just the front baffle and was told that it will cost 500.00 shipped for a flatpack. That is not something I would ever pay for 2 wooden boxes (assembled) let alone have to build them? Not happening, but now I know I can buy just the baffle and manage the box myself. Thank you for that information, that their flatpack guy will not tell you. He just implied that no one ever complains about 500.00 for his flatpack as a backhanded insult. I'll just purchase the baffle, drivers and crossover from Danny.
One observation about your videos, they are too dark. The room is too dark to see the product very well. The dark curtains in the background absorb the light. I recommend a better location when you make videos. I know you addressed this in past videos, and they are a little better, but they could be much better.
I built a pair of these last year. They were very detailed on the top end but thin on the low end. I used a battery powered 10watt chip amp with deulund caps and I also used my 300 watt Mac amplifier. I pulled the speakers 6 feet from the back wall and I just couldn't get the sound I was looking for. The cone separated from the spider on both 6.5" drivers. They may work well in a small room.
You should give the nx otica more love! Couldn't fit ceiling wise the nx tremes so went nx otica and went bananas with the crossover and my God is it amazing.
Sad, there's little or no bass. And I don't like subwoofers, or the need to buy subwoofers to buy this speaker. It's anti-climax, and it's dumb. It does not matter how orgasmic the cymbal is, how transparent it is, whatever expletive good you use, no bass, have to spend more money to buy a subwoofer. No go.
I’ve wanted a pair of these for a while but don’t want to build it, so I’m happy you make finished versions and that you have stock again. These with nice subs would be hard to beat
These are the speakers i'm considering and as you say there a another level above the XL-S Encore I'm hoping due to there design they'll be a good fit in my awkward room (happy to do some room treatment) Thanks
I'm excited for this. I was originally interested in the encore series but may have trip to Texas spring time so I can swing by in person and hear them for myself. Great stuff! Keep it up!!!
Beautiful speakers , i mean they looks great, i would like to know if you have tried to make a d'appolito with AMT tweeters and if is possible? Thanks for share everything, aways i come here to understand more about speakers design and how they need to be .
I have tried just about every AMT tweeter out there and if I found one that I liked, I'd be using it. So far, our Neo tweeter is much better across the board.
I listened to the gold ones when I visited the shop. They are very impressive when coupled with the servo subwoofers. I always liked the ESS line of speakers that used similar design concepts. I haven’t heard the ESS line for decades to get a comparison. I am certainly going to get a kit in the near future.
@@dannyrichie9743 Thanks Danny. This have I watch a couple times, since you released it, two years ago? The need for NX, grows every time… But Ron do have a vocabulary of descriptions that can twist the pre school teacher all the way into the library. Love your work.
I am watching this and listening through my X-Voce. It took me a second to figure it out but I can clearly hear Danny rubbing his hands on his pants. Freak’n awesome stuff. Keep up the good stuff sir!
@@pedrocols His main thing is speaker kits. High end to a affordable price. DIY kits. He offers also flat pack or finished speakers. Your own choice. The parts he use are more upmarket then your regular Best-buy speakers, therefore the price.
@@rikardekvall3433 Agreed. However, it seems that these kits are not as affordable for the average music lover. Don't get me wrong I am sure they are great speaker kits. In fact, I got his speaker upgrade for my Magnepan speakers 1.7.
Great to hear these are back in stock Danny! Quick question: if I plan to use these in a home studio setting in a room that is 14 feet wide by 18 feet deep which of the servo subs on your website would you say they would pair well with? Would one of the single server subs work? For a 2.1 system? Just curious of your thoughts!
Any and all of them, I own both a sealed Rythmik L12 sub and two dual 8" OB subs (old model), and they both work great with the studios. They also sound fantastic with Danny's triple subs. With just a single sub, it's best for smaller spaces, but you can easily use a pair of dual subs as stands as well.
Hey Danny question for you. Could I put an in line filter on my SANSUI 8080 by running the ‘pre out’ through it and then back in the ‘main in’? These are bridged with a jumper usually. Thanks!
Nice A pair of these, way out into the room, ... with a well blended sub system, could be spectacular. So the open back element of the design isn't primarily for dipole radiation, it's to unencumber the driver from it's backwave energy?
Awesome job Danny. This would be an interesting alternative to the Active Linn Kabers front left / Right in my Home Cinema system I really need to hear some of your designs to fuly appreciate what I may have been missing all these years. Will there be a matching centre channel design ?
Great video and great speaker. I have two questions. There is an obvious difference in the original cabinet and Hobbs cabinet. Is there any pros / cons to consider? And second , it is nice that the design allows for close wall placement, but what is the minimum space suggested/ required above the speaker to get optimum sound quality?
There was a slight difference in tweeter height between them, but both worked well. There is no magic number for placement depth. Like any speaker, the further you get it out into the room, the more it will reward you.
Yes, we ship the the UK/EU a few times per month. Probably $150-200 for the kit with a front baffle. Shoot us an email with your postal code and I can get you a proper quote.
@@hoth2112 one day when my life settles down to something resembling sanity and im retired, i'll be looking at these with great interest (also in the UK)
I'm impressed with this design, I love the encores, but I think this design is really genius and the front baffle thickness is very important also, I dig em.
