CALLING OUT DANNY at GR RESEARCH

I watched the video Danny from the GR Research channel released last week and I felt compelled to respond. So here it is, in a rather simple and raw form.
Link to the GR Research video that inspired me: • CALLING OUT the REVIEW...
MOD Instagram: @myown.devices
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[@dannyrichie9743]

Hey Dave, Nice to meet you (via KZbin) and thanks for watching. I liked your video and feedback. Let me just clarify a few things. Regarding sending our product our for review. We have had our product reviewed by every magazine out there online and in print, and we've won awards from all of them. So I have never had any issue with sending out our products. I also have no issue with a reviewer selling gear after a review of they disclose that they have made arrangements to keep the gear in exchange for the review. Some are doing that and some are not disclosing that. My recommendation to them is that doing that will hurt their credibility. If they are being paid for the review they are seen more as a paid advertiser than a reviewer. I am also not buying reviews. Doing that doesn't look good for the manufacturer either. The invitation to come was not to review our gear in our place only. We even said they could bring their own gear. It is just to come, listen, and learn. No reviews are required or asked for. My contention isn't that just our gear should be reviewed with quality gear and a dedicated or optimized room. My contention is the same for ALL gear being reviewed. Sure everyone is blown away from our system, but one of the things they leave with (every time) is a desire and motivation to step up their room, their speaker placement, and gear. I want to make their systems better whether they use our gear or not. And when you do pass through my way, let me know. You'd be welcome to visit.

[@dannyfannyfoodle]

Nicely said. Kudos to you for offering a reasoned and non-defensive response. I see both sides. I can see where people might have been put off by some of the things you said as “elitist”, but if they really watched the video, I think it’s pretty clear that you were sincere in your desire to further the cause of hi-FI, not just promote your business. It’s a brave new world and I think there’s a lot of risk that, as these KZbin reviewers replace the print medium, unless there is a concerted effort to disclose the business relationship between manufacturer and reviewer, great harm could be done to hifi enthusiasts, audiophiles, and the audio community writ large.

[@c128stuff]

It has been years since I last visited Texas, but if I ever get the opportunity I'd like to see and hear what you did to achieve the best possible listening experience, that is a science, and also an art in its own right.

[@MODAC]

Thanks for your response, Danny. I really wasn’t expecting you to comment, but I appreciate that you did. I didn’t realize just how controversial a figure you are until now! You have brilliantly found your niche in the cutthroat world of home audio, and your competitive nature keeps the fires burning hot. But I think as Ron predicted and tried to temper, your strongly stated opinions would elicit some interesting reactions. I watched it a couple of times (it’s long, man), I left a brief comment, then my brain started going…and I made a video. As I said in the video, the whole product reviewer/reviewee relationship has been sketchy since forever. I don’t see a solution…Should there be reviewing laws in place? Reviewing hifi gear can be fun, but coming up with original combinations of adjectives to describe sound is the hardest part. You are clever by avoiding all that nonsense and sticking to graphs and measurements. As Oscar Wilde famously said, “There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.” Cheers

[@MichelLinschoten]

@@DG-ie5ip why ? If you're so hell bend on controlling content. Start your own channel

[@rigorhead01]

@@DG-ie5ip why should he take down his video?

[@paulphillips9684]

Dave, you displayed an awareness of yourself in a humble tone that was refreshing. At the same time, you challenged Danny's disconnect between listening in a dedicated, treated room and then listening, (if you are fortunate to have a dedicated room), in your space at home. You did this and then more importantly you ended your video in a show of unity which supports Danny's primary aim . Exceptionally well done, you are a prince of a man.

[@eriklscott64]

Hey Dave.!!! First and I always do this with people I enjoy their work. I say thank you!!!! Thanks buddy I really enjoy all of your work. You have a bit of humbleness and humanity, the kind of humanity that I miss. I find you a breath of fresh air and open-mindedness. I subscribe to pretty much almost anyone I can think of as far as audio even languages I don't speak. You can actually tell a lot without even knowing someone's language. Please keep up the great work and thank you I so appreciate it!!! Please take care of your health and your family BigErik

[@techrider2088]

Danny wants to not only fix speakers but to fix reviewers.

[@2013brzsubaru]

Rotf!!

[@craigjohnchronicles2504]

This was a great response to Danny. As much as Ron and Danny tried to convey it wasn't an attack - the arrogance in that room was deafening. Everything you stated was exactly what I was thinking throughout that video.

[@tonywa9343]

So, I am not sure what you trying to resolve, you seem to “ beat around the bush”. Why don’t u folks leave GR research be. He is good at what he does and I have learned a lot from the man. Go after the large manufactures

[@mikecampbell5856]

I truly enjoy your down to earth video reviews. You are my favorite audio reviewer.

[@cvee2614]

Good review Dave. About three years ago, based on Danny's sales pitch I bought the X-LS Encore's with all the upgrade options, caps, etc... After building the kit and pairing with my Marantz intergrated amp, I expected full rich lively audio. Instead what I got was a rather average, slightly muffled and choked sounding pair of loudspeakers. Moving the Encores to the side, I built my own open baffle full range speakers with my own modest crossover design. The sound for the open baffle speakers continues to amaze and I've since taken orders for several sets to listeners who, like me have found the experience "live like".

[@JR-ho5qm]

Great video! I think Danny and his strong personality is great! Having GR Reserch help me modify my speakers was the most fun I have had in audio. And the results were well worth the efforts and cost. I look forward to doing it again in the future. There is something about knowing your speakers are better than stock and at there best. I think Danny does have allot of knowledge to share and hope that some KZbin ers take him up on his offer. I think it would make some fantastic content. 👍🏻🔈

[@christopherstumbers5906]

Nice job Dave... Very eloquently put! I saw Danny's video yesterday and was curious about reactions in the community. Big fan of.your channel and reaching out to let you know how much I've been enjoying the content, especially the videos on vintage gear. I recently acquired a sweet Dual 1229 tt (for free!) which Ive been absolutely loving. I remember you mentioning you lived in NJ. Whereabouts? Keep up the good work Dave.

[@HomeTheatre101]

Definitely an interesting take and I agree 100%! It’s honestly a great experience getting to hear different speakers and the differences between them. A lot of people forget there’s passion involved. As far as for reviewers reviewing the speakers in untreated or lightly treated listening spaces, that’s how most people have their rooms and very few actually have a perfect room with zero nulls or reflection issues and imo reviewing a speaker in a more neutral room brings the speakers close to the buyer. And Honestly the “Upgrades” Danny sells, completely changes the sound signature of the speakers taking away what makes each speaker special and it’s like a slap in the face to the designer when you change the sound signature that significantly, No hard feelings towards anyone but I like my speakers to have their differences. Just my two cents, Happy listening and great video! ✅🍿

[@gcat6780]

None of my friends who love stereo have any sound treatment other than the furniture in the room. I bet you the majority of the people who are into stereo listen to their hifi the way i do. Good designers and reviewers should design and review with untreated rooms in mind. Love your response to Danny

[@Bigirondoug]

Your comment is akin to saying I bought a Ferrari just to use it for grocery shopping.

