Audiophile Smackdown: GR-Research Brutes Versus Bullies!

[@Newrecordday2013]

Just a heads up! The Brute offers a 12” woofer, not a 15” woofer as mentioned in the video. Sorry about that! 🔍 Time Stamps 0:00 - Intro 0:52 - Brute and Bully 4:43 - Battle Ready 5:24 - Listening Impressions 5:30 - Treble Impressions 10:08 - Midrange Impressions 13:41 - Bass Impressions 20:37 - Soundstage Impressions 22:34 - Sound Clips 26:56 - Speaker Measurements 30:31 - Final Thoughts

[@CarlVanDoren61]

Thanks for the clarification 👍

[@Coolguy-xo3cj]

Wish they were 15”.. Danny if listening.. .. 26:05 hint hint nudge nudge 🙏

[@kohnfutner9637]

So the difference is a plate amp and an extra mid and $2000.

[@ThomasOwl]

You did a remarkable job with the soundclips format 👏👏👏

[@Newrecordday2013]

Hey thanks!

[@rvaillant]

I really like the way you do the short clips. With these speakers I was wanting some bass intense clips given their bass prowess however. Thanks again.

[@russellparker4568]

@@ThomasOwl yeah I could really hear the advantage of the MTM in the clips.

[@TheodoreBreaux]

Being the owner of an original 1965 block logo model, your observant comment concerning the vintage JTM-45 just earned you added credibility points and an instant like.

[@Newrecordday2013]

My brother…

[@rrd1975]

Maybe I'm not looking everywhere, but this is the first detailed review of GR-Research products that I've seen. The Bullies and Brutes look like real world beaters, ready to put the smack down on much costlier competitors. I'm always on alert for high value, high performance components, so thank you for this excellent presentation.

[@Newrecordday2013]

You are welcome!

[@BrentLeVasseur]

I just want to thank you and Danny for giving me essentially a masters degree in speaker design and audiophiledom which allowed me to bypass an expensive learning curve and go right to my end game system. Cheers!

[@richardpeterson5838]

I love it! I've been debating which one of these I should build. I love the retro look with the benefits of modern design and parts. Fabulous breakdown!

[@daveapex493]

Ron - Finally, a review with some of GR-Research speakers - THANKS - While these two are contenders to each other, this battle should only be the beginning. Other contenders for our consideration within the bunch - 'NX-Studio', 'X-Statik', and your beloved affair with 'CSS Criton 2TD-X MTM'. These all come-in at around $1100 and are fairly similar with some worthy special tactics. The main issue; ringing the bell on these for us consumers includes building the cabinet and assemblage to keep the cost down. What say you, ready for round two??

[@cruise2023]

NRD did the X-statik some time ago but was never aired, there is a story behind that but I do not know the details.

[@user-zq8pp3ul2c]

I sold my 1td-x the midrange is detailed as the reviews say. I was impressed at first but it wasn't natural to my ears after more varied listening. A sort of boosted midrange lacking a bit of mid bass that lost the grunge sound of distorted guitars. If I liked the sound I was going to get the parts to convert to a 2TD but sold them instead. Reviewers said the GR designs had better bass and high frequencies but not as good midrange as CSS. That was with the 6 inch GR woofers. Danny has said for years his 5inch speakers have better midrange. It's so good he has combined them with 12" woofers now to get the bass out. I was lining up to get the mtm encore kit but I will save up and try the bullies now. I was close to being one of the first to buy the brute. But waited to see how the bullies turned out 🎉

[@norbertoRivera-pn8pd]

9​@@user-zq8pp3ul2c

[@JR-ho5qm]

I’m really grateful Danny took the time to design and offer this style of speaker. I think it is a fantastic option. Not in my cards now but it would be a fun build someday. And I can concur the “Danny Ritchie tune” No Rez, high quality point to point wired crossovers and tube connectors can make some incredible improvements 👍🏻🔈

[@ajafterparty]

wow, both of them sound phenomenal. Thank you so much for doing sound demo's! the other reviewers could learn something from you lol

[@djatak2009]

I have the Brute kit and flat pack sitting in my garage waiting for assembly. I’ve been anxiously waiting for months for this review and you did a great job! I bought these Brutes as I wanted a modern vintage style speaker that’ll smoke my new KLH Model 5’s, the JBL L100’s, Wharfedale Lintons, etc. An honest clean passive sealed speaker that is well rounded, with top notch construction and parts. Your review helped to confirm those assumptions. Keep up the great work!!

