If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It


Exhibit A for: If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It

Object Lesson: If It Ain't Broke, Don't Say It's Broke and Damage the Good Reputation of A Well Regarded Company So You Can Make Money on Gullible Viewers

This is a critical review by Audio Science Review regarding a speaker crossover upgrade kit sold by GR Research for the Ascend Sierra-2EX V2 speakers. The video features a neutral A/B comparison and argues, with evidence, that the measurement methodology was flawed, that the performance was made worse, that false concerns about impedance are asserted, and overall there is no objective evidence of improvement and that the Ascend Sierra-2EX V2 is already a well-engineered speaker that does not require aftermarket modifications. 

https://youtu.be/BhTnK0UiGgA?si=WMFcvHliLGh9xxNk

hilde45

I dont know the SR dude who improve speakers.

 

Here his answer to Amir ....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fWD6VcWJjc&t=876s

I discussed with Amir in the past and he demonstrated his ignorance of acoustics ...

It is well explained by Prof Milind Kunchur ...

it is one page to read at the end of this adress page and called "pseudoscience" in audio...

Try to contradict Kunchur  description of Amir... smiley

Also there is an interesting long article about hearing and sound by Kunchur... Read it before answering to understand why Amir sell a site (marketing) not science ...

https://sites.google.com/view/kunchur/audio-acoustics

The phase issue was documented with Amir's own measurement of the stock