[@lexicon612]

Never being able to hear my speakers (I paid good money for) sound their very best, because I failed to grasp (The Fact) that the room is the #1 most important element of any sound system. Learn something about room treatments and lead your group of friends to the next level. Just because you all don't get it yet...is no reason to believe you must be right. If you are serious about audio, you never stop looking for ways to improve your audio/home theater experience. My journey has led me to my next upgrade...speaker cables. Yes, they do matter, before you ask. Otherwise you can just go to wallmart and pick out speakers that will go with your décor, and call it a day. Most of us here, are here for very different reasons.

[@vannk73]

@@Bigirondoug Your comment is akin to saying that a souped-up Toyota is the same as a Ferrari.

[@vannk73]

@@lexicon612 This is an entirely different audience. Some of us just want gear that will sound good without all of that fuss and added expense. Not everyone is obsessing over every intricate detail in the music. Perhaps GR Research is saying that their products aren't for everyone either, which I doubt they would ever come right out and say. Not sending their products to "imperfect" reviewers is basically insulting to many of their current and future customers.

[@lexicon612]

@@vannk73 #1 Danny is the kind of guy that will open up a pair of Revel bookshelf speakers ($4000.00 msrp) and expose the fact that Revel spent only 18.00 in crossover parts. He is the ultimate bang for the buck guy. Sells equipment that blows away anything in their respective price categories. He should be your mentor not someone you criticize. Curtains, furniture etc. are all room treatments (no extra monies needed) Arranged properly to minimize reflections is accomplishing room treatment for free. Doesn't have to be obsessive, or costly...you just have to give a shit. Clearly you do. Your here. If (the best) entry level gear is your only goal...why are you really here? No one here buys their audio equipment from wall mart. Much as you would like to believe that.

[@crimsonghost6454]

I love your videos. It seems to me that you give honest personal reviews and that is more important than high production value. And the fact that not all of your content is new and the next great thing. I rarely buy new so I like that. Keep up the good work.

[@timleelim9930]

Don’t worry Dave, production quality never really bothered me cos I tend to listen more than watch videos about audio equipment while going about the daily chores. I grew up in the generation where live sports events were covered on the radio. And I do kind of miss those days. The old Telefunken Opus valve radio may be long gone, but some of the commentary styles are ingrained in my old but still appreciative memories of those days.

[@gdemirjian]

Hi Dave. I enjoy your channel. I just ready Danny's reply. This exchange is a good example why we need to speak to each other more than we communicate through social media as social medial communication can create much miscommunication. I believe Danny and you will have a great face to face chat when you finally get to meet. Cheers! George

[@poetryonplastic]

This is one of the better response videos on this topic, well done. Room acoustics are important, but they are one of many factors, and part of the process of evaluating what equipment to buy is understanding your space, it’s strengths and limitations, and what can work in that space. Some gear is more flexible, some gear is very picky about room and placement, and good reviewers point this out. Most of us work around the spaces we have, and yet still tweak their systems because hifi has to live alongside us. If one speaker can improve a system in one particular environment, where the other speaker needs a ton of acoustic treatment and correction to make an improvement in the same system, I would think consumers would like to know that.

[@roybertalotto6355]

There are KZbin "Reviewers" and there are "Influencers".......The line gets blurred...

[@briansimmons5363]

Who is your favorite reviewer and why? I think mine is Sean. A big part of that is that he puts the product into perspective. If you like bright forward sound you are going to like this piece, if you value a wide and deep sound stage, this is probably not your first choice. Also not pretentious, and low key. Also great product selections. At first, thought cheapaudioman was a joke but have come to respect him. Also great selection of products.

[@terjeaudio4308]

well said! love your channel, and greetings from Canada...humility goes a long long way on our social media platforms

[@shaunyweavey2470]

That guy Danny ..... Does he really know what goes into mass production of speakers, let me tell you all ....COST.... It's choice to buy any speaker and enjoy the sound of music . Let's see Danny make speakers for the masses instead of slating them .. You do the industry a disservice .. Top notch calling out ...

[@pkats9093]

Nice job, very well said! Excellent even keeled response to Danny’s video. Honestly, don’t understand why it triggered so many people. Was it the most diplomatically done opinion piece ever? No. Was it meant to denigrate certain people? I don’t think so. Danny seems like a good guy to me. He does make some very good points.

[@1980JPA]

I WAS mean to denigrate some people. In fact shots were fired at very specific people. He didn't say the names, he just made sure that if you've been in this community you know who he was speaking of.

[@joeg7755]

Very interesting. Possibly Danny may have forgot that he was a small operator at one time as well. I do like Danny's channel, educational for me and I appreciate your view Dave, I agree with your statements. I will be spending more time on your channel as well. BTW nothing wrong with you looks, we all look great!

[@daniellustgarten5857]

After watching this video , Im a new follower of your channel ,thank you for the clarity ,honesty and down to earth view of the reviewing art, so now on you have a new fan and follower....

[@MODAC]

Your comments are greatly appreciated. Thanks

[@VINTAGEO]

Very well said! You hit on a lot of points that I was thinking as he was saying them! What good is a high end system in a mediocre room? I for one cannot afford such a room, nor do i have the room! I have however acquired some fantastic vintage gear over the years and have had many people say that it is the best sound they ever heard! I have long thought that Danny, while seemingly a good guy, has always tried to get all of us square pegs to fit into the round holes that he preaches are the only correct ones. I too would love to hear a set of his speakers, but i suspect i would be disappointed, because i don't subscribe to a flat sound. I prefer lively yet warm, so color my speakers audio Gods!!

[@dannyrichie9743]

Just because a product measures flat (accurately) doesn't mean it sounds flat. The measured response shows accuracy and not how it sounds. A speaker can measure flat and sound like it is playing through a wet rag or measure flat and be the most lively sounding speaker you've ever heard.

[@VINTAGEO]

@@dannyrichie9743 that's true and I wasn't trying to be disrespectful at all and I do appreciate how you point out shortcomings from the high end market using subpar components in their equipment, but i do feel that we all hear differently and we all enjoy different sound, just like taste, no two people like all the same things.. To say that one way is best is merely opinion. I have good friends and we all have nice audio gear and we rarely agree on what sounds best... I am all for accurate sound, i am a proud owner of NS 1000m speakers.. I would love to hear your impressions on them. I nearly sold them a couple years ago because they sounded flat and lifeless. Then I moved them and teied a different amp Sansui BA 5000 and wow! What a difference! They arent going anywhere!! Cheers Danny

[@laurelhardy4064]

Well said Mr. Cutter.

