Blue Ridge Sound HR 1


Category: Speakers

Audio equipment is my hobby and I am not a professional reviewer or have any affiliation with Blue Ridge Sound, a direct seller of speakers. Blue Ridge is run by Carl Halling who has an extensive background in engineering and audio design and who is pleasure to deal with.

I was in the market to replace the front channels of my HT system. I currently have KEF 103.2s and a B and W center channel, but all are quite old. The set up was tricky as my wife agreed a HT system in the family room as long as the components were placed either on enclosed racks or in cabinets (which she designed) with the plasma below the center channel.

After doing some research on Audiogon, Audio Circle and Audioasylum, I found very few "true" bookshelf speakers. By happenstance on ebay I located Blue Ridge Sound Engineering on the internet www.blueridgesoundeng.com.

I corresponded with the President of the company via email and his forthright answers and willingness to work with me put me at ease so that I bid on a pair of HR1s on ebay. Carl has an engineering degree and extensive experience in speaker design. The business model of the company is to sell directly and to use ebay and paypal.

On to the important stuff. I have never written an equipment review so bear with me. After winning the ebay auction the speakers arrived as promised. Carl provided the necessary support (placement, acoustic foam treatment etc.) through numerous emails back and forth. He also provided a phone contact,as well.

The speakers are beautiful right out of the box with high quality mahogany cabinets. The tweeter is mounted on top with two woofers and a port in front and on the side. I believe there is a port in the back as well, but the speaker can be placed fairly close to the back wall.

The aesthetics of the speaker are important, but since they will be enclosed in a cabinet, not the most important item. The sound was amazing right out of the box. The speakers produced bass at least an octave lower than the KEFs. (I shut off the center channel so they I could perform a true A vs. B with the KEFs). The clarity and balance of the speaker was also outstanding and I felt that I was really "hearing into the music." The speakers at comparable sound levels on the amp played much louder than the KEFs. There was depth and pinpoint focus. My wife, who enjoys good music, but is not an audio buff, walked into the room and said this is closest to a live performance she had ever heard from one of our speaker systems. The size and finish also met the wife acceptance factor (WAF), although she was curious about the top mounted tweeter.

Carl has suggested that the speakers require only 10-20 hours of break in, but after last nights first taste of the sound, I think these are "keepers." Carl provides a 10 day home try out period.

I cannot say what is the absolute best bookshelf speaker, but I have tried and own some very fine speakers (KEF 101s and 103s, Von Schweikert VR1s, North Acoustic Spirit, Sound Design 3000). I have auditioned many more that I do not own. The Blue Ridge Sound HR1s, at this stage of the audition process and my particular application are the best I have come across. At the current price for these speakers they are an outstanding value ( and I am not given to hyperbole). Finally, I liked them so much I have discussed with Carl building a matching center channel. Delivery is expected sometime in Fall 2006.

Associated equipment Denon 3802 AVR, Sony 900ES DVD, McCormack DNA 225 and preamp, Luxman turntable.
beesymph
I have been living with a pair for about a month now and I could not be more pleased. By way of background, I am a classically trained musician although I make my living otherwise; I have made it a serious hobby to compare the sounds of different gear and different rooms. I currently own PSB, Spendor, ProAc, Usher and Harbeth speakers and have done a layman's comparison of all of those in two different rooms/systems with the HR1. I now prefer the HR1's to everything else I own. As we all know, this is a very subjective issue but without a doubt these HR1's do not take a backseat to anything I've experienced. They are very, VERY good. You will hear the music!

David
Northbrook, IL
I'll try to keep this short.

I have no financial interest in Blue Ridge and here are my thoughts:

I was shocked by the range and clairty. I've had mine for well over a year. They are my office speakers driven by a McIntosh 4100. No this isn't giga-blah this and that fancy and expensive - but the set up produces clean, vivid, and full range sound. I shopped around a lot before putting my office system together and NOTHING compared to this set up at under $2K. Will it satisfy someone hell bent on God's greatest $100K system - probably not. BUT I will tell you that I took the chance on a mail order item and am estatic with my choice.

Downside? It took three shipments to me to get both speakers delivered without the tweeter broken - but Carl had very much patience and made sure I got my speakers ASAP. The cabinet is not show quality - at least mine aren't. They look fine from a listening distance but running your hand along the veneer is not the same as a well polished wood speaker. Then again, I'm not into fondeling my audio equipment!

I hope this helps. Summary: most highly recommended.
Kingairflyboy, I would say you are really a lucky guy, for being able to get such speakers this year. Let me tell you why. I won a pair of BRSE speakers last June (eBay #220120323560). As I was overseas at that time, I asked the seller Carl (anybody mamaged to get his surname?) to hold them till I went back home. He promised so, but still sold those speakers to somebody else without noticing me. I found it when going back home last September and contacting him. Carl said his business went bankrupt and had to sell my speakers to pay some of his bills/whatever. He promised again that I can get my speakers when his factory in China get started, but no time frame given. In this case, I had to ask for refund. Carl kept on giving all sorts of excuses for not refunding. This situation lasted till some time this March, when I found him selling another pair at eBay (most likely they are the ones Kingairflyboy got). I sent Carl an email again claiming for the refund. Carl said he could send the profit of those speakers to me when auction ended. I received USD250 not long later, which I believe is the "profit" of the speakers. Since then, Carl has never come back again, not responding to my emails at all. So, Kingairflyboy, aren't you lucky? Hope Mr. Carl still visit this website and say something corresponding me...
Kingairflyboy, I would say you are really a lucky guy, for being able to get such speakers this year. Let me tell you why. I won a pair of BRSE speakers last June (eBay #220120323560). As I was overseas at that time, I asked the seller Carl (anybody mamaged to get his surname?) to hold them till I went back home. He promised so, but still sold those speakers to somebody else without noticing me. I found it when going back home last September and contacting him. Carl said his business went bankrupt and had to sell my speakers to pay some of his bills/whatever. He promised again that I can get my speakers when his factory in China get started, but no time frame given. In this case, I had to ask for refund. Carl kept on giving all sorts of excuses for not refunding. This situation lasted till some time this March, when I found him selling another pair at eBay (most likely they are the ones Kingairflyboy got). I sent Carl an email again claiming for the refund. Carl said he could send the profit of those speakers to me when auction ended. I received USD250 not long later, which I believe is the "profit" of the speakers. Since then, Carl has never come back again, not responding to my emails at all. So, Kingairflyboy, aren't you lucky? Hope Mr. Carl still visit this website and say something corresponding me...