Every Speaker GR-Research Has Reviewed

GR-Research is #1 of 48 on our Speaker Reviewer Trust Rankings. Danny Richie is my absolute favorite speaker reviewer and speaker designer. Generally they focus on high end passive speakers. One of the few who actually shows frequency response plots and even more importantly, waterfall plots which actually tell the most about how a speaker will actually sound as it correctly shows resonances within the drivers and enclosure of the speaker. They’ve been around since 1995 designing speakers and crossovers for their own speakers along with improving other speakers which they show in their Youtube videos. Danny Richie is where I’ve obtained the majority of my speaker knowledge from since I started following him 20 years ago and have even met him in person.

Every speaker on this site GR-Research has reviewed, highest-rated first, with a direct link to each review below its card.

Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers

Ranked #4 of 63 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers - KEF LS50 Meta: $1,599.00 Amazon Crutchfield

Pros: Uni-Q concentric driver mounts a 1” vented aluminum dome tweeter at the center of a 5.25” aluminum cone woofer, rated 79Hz-20kHz+. Speaker-to-speaker matching measured tight at roughly 0.5dB deviation between the pair tested, versus 2-3dB seen on some other speakers - likely why imaging stayed so precise. Imaging stays tight and focused even toed out, unlike most coincident designs where toe-out typically diffuses the image, giving more of an oval-shaped soundstage than a hard rectangular boundary. Horizontal and vertical directivity both hold to about ±50° at the -6dB point, so tonality stays consistent across roughly a 100° listening cone. The extended bass shelf is deliberately tuned for near-wall/boundary placement rather than the usual “pull it 3 feet into the room” advice, playing lower without excess boominess when placed close to a wall. At $1,000 (a frequent sale price versus $1,600 list), called a no-brainer for a compact stand-mount speaker. Independent ASR Klippel measurements corroborate this: very good directivity with the on- and off-axis curves tracking closely, and a predicted in-room response the reviewer called “very close to ideal.”

Cons: F3 of 67Hz and F10 of 42Hz mean it doesn’t get much below 50Hz in-room; a subwoofer is recommended for real bass. A 2-3dB scoop around 2-4kHz shows up in both the listening window and sound power measurements, matching a subjectively noticed lack of attack and vocal clarity that the reviewer wanted to correct with about 2dB of EQ. An on-axis diffraction dip around 8kHz smooths out with about 15° of toe-out (typical for concentric designs, but still present at 0°). Distortion is elevated at low frequencies since the single 5.25” cone shares surface area with the tweeter housing, reducing effective radiating area; multitone distortion crosses the 3% threshold at 96dB/1m, making roughly 88dB or below the safer output ceiling. Moderate sensitivity (~83dB average) needed 2-3dB more amplifier gain than typical in testing. Adding a subwoofer at an 80Hz crossover only helps lower-midrange distortion, not the elevated distortion in the 1-2kHz and above-5kHz regions. ASR’s own Klippel testing found the same pattern in starker terms: THD is very good at 86dB SPL/1m but climbs past 100% in the bass at 96dB SPL/1m, confirming this is not a near-field speaker for high-output bass-heavy material. Cumulative spectral decay (waterfall) also shows a couple of resonances lingering in the 1-2kHz region.

Full KEF LS50 Meta review and specifications →

Bass Extension (-10dB)	43Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Bass Extension (-3dB)	68Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Dimensions	11.9"H x 7.9"W x 11"D (302 x 200 x 280.5 mm)
Drivers	130 mm (5.25 in.) aluminium cone woofer, 25 mm (1 in.) vented aluminium dome with Metamaterial Absorption tweeter
Impedance	8 ohms nominal (3.7 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin's Audio Corner)
Sensitivity	83dB (measured average, Erin's Audio Corner; 85dB manufacturer specified)
Weight	17.2 lbs / 7.8 kg each
Woofer Cabinet	ported, rear

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Ranked #23 of 63 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers - KEF Q150: $350 Discontinued Amazon

Pros: Two-way coaxial (Uni-Q) design with a 1” dome tweeter and 5.25” mid-range time-aligned in a single driver assembly, available in ported or sealed configuration. Exceptional soundstage depth, a hallmark of KEF’s coaxial designs that the reviewer says few other speakers match. Bass extension reaches into kick-drum territory, respectable for a compact bookshelf speaker. Resonances present in measurements are consistent across on- and off-axis readings, meaning they can be effectively corrected with EQ. Distortion profile is essentially the same whether run sealed or ported, since a subwoofer crossover point sits above where the differences would matter anyway. At its sale price (around $300, sometimes seen at $400), the reviewer considers it a clear step up from his previous budget favorite in this range, the Emotiva B1+, mainly due to the superior soundstage depth.