Have you ever thought about making active speakers? A lot of us studio guys prefer active speakers. Separately mounted amp packs is my personal preference
Doing so is quite the bottleneck in some ways as it can be what really holds them back if they are not great, and really great amps to match them are expensive. With them passive, the customer can use anything they want and improve the amp quality if they like and when they like.
Would love a pair :) But 4300 with tax and freight to my country makes it to expensive for me. Would be cool if we were able to buy from an eu warehouse, but i guess it would be a hassle to set that up.
those some of my favorite speakers one day i could own, right now i am tight on space. i would like to see a 5" woofer version, that is half as deep and made to work with subwoofers. just for 150hz and above pure sound quality focus with no bass in them.
@@dougleydorite do not have the space, and i would have subwoofers with those also. i basically make it 3 way anyways when i have a 2 ways as mains and subwoofers.
Oh man, I had the X-LS Encore in my mental shopping cart and I wasn’t going to even look into anything else as that was the unicorn. Now I see the NX-Studio and looks like I’m going to edit my mental shopping cart! Wish I could play them and A-B compare them using something like my Dunkirk soundtrack LP. Need to set aside a bit more of my social security retirement check every month....
build in spakers to wall or sealing. often have the tweeter in front of the woofer what is there to say about that setup ? (tweeter in front of woofer?)
@@dannyrichie9743 This is exactly what the modern designer / modern bookshelf is missing and misunderstanding. These bookshelves speakers may be as good as it claims but these can never fill the chestiness and growl of male or female voices by extending the bottom end with a subwoofer, it's just not design that way. Danny, I have yet to witness a full range speaker with no sub that GR has to offer. I am rooting for you.
Right before this intro came out, I ordered a pair. Hope it won't take too long... I'm pretty sure orders will flock in and the wait will be even longer. ;-)
Danny, these look amazing... how would these do in a home theater setting for tv and movies? And with that, is there a center channel available? Or one in the works?
@@dannyrichie9743 WoW Cant wait to hear voices on these drivers! Any idea of the time frame for Center design? Cheers and keep it on you are the Gandalf of audio!
Hi i want this in the UK but its over 700 dollars for the cabinet to be imported !! seems a crazy process when i could get them CNCed in the uk ,not wishing to do Jay out of a Sale but could i purchase the CAD plans for the cabinets and have them made here ?.
I don't think Jay is going to give away all that design work and programming time. Even if I went to someone else with those same plans I would still have to have them cut a sample for testing to make sure it needs no alterations to make it work. So you'd then have to make one and send it to me for testing.... It is cheaper to just order the front baffles and build the back of the boxes there. Two front baffles will not be that costly to ship.
@@klaymoon1 Using two sets of tube connectors like the one shown in the video could allow for bi-amping, but on a speaker like this one that would not make any sense or yield any benefit.
@@klaymoon1 There is a much greater possibility of introducing more noise in the system with more electronics, more interconnects, more speaker cables etc. Using one good amp and good cables will typically yield better sound.
No comparison, tbh. They're a lot bigger than the LGKs or the 2.1s so they have much better power handling for higher, & being sealed cabinets offer a smoother roll off with a little deeper bass extension. Having an opened-backed tweeter is also something that the LGK can't really compare to, there is just much more open & present sound that I've only heard with other open-baffle speakers.
@@hoth2112 That's exciting. Have you tried the NX-Studio right up against a wall? Does its sound stage and performance hold up or does it really need to be pulled out into the room?
@@SimplestUsername i haven't tried that yet as my subs are open baffle. But you will lose some soundstage layering/depth with them kept against a wall, but having the tweeter open and reflecting upward does help to maintain the spaciousness. I'll have to get mine (the red/black ones in the video) back home to try it.
I honestly need to try these speakers. I am a bit apprehensive due to the fact that I'm not rich and having different speakers for home theater and listening is a no-go. How does an open baffle work for theater use? I wonder also how u feel about passive radiators to get a bit more bottom end on your designs or more exotic designs like a transmission line. I'd really love to pick your brain one day, lol. Admittedly, u really are selling these Danny, no hate, lol. But one thing that really puts me off, is the name branding. NEVER in this day and age use the term "Xtreme". Ever. EVER. I do not want any product short of say a chainsaw and a dirt bike associated with anything "extreme". Just my two cents there.
Open baffle speakers are great for home theater. We sell lots of X-Statik and X-Voce models for those applications. A passive radiator works much like a port in extending the lower end. It also requires a larger box. So there is a trade off. The same is true for a transmission line.
@@dannyrichie9743 Thank you for all the educational material you provide to us. I have a 20 X 24 room with high ceilings. For a tv/av set up would the X-Statik and X-Voce combination or these monitors be your recommendation? (or others) The "wall" where these will be located is a center 2 sided fireplace with walking space on each side. This leads into another room. Thanks in advance for your response.
@@calebb8013 it uses a different diaphragm material as well as gold coated copper terminals. the GRS model is based off the PDRW version, which has fewer magnets. The GRS model also doesn't measure quite as well.
@@calebb8013 there are a number of similar looking tweeters that are essentially clones of the old BG tweeters. There have been some good comparisons of how they measure posted on various forums. They vary quite a bit in quality.
You haven't missed it. We have been working on a way to show it with multiple cameras and record the differences in a way that allows everyone else to hear it as well. We have made some good headway on how we record the playback in our room and will be incorporating that as well.
Now what if that slanted top baffle happened to have just a wee bit of a curve to it towards the bottom, kinda like the Nike insignia? Could that boost or hinder performance?