[@russellparker4568]

@@djatak2009 oh man, the lintons, they will be flattened by the brutes. The lintons are only £1k in the uk, thats probably a pair built for £400, full of cheap parts.

[@russellparker4568]

@@djatak2009 cabs probably cost half the budget alone.

[@weeooh1]

Awesome review! Always prefer reviews that explore the technical aspects of speakers and why speakers sound the way they do in their listening environment than purely subjective reviews that ignore all that. Well done Ron!

[@petebeckett3870]

Both speakers had a clean , detailed sound but there was a level of clarity and space in the Bully that stood out.

[@petrolfever]

Great video! Thanks! I was leaning towards the brute tbh, but now I think you've sold me on the benefits of the bully.

[@caseybryant7409]

I would love for you to research the Zu-DWX stand mount speakers. Really appreciate all your time and effort with your videos!

[@richh650]

As usual, your reviews are like you are playing chess against most other reviewers just playing checkers. Well done and excellent review sir!

[@Newrecordday2013]

Much appreciated!

[@toddholen2762]

Ron. I've been watching for years now. You've always leveled up on every next video. Now, your leveling up involves a confidence that makes me eager to hear what you have to say.

[@Newrecordday2013]

What a kind thing to say - thank you!

[@adsph]

Wow. Appears both loudspeakers excel well. Very cool.

[@The340king]

The Brute seemed to be lacking in the upper bass/lower midrange. It might be the bass bloom in the woofers response making it sound that way by relative loudness, but they sounded like they were muffled in about a 200 Hz range. The Bully sounded almost exactly the same as the reference material on my system. Very impressive sounding.

[@Newrecordday2013]

I think you just nailed it. I agree!

[@unewb]

If speakers are good they should be able to play all music. Anything beyond what the original engineer intended is wrong, like bright speakers imo. Thanks for the review, these are very compelling speakers.

[@CarlVanDoren61]

Easy to say: one speaker fits all 😮 Detailed speakers present more info Alsyvox, Clarisys, Magnepan, etc

[@peterbaugh51]

Agree, the best speakers sound like real music, and like the source. Violin, piano, pipe organ, rock guitar... tough to get right. Most speakers don't.

[@gregkoblentz7872]

The frequency response you got with The Bully is ludicrous, seriously, they go plaid. When it came up on the screen I yelled HOLY $4it!! my wife in the other room came and asked what's got me freaking out, I showed her the chart, she walked away. I sat there staring, gobsmacked.

[@weeooh1]

Its the sort of response you get with $20k and above speakers

[@Newrecordday2013]

Yup! I know! It’s nuts.

[@j.m.harris4202]

Nothing Compares to "In Room" but even through KZbin the Bullies Sound like they have more Meat on the Bone! Great Presentation Ron! 💯

[@Artcore103]