[@danielk8926]

I find it far more effective and fun to use a graphic equalizer to remedy my speaker issues. Not enough at 1500 herz give it a nudge up. To bright at the top bump it down a touch. My speakers don't need a flat response in your lab. I prefer my flavor of distortion over his.

[@danmarjenka6361]

I think you are missing out on a lot of purity. As fun as equalizers are, they add a lot of artifacts, and take away from the realism of the music.

[@petery2878]

I just subscribed to this Chanel based on this video.. what a great comeback for ordinary reviewers and Hi Fi enthusiasts..

[@keithwalker8090]

Andrew Robinson did a review on a speaker and when it came time for Kristi's comment, she said at least CR Research hasn't told us what was wrong with the speaker. My coffee blew all over my screen!

[@jman8368]

Maybe that's why Danny tried to call him out.

[@spudpud-T67]

@@jman8368 Danny is a God of speakers. I don't know why every speaker maker doesn't have him designing their speakers.

[@RealHIFIHelp]

I agree with Danny and think that his remarks was actually an understatement of the industry. Of course he left out some small details. And yes I think that you also made some good points.

[@charleshuguley9903]

Boy! Danny seems to have managed to insult everyone in the HiFi review business.

[@spudpud-T67]

Danny is a legend in his own mind.

[@hugobloemers4425]

I can kind of see both sides of the argument and in reality I think Danny called out the likes of Andrew Robinson for real, only he disguised it as compliment as not to cause a backlash among the butt hurt fan boys. I have seen videos of these top tier (only by KZbin matrix) reviewers that are truly cringe-worthy when it comes to their technical and listening skills. So when I see the likes of Andrew showering a speaker model with praise and then subsequently I see Danny showing how bad they measure and how bad they are made, I tend to believe Danny to be honest. I can understand why he says "you are not ready". As a consequence I am enjoying these kinds of small channels like yours much more. A bit more rough at the edges but still much more honest and not just constantly chasing the latest craze that will blow over in just months, or shamelessly introducing the latest Pro-Ject turntable that was first made by Dual in the early 80's. And maybe you should just buy an upgrade kit from GR research for your KEF speakers. I think it will bring value to your channel and I am looking forward to see your experiences with that.

[@joshua43214]

I agree 100%. Andrew does not know what good sound is, and he really needs someone to teach him

[@Yiannis2112]

@@joshua43214 He has his wife now, sharing her insight and everything is peachy...

[@michaelwright1602]

@@Yiannis2112 Andrew does his flowery speech and then he turns to Kristi... "It sounds like crap". LMAO! I love Kristi!

[@SuperBuellman]

Well spoken. You are a gentleman and that is why I look forward to your postings.

[@bigblueocean]

The most off putting thing about, Danny's content is that all according to him, all speaker designers get it wrong all of the time. They must sure be a dumb bunch!

[@robinkleinsteuber5217]

To Big Blue; Yeah, these other designers must all be certifiable idiots!!!! Man, what poor Danny has to persevere with modding their speakers, I tell ya! Cheesy parts and all. Poor dude! 😉😁

[@nobicubalibre2143]

@@robinkleinsteuber5217 true!!

[@greenbeginner9221]

There are a small handful that he determined to be good as they were. Notable is the fact that he only offers the service of examining speakers. The owners of these speakers are the ones sending them in for modification. The owners are not satisfied with the way they are. Danny then does the examination and highlights what could be done better.

[@alferro3149]

But he is so clever...he can fix all those mistakes just for a few hundreds dollars 💰💰💰💰💰

[@greenbeginner9221]

@@alferro3149 The guy is a speaker designer. He better know how to do this for a few hundred bucks! In some cases he has determined that it's just not worth the trouble to even try. In those cases he suggests just buying another pair of speakers. And you've got to remember, he is adding hundreds of dollars to a speaker that was designed to meet a price point. A pair of speakers manufactured to meet a $1,000 retail price would have to raise its price substantially if it were to use higher parts quality. Now, as to why these companies choose to sell a speaker with their measurements, that's a whole nother topic.

[@audioarkitekts]

This is brilliant. Now I Have to watch the GR Research video. Great work Dave! 👏

[@billd9667]

Well done. The biggest problem with Danny is that he is *always* selling a product from his inventory. I like his content, but I have yet to bite. After all, a flat response is no guarantee of good sound. Some speaker manufacturers design for sound, rather than specs. If that was disallowed, there would be no tube gear

[@hugobloemers4425]

Good tube gear has also a flat response. You can not have huge spikes and holes in the response graph and still produce HiFi sound. The signature sound of good products is far more subtle thing.

[@billd9667]

@@hugobloemers4425 I was referring more to distortion levels, damping factor, etc. There are lots of specs. Some are overused or overemphasized

[@raphaelmeillat8527]

Very well done sir. The most thoughtful answer to this pseudo-controversy IMHO. Good news out of all this: I just discovered your channel so I'm going to check it out. As for Danny's video, let's just say he could use a self-awareness course or two and he'll be just fine!

[@gavinralph2910]

I really enjoy watching Danny's you tube channel, being a Hifi Geek, I just love to see what goes into speakers and Danny seems to know his stuff and really explains things very well. That said, I do often think if its that easy to make a great sounding flat response loudspeaker, why do the big speaker manufacturers keep getting it soo wrong!!! I feel the answer is in pre production live listening tests......just because the speaker has a flat response does not mean it is going to sound great for all music without sounding fatiguing.....I know they listen to their own products before marketing them....and I suspect that's when the final tweaking of crossovers begins. The human ear creates emotion.... its not an oscilloscope.

[@lexicon612]

Price points dictate everything. Profitability trumps sound quality every time. 90% of compromises are in crossover components.

[@mrman7453]

I agree 💯.Comes across that he was the first and last guy brains were given to

[@villageroma]

7:29 Danny is right and what he said doesn’t sound absurd at all. Here is why; what’s the point of fine tuning a speaker if your room (wich is the real instrument here) sounds crap? Tell me?.. For good audio what really matters is: The room first 50% Speakers 35% Amp Source

[@carmenandthedevil2804]

Wrong

[@brentshock3787]

My god, what an amazingly mature and professional video, many need to watch and learn from your soft skills.

[@vittoriomartinidonati]

Very well said!!!

[@gotchagoing8843]

You sir can best be described as "a diamond in the rough". That is meant as a 100% compliment to you. I can fully understand what you are saying and you aren't wrong....BUT, I honestly believe that what Danny does is actually a service to all of us. I used to own and operate a small electronics repair shop. When I had to replace parts, I always bought the best my suppliers had to offer. Never radio shack. The difference between cheap components and more spendy quality components is very often like night and day. That applies as well to the crossovers that are in VERY EXPENSIVE speakers. And it is my belief that there is NO EXCUSE for that, none at all. When you lay down 5k,(for example), for a set of speakers, they should have the best of components inside of them, don't you think? And yes, there are HUGE differences in the quality of components such as a lowly resistor or capacitor that make an even larger difference in the end result. I believe that Danny is doing his best to EDUCATE-not denigrate. Are his kits spendy-yes. But overall, you are getting your monies worth ,imho. And here too, Danny is not FORCING anybody into buying his stuff, he just shows you the before, and after results of his expertise, that's it.