@@SimplestUsername iotavx stereo amp was good. I suggest u buy the two power amp straight and skip the stereo receiver but then u need a good dac. These speaker needs power to produce better bass since it is a sealed design. I left the rear binding holes open for little extra bass until I purchased a Rel x7 then sealed the box. Subwoofer is must with these. My current amp is doge 10 and it was hard to get good sound out of tube amp only after rolling 6 tubes finally I am super happy. But each change in tube gives disctict sound, they really transparent and little thin. My DAC is gustard r2r which is way better than prev topping D70S. These are high end speaker and require high end front. Again add Subwoofer as early as these sound way much better with a sub. Most gr research speaker are bass light I think.
How wide is the horizontal dispersion with an open tweeter design? For example, most Kef coaxial speaker is around 45 to 50 degree horizontal dispersion.
@@dannyrichie9743 I saw the measurement at 8:15 mark before writing the question to you. I didn't know how interpret it. If it is a polar map, I can easily understand it.
@@kennethz3366 Each line is a measured response moving 10 degrees off axis per measurement. In this case, this speaker looks really good in that regard.
I'd like to see the drivers in a matte finish option and without the gold dust caps. I can't be the only one who thinks many of your products look severely outdated aesthetically.
The phase plugs are a necessary part of its performance, not just for looks. It helps to keep the voice coils cool, and lightens the moving mass by not having a dust-cap to move as well as the cone.
@@hoth2112 Are you telling me gold accents and gloss drivers are the only way to achieve the sound signature GR research and Danny are targeting? I don't buy it.
@@hoth2112 That's how your reply and specifically the word "necessary" reads to me. Either my request is reasonable within the boundaries of the sound Danny is trying to achieve or it isn't. If you weren't trying to say it isn't, what were you saying?
@@kenhiett5266 changing the color of the phase plug wont affect performance, but it will incur added tooling costs, plus cone appearance is due to materials and manufacturing processes, so changing from a semi-gloss/satin to a matte also requires more tooling costs, which would raise the cost of the kit, and changes in the doping/treatment process to get a different look can have an undesired affect on the performance. It's just not worth the extra tooling and prototyping costs for something that adds nothing to their performance.
Can we see the frequency response, off axis and spectral decay for frequencies below 200hz. What is the bass response for these? I'd use em with subs but it'd be nice to see the full range graphs so I can see how far up the subs need to play
Off axis frequency response is in this video and on our site. Spectral decays below 200Hz are not possible outside of an anechoic chamber 25 feet long or longer. -3db is upper 60's to low 70's. Subs cross at a -6db point that is going to be in the 40 to 55Hz range depending on your room.
@@dannyrichie9743ok cheers for the reply. What are these like at low volume? S lot of small bookshelf speakers like my Kef LS50 only seem to come on song at a certain volume and Im looking for something that would disappear at low volume... would these fit the bill?
No, not at all. Low end extension below that range is better off being covered by one of our servo controlled woofers. By giving up low end extension there are improvements everywhere else.
@@dannyrichie9743 I really like bookshelf / stand mount speaker with full-range performance. Can you incorporate your servo controlled woofer into the cabinet? How much will that customization cost?
@@dannyrichie9743 That I understand. The issue is the integration bet. them. The pace and texture are significantly different from each other. Your servo (sub)woofer might be speedy but will be controlled by a separate amp from the power amp I am using. I was not able to seamlessly integrate my bookies with powered subwoofer to my satisfaction. Therefore I think the better trade-off is put them together. Sandy Groves says the same thing.
@@lanx0003 We have them set up in our listening room with our servo subs. The integration is seamless. The controls on the servo amp (including variable phase control) make it very easy. We are however, going to be releasing a three way version with dual woofers below. It's coming.
You can get REAL studio monitors for less than these and they are already built and definitely sound better, without a hole at 350 hz... And we have no idea how the bass is because he never measures it...
@@RobertSpiller I have not heard the Arendals. The Def Tec models traditionally used pretty cheesy parts and had issues. I have heard two pair of the Perlistens. I'd say Meh. I didn't hear any problems that stood out, but nothing wowed me either. A pair of X-Bravo's or X-LS Encores and a sub would better them.
Can't open the woofer or it will loose low end output, and if it were open it would have to be wide open with a L shaped baffle. Just opening one end will cause a crazy cavity resonance.
@@dannyrichie9743 Yes I mean open like the tweeter but certainly the woofer cavity's shape can be shaped however it needs to be, including directional internal diffusion inside the cab to send the acoustic waves out of the enclosure correctly. Bass loss? Servo Sub, or make the monitor a 3 way. Also, it doesn't necessarily have to be a rectangular box shape behind the baffle plain. It might also work that the opening of the tweeter & midrange could be positioned up in the horizontal or to the side in the vertical depending on the room & mix position requirements.
You're killing me! :) :) I am assembling the Encores and servo sub (to replace M&K system) with all the best parts and you're speaker cable as we speak after watching all your videos for the past few years. I had no room for the X-Statics, wanted an open baffle. :( Now you trump the Encores, waaaaaa. ;) Guess I'll build them and donate them to my son when he get a real man cave, hopefully in 2023. I'll enjoy them with my new turntable in the short term. Good thing I like projects. PS. I was watching the first few minutes and I said to myself, "He should put a baffle on the top over the woofer and angle it to the open air". Guess I'm psychic. Hahaha
I've heard those in person. They are indeed excellent speakers and they're on my to-buy list.