Cons: A high-frequency lift in the estimated in-room response makes it sound noticeably brighter in an untreated room than in a heavily acoustically-treated one - a real preference factor depending on your room’s furnishings. A mild dip in the 1-2kHz region reduces vocal fullness somewhat. Unexplained resonances appear in measurements and persist in both sealed and ported configurations, pointing to enclosure or panel vibration rather than the port. Horizontal radiation is narrower than the reviewer generally prefers from KEF’s lineup, with directivity that widens somewhat around 1.2kHz (near a resonance) and again above about 5kHz. Compression testing at high output (102dB) shows significant nonlinearity, especially at lower frequencies - noticeably worse than a comparable Arendal bookshelf speaker costing over twice as much, which held up better until 80Hz. Not intended for loud listening without a subwoofer - the woofer will over-exert itself without a high-pass filter, and the reviewer recommends crossing over at 80-120Hz. At full retail price (around $600/pair), the value proposition is far less certain than at sale pricing. Discontinued.

Full KEF Q150 review and specifications →

Bass Extension (-10dB)	44Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Bass Extension (-3dB)	51Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Dimensions	11.9"H x 7.1"W x 10.9"D (303 x 180 x 278 mm)
Discontinued	Yes
Drivers	130mm (5.25") aluminium Uni-Q woofer, 25mm (1") vented aluminium dome tweeter
Impedance	8 ohms nominal, about 4.7 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Sensitivity	~85dB (300Hz-3kHz on-axis, measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Weight	12.3 lbs / 5.6 kg each
Woofer Cabinet	ported, rear

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Large Size Bookshelf Speakers

Ranked #4 of 105 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers - GR-Research NX-Studio: $3630 Gr-research

Pros: Ultra clean burst decay/waterfall plot. Amazingly open sounding due to the semi open baffle Neo3 ribbon tweeter, will image better than any other bookshelf speaker. Neo3 ribbon tweeter is one of the best ribbons around for detail. Bass will be very tight and fast due to the sealed enclosure, but may possibly need a sub.

Cons: Bass will be very tight but won’t be quite as deep as others due to the sealed woofer enclosure.

Full GR-Research NX-Studio review and specifications →

Dimensions	18"H x 8.5"W x 15.5"D (457.2 x 215.9 x 393.7 mm)
Drivers	GR-Research M165NQ 6.5" paper cone, non-resonant polymer frame, copper shorting rings and aluminum phase plug sealed enclosure woofer, GR-Research Neo3 Planar Magnetic Ribbon open baffle tweeter
Impedance	8 ohms
Sensitivity	87dB
Weight	20.5 lbs / 9.3 kg each
Woofer Cabinet	sealed

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Ranked #10 of 105 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers - KEF R3 Meta: $2,499.99 Amazon Crutchfield

Pros: Three-way design with an unconventional concentric layout: the 1” tweeter is recessed into the throat of the 5.25” midrange driver, deeper integration than a standard coaxial arrangement. A quasi sealed/ported bass alignment gives an extended low-end shelf tuned to match typical in-room gain, reaching about 50Hz for most content - deeper than recently-tested rivals like the Focal Aria 906, Polk R200, and an 8” Aperion design. Spinorama measurements show class-leading directivity and sound power, plus very linear on-axis response (at the recommended 10° toe-out) and early-reflections directivity, so it takes EQ exceptionally well. The vertical sweet spot extends to about ±20-30° off the reference axis with nearly identical tonality, unusually wide for a two- or three-way design. A clear upgrade over the earlier, non-Meta R3, eliminating the treble brightness the original had even when toed off-axis. Outperforms similarly-priced rivals (Revel M106, Wharfedale Linton, Philharmonic BMR V2, JBL HDI 1600) specifically on directivity and linearity in the reviewer’s measurements. At $2,200/pair, called the best value in its class with near-reference-level anechoic performance.