[@MODAC]

That’s what I tell my wife. Just a diamond in the rough! Thanks

[@MichelLinschoten]

Ohh found the Danny fanboy lol

[@gotchagoing8843]

@@MichelLinschoten Is that a problem for you?

[@michaelwright1602]

@@MichelLinschoten Fanboy here too, Danny is doing a service for all of us, especially when dropping serious coin for speakers. It is nice to know that there is someone with the knowledge of this gear that shares it freely. Parts do matter, be they in your dishwasher, your car or you speakers. Junk in, junk out, and more repairs down the road that would not be needed if a quality part were used in the first place. You learn these things after getting burned a few times.

[@veroman007]

@@MichelLinschoten really?

[@HiFiWright]

Sir, I will humbly admit- I thought your video was clickbait and decided to watch it to see something comical to some degree of making a partially true point, but while looking petty or ignorant in some manner or fashion, but I'm proud to say I was wrong. Not only was I completely mistaken, but you actually handled your response to GR Research in the upmost respectable manner and covered every point with delicacy but with pure thoroughness where needed and dead-on fairness in a kind manner. Much respect, and I can honestly say that, in no scenario, would I have handled that any better myself. In fact, this is the kind of video that should always be made when handling responding to a channel with criticism on just the fundamental aspect of true respectfulness in handling a conflict, alone. For that, you've more than earned a subscribe from me and I feel like it should be all of our duty to give credit and support where needed in the community when individuals like yourself do what's right when presenting their content which likely involves a more realistic or down-to-earth representation of the community as a whole, rather than many of the KZbin personalities we look up to/support etc. Well done! I'm a big fan of the Cheapaudioman and his approach to HiFi on KZbin and I'm confident than many of us in his fanbase as well as similar channels that evolved from your average relatable person who's also on their HiFi journey just like the viewer supporting their channel would appreciate as well. I hope to see some more great content and humble points of view from you in the future. Cheers! PS - don't sweat production values so much. Steve Guttenburg, himself, doesn't present his channel in a way that looks like it could be a show you browse over to on Dish Network, yet many people, including myself, hold his thoughts/opinions to a much higher degree of consideration than we do with channels that possess that polished production value :)

[@MODAC]

Wow, that was one of the nicest comments I have ever received! I am humbled and very pleased that you will be joining me on this journey to audio enlightenment. Best regards, Dave at MOD.

[@shardsofcontent4829]

Way to go buddy. That was a spot-on rant. Although I think Danny has fairly high value kits, I’ve really had my doubts about his religion of pursuing perfect empirical measurements.

[@chriskellas2902]

Dave, I agree with your argument 100% ,there is no way any speaker setup in an acoustically tuned space will sound the same in any other environment. That's why so many people buy speakers that sound great in the showroom but never deliver the same experience when brought home. So unless you have an exact reproduction of Danny's room there would be no point of going there to check out his speakers.

[@stercaland]

Newsflash: the early 1990s are over and gone, gone, gone, and so too are the multiple high-end stereo shops in every urban area across the nation. When I moved here to Memphis, TN. in 1991, there were no less than 3 dedicated high-end dealers in town, plus two smaller specialty shops. Today, not nary a one of these places is still in business. Internet shopping is the only viable option around here unless we make the 3 hour drive to Nashville to visit their ONE high end audio store. As it is, KZbin reviewers such as yourself and the ones you mentioned are VITAL. We simply can’t go to Underground Sound to audition KEFs, then take the 10 minute drive to Modern Music Audio to hear the B&Ws, and finally take the 3 block walk to Opus Audio to try out the Vandersteen’s. I think you get the point. Keep up the good work because, thanks to home theater and other variables, those good ol’ stereo shops of yesteryear are mere nostalgia.

[@joshdeakins1775]

Low production but full of heart. Great video, and I agree most people not just your viewers but also Danny's customers won't have ideal dedicated listening rooms.

[@denziljones7881]

The only issue I have is never getting to hear these perfectly sounding speakers with those near flat FR's and high-end crossovers. I'd rather immerse myself into my Denon 7.1, vintage preamp Kenwood and Technics Graphics Equalizer combo (and custom build speakers and diy crossovers) for my own listening experience. Danny shares a lot of knowledge, however, some of his views are sometimes one sided and untested.

[@fubartotale3389]

As ever, many things can be true at the same time. I think Danny is a very smart, capable speaker designer. I also feel he has these same qualities as a salesman. I watch his videos because I am interested in what is inside these pricey speakers, as I am amazed that a particle board box, $100 worth of drivers and a $30 crossover sells for $4,000. As for myself, as soon as a reviewer tells me that "this power cord will open up your soundstage and increase instrument separation audibly," or "these tube connectors make a real noticable difference," I'm out.

[@sbonamo]

Completely agree. What I most like about your speech is your honesty and humbleness. Kepp it up!

[@aworminmybook8234]

thoughtful video, dave. have you seen gene dellasala's response from audioholics? i think he handled it well. he's the guy that got into it over danny's claims about cables. it's sort of ridiculous to suggest that someone like gene "isn't ready." i think the two of them should visit each other's setup. gene is a hard science engineering type. his room and testing setup is at least as advanced as danny's. they have very different approaches and i've learned from both channels.

[@zulumax1]

Yes! I like them both. Would love to see a zoom chat with them, if not in the same room.

[@scottskillman]

Gene says he will not go to Texas unless he is paid to go.

[@donalddeorio2237]

Not all of us have the opportunity to have a perfect listening room. We have to live in the real word and have our equipment in less than perfect spaces. I have been an audio enthusiast since I was 17, I'm 63 now and know i have a wonderful sounding system. Dave thanks for calling out Danny for the audio snob that he is. Enjoyed this video

[@outdoorsvirginia]

The problem I have with Danny Ritchie is that his whole modus operandi is to suck the life and individual character out of every competitors’ speaker he gets his hands on by modifying them to achieve a flat frequency response! What’s the point of that, should every speaker sound the same? Plus, he never listens to a speaker and makes comments on how they sound, he only seems to measure. So the mic and his software are replacing both his and the consumers’ ears, and we’re supposed to be okay with that? The guy is nuts and thanks for calling him out.

[@thwickman]

Right on! Treating the engineering of most speakers wrong, but he has the solution to fix all mistakes. Wow!!!

[@greenbeginner9221]

You ask what is the point of modifying a loudspeaker to achieve a flat frequency response? Well, it is to achieve the goal of his customers. The speakers he works on are ones that were sent in voluntarily by the owner. The owner of the loudspeakers being submitted for modification knows that gr research targets a flat frequency response and other factors.