I’m in Australia so postage won’t be cheap for completed speakers, but nothing to here is. I’ve got a small room 3.5x3.2x2.6m and I’m running a Yamaha AS2200 amp 90w per channel with my Turntable. I’m sure these would be well suited for me.
This is what I’ve wanted to see from you but I wasn’t impressed with that first frequency response. Was hoping for a flatter response.
The scaling of the graph is a 5db scale. So they are about +/-1.25db. That's pretty flat.
Want them 👍
Send those to Jay.
If the MSRP is not above $100,000 Jay is not coming back down the HiEnd/HiFi Ladder! He is still climbing! All we can do is find the Best in each of our own Budget Ranges!
@@j.m.harris4202 what does he own or has he tested above 100k? Nothing I’ve seen
@@nathankimmett8803 Are you talking about Jay's Audio Lab!
@@j.m.harris4202 oh sorry I thought you were talking about Jay Iyagi. They sent him speakers before to review…
Jay doesn't get outta bed for anything less than $100k
This is the presentation I have been waiting for on these particular speakers. Thanks Danny for the information on this particular speaker product. It answers many questions I have been wondering about.
👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
I completed a pair a few months ago and am driving them with a Nelion Audio upgraded Carver amp and tube pre. Super happy w the overall sound - very smooth and natural, non fatiguing. Best part is knowing I made them and know what is inside.
Was the kit difficult to assemble?
Took a few weeks. I am pretty good with tinkering so just bought the baffle and made the boxes, then used pressure activated veneer. Came out really nice. If you aren’t that confident buy the flat pack. There are a few videos on how to build with them. Also check out the forum button on GR’s website, another great resource.
@@divadsnetram8039 I was not aware that I could buy just the front baffle and was told that it will cost 500.00 shipped for a flatpack. That is not something I would ever pay for 2 wooden boxes (assembled) let alone have to build them? Not happening, but now I know I can buy just the baffle and manage the box myself. Thank you for that information, that their flatpack guy will not tell you. He just implied that no one ever complains about 500.00 for his flatpack as a backhanded insult. I'll just purchase the baffle, drivers and crossover from Danny.
One observation about your videos, they are too dark. The room is too dark to see the product very well. The dark curtains in the background absorb the light. I recommend a better location when you make videos. I know you addressed this in past videos, and they are a little better, but they could be much better.
Noted.
A little back light would help a lot.
Great to see more coverage of the studios. How is the NX series center channel coming along? Will there be something available soon to order? Thanks!
I built a pair of these last year. They were very detailed on the top end but thin on the low end. I used a battery powered 10watt chip amp with deulund caps and I also used my 300 watt Mac amplifier. I pulled the speakers 6 feet from the back wall and I just couldn't get the sound I was looking for. The cone separated from the spider on both 6.5" drivers. They may work well in a small room.
They aren't subwoofers. THere is a limit to how hard you can play them down low. We will warranty the drivers though.
I was able to boost the low end by placing them near the side walls.
Nice work Danny. Those speakers look great! I love the outside the box thinking on the tweeter.
Aha, yes. Agreed. Clever.
You should give the nx otica more love! Couldn't fit ceiling wise the nx tremes so went nx otica and went bananas with the crossover and my God is it amazing.
Sad, there's little or no bass. And I don't like subwoofers, or the need to buy subwoofers to buy this speaker. It's anti-climax, and it's dumb. It does not matter how orgasmic the cymbal is, how transparent it is, whatever expletive good you use, no bass, have to spend more money to buy a subwoofer. No go.
I’ve wanted a pair of these for a while but don’t want to build it, so I’m happy you make finished versions and that you have stock again. These with nice subs would be hard to beat
These are the speakers i'm considering and as you say there a another level above the XL-S Encore I'm hoping due to there design they'll be a good fit in my awkward room (happy to do some room treatment) Thanks
I think I've found my next speaker! Just have to find the perfect amp to pair with it. I have a Prima Luna Prologue which I think will pair nicely.
Cool, hope to see reviews of this one soon. And waiting for a surprise in the nx series to replace the MTM model I wanted...
I'm excited for this. I was originally interested in the encore series but may have trip to Texas spring time so I can swing by in person and hear them for myself. Great stuff! Keep it up!!!
You're more than welcome to come hear anything we have in the shop!
Own a pair of these identical to his prototypes. They’re fantastic speakers, for sure.
@@hoth2112 I will, I'll have the wife too so the acceptance factor will be there...haha.
Beautiful speakers , i mean they looks great, i would like to know if you have tried to make a d'appolito with AMT tweeters and if is possible? Thanks for share everything, aways i come here to understand more about speakers design and how they need to be .
I have tried just about every AMT tweeter out there and if I found one that I liked, I'd be using it. So far, our Neo tweeter is much better across the board.
Can you beak down KAILI LP6s and others?
Are this speakers also made of cheese?
No cheese in these babies.
I listened to the gold ones when I visited the shop. They are very impressive when coupled with the servo subwoofers. I always liked the ESS line of speakers that used similar design concepts. I haven’t heard the ESS line for decades to get a comparison. I am certainly going to get a kit in the near future.
I recently picked up a pair of ESS AMT 1B speakers in perfect condition. With some tweaks they’ll be great, tweeter is quite overpowering.