Cons: Pointed straight on-axis, there’s a 1-2dB bump around 9kHz that stays consistent across angles thanks to the constant-directivity waveguide - only toeing the speaker out about 10° tames it. Minimum impedance dips to about 3.2 ohms nominal (EPDR as low as 1.9 ohms), so it needs a 4-ohm-stable amplifier; a standard AVR likely won’t cut it. Distortion crosses the reviewer’s 3% threshold around 80Hz at 96dB output and shows added deviation again near 50Hz, indicating it runs out of headroom at higher volumes - a subwoofer is recommended for loud listening. Horizontal radiation narrows from about ±70° at low frequency to ±40° at high frequency. Below about 100Hz, compression testing shows fairly wide deviations at both 86dB and 96dB output, though the reviewer notes this is typical for speakers in this size and price class. Current R3 owners who are already happy with that speaker have little reason to upgrade.

Full KEF R3 Meta review and specifications →

Bass Extension (-10dB)	37Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Bass Extension (-3dB)	76Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Dimensions	16.6"H x 7.9"W x 13.2"D (421.6 x 200.7 x 335.3 mm)
Drivers	6.5" Hybrid aluminum ported woofer, 5" aluminum cone midrange, 1" vented aluminium dome with MAT tweeter
Impedance	4 ohms nominal (3.2 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Sensitivity	85.9dB (measured, Erin's Audio Corner; 87dB manufacturer specified)
Weight	27.3 lbs / 12.4 kg each
Woofer Cabinet	ported

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Ranked #17 of 105 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers - MoFi SourcePoint 8: $2200 Crutchfield

Pros: 8” twin-drive concentric driver paired with a 1.25” soft dome tweeter, in a diffraction-reducing baffle design; rated 47Hz-30kHz. Notably more neutral and true-to-source than its sibling SourcePoint 10, which the reviewer found a bit too bright in the treble by comparison - measured about 4-5dB less high-frequency output. Excellent imaging: passed multiple stereo-panning and depth tests, including smooth continuous left-to-right pans without wobble and correct front-to-back layering of vocals versus percussion. Wide horizontal dispersion of about ±60°, broader than the reviewer expected from a coaxial design, and forgiving enough in placement that about 10° of toe-out variance and moving above or below the tweeter axis both still sound good. Excellent dynamic range and compression linearity - about 26dB of headroom up to 102dB/1m equivalent, with issues only appearing below about 60Hz. 8-ohm nominal impedance made it easy to drive on everything from a budget Denon AVR to a high-end Macintosh amplifier. No significant evidence of woofer-cone modulation distortion affecting the tweeter, even at 96dB/1m.

Cons: Like other coincident designs, produces diffraction dips around 4kHz and 7kHz when pointed directly on-axis; needs about 10-15° of toe-out to smooth those out. The rear-ported cabinet (two ports) means it can’t be placed too close to a wall without the bass becoming overblown - the reviewer settled on about 2 feet of clearance. F3 of 52Hz and F10 of 43Hz mean genuine deep bass tops out in the mid-40s Hz in-room - a subwoofer is still needed for true low-end extension. Harmonic distortion crosses the reviewer’s 3% threshold at 96dB (though it’s second-order and less audibly significant), and multitone distortion becomes noticeably more audible at that same output level. Vertical response doesn’t perfectly mirror horizontal, since the cabinet is a rectangle rather than a perfect square around the driver.

