Dayton Audio B652-AIR 6-1/2" 2-Way Bookshelf Speakers with Audio Samples and Measurements, Review.

This is a long one because there is a lot to show and tell. Hopefully you invest the time and watch the entire review, that way you will know whether or not this is a good speaker choice for you.
Timestamps
0:00 -- Intro
3:50 -- Speaker overview
9:55 -- Dissection
15:40 -- The modifications
18:05 -- The measurements
36:29 -- The audio sample setup
40:55 -- The audio samples
58:39 -- The last speaker
1:00:00 -- Conclusion
Speakers and Parts:
Dayton Audio B652-AIR -- amzn.to/3zISAt0
Dayton Audio 12" SUB -- www.parts-express.com/Dayton-Audio-SUB-1200-12-120-Watt-Powered-Subwoofer-300-629
Poly-Fil -- amzn.to/3vs1N6u
Gasket Seal Tape -- amzn.to/3JxYII9
Universal Speaker Stands -- amzn.to/3PMtkrF
Test Equipment and Software:
miniDSP UMIK-1 Calibrated Microphone -- amzn.to/3vsaQ7z
miniDSP EARS -- www.minidsp.com/products/acoustic-measurement/ears-headphone-jig
Room Acoustics Software (REW) -- www.roomeqwizard.com/
Dayton Audio Playlist -- kzbin.info/aero/PLHUMDqN8PZs-zb1G1jwBTqtxuhWIwbAuq
Give a 👍 and subscribe 🔔 if you'd like to see more of these video reviews and thanks for watching 😃!

[@Now-Review-This]

This is a long one because there is a lot to show and tell. Hopefully you invest the time and watch the entire review, that way you will know whether or not this is a good speaker choice for you. Timestamps 0:00 -- Intro 3:50 -- Speaker overview 9:55 -- Dissection 15:40 -- The modifications 18:05 -- The measurements 36:29 -- The audio sample setup 40:55 -- The audio samples 58:39 -- The last speaker 1:00:00 -- Conclusion Speakers and Parts: Dayton Audio B652-AIR -- amzn.to/3zISAt0 Dayton Audio 12" SUB -- www.parts-express.com/Dayton-Audio-SUB-1200-12-120-Watt-Powered-Subwoofer-300-629 Poly-Fil -- amzn.to/3vs1N6u Gasket Seal Tape -- amzn.to/3JxYII9 Universal Speaker Stands -- amzn.to/3PMtkrF Test Equipment and Software: miniDSP UMIK-1 Calibrated Microphone -- amzn.to/3vsaQ7z miniDSP EARS -- www.minidsp.com/products/acoustic-measurement/ears-headphone-jig Room Acoustics Software (REW) -- www.roomeqwizard.com/ Dayton Audio Playlist -- kzbin.info/aero/PLHUMDqN8PZs-zb1G1jwBTqtxuhWIwbAuq Give a 👍 and subscribe 🔔 if you'd like to see more of these video reviews and thanks for watching 😃!

[@bigd835]

fascinating video that shows how you examine a speaker and make adjustments. good for anyone that is building or buying a speaker. in March 2024 i just bought 2 sets of these from Parts Express that were returns for 38 bucks a pair, free shipping. I will be adding polyfill and enjoying the simplicity. great video. thanks !

[@russellborrego1689]

Good work. 👍👍 I revisit people's research and work on these over the years just to see what they discover and have to say. Some are thorough, some just sprinkle around some acoustical snake oil and are at least good for some entertainment. This was certainly the former, and a exceptionally pleasant surprise to come across all these years later after the 652 Airs came out! Thank you for this

[@joshp8r]

Great review, you earned a sub today 😁

[@Now-Review-This]

Thank you! Cheers 🍻

[@edjackson4389]

I have these. Ive upgraded with Mark IV towers, so Im not using the B652 Air at the moment, but I think it's important to mention that they really improved alot after a couple weeks of being played at 80db+. The woofers really free'd up and the air motion tweeters seemed to smooth out a little. The difference wasn't massive, but they really shouldn't be judged right out of the box.

[@Now-Review-This]

Agreed, no speaker will be at it's peak right out of the box. They all need some break in time, but the overall sound will be the same regardless. Usually a woofer will hit a lower bass frequency a little more easily, or a tweeter can become a little less shrill, but the overall sound signature will pretty much remain the same.

[@edjackson4389]

@@Now-Review-This In measured performance maybe. As far as actual listening with my ears it was pretty significant on certain songs. Out of the box 'The Mans Too Strong' by Dire Straits sounded pretty unpleasant on the guitar peaks, so did several other tracks in my collection , but after break in they sounded like they were supposed to. No changes in the amp or volume level

[@Now-Review-This]

@@edjackson4389: If you're happy, then I'm happy. Cheers 🍻

[@billklement2492]

Thanks for the review! I have a couple pair of these with the dome tweeter instead of the AMTs. When I bought them and tried them out, I was less than impressed. Too bright and not in a good way! Most of my amps don't have tone controls, so I was listening to them flat. Also, not against a wall. My plan was to replace the drivers with much better ones, but it seems that I'm not just too lazy to make cabinets for the new drivers, but also to make the adapter rings to mount the smaller woofers into these boxes. I will port them... But for grins, I hooked them up to my main PC on a desk with a tripath amp with time controls. Dialing back the treble made a huge difference! Seeing your data makes a lot of sense that I was hearing. I'm still going to replace the drivers, but you're right, they would probably sound great with a DSP and a little tweeking. Interesting that I was listening to your review on basically the speakers you were reviewing! And thanks for pointing me to the sound measurement software. I'm going to set that up this evening!

[@loxlover1714]

Would similar treatment make sense for the smaller B452-AIR?

[@Finite-Tuning]

Yes, and too for any speaker cabinet lacking dampening material. However, ported cabinets may or may not benefit from the addition of gasket tape to seal the drivers. In a ported box the only real benefit would come from dampening some potential resonance.

[@exitar1]

Did you try a different crossover in them?

[@Now-Review-This]

I did exactly as shown in the video. These speakers don't really have a crossover in my opinion and personally I wouldn't waste the time or money to build one. A more expensive but more effective approach is something like this: amzn.to/3YZIAoK That is an all in one self contained bi-amp crossover Bluetooth solution. But this would more than double the cost of the speaker! And that is what I would do If I was going to do anything more to them. I'd just make them fully active anyway I can.

[@migueljackson]

🍿👌👏👏👏 Home theater thanks

[@Finite-Tuning]

First! 😁🍻