[@rayk6049]

His videos are so cringe, I’ve never been able to finish a single GR video.

[@olegariomartinez6807]

You got a new subscriber and I unsubscribed from GR research. His dig on Shawn was the last straw for me.

[@AceVPD]

I haven't brought any products from Danny but have learnt A LOT from his channel. Dude knows what he is talking about and I am very grateful that he is welling to share his knowledge.

[@c128stuff]

I don't care how speakers sound in the listening room of a manufacturor, I care how well they match my equipment and listening environment :-)

[@mrlondellsgroovymovies]

As does everyone else. Simply listening To speakers in a room specially set up for them is not how you buy speakers.

[@c128stuff]

@@mrlondellsgroovymovies maybe I'm just very lucky.. but last time I bought new speakers, a local audio shop insisted on coming over to my place with the speakers I was interested in, install them, help with proper positioning, and give advice about accoustic treatment of the room (basic advice, if I want something more, they can send someone over, but that will come at a cost). They insisted on that with the same argument you and me are making here... Our listening room does not tell you how it will work for you. Sure, I'm not buying 'low end' equipment, but not exceptionally expensive things either (in this particular case, it was a set of KEF R5 speakers)

[@annebokma4637]

@@c128stuff I had a similar experience. 30 years ago my mother and I went to listen to martin Logan quest at Rhapsody in Hilversum the Netherlands. I liked the sound but they were outside my budget, they said we have a pair of acoustat x within my means and a date was set, they came, set them up to perfection and it sounded great. Just before leaving they told me if I regretted the buy within a month to call and they would pick them up for a full refund. My mother bought some bookshelf speakers but didn't have stands, they loaned her a pair and when she liked them and inquired about the cost they sold them for a dime on the dollar, because of demo. That is what separates the true enthousiast audiophile shop from those who shove boxes out the door asap. A decade later I visited again, they still knew who I was and what I bought. Great people

[@c128stuff]

@@annebokma4637 "Rhapsody".. I remember them (I went to school in Hilversum). Now when you are in the market for decent electrostats, its not that uncommon to get them installed including some consultancy on placement and room treatment, its a bit uncommon in the approx 1k per speaker segment tho (unless warranted still by your overall spending). The shop I bought those speakers from is run by people who formerly worked at RAF Hilversum and Amsterdam.

[@annebokma4637]

@@c128stuff true, if you buy new, those acoustat x were second hand. I never experienced that level of service for second hand ever again. The were 3,5k (included tube power amps) but those were before euro so divide by 2. Still miss those, seen a pair online for 2,5k euro so was a good investment. 😂

[@davidbailey6350]

We’ll Done Dave…. Thank You.

[@thwickman]

Love it! Was dead on right, you said what I believe everyone was thinking. Thanks

[@noname-uo6hp]

YOU SIR ARE GOING TO HAVE A LONG LINE OF TRUE HONEST AUDIOPHILES LINING UP AT YOUR DOOR TO HIGH FIVE YOU! THANK YOU FOR ACCURATELY SPEAKING FOR ALL OF US REGARDING THAT RIDICULOUS VIDEO BY GR RESEARCH.

[@linandy1]

Danny, Ritchie will sell you a power cable for $500 thats made of magic sound enhancing properties. You just have to believe 😂

[@johnbutner2570]

Only $500? What a deal!

[@Carl-bd1rf]

I’ve bought speaker mods from GR and ended up selling the speakers cuz they no longer had the house sound of the manufacturer. So if someone thinks changing the house sound of the speakers they have is what they want I’d say go for it. Otherwise you’re gunna ruin the sound the manufacturer intended for its product. I thought the GR upgrade would simply make the speaker sound better yet keep the house sound. Guess I was a little naive in thinking that. I’m done modding, just gunna buy the house sound I like. Besides flat response just sounds terrible imho.

[@scottlowell493]

Rooms and ears aren't flat. Even bose knew this in 1969.

[@Carl-bd1rf]

@@scottlowell493 Ain’t that the truth. I’ve really gone off the reservation in buying an old school 10 band eq and managed to tame a serious bass peak associated with my room. System never sounded better! But don’t tell anyone I’m using an analogue 10 band eq!!😂

[@audiogman5865]

Why’d you bother buying the mods? The whole point is to fix the shortcomings of the manufacturer so of course it’s not going to keep the “house” sound. All speakers are built to a certain price point. They have to fall within a certain budget. Most are going to skimp on the crossover or cabinet in order to fall under budget. I’ve owned at least 50 pair of speakers. Some cheap and some not so cheap and highly regarded. Not a single pair sounded good enough in stock form. They all need something.

[@unknownspectre]

I think lots of people missed the mark or what (I think) Danny was trying to say... the way I took it was him saying your baseline as a reviewer, even if your setup is in-home casual listening, should be the best and closest to ideal setup as possible. Anything short of that would be like an Algebra teacher grading a test that they only know 70% of the answers to.

[@MrRamperez01]

Great content. I scratched my head when I looked up GR Research’s upgrade of the Sony SS-CS5 bookshelf speakers. I purchased the speakers for $88 and the “upgrade” is $345?? Hmmmm. Yup. I must be missing something.

[@Corndog642]

The point is they can sound better than their original price point. It’s like driving a mustang but you have a 4-cylinder engine in it.

[@keithwalker8090]

What you don't want to pay four times the price of your speakers to upgrade them?

[@MrRamperez01]

@@Corndog642 clearly that is the point but at the total price paid to make them sound really good you have spent upwards of $500. I’d rather look elsewhere.

[@Corndog642]

@@MrRamperez01 Or, if your you’re happy with your speakers you can do nothing further and just enjoy them. The upgrades are for people that like DIY and want to explore the potential of their speakers. Clearly he’s not aiming at average users with average needs. Some speakers he says aren’t even worth upgrading. You may not think your speakers are worth that kind of investment and that’s fine. He’s not judging you for that.

[@leeharveydarke]

@@Corndog642 Terrible analogy - a Mustang would never sell with a small engine! If you want $500 speakers then buy $500 speakers...

[@ericthemauve]

Well said Dave! It's about time somebody called out this arrogant salesman and his 'products'.

[@gokhanersan8561]

I just subbed, dude. You speak like you have a PhD.

[@michaelwright1602]

Dave, I like your style, a Man's Man. And Danny's reply was very gentlemanly. I have no horse in this race, or dog in this fight, I enjoy watching all of you guys. I think I can speak for at least a few, we are adults and can make decisions based on both the reviewers opinions and Danny's know how in regards to speakers and measurements. I can see both sides of this coin, and realize too, that some speaker manufactures don't go by measurements alone. That being said, this was an enjoyable video or rebuttal, it was good, and I subscribed. Thank you sir. ;-)

[@roybatty-]

Danny Ritchie's source is "trust me bro." You need more?