@@weeooh1 Not true, plenty of examples at 5k and even far less can do +/- 2db. Having a good frequency response is NOT price dependent (excluding ULTRA cheap stuff obviously) - it's design dependent. Erin's audio corner has klippel measurements of many speakers measuring super well for way under 5 grand. The rare part about the bully is the bass extension and SPL it's capable of. Very cool speaker but i would only consider the kit. If you add up the cost of the actual components, 300 for the sub, 28 for each woofer, 50 for the tweeter... maybe a couple hundred for the crossover and wiring, and whatever the plate amp costs, probably a few hundred tops, plus wood and no-rez... you can easily see there's MAYBE 2 grand in them, being generous. Unfortunately that kind of markup is normal, obviously the labor is worth some money, and the design, which is why DIY wins, every time. The Brutes have even more markup percentage wise I'd say, no plate amp, cheaper woofer, only one mid-woofer, a little less wood. These are epic speakers I'd love to own, for sure. But you could build the kit or piece it together yourself for far less... and while the crossover design is obviously built for these very specific drivers, with some know-how a little modification could allow you to use a higher quality woofer in the Brute, or even just some good ole' parametric EQ.

[@kenhiett5266]

​@@Artcore103 Or just pay a reasonable price to the people who created it. Businesses cost money to run, and there's nothing wrong with making a profit.

[@johnt2442]

Nice review of Danny's speakers. when do you expect to drop a review of the Caladan?

[@JohnScheppler]

Ron, I bi-wire my Klipsch speakers so i can just drive the compression horn alongside my 18" band pass subwoofers, so I get that great rock sound. Providing only 20Hz and 20kHz! 🤘🎶

[@BubblePuppy.]

No No Ron, when you turn up those Klipsch on a rock song and it is like your ears are getting cut with razor blades, you are rockin dude!

[@JungYT]

An audio review with measurements and actual sound samples? 👏👍💯

[@Rockit66]

I can back the acoustics part up, as I've been working on it slowly the last couple of months now in a room that should be too small for the Brute. BUT!!! I got it working. Maybe I might have a peak in the bass as you say, but it is at no point sounding bad for me. It just sounds like the room became bigger, and sometimes I almost feel scared when I play intense music. (No, Not Mark Gormly) BTW, I listen to mostly metal and hard rock, and Klipsch are responsible for me ending up with the Brute, cause Klipsch just killed my music. It shoves the guitars in the back. They are supposed to be in the front of this type of music.

[@jeremiahchamberlin4499]

Thanks for introducing me to Danny’s products. They sound and look interesting. I thought he only sold parts & services. I’ll have to check out his site. Love the graphs, even I can follow the discussion of them.

[@Newrecordday2013]

That’s fantastic!

[@toby9999]

Also check out his channel if you haven't already.

[@dave161299]

You have a fantastic sounding room. 👍

[@jdlech]

I've said in the past that you know your stereo system is good enough when you realize all the little mistakes in the way your source was recorded. When your source - either the artists, or the recording engineer - is the weakest link in your system, you're done upgrading.

[@toddholen2762]

Oh hell yes! Here we go!

[@Newrecordday2013]

Let’s go!

[@bencarignan2711]

Superb analysis!

[@Newrecordday2013]

Glad you think so!

[@NickP333]

Fantastic overall video, Ron. Appreciate how deep you go with what I’m sure are spot on thoughts. Enjoyed your JTM-45 comment too. Guitar nerds / audiophiles all across the interwebs will dig that. Bright speakers better for rock? Who the heck said that ridiculousness? 😂 Thanks, Ron!

[@connorduke4619]

Fantastic review and in the end I was most impressed by the Bullies!

[@daveb1761]

The worst and easiest mistake to make in all of high-end audio is to mistake brightness for detail. Been there done that... don't do it!

[@BruceCross]

People who gravitate toward bright speakers seem to have primitive musical taste and high-frequency hearing damage. After all, rock music is already bright. The ringing of drum cymbals can become torture.

[@ChicagoRob2]

@@BruceCross 100% agree. For me, neutrality is key. I want to hear exactly what the sound engineer intended, without colorations.,

[@BruceCross]

@@ChicagoRob2 Yes, I like neutrality, too. I can't control bright recordings, but I can control bright speakers.

[@tamaszold6782]

Please! Review GR-Research X-Statik speakers. I'm very interested in the X-Statik (and X-Voce for movies). There does not seem to be any good reviews of these speakers.