@flashhog01 The AMT Tower was my favorite speaker of the line at the time.
Can someone explain what a flat kit is?
Let Ron or Jay take them for a run. With and without your in-line filter and a sealed sub. Rock roll!
th-cam.com/video/AmP5XdjYJxY/w-d-xo.html
@@dannyrichie9743 Thanks Danny. This have I watch a couple times, since you released it, two years ago? The need for NX, grows every time… But Ron do have a vocabulary of descriptions that can twist the pre school teacher all the way into the library. Love your work.
They're very pretty, if I may ask what's the reasoning for not porting this design?
They may often be used up a gains a wall, and a ported box will be nearly double the size.
I am watching this and listening through my X-Voce. It took me a second to figure it out but I can clearly hear Danny rubbing his hands on his pants. Freak’n awesome stuff. Keep up the good stuff sir!
Ok Jay. Your turn. Get a set of these and do the blind listening again please.
Loven my NX-TREEM, the HYPE IS REAL.🎉❤
I bet there are no cheesy parts in there.
Inflation is a biotch. The kit sells for over one thousand and you still have to build the cabinet and stuff. I am very confused here.
@@pedrocols His main thing is speaker kits. High end to a affordable price. DIY kits. He offers also flat pack or finished speakers. Your own choice. The parts he use are more upmarket then your regular Best-buy speakers, therefore the price.
@@rikardekvall3433 Agreed. However, it seems that these kits are not as affordable for the average music lover. Don't get me wrong I am sure they are great speaker kits. In fact, I got his speaker upgrade for my Magnepan speakers 1.7.
Great to hear these are back in stock Danny! Quick question: if I plan to use these in a home studio setting in a room that is 14 feet wide by 18 feet deep which of the servo subs on your website would you say they would pair well with? Would one of the single server subs work? For a 2.1 system? Just curious of your thoughts!
The sealed box servo subs will work well for you if you are limited to how far you can pull them out into the room.
Any and all of them, I own both a sealed Rythmik L12 sub and two dual 8" OB subs (old model), and they both work great with the studios. They also sound fantastic with Danny's triple subs. With just a single sub, it's best for smaller spaces, but you can easily use a pair of dual subs as stands as well.
Hey Danny question for you. Could I put an in line filter on my SANSUI 8080 by running the ‘pre out’ through it and then back in the ‘main in’? These are bridged with a jumper usually. Thanks!
Nice
A pair of these, way out into the room, ... with a well blended sub system, could be spectacular.
So the open back element of the design isn't primarily for dipole radiation, it's to unencumber the driver from it's backwave energy?
Awesome job Danny. This would be an interesting alternative to the Active Linn Kabers front left / Right in my Home Cinema system I really need to hear some of your designs to fuly appreciate what I may have been missing all these years. Will there be a matching centre channel design ?
We are planning to offer a matching center.
@@dannyrichie9743 super Danny good to hear
Great video and great speaker. I have two questions. There is an obvious difference in the original cabinet and Hobbs cabinet. Is there any pros / cons to consider? And second , it is nice that the design allows for close wall placement, but what is the minimum space suggested/ required above the speaker to get optimum sound quality?
There was a slight difference in tweeter height between them, but both worked well. There is no magic number for placement depth. Like any speaker, the further you get it out into the room, the more it will reward you.
Two questions, will you ship to the uk? If so at what cost?
Yes, we ship the the UK/EU a few times per month. Probably $150-200 for the kit with a front baffle. Shoot us an email with your postal code and I can get you a proper quote.
@@hoth2112 one day when my life settles down to something resembling sanity and im retired, i'll be looking at these with great interest (also in the UK)
I'm impressed with this design, I love the encores, but I think this design is really genius and the front baffle thickness is very important also, I dig em.
What if holes were drilled on the sides of the speakers? Can sound be widened that way?
No.
Is there going to be a 4 ohm option with a port? I would like more bass output. Thanks
No, a ported cabinet would no longer make them a stand mounted design. We do have a three way version on the drawing board though.
These look very appealing. How would this pair with Servo Sealed Plus kit?
Have you ever thought about making active speakers? A lot of us studio guys prefer active speakers. Separately mounted amp packs is my personal preference
Doing so is quite the bottleneck in some ways as it can be what really holds them back if they are not great, and really great amps to match them are expensive. With them passive, the customer can use anything they want and improve the amp quality if they like and when they like.
@@dannyrichie9743 makes sense. What can I say… although I prefer actives, I’m currently running passive speakers and they sound great
Very innovative design. 🏆
Would love a pair :) But 4300 with tax and freight to my country makes it to expensive for me. Would be cool if we were able to buy from an eu warehouse, but i guess it would be a hassle to set that up.
thanks danny - had these on my wish list for a while now!
those some of my favorite speakers one day i could own, right now i am tight on space.
i would like to see a 5" woofer version, that is half as deep and made to work with subwoofers. just for 150hz and above pure sound quality focus with no bass in them.
Why not get a 3-way speaker?
@@dougleydorite do not have the space, and i would have subwoofers with those also. i basically make it 3 way anyways when i have a 2 ways as mains and subwoofers.
Oh man, I had the X-LS Encore in my mental shopping cart and I wasn’t going to even look into anything else as that was the unicorn. Now I see the NX-Studio and looks like I’m going to edit my mental shopping cart! Wish I could play them and A-B compare them using something like my Dunkirk soundtrack LP. Need to set aside a bit more of my social security retirement check every month....
could you recommend a reasonable tube amp to pair with these speakers?