Full MoFi SourcePoint 8 review and specifications →

Bass Extension (-10dB)	43Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Bass Extension (-3dB)	52Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Dimensions	18"H x 11.4"W x 13.2"D (457.2 x 289.6 x 335.3 mm)
Drivers	8" woofer, 1.25-inch soft-dome tweeter
Impedance	8 ohms nominal (8 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Sensitivity	86.3dB (measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Weight	28 lbs / 12.7 kg each
Woofer Cabinet	ported, rear

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Ranked #23 of 105 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers - GR-Research NX-Bravo: $1540 kit with finished cabinets (assembly required) Gr-research

Pros: Vertical dispersion is unusually wide for a two-way bookshelf: tonal matching holds from about 50° above the tweeter axis down to 20° below it, well beyond the roughly ±10-20° typical of most two-ways. Horizontal dispersion is also wide at about ±70° through the midrange, widening further when toed out, so sidewall acoustic treatment isn’t really necessary. Burst decay is extremely clean with essentially no ringing - the reviewer compared it favorably to a $13,000/pair speaker that showed significant ringing at 120Hz and 500Hz. A deliberate dip around 7kHz reduces sibilance while the 1-4kHz upper-midrange stays neutral, so the sound doesn’t come across as laid-back or recessed. Easy to drive electrically, with a 5-ohm minimum impedance and 2.5-ohm minimum EPDR. Available from $700 as a kit up to about $2,500 fully finished, with the option of the designer’s flush-mount tube/banana-plug terminals for a cleaner look.

Cons: Pointed straight on-axis there’s a deliberate ~5dB high-frequency bump meant to compensate for narrowing dispersion off-axis; it needs about 15° of toe-out (aimed to cross behind the listener) to sound balanced, which won’t suit every room layout. Higher-than-normal high-frequency distortion becomes audible in sine-sweep testing at higher output, and multitone distortion crosses the reviewer’s 3% threshold around 96dB, making roughly 88dB the safer output ceiling. SPL-limited by the manufacturer’s own admission - not intended for loud, full-range playback and best paired with a subwoofer, as with most two-way bookshelf designs. F3 of 77Hz and F10 of 45Hz mean bass only reaches about 50-60Hz in-room. A minor enclosure or port resonance shows up in the frequency response (though not in burst decay), likely a non-issue but visible in measurements. Adding a subwoofer reduces midrange distortion but doesn’t address the elevated high-frequency distortion.

Full GR-Research NX-Bravo review and specifications →

Bass Extension (-10dB)	45Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Bass Extension (-3dB)	77Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Dimensions	14"H x 7.5"W x 11.5"D (355.6 x 190.5 x 292.1 mm)
Drivers	GR-Research M165 6.5" paper cone, non-resonant polymer frame woofer, GR-Research Neo3 Planar Magnetic Ribbon deep rear cup tweeter
Impedance	6 ohms nominal, 5 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Sensitivity	84.8dB (measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Weight	16.1 lbs / 7.3 kg each
Woofer Cabinet	ported

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Ranked #58 of 105 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers - Klipsch RP-600M II: $489.99 Amazon

Pros: Redesigned waveguide extends flush to the baffle edge, reducing diffraction compared to the original RP-600M. Roughly 10-20° wider horizontal radiation than the original, giving more soundstage envelopment while retaining precise imaging. A major step up in overall tonal neutrality compared to the original RP-600M, largely eliminating that model’s midrange resonance issues. Unusually, sounds better with the grille on - the grille smooths out the elevated treble rather than degrading the sound, a rare trait among speakers the reviewer has tested. More refined back-panel hardware, including anodized binding posts and jumper cables for optional bi-amping. Responds well to EQ correction (verified using measurement software and a miniDSP), letting the on-axis response be made genuinely linear.

Cons: On-axis, the treble runs notably hot - even hotter than the original RP-600M in some respects - and needs about 20° of toe-out or the grille installed to sound balanced. Horizontal dispersion is very slightly less linear across angles than the original RP-600M, a minor trade-off for the wider overall radiation pattern. Klipsch’s marketed sensitivity (about 94.5dB) is, like the original, a half-space rating roughly 9dB above the anechoic reality (closer to 85-86dB). In-room bass rolls off around 60Hz in practice, and a 120Hz boost paired with a midrange scoop gives kick drums their “tambour” without real low-end weight - a subwoofer is still recommended. Vertical listening tolerance is limited to about ±10° from the tweeter axis. Toeing the speaker out for better on-axis tonality (rather than using the grille) introduces slightly more diffuse imaging from added sidewall reflections.