[@danielcampbell9220]

Anyone with any intelligence understands that NO ONE wants to give a product a bad review, mainly because these companies could then make you miserable for affecting their profit. A review is the reviewers opinion and little more. There are people who think the sound quality from your average alexa is "good enough" which leads me to believe the whole thing although not correct is highly subjective. Once you understand the big boys with lots have money are allowed by us to control the information we are allowed to receive, you start to look at these reviews quite differently! Do you honestly believe you would get the truth if it is going to affect the profit of any selfish human being? Personally, I'd give reviewers much more credit if they were to tell you they did not like the way something sounded even if it was only their opinion. My personal opinion, from my perspective, sound quality of decent equipment hasn't got that much better from the decent equipment from the 70's and 80's, it's better but not by much, performance, power consumption and power output have got better for the most part. Like the reviewers, my hearing bandwidth degrades with age, so I take it all with a pinch of salt so to speak. Use your own ears, draw your own conclusions!

[@c128stuff]

Hmm.. one of the 'big' channels also reviewing audio equipment, techmoan, has more than a few "I do not recommend" conclusions on reviewed products, and also quite a few mixed ones, including some big brand products. Of course, his 'reviews' aim at usability, not at the technical details or at objective audio quality, and should be treated as such.

[@c128stuff]

"My personal opinion, from my perspective, sound quality of decent equipment hasn't got that much better from the decent equipment from the 70's and 80's, it's better but not by much, performance, power consumption and power output have got better for the most part." If you know where to look, you can get pretty amazing price/performance now which just wasn't possible in the 1980s unless you were building things yourself and had access to components at industrial/large quantity prices maybe. But something else, much more influential changed. In the 1980s, an at least somewhat decent sound system was a fashionable thing to have, while we'd make do with a single simple speaker for 'video'. Nowadays, most people who have a 'serious' sound system have one primarily built to be used for movies and video, and usually also suitable for music, possibly even good at that.. while the typical 'sound only' solutions are bluetooth speakers, stereo if you are lucky, but often mono, or earbuds, and a phone. Serious sound equipment primarily aimed at music has become a bit of a niche in the consumer world.

[@Roof_Pizza]

Hear hear.

[@DougMen1]

Dave, you are truly a unique and refreshingly down home yet eloquent and knowledgeable presence on YT, and I LOVE your channel. Please don't change too much and become too much like all the others, because your channel is very enjoyable and different enough to stand out for the very reasons I mentioned.

[@MODAC]

Thank you. That’s a very nice comment! I’m doing my best to inform and entertain.

[@FatFolksProductions]

Love this video. You had me cracking up. You got yourself a new subscriber.

[@biggsy..215]

Very well said my friend.

[@werefed8613]

Wow the audio community is brutal . I can say this about Danny at GR. I am in no way affiliated with his business but I did one of his speaker upgrades which was pretty fun to say the least. For those that think he’s selling snake oil, you’re wrong. The upgrade was a tremendous difference in sound of my speakers costing was less then the a pair of new ones. If you think it’s bs, try an upgrade form your self and you’ll See. It’s sad on how brutal the audio community could be. I guess it’s all due to justification of spending thousands of dollars on gear pretending it’s better than someone else’s. Danny is the real deal and truly cares about quality sound at an affordable price and not being ripped off by companies using crappy components in there cabinets.

[@glenncurry3041]

I have never agreed completely with Danny. But appreciate his level technical experience and knowledge. Some of his comments are right in line with what I have found. I have a degree in electronics and sold some of the tops brands of HiFi as a Manufacturers Rep back in it's hay day. Marantz, AR, Kenwood, Cerwin Vega, AT, ... I gave seminars, lectures and even in store clinics. I've stopped watching many of the reviewers. Stuffing a half million dollars worth of hardware into a room where you sit 6-8' from speakers 12' apart with a sofa against the wall will never provide a good sound stage. Yet we hear them claim otherwise. Or they admit they can't listen loud because of neighbors? One review had the guy giving a perfect list of what is wrong with his reference Klipsch horns in comparison to the reviewed speakers without admitting the Klipsch do actually have those sonic problems and should not be considered reference material. But when you listen at low levels with poor placement, horns can impress! This was a lot of Danny's comments. That many "reviewers" lack any actual background other than either had a system back in the day and want to get back in and be on the tubes, or have cash and can wax poetic. The goal being to be able to produce an interesting word salad with a new combination of the same list of words.

[@zulumax1]

I do miss going to the local hifi shop here in town, talking with the reps, and listening to gear. The pandemic kind of put a halt to that. I did get to meet and talk with Shannon Parks of Parks Audio, who designed and manufactures the Puffin DSP phono preamp. That is an awesome phono preamp at it's price point.

[@glenncurry3041]

@@zulumax1 I really enjoyed doing them back in the day. Though at times it would get very exhausting. Packing up a van load of speakers while introducing the AR 9 line. Or the displays and test equipment for the Kenwood High Speed tour. Get to a store in a different state by 8AM to set up, stay till closing (9PM?), take the sales crew to dinner, get a few hours sleep and get up at 2AM to drive to the next state/ town. Rinse and repeat.

[@johnnydingo8680]

I can understand where Danny is coming from. Once your system is at a level where individual components matter it makes you say "Come and listen to my setup. I will show you what good sound is all about." Not to show off but to simply demo what words could not explain. Many moons ago I built an active system with high quality amps and designed an active 4 way crossover, for each speaker (Dynaudio drivers) and went through all the different upgrades of interconnects, speaker wiring, audiophile grade components throughout the whole system. All the wiring was done using military grade silver plated oxygen free copper in teflon sleeving. From the CD player to the speakers all was constantly changed to improve the sound. You name it i did it. Each little improvement also uncovered flaws in other parts of the system. All the changes and improvements just highlighted how the weakest link in the audio chain has an impact. It took a long time to get to a stage where I could truly relax and just listen to the music from pop to rock to classical. I just played what I was in the mood for and truly go immersed in the sound.

[@annebokma4637]

I really like your content, having a mix of new and vintage I can relate. In general I like the quality and meaning of what is said or done way more then fancy production values. Some content is so perfect looking that it reminds me of barbie, all plastic and no heart or soul. Keep up the good work, it is appreciated 👍

[@40calDeathPunch]

Botanical gardens are in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. About an hour1/2 east from Danny's.

[@mike.thomas]

Here’s my take on Danny’s video. If most reviewers are “not ready” for his improvements and they are just people like me, with imperfect rooms, etc., then I also am not ready for his improvements. Also, I believe that the better makes of speakers are “voiced” by designers. If I am not misled, these designers have chosen the attributes and trade-offs that lead to the response curves, etc. of the speakers, within loads of other constraints. The manufacturer then brings the product to market with that voicing and those trade-offs in place. What is the point of trying to make them all have the same or essentially the same frequency response? And again, am I going to hear it in my lowly room? I think we would all do better to just try to find sound that we *enjoy* in our own rooms, by whatever means necessary, and not let the gatekeepers decide for us.