How long does play like at the -3db
Mid to low 60's.
@@dannyrichie9743 Thanks
build in spakers to wall or sealing.
often have the tweeter in front of the woofer
what is there to say about that setup ?
(tweeter in front of woofer?)
Someone's gonna put their keys/USBs/other thingamajigs in that 'pocket' on top 😂
Nice, there's nothing like real floorstanders (or old school bookshelf) with bigger woofer to fill the room. I hope GR would release one soon.
Add one of our servo subs and you're full range and have complete control of the lower end.
@@dannyrichie9743 This is exactly what the modern designer / modern bookshelf is missing and misunderstanding.
These bookshelves speakers may be as good as it claims but these can never fill the chestiness and growl of male or female voices by extending the bottom end with a subwoofer, it's just not design that way.
Danny, I have yet to witness a full range speaker with no sub that GR has to offer. I am rooting for you.
@@jianboo If you're so smart, where's your custom speaker?
@@YouSoundButtHurt Thanks, you are free to listen at my place.
Right before this intro came out, I ordered a pair. Hope it won't take too long... I'm pretty sure orders will flock in and the wait will be even longer. ;-)
Danny, these look amazing... how would these do in a home theater setting for tv and movies? And with that, is there a center channel available? Or one in the works?
We are going to release a center channel version that matches them.
@@dannyrichie9743 WoW Cant wait to hear voices on these drivers! Any idea of the time frame for Center design? Cheers and keep it on you are the Gandalf of audio!
"As is" for a center channel...
three identical across the front
Hi i want this in the UK but its over 700 dollars for the cabinet to be imported !! seems a crazy process when i could get them CNCed in the uk ,not wishing to do Jay out of a Sale but could i purchase the CAD plans for the cabinets and have them made here ?.
I don't think Jay is going to give away all that design work and programming time. Even if I went to someone else with those same plans I would still have to have them cut a sample for testing to make sure it needs no alterations to make it work. So you'd then have to make one and send it to me for testing.... It is cheaper to just order the front baffles and build the back of the boxes there. Two front baffles will not be that costly to ship.
Looks amazing! They can be bi-amped when ordered as a complete speaker from your website? Or, do I need to email/call you for the bi-amp capability?
The way to bi-amp them is not to separate the two drivers on different amps. It is to pull the low end out of it and send it to some servo subs.
@@dannyrichie9743 Got it. Looks like the these two sets of terminals here cannot be used for bi-amping.
@@klaymoon1 Using two sets of tube connectors like the one shown in the video could allow for bi-amping, but on a speaker like this one that would not make any sense or yield any benefit.
@@dannyrichie9743 I already have a pair of identical stereo amps, so no reason not to bi-amp for me.
@@klaymoon1 There is a much greater possibility of introducing more noise in the system with more electronics, more interconnects, more speaker cables etc. Using one good amp and good cables will typically yield better sound.
how does it compare to the LGK in a desktop setting?
No comparison, tbh. They're a lot bigger than the LGKs or the 2.1s so they have much better power handling for higher, & being sealed cabinets offer a smoother roll off with a little deeper bass extension.
Having an opened-backed tweeter is also something that the LGK can't really compare to, there is just much more open & present sound that I've only heard with other open-baffle speakers.
@@hoth2112 That's exciting. Have you tried the NX-Studio right up against a wall? Does its sound stage and performance hold up or does it really need to be pulled out into the room?
@@SimplestUsername i haven't tried that yet as my subs are open baffle. But you will lose some soundstage layering/depth with them kept against a wall, but having the tweeter open and reflecting upward does help to maintain the spaciousness. I'll have to get mine (the red/black ones in the video) back home to try it.
I honestly need to try these speakers. I am a bit apprehensive due to the fact that I'm not rich and having different speakers for home theater and listening is a no-go. How does an open baffle work for theater use? I wonder also how u feel about passive radiators to get a bit more bottom end on your designs or more exotic designs like a transmission line. I'd really love to pick your brain one day, lol. Admittedly, u really are selling these Danny, no hate, lol. But one thing that really puts me off, is the name branding. NEVER in this day and age use the term "Xtreme". Ever. EVER. I do not want any product short of say a chainsaw and a dirt bike associated with anything "extreme". Just my two cents there.
Open baffle speakers are great for home theater. We sell lots of X-Statik and X-Voce models for those applications.
A passive radiator works much like a port in extending the lower end. It also requires a larger box. So there is a trade off. The same is true for a transmission line.
@@dannyrichie9743 Thank you for all the educational material you provide to us. I have a 20 X 24 room with high ceilings. For a tv/av set up would the X-Statik and X-Voce combination or these monitors be your recommendation? (or others) The "wall" where these will be located is a center 2 sided fireplace with walking space on each side. This leads into another room. Thanks in advance for your response.
@@stbailey1234 The X-Statik would be great in that room size, but it doesn't sound like it is well suited for a center channel speaker.
I'm guessing you wouldn't like to use SB Acoustics TeXtreme drivers then lol
@@RennieAsh We've been working with those lately in several designs.
I wish this came as a floorstanding speaker.
Bring some to the Montreal audio show in the spring.
How about a full range half size 7 ft
Send them to me, dont worry about jay
Interesting design. Why polymer chassis on the woofer? - ringing?