[@Corndog642]

I’ve had the X-Statiks and X-Voce for over a decade. They are some of my favorite speakers. Definitely recommend if you have the space for them. They sound best with at least 3’ behind them. If you can’t move them away from the front wall that far then you need some kind of sound absorber behind them to minimize reflections. While they’re not hard to drive, they sound better with more power. I’ve run them in a small room with a 18-70 watts and they sounded very good. But in a bigger room with 200-300 watts and they really open up. The Voce also needs space to sound its best. If you stick it in a cabinet you will lose the benefit of the open baffle mids.

[@troytaylor6160]

I love my X Statik speakers but would love to see a review on them.

[@tamaszold6782]

@@Corndog642 Thanks! Good advice. i really want to get both of them with gr-research surrounds too.

[@cruise2023]

@@troytaylor6160 NRD did some time back, was never aired, there is a story behind that.

[@cruise2023]

NRD did some time back, but was never aired !!!

[@IsaacChew]

The bully sounds like a more faithful rendition compared to the brutes.

[@Newrecordday2013]

I agree

[@ChicagoRob2]

On my modded Drop 58x phones, they are very close.

[@michaeljohnson7254]

Please, Please, Please do a review of the NX Studios. With sound tracks and comparisons. Danny has said in his personal opinion "He rates these two speakers against each other -- the Encores a 5 and the NX Studios a 9." Let us hear hid Level 9 speakers. MJ

[@jdlech]

You can add in whatever you want to make a speaker sound however you like. But you cannot - *YOU CANNOT* remove it. Thus, if you start with a flat response with minimal decay, you can add any of that in however you like. But YOU CANNOT SUBTRACT IT. A "bright" sounding speaker with loads of stored energy cannot sound flat. It's like trying to take the cream back out of your coffee. Start with a speaker with a flat response, and minimal ringing. THEN add whatever "brightness" you want for rock music. And while you're add it, punch it up a bit with +3 to +6db dynamic expansion for a more "live" sound.

[@bhupendrapatel9686]

excellent video😀

[@xaerothehero]

The tweeter sounds really sharp and sibilant. Expected a bit better for that price no?

[@kohnfutner9637]

Good to see you Ron. I thought maybe you quit doing reviews.

[@MrRonnmaui]

Great review! I think it's time to put these speakers up against the "audio snobs" lineup.

[@peterbaugh51]

Going to take some serious $$$$ to even equal these... 😊

[@ChicagoRob2]

@@peterbaugh51 Absolutely

[@jjnewbold]

Hoping to hear more about Caladan soon, love the look of those. Wondering if I can get away with placing them one foot off my front wall (I understand more is better), or if I shouldn't bother in that case.

[@Newrecordday2013]

1 foot isn’t going be enough. 2 1/2 feet would be bare minimum.

[@jjnewbold]

Anything you'd recommend given those placement restrictions? Would Concept 50 work better?

[@donnywidodo8874]

the bully maybe?so you can fine tune the bass

[@x5-acousticguitarstuff.2]

The Bully has more upper Freq detail and most likely more bass as well.

[@smilesrs8516]

Great Job! I would love to see a comparison between the Bully and the Caladan's.

[@wattspeakers]

I'll go out on a limb and take a guess that the Bully may have sounded more analytical due to the MTM arrangement. When done correctly that offers a very controlled polar pattern and dispersion area focused on the seated sweet spot. Again, just a guess.

[@kenolson6126]

this video took me from completely discounting these speakers to seriously considering a purchase. there are some brands or names of equipment that put me off enough to take them off my list of considerations. i 'assumed' a speaker finished with duratex and called the bully or brute was on the same level as cerwin vega. i simply couldn't take them seriously. (For me, i have the same issue (problem?) with a loudspeaker manufacture who paint all their speakers with automotive paint and colors. in my amateur thinking it lessons the quality and value of the product). So the names Brute and Bully discounted the perceived value of the speakers. i am very glad there are wood veneer options. My equipment cabinet is oak so I'll likely go with oak veneer. From my cheap seat i would encourage GR Research to rename these, even to something as simple as The GR 1.0 or something. just my brain droppings.