[@oscarmarfori613]

Well said 👍

[@gotohoward]

He's has a right idea, and G-R certainly has the right to offer upgrades to existing designs with lower cost parts which in many cases do produce a lower quality output or flawed presentation especially if a customer is either bothered by an aspect of said output, or is looking for a different sounding component overall. What G-R doesn't tell the potential customers is that the speaker in question he's reviewing was made to sound exactly as it does (not as he says, "I don't know what they were thinking when they built this"), and isn't restricted for anyone's audition for better or worse. Speakers with flat curves are just that, flat. Nothing special, and usually best suited as studio monitors. Folks designing and manufacturing entertainment products are striving to differentiate themselves in a very noisy business environment, and certainly there are hit and misses with offerings. G-R is betting on the misses for the most part. It's like saying Leonardo's brush strokes weren't quite right, but you either like the Mona Lisa or you don't. G-R "fixes" other people's products because from my vantage point he lacks that kind of creativity. Think about this way. It's like upgrading a good watch because you don't like the way the second hand moves. If you didn't like it, you shouldn't have bought it in the first place. Speakers are a haven for guys like G-R. Most of them have cheap guts.

[@solomonstewart1025]

Danny does a great job in the education of speaker buyers. Speaker manufacturers now have to step up. Kudos to Danny.

[@danb.9891]

I watch quite a number of reviewers and, for me personally, the reviews are just one part of the equation influencing my purchase decisions. A slick and polished video is pleasing to look at, but in the end if the information is "influenced" by relationships reviewers have with manufacturers, how well have I really been served? I would like to see more transparent and critical reviews of equipment on KZbin, but I'm not naive to how the game works. The Big Guys didn't get to be the Big Guys by trashing a manufacturers gear. Some reviewers have even indicated they won't do a video if they didn't like the gear? I'm not sure I agree with that approach either, but what ya gonna do ? Anyway, hope you continue to plug away with your channel and understand that in the end it's the information you provide that is beneficial to viewers, not how slickly edited the video is. Cheers ! 👍

[@ibassnote]

I left the video with the feeling that Danny, like experts in any field might feel as young upstarts gain popularity without the same level of experience of ability as themselves, felt cheated. Ask anybody who is getting older about their experience compared to the pretty young things that are getting all the attention around them. One feels slighted and a little bit irked. You wake up one day and the world seems different, the old rules don't apply like they used to, values seem askew and the new generation just doesn't seem to know what they're talking about. Well, sometimes that is true but it is not for anyone to say. Life goes on. I like Danny. I like his character and I think his videos are good. The callout was a mistake. Not so much the theory but the naming. As soon as you start naming it becomes personal. Business is business, it is NOT personal. It doesn't matter if a person has ZERO experience in a field and finds success, that is business. In a sense that could be called good business. Or just savvy. I say there is room for everyone and let the audience decide. As soon as you start to call names you look threatened or insecure. Add age (I'm sorry to harp on age but I think it is relevant here) and you will be summarily dismissed by a very large demographic. It was a misstep. I will still watch his videos. I will still have my favorites (Darko). But in business and life, we like what we like. I bought Buchardt A500s solely on the Darko review. That's power. I bought the Audeze LCD=X watching the Headphone show. These review sites work. They sell products. If some reviewers make a little side=cash selling freebies they don't need I have absolutely no problem with that. Almost everyone I know has some kind of side-hustle. Even people who have money, it's the way things are.

[@MODAC]

I’m older than Danny, but I am an upstart. Thanks

[@trippmoore]

Aloha Dave. This is the first time I’m seeing your channel. As a hifi and analog enthusiast/hobbyist I watch a smattering of hifi and vinyl review channels including many of the names you mentioned. I have not, however, heard of GReasearch before the recent kerfuffle of which this most righteous video addresses. As such I feel that it would be inappropriate of me to comment on their product(?). Obviously if they produce graphs they must know how to do that well at least. So I’ll give the benefit of the doubt to the fine people at the GRease Church, and I’ll take you at your word that they are as honest and forthright as you say they are. You have never steered me wrong before and I don’t see why you would be now. The one thing I will say about GRE Search is that whatever it is that they are or aren’t doing they should keep it up, After all if it weren’t for their recent “hot take” I wouldn’t have been introduced to your channel along with a rapier wit you wield so well. I think I’ll stick around a little longer and see if there is more I can learn from you about how GRrrrreat! Danny and the rest of the team at GYRoscopic tell us they are. I’ll look forward to your next video on this intriguing subject. In the meantime, do you mind if I peruse your back catalog while I wait? Sincerely, Tripp Moore

[@edgarortiz4681]

I don't agree with some of Danny's methods or opinions but I do appreciate him disclosing the fact that many reviewers keep and ultimately sell the equipment that they review . I believe this practice to be entirely unethical and corrupts the reviewing process . I am sorry if many disagree but if the intent is to sell the component for top dollar it would be counter productive to give a negative review if the component was in fact mediocre . That being said , reviewers who sell components that they have reviewed are not to be trusted .

[@VinylRescue]

I haven't watched his video YET, but I did watch The Vinyl Attack talk about this same video. I like most people probably can't afford high end equipment so I do the best I can with what I have or can even begin to afford. I watch a lot of reviews here on YT or read online reviews and try to make educated decisions or guesses on what to buy. Honesty always wins!

[@TheTomryan123]

Dave - Didn't know you existed. Now you got me as a subscriber and regular watcher.

[@MODAC]

Welcome aboard! Thanks very much. Dave

[@lucybartley5063]

Well said Danny, Payola is alive and well on KZbin, I long ago gave up on reviews because they are so rigged.

[@tonyfarr480]

Awesome Video

[@drazenbabich]

Did Danny ever come back to you Dave?

[@MODAC]

Read the comment at the top.

[@SantanKGhey1234]

dont bother with GR Research speakers... i heard them.... didnt sound any good to me.... and btw, subscribed!

[@janulik9535]

Personaly I maybee do not like the way of Dannies criticism but I like the fact that is being done and I apreciate a lot its work,....because I strongly believe that good quality of sound should be aproachable to not only rich people and honestly gr research (not only product, speakers but also reviews, upgrade kits) does the thing way easier for beginers and budget people. I also think there are many reviews that add more confusion than clarity into the topic.