They are much stronger than caste or stamped steal and they do not ring.
Love it! I bet it sounds magical. Great idea on the open baffle tweeter.
Do these have a center channel the look like they would be great for surround
Interesting and gorgeous red & black.
Danny, It seems Hobbs has a smaller version of these on his desk - Please elaborate - Thanks
These are some older N1 models that we used to offer. They are not to the same level as the NX Studio.
The Neo3 tweeter is now sold as a GRS branded unit at Parts Express. Are you now sourcing your tweeters from GRS?
No, we have our own (higher quality) version of it.
@@dannyrichie9743 How?
@@calebb8013 it uses a different diaphragm material as well as gold coated copper terminals. the GRS model is based off the PDRW version, which has fewer magnets. The GRS model also doesn't measure quite as well.
@@calebb8013 there are a number of similar looking tweeters that are essentially clones of the old BG tweeters. There have been some good comparisons of how they measure posted on various forums. They vary quite a bit in quality.
what is the diaphragm material ?@@hoth2112
Is this studio monitor good for everyday home listening and can it be tied to a subWoofer
Yes they can.
What would be a good amplifier to pair these speakers with?
These are not very amplifier dependent. They will work well with any amp that produces 9 to 10 watts or more.
Bloody beautiful mate!
these are not very efficient speakers for say like a 25 watt tube amp.
That may be plenty of power for you depending on how far away you sit and how big your room is.
I see two speakers different sizes in this video however I only see one speaker like this on the website?
It is the same speaker.
Which baffle option gets me closest to the prototype ?
Can somebody please tell me if i missed the cable nonsense blind test?
You haven't missed it. We have been working on a way to show it with multiple cameras and record the differences in a way that allows everyone else to hear it as well. We have made some good headway on how we record the playback in our room and will be incorporating that as well.
The orange peel on the red cabinet is just horrendous. Quilted Maple is a beautiful wood. That clear coat doesn't do it justice.
It’s a DIY kit so go ahead and buy/build your own to your own standards.
@@jwilson086 Thank you for the advice but, I already have.
Greetings Danny.
This baby caught my eye a year and a half ago and I've always wondered one thing :
- Will you make an active version any day ?
No, making it active then requires an amp equal in performance. That would get really expensive.
Now what if that slanted top baffle happened to have just a wee bit of a curve to it towards the bottom, kinda like the Nike insignia? Could that boost or hinder performance?
We tested one with a curved slant to it and it did not measure as well. But the front baffle was a little wider on it too.
@@dannyrichie9743 Very interesting, thanks for sharing!
need stands though ,and does that not impact its sound ?
We offer DIY speaker stands.
Resonance plot is amazing!
Awesome! Just in time for my new studio build!
So, Danny I assume you could use HDF as well.
You could.
What type of amplifier do you like with these Danny?
My favorite in house amps are a custom chip amp and some Dodd Audio tube amps.
@@dannyrichie9743 Amps for cash poor?
i noticed the kit prices went up on these. still a good deal.
The price of everything went up.
I would love to see these in an OB MTM configuration available as a kit.
See the NX-Otica model.
70hz?
a Very cool speaker.
Like, like.👍
I have them. You really need quality amplifier to make them sing.
Which amps have you tried? Have you tried anything affordable that has worked well with these?
@@SimplestUsername iotavx stereo amp was good. I suggest u buy the two power amp straight and skip the stereo receiver but then u need a good dac. These speaker needs power to produce better bass since it is a sealed design. I left the rear binding holes open for little extra bass until I purchased a Rel x7 then sealed the box. Subwoofer is must with these. My current amp is doge 10 and it was hard to get good sound out of tube amp only after rolling 6 tubes finally I am super happy. But each change in tube gives disctict sound, they really transparent and little thin. My DAC is gustard r2r which is way better than prev topping D70S. These are high end speaker and require high end front. Again add Subwoofer as early as these sound way much better with a sub. Most gr research speaker are bass light I think.
How wide is the horizontal dispersion with an open tweeter design? For example, most Kef coaxial speaker is around 45 to 50 degree horizontal dispersion.
See the off axis response measurements.
@@dannyrichie9743 I saw the measurement at 8:15 mark before writing the question to you. I didn't know how interpret it. If it is a polar map, I can easily understand it.
@@kennethz3366 Each line is a measured response moving 10 degrees off axis per measurement. In this case, this speaker looks really good in that regard.
nice deal
I'd like to see the drivers in a matte finish option and without the gold dust caps. I can't be the only one who thinks many of your products look severely outdated aesthetically.
The phase plugs are a necessary part of its performance, not just for looks. It helps to keep the voice coils cool, and lightens the moving mass by not having a dust-cap to move as well as the cone.
@@hoth2112 Are you telling me gold accents and gloss drivers are the only way to achieve the sound signature GR research and Danny are targeting? I don't buy it.
@@kenhiett5266 that's not what I said at all.
@@hoth2112 That's how your reply and specifically the word "necessary" reads to me. Either my request is reasonable within the boundaries of the sound Danny is trying to achieve or it isn't. If you weren't trying to say it isn't, what were you saying?
@@kenhiett5266 changing the color of the phase plug wont affect performance, but it will incur added tooling costs, plus cone appearance is due to materials and manufacturing processes, so changing from a semi-gloss/satin to a matte also requires more tooling costs, which would raise the cost of the kit, and changes in the doping/treatment process to get a different look can have an undesired affect on the performance.