[@brucemibus9523]

I could hear differences between the 2 only in the bass seemingly below 100Hz. The Brute seems to rise below 100, and the Bully seems flatter and more linear even through the KZbin system.

[@psyphonyxaudio]

I would have preferred a tall tower .. narrow baffle ..and 2 opposing side fire woofers down low.. There are some pretty good shallow mount woofers out there now. I think that would be really nice looking.

[@sudd3660]

that would be my preference too, but then i would like to have my woofers facing me so i went with subwoofers and mtm mains. but for sure shallow mount subwoofers and dsp from plate amp can do wonders from a small box. the amount of 10" shallow mounts you could fit on a floor standing speaker with the bully mtm on top is probably in the six or eights.

[@GoggleAX]

@@sudd3660 Let’s get to designin’!!!

[@sudd3660]

@@GoggleAX my designs require dsp, and not the kind you can program into a plate amp.

[@AnthonyGagnonBoisvert]

Great review! Would you recommend these monitors for a recording studio for the purpose of mixing and mastering? How would you position these monitors compared to brands like Barefoot Sound, ATC, or Focal, for example? Thank you very much!

[@aceofspades6667]

Bullies vs m3 sapphires vs caladans would be an epic comp in a future review. The bullies are crazy impressive

[@cruise2023]

Different camp, they would just sound different, it would then be what you like and not necessarily any better.

[@caseyodonnell6621]

JTM45 best sounding guitar amp ever made. You've upped your troll level Ron. I know this is an audio channel but I'm surprised you didn't throw a tonewood comment in there just for good measure.

[@Newrecordday2013]

Haha! Next time!

[@hicostlocost]

Totally agree that the bass is bloomy(er) in the Brute on the recordings. Neither is offensive, but the Bullies just clean things up a bit more.

[@barryclempson412]

very informative thanks, i live in the UK unfortunately iv never heard Dannys speakers but im interested in the NX Studio could you do a review of that speaker ?

[@danielesbordone1871]

The graphs are impressive , GR knows what they're doing , but Dan d'Agostino once said that the best measurements don't always translate to the best sound. I think these speakers belong more in a recording studio than in a hi-fi home setup. Thanks for sharing.

[@gregbegland7640]

Just curious why you think that?

[@peterbaugh51]

​@@gregbegland7640I would like these in my studio and entertainment center!

[@jondonnelly4831]

Studios need a flat response for mixing. ​@@gregbegland7640

[@ChicagoRob2]

Some people prefer colored speakers.

[@RennieAsh]

The funny thing is that people want singer in the room or "as the artist intended" but don't want to use monitor style speakers lol

[@mortimersnerd1348]

I have an off-topic question for you. I'm aware that you own the Tsakiridis Alexander tube preamp. Since you've had this unit for many years, do you still use it frequently or have you found a preamp that sounds even better? I've been eyeing this preamp for some time now and expect to make a purchase soon. Your impressions?

[@dentonwoodworkers9815]

They grow up so fast. 😭 I feel like I was just duratexing these last week. 😂

[@DethFromAbove1985]

The bully had a similar layout to the Cerwin Vega D9s.

[@chrisvand2678]

Funny you say that, because I was thinking the same.. They could ROCK like crazy.

[@peterbaugh51]

Bullies were closest to source, by an invisible hair... But I like the bass of the Brutes slightly more. I have no sub. But I have this thing called Tone Controls. Would be very happy with either. Very impressed. Best sounding smackdown I have heard yet on my Elac Reference speakers. Like, WOW good speakers! I might need a bigger room though... Great video. GR Research is the real deal. Da bomb.