[@fredflintstone8048]

After listening to Danny recently I was getting the itchy finger to go on his website and buy the crossover kit for Klipsch RP-600M speakers since I have a pair and his sales pitch regarding what a fantastic upgrade this is for the speakers was swaying me greatly. Instead of just going ahead and buying them I went through his youtube series of how to do it, and then a follow-up youtube where he had sent them to someone else for a review. That reviewer played a fair bit of audio comparing the modified speaker to the stock speaker. I set up my best headphones and listened carefully and then I read all the comments. In most cases I could not hear any difference at all between the speakers. In cases where I was able to hear the difference I preferred the sound of the original speaker over the modified version. I read in the comments that many had the same experience I did and preferred the factory Klipsch speaker. That dismissed my urge to spend $250 and a day of my time on the upgrade. I can only imagine the anger and frustration I would have felt if I went through the modification only to prefer the way the original speaker sounds instead. Of course I would have done one at a time in order to do my own comparison. I would not single Danny out as being unique in this type of push and rhetoric. All salesmen who work in their respective industries do this in order to put food on the table. It comes with the territory. Audiophile salesman are often able to get away with a lot more because of the subjective nature of hifi listening and as in the field of medicine, placebo affect is quite real. If a person believes they hear a difference or that one setup sounds better than another when in the area of great diminishing returns, well, they hear it or at least think they do. If spending more money to get certain products makes a customer feel better about their hifi rigs, they will be certain that there is a difference. I have nothing against either of those things, but let's not kid ourselves into thinking or selling the idea that the difference is in the audio science where the difference is really in the brain science. Regarding his charts showing the speaker response before and after the changes he showed what was basically about a 2 db shift in signals leveling things out. 3db is in fact a doubling of power increase or decrease in sound level, but the problem with that is that human hearing perceives sound on the log scale. combined with that the very dynamic nature of how the frequencies are constantly changing in time, and how imperceptible to the human ear that 2 db is going to be, the charts are not meaningful.. The instruments are more sensitive to the difference than our ears, and the chart demonstrates changes in values that are not perceptible to the human ear. In my opinion the best kind of tests would be double blind tests but you'll never find hifi people that will agree to this.

[@MODAC]

Go to Audio Science Review, he just reviewed the GR upgrade kit to that speaker. I generally don’t endorse ASR, but it is pertinent to your comment. Thanks

[@fredflintstone8048]

@@MODAC Thanks for the reference. I watched the video and I noticed that he was showing pretty much the same data on charts that Danny showed as well as the other reviewer. In addition he showed many more charts with other kinds of measurement differences. Regarding the scales of the differences they are subtle indeed. In the end he finally got to his own listening experience. It seems that he did the graphing first and the listening later which could affirm why he was parroting in experience what the charts do suggest however subtle which to me could be valid and could also be placebo effect. One interesting thing he pointed out was how some of the db peaks even though very small increased the driving power requirement of the modified speakers. I personally use a relatively low power output tube amp for my listening. Of course that db difference is probably not large enough to matter and I'm not a high volume level hifi listener anyway. I feel he did a very thorough review but merely affirmed my conclusions which will always be what I hear, not what other people hear. I realize that how my rig is set up makes the most difference. I get an amazing improvement to the way the speakers sound in my room by moving them from 3 feet out into the room to 6 feet out into the room. Thanks again for pointing me at the review.

[@fredflintstone8048]

@@MODAC One more point of observation I would like to make is that I've never heard a single reviewer ever claim that they could not personally hear the differences that the most subtle charts that they present shows no matter how small or narrow it might be in the frequency range. I think it's all part of the hifi game which includes a hard push in the industry to try and gain credibility in their reviews. If they were to state that they could not hear what amounts to what the charts reflect they might be considered knuckle dragging Neanderthals like the rest of us. In my perspective it's often being the child in the room pointing to the naked king and calling it for what we see and hear.

[@williammorales8204]

I did see that video with Danny, he did say something to that effect but he did cite an example of what one reviewer did that irked him and it wasn't not having a perfect room but more of not even trying.

[@borlach321]

Danny is Texas slick. He Reminds me of W.

[@ramencurry6672]

A lot of audio reviewers are like politicians

[@mikeuk4130]

Good call, Dave. Unlike you, the man is totally lacking in humility. In my 50 years as an enthusiast, I’ve spoken to dozens of audio designers and manufacturers as well as importers, distributors and retailers. As a result of this intercourse, I have found myself unable to buy certain products or brands which I was considering because, in each case, the man behind the brand, product, etc. has been truly obnoxious, condescending and dismissive of my thoughts, feelings, likes and dislikes. I have somehow rendered myself unworthy as a potential customer and have gone elsewhere. In some cases, this has meant ignoring a proven, world-class piece of audio equipment for the wrong reasons. Fortunately, there are plenty of respectful and thoughtful people out there who also design, make and sell top-quality equipment.

[@jman8368]

Went through the trouble of buying and assembling his xls encore speakers a number of years ago. I was shocked at the awful sound. Wooly, bloated, muddy bass and overly polite (the tweeter was decent). I had a pair of $120 Athena speakers that blew it away. He focuses way too much on measurements.

[@user-dh9me5ug4x]

Yes trying to hard to convince a customer or reviewer of the quality or lack of in any product does not work for me the let the equipment speak for itself literally in this case. In the end the customer is going to place it in their home environment. Also I believe that audio is and should be a selfish pursuit. In the sense that it is yourself and only yourself that you need to please. What do you think? As far as reviewers go I have always had a great appreciation of tarrun a very brittish audiophiles approach.

[@zulumax1]

Hey Dave! Congrats! you are about to hit 10k subscribers!

[@Corndog642]

As a long time customer and fan of Danny’s, I can say you make some good points. I’ve been an audiophile for over 25 years and I’m still learning! I think the point of Danny’s video is to communicate and find common ground but with the hope of achieving better than average performance. The vast majority want basic competent performance and that’s all they’re going to pay for. And there’s nothing wrong with that. I think being an audiophile is to seek out more performance possibilities. It is out there. There are many companies dedicated to this goal. So the question becomes are you searching for excellence or are you just in it for the average. You’re perfectly free to be either. But if your searching for excellence, then Danny’s point stands that there’s more to learn and more ways of doing things to achieve better performance. And it doesn’t always mean spending thousands more or having a dedicated listening room. One of the simplest things you can do to evaluate a speaker is to pull it away from the walls. You can even compare and comment on different placements. Anyway, good video and commentary.

[@burtonwhiteside1240]

How did you get that

[@Corndog642]

@@burtonwhiteside1240 How did I get what?

[@burtonwhiteside1240]

Did you watch his video lol

[@Corndog642]

@@burtonwhiteside1240 Yes. But then I’m more familiar with where he’s coming from and what he’s trying to accomplish. I certainly wasn’t offended by it. All he’s trying to do is help the audio community and that video was geared for audio reviewers.

[@burtonwhiteside1240]

@@Corndog642 well you are about the only one that didn't see it as offensive but to each his own

[@saltflyer]

Great response to the most annoying hifi video ever posted, spot on!

[@RootsMusicHawaii]

Well said. Thank you!