It's just not worth the extra tooling and prototyping costs for something that adds nothing to their performance.
Could you talk more about your crossover? The parts, type of caps etc.
All Sonicaps, air core inductors from US Coils, and a Copper foil by-pass cap from Miflex.
Thanks Danny. Love your work!
Excellent
Can we see the frequency response, off axis and spectral decay for frequencies below 200hz.
What is the bass response for these? I'd use em with subs but it'd be nice to see the full range graphs so I can see how far up the subs need to play
Off axis frequency response is in this video and on our site. Spectral decays below 200Hz are not possible outside of an anechoic chamber 25 feet long or longer. -3db is upper 60's to low 70's. Subs cross at a -6db point that is going to be in the 40 to 55Hz range depending on your room.
@@dannyrichie9743ok cheers for the reply.
What are these like at low volume?
S lot of small bookshelf speakers like my Kef LS50 only seem to come on song at a certain volume and Im looking for something that would disappear at low volume... would these fit the bill?
@@barneyrubble9309 These are great at low volumes.
A pair of $2950 bookshelf speakers nx studio can only get down to 70 hz. Is this a joke?
No, not at all. Low end extension below that range is better off being covered by one of our servo controlled woofers. By giving up low end extension there are improvements everywhere else.
@@dannyrichie9743 I really like bookshelf / stand mount speaker with full-range performance. Can you incorporate your servo controlled woofer into the cabinet? How much will that customization cost?
@@lanx0003 The best place in the room for the servo woofer is not the best place in the room for the speakers. Keeping them separate has advantages.
@@dannyrichie9743 That I understand. The issue is the integration bet. them. The pace and texture are significantly different from each other. Your servo (sub)woofer might be speedy but will be controlled by a separate amp from the power amp I am using. I was not able to seamlessly integrate my bookies with powered subwoofer to my satisfaction. Therefore I think the better trade-off is put them together. Sandy Groves says the same thing.
@@lanx0003 We have them set up in our listening room with our servo subs. The integration is seamless. The controls on the servo amp (including variable phase control) make it very easy.
We are however, going to be releasing a three way version with dual woofers below. It's coming.
Danny compare these to the Wilson Tune Tots
Sorry, but that is not a comparison. A better comparison for the Tune Tots would be our X-LS Encore.
@@dannyrichie9743 Well thats a tower with many drivers vs a bookshelf but ok?
@@Smood47 The Encore is a same sized bookshelf model.
You can get REAL studio monitors for less than these and they are already built and definitely sound better, without a hole at 350 hz... And we have no idea how the bass is because he never measures it...
Actually, nothing sounds better than these, and there is no hole at 350Hz. They have a flat response.
@@dannyrichie9743 Why do you not measure below 200hz?
@@tvtime1505 Because he doesn't do real measurements just 1 flawed frequency response curve...
@@dannyrichie9743 Explain the 4 db dip at 350 on your frequency response curve...
@@DWHarper62 It is a factor of how it is being measured at only one meter.
Do a person have to use any soldering?
If you build them from the kit you do.
@@dannyrichie9743 Danny got a question...what do you think of the Arendals, the new Def Tec Dymensions, and the Perlistens?
@@RobertSpiller I have not heard the Arendals. The Def Tec models traditionally used pretty cheesy parts and had issues. I have heard two pair of the Perlistens. I'd say Meh. I didn't hear any problems that stood out, but nothing wowed me either. A pair of X-Bravo's or X-LS Encores and a sub would better them.
Is the flat pack all mdf for the price on the site?
No, the all MDF flat pack is sold through Jay: www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=171567.0
@Danny Richie thabk Danny, i was just wondering if the 379 price was all mdf. Im hoping to upgrade my encores to the nx series next year.
@@toecutterjenkins Yes, that is an all MDF flat pack.
Why not design both top & bottom end to be open in a horizontal set up?
Can't open the woofer or it will loose low end output, and if it were open it would have to be wide open with a L shaped baffle. Just opening one end will cause a crazy cavity resonance.
@@dannyrichie9743 Yes I mean open like the tweeter but certainly the woofer cavity's shape can be shaped however it needs to be, including directional internal diffusion inside the cab to send the acoustic waves out of the enclosure correctly. Bass loss? Servo Sub, or make the monitor a 3 way. Also, it doesn't necessarily have to be a rectangular box shape behind the baffle plain. It might also work that the opening of the tweeter & midrange could be positioned up in the horizontal or to the side in the vertical depending on the room & mix position requirements.
@@adambrown8867 The woofer won't play low enough to really reach a sub that way.
You're killing me! :) :)
I am assembling the Encores and servo sub (to replace M&K system) with all the best parts and you're speaker cable as we speak after watching all your videos for the past few years. I had no room for the X-Statics, wanted an open baffle. :(
Now you trump the Encores, waaaaaa. ;)
Guess I'll build them and donate them to my son when he get a real man cave, hopefully in 2023. I'll enjoy them with my new turntable in the short term.
Good thing I like projects.
PS. I was watching the first few minutes and I said to myself, "He should put a baffle on the top over the woofer and angle it to the open air".
Guess I'm psychic. Hahaha
How do you design your waveguide?
Make, measure, test, remake, reshape, remeasure, test and repeat.
@@dannyrichie9743 thanks! I