[@wattspeakers]

Comparing older large driver speakers to these designs is not possible, as these are actually more of a bookshelf system with built in stereo subwoofers. Old mass market big woofer Loudspeakers are crossed over much higher and sometimes not crossed over at all, but the guess is, that the "speed" is from the 5" drivers covering more bass than a vintage big woofer speaker design.

[@cremersalex]

Don't really hear that much difference between reference track and both speakers. The Brute adds more bass.

[@G3rain1]

How would this compare to Encore's + a pair of sealed servo subs?

[@Newrecordday2013]

Would be as close as you could get.

[@rikardekvall3433]

These sound great and the bass does sound great and correct. In track 2 they both sounded mellow…. The reference was better and clearer. More Coldplay than Mozart?

[@burg856]

How does the Brute and the Caladan compare. Sorry, that's the comparison Im waiting for. Help, LOL Great job, thanks.

[@mariavon22]

What a great review! The Bully's sounded best, more open, more depth. I wish there were a channel only reviewing DIY speakers from around the world.

[@ralphmckenzie8802]

Me too. A DIY speaker building channel would be cool. I've been building DIY speakers for over 40 years.

[@3184Patrick]

I hate my Klipsch for rock lol. RF7's are lovely for folk and jazz etc but they are the worst for rock. I almost can't enjoy my massive metal collection because they are too bright. I'd love to give these a try. Thanks Ron

[@Newrecordday2013]

My pleasure! Thanks for watching and leaving a comment!

[@davidristic3800]

Most hard rock and metal is recorded like dogsh*t...your speakers aren't the sole culprit

[@L8KY]

I like it.

[@becomeawindowtinterpro7670]

Maybe klipsch type speakers aren't better for rock. Maybe it's just that rock music is what sounds best on them and people get the concept inverted. It's kinda like saying that the best thing to put on a steak is A1 vs A1 is gross but it tastes better on a steak than it does on chocolate ice cream.

[@davidfreund604]

People mistake the terrific presence of horn driven as bright ? I can not say . I just love horn for what they do. The problem is I can not take the presence long time. Like a concert it's the presence that wears one out.

[@castro619a]

How does these compare to the bookshelf versions?

[@TheCharlesAtoz]

No, you don't know what I'm thinking....thank goodness.

[@barneyrubble9309]

Brute sounds closed in with too much midbass. Bully is the better speaker.

[@jeffmpvd7689]

This video is definitely entertaining, The question I have is: is it a review or an advertisement? Unfortunately 99.8% of the viewers of this video will never get to hear these speakers in person so maybe it does not matter?

[@Newrecordday2013]

The video is not sponsored, and there is no financial interest in any GR products. Thanks for watching!

[@louiesipes2257]

Some people have wacky tastes Ron🤣

[@mfgxl]

I do like the Bully speakers best in sound comparison. Would you be so kind as to do a comparison like this on the Bully vs the Caladan speakers?

[@VIctorCarruyo]

Was about to get these, still want to... Just going to have to wait, as a baby is in its way. Fortunately the baby will be born in to a whole house full of GR Research goodies. You know, to start him right.

[@ChicagoRob2]

Congrats!

[@MattyDaddy14]

New subscriber.. came here because of the gr speakers review! 🎉 you do an amazing job describing how these speaker sound and how they relate to each other and even a “reference version”. Way cool!!! 🎉 I found myself closing my eyes to listen for the difference during the sound test. I had found these Bully’s before seeing this review, and very grateful to hear/see what these are like without being there in person. 🎉. I would def love some of those Bully’s!! Wish gr would come out with a 7.1 system with these. ;) 🎉

[@Newrecordday2013]

Welcome aboard! Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@seanb3303]

What makes a speaker good for rock is dynamics…so big Klipsch horn speakers with their high sensitivity are great for rock. Same with Tekton

[@Newrecordday2013]

One of those is also great for litigation. 🙈🙉🙊

[@unewb]

Tekton has a very high sensitivity, just not the way you’re thinking. 😅

[@corymorris5800]