Full Klipsch RP-600M II review and specifications →

Bass Extension (-10dB)	41Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Bass Extension (-3dB)	70Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Dimensions	15.7"H x 8"W x 12.5"D (398.8 x 203.2 x 317.5 mm)
Drivers	6.5" Cerametallic cone woofer, 1" titanium LTS vented tweeter with Tractrix horn
Impedance	8 ohms nominal (3.5 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin's Audio Corner)
Sensitivity	86dB (measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Weight	13 lbs / 5.9 kg each
Woofer Cabinet	ported

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Ranked #73 of 105 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers - Revel Performa M22: About $600 used

Pros: Very flat frequency response from 200hz to 10khz. Distortion is well controlled through most of the range, with only a modest crossover-region bump around 2-4kHz.

Cons: 3dB bass boost around 100hz. On-axis response also droops below 150Hz and peaks above 4kHz, which the reviewer thought may sound a bit bright/light. Distortion rises substantially below 100Hz when driven hard.

Full Revel Performa M22 review and specifications →

Bass Extension (-10dB)	40Hz (measured, Audio Science Review)
Bass Extension (-3dB)	58Hz (measured, Audio Science Review)
Dimensions	14.5"H x 8.6"W x 11.9"D (368.3 x 219.1 x 301.6 mm)
Drivers	25mm tweeter + 200mm woofer
Impedance	4 ohms
Sensitivity	85dB
Weight	41.7 lbs / 18.9 kg
Woofer Cabinet	ported, rear

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Ranked #83 of 105 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers - Klipsch RP-600M: $343.22 Discontinued Amazon

Pros: More linear horizontal dispersion than the updated RP-600M II - as you move side-to-side, the tonal character changes less, a genuine advantage for off-axis listening consistency. Takes exceptionally well to EQ correction (miniDSP or similar), letting a knowledgeable owner fix its tonal shortcomings without needing to upgrade. Standard 6.5” woofer/horn-tweeter two-way design with reasonably gradual bass rolloff (F3 ~70Hz, F10 ~40Hz) rather than a steep vented-enclosure cutoff.

Cons: A strong, annoying resonance in the lower vocal range around 300Hz stands out clearly (though it can be EQ’d out). Overall tonal balance is notably less neutral than the newer RP-600M II, with a roughly 3-4dB suckout in the estimated in-room response. The waveguide doesn’t extend flush to the baffle edge, increasing diffraction compared to the redesigned version. Klipsch’s marketed sensitivity spec (about 96dB) is a half-space, in-room-style rating roughly 9dB above the true anechoic figure (closer to 85-86dB), which can mislead buyers comparing spec sheets. Elevated treble on-axis, similar to its successor, benefits from toe-out or careful placement. Vertical listening tolerance is limited to about ±10° from the tweeter axis. Still needs a subwoofer for real bass weight; a boost around 120Hz gives kick drums their “tambour” without the underlying “meat.”. Discontinued.

Full Klipsch RP-600M review and specifications →

Bass Extension (-10dB)	40Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Bass Extension (-3dB)	73Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Dimensions	15.7"H x 8"W x 11.9"D (398.8 x 203.2 x 302.3 mm)
Discontinued	Yes
Drivers	6.5" Cerametallic cone woofer, 1" titanium LTS vented tweeter with Tractrix horn
Impedance	8 ohms nominal, 3.5 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Sensitivity	85.2dB (measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Weight	16.1 lbs / 7.3 kg each
Woofer Cabinet	ported

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Ranked #84 of 105 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers - Wharfedale Diamond 9.1: Discontinued

Pros: The first design was a pretty good sounding speaker, the speaker was then outsourced to China and lost 1.5kg and was made with cheap parts and sounds much worse. Slightly rolled off in the treble by about 3dB

Cons: All current new ones sold today are the crap version. Discontinued.

Full Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 review and specifications →

Dimensions	11.7"H x 7.6"W x 10.9"D (296.0 x 194.0 x 278.0 mm)
Discontinued	Yes
Drivers	6.5" Kevlar cone woofer, 1" soft dome tweeter
Impedance	6 ohms
Sensitivity	87dB
Weight	12.1 lbs / 5.5 kg (good version), 9.9 lbs / 4.5 kg (bad version) each
Woofer Cabinet	ported

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