@@unewbor both 😂

[@dajikbatarang1]

I wouldn’t touch Tekton with a 10 foot pole regardless how good

[@GoggleAX]

@@unewb😮😂😂😂

[@DethFromAbove1985]

I know Kevin at Skylabs maintains that there isn't one size fits all in speakers or at least in vintage speakers. I don't know how relevant that is if you use tone controls. Digital or otherwise. I think it depends on the record not necessarily the genre. Some stuff I like scooped out and some stuff I like flat. Etc etc

[@BrettinLux]

I really like the Bully’s 👍👍💪 How do they compare to the Klipsch Fortes?

[@Newrecordday2013]

I’m probably the wrong guy to ask - I don’t really care for the Fortes. Others with more balanced opinion can chime in but I think the Bullies would give those things a wedgie.

[@SpirallingOut]

Does the Bully's servo-sub amp work with international voltage (specifically, Australia)?

[@wheelbasemedia5814]

Ron, I did a GR upgrade kit on some B&W 602 S2's. Just to verify GR's claims about its upgrade kits, would you be interested in testing them against a pair of originals that I also have?

[@Newrecordday2013]

That would be very interesting! Email me. [e-mail]

[@wheelbasemedia5814]

@@Newrecordday2013, email sent!

[@lsaideOK]

A major downside for me are the looks. After my eyes stop bleeding, I might enjoy how they sound.

[@Corndog642]

You can get the cabinets finished however you like.

[@lsaideOK]

@@Corndog642 That's only the surface of the cabinet not the design of this industrial block. That's only my opinion. Beauty is in the eye...

[@Corndog642]

@@lsaideOK They were meant to be an homage to 70’s and 80’s style speakers. Most of Danny’s speakers are the more modern slimmer cabinet style speakers.

[@jondonnelly4831]

The black duratex is the worst finish, but the drivers not being centrally aligned is not nice. Not for me.

[@toby9999]

​@jondonnelly4831 Why is not being centrally aligned a problem? I believe there is a good reason for this design.

[@khunopie9159]

"audiophile" lol In this episode Ron lets us know which one of his boss's children is the better kid. I got my popcorn! Let's strap in lfg!

[@charleskatz2606]

9ft?Why not put them in the backyard?

[@Newrecordday2013]

Not a terrible idea…

[@CarlVanDoren61]

20.7s sonics best w Contemporary Jazz 👌 Personal preference

[@wattspeakers]

Cool video, ❤ big speakers!

[@dillwack]

I have had my TobySpeakers for 30 years also the same bandpass box in my cars, only had to replace 3 drivers in that 30 years. I’ll put the sound quality and low watts needed to push them up against anything you have got.

[@miguelmunoz1713]

Finally

[@Newrecordday2013]

Heck yeah!

[@BruceCross]

I was surprised Danny chose polypropylene vs. paper for the Brute woofer. Audiophiles say "polypropylene bounce" adds warmth and resonance to notes, which sounds pleasant but indicates poor damping qualities.

[@kohnfutner9637]

Are the measurements shown a weighted average or raw response? Because weighted average responses do appear much flatter than would raw frequency response. I don't think he graphs look bad, and the speakers probably sound great, but if this is a weighted average response (that averages a lump of hertz together over time rather than one by one by a sine wave) it's definitely not perfect. I feel like there are cheaper options with similar or even better responses. And probably ones Danny has advised to be "upgraded". I don't mean that disrespectful, hateful, argumentative or offensive, i think highly of Danny and Ron. I'm just trying to be more transparent and critically fair without nepotism.

[@Newrecordday2013]

Weighted? I assume you mean an averaged response. Meaning, many different responses that are then combined for an average response? If so - no. This is not an averaged response. It was a single frequency sweep.

[@matytinman]

Both speakers require very large rooms, more common in the US/Canada than in Europe. The Bully is the best. Be careful, the subwoofer amplification is only for 110 Vac / 60 Hz. The excess bass in The Brutes can be easily solved with EQ because at such low frequencies the phase shift produced by doing so is not noticeable to the ear, unlike frequencies > 350-500 Hz ( > 500 Hz: rePhase -> convolution filter -> JRiver or other good soft player). The optimal solution is to use as a source a computer optimized for multimedia (hard and soft) and that minimizes the jitter generated by the CPU when processing the data, with a good software player such as JRiver MC. And use it for streaming or to play audio from CDs, SACDs, vinyl after being properly ripped (few know how to do it well). With that solution you save $2,000 vs The Bullys. In both cases, in addition to a large room, it must be acoustically conditioned. 👉In more normal sized rooms the X-SLS Encore Tower seems most appropriate, especially if you do not listen to rap, hip hop and other "noises". You can add one/two.. subwoofers later. - Greetings from Tarragona (Spain/EU) -

[@josh2011miller80]

There’s something sweeter about the sound of the Bully’s

[@baronofgreymatter14]

Ok Ron. Caladan or these? Your earlier video describes the Caladan as God's gift to humanity. The whole lightning strikes twice. Now you have these 2 speakers and suddenly they are the end all be all. Im in the market. Heck I have Cornwall IVs which sound great but I have an open mind. Your friend Danny has trashed klipsch and the cornwalls specifically. So here I am listening to an opinion I respect but Im getting conflicting info. Which is it?

[@toby9999]

Positioning 9 feet in from the wall would have them 4 feet from the opposite wall on my room...

[@cruise2023]

Yes not exactly ideal !

[@Newrecordday2013]

Every room is different. My room is 28 feet deep so your results might be different.

[@nathandaniels4823]

@Newrecordday2013 how did their soundstage react to movement? I’m really sensitive to soundstages that change as one moves around slightly

[@Newrecordday2013]

Man I didn’t hear much change at all and I’m also sensitive to that as well

[@chinmeysway]

what are their efficiently ratings? looking really low like not even 80db or am i mistaking

[@dannyrichie9743]

No, not low at all, fairly high. The Brute is rated at 90.5db and the Bully is at 94db.

[@CORVUSMAXYMUS]

16 bit vs 24 bit OK, so 192kHz music files make no sense. Covered, done. What about 16 bit vs. 24 bit audio? It's true that 16 bit linear PCM audio does not quite cover the entire theoretical dynamic range of the human ear in ideal conditions. Also, there are (and always will be) reasons to use more than 16 bits in recording and production. None of that is relevant to playback; here 24 bit audio is as useless as 192kHz sampling. The good news is that at least 24 bit depth doesn't harm fidelity. It just doesn't help, and also wastes space.

[@JingoLoBa57]

Brute is a bit hissy and so is the Bully…interesting to compare with my PMC MB2SE

[@Newrecordday2013]

Interesting - I didn’t catch onto that at all.

[@RennieAsh]

I can slightly hear a little extra something in the upper range; could be room interaction too. Forgot what the off axis looks like. The ref recording also has a bit of this at times but it's slightly emphasised on the speakers. The best part is I can hear it through phone speakers. That's probably be ok in person. I like a bunch of different speakers from ones with more ideal response to others which I'm sure don't measure perfect

[@steveh545]

what are the reference speakers? sorry if this has been mentioned, and i missed it. Caladans? (sp?)

[@larrydunn4626]

the reference is the audio file directly inserted into the youtube video... it isn't through any speaker.

[@steveh545]

@@larrydunn4626 got it. That thought crossed my mind after I posted. I like that the best 😂.

[@lawreence13]

Bullies for me noticeably less smeared and closer to the reference with more sense of space and ease.

[@lawreence13]

By the way I made my comments before the end of the video and then when hearing your comments it totally confirmed my view. I don't usually hear the differences so I'm surprised I heard the difference

[@donnywidodo8874]

how far are the speakers place into the room in the sound clips?

[@Newrecordday2013]

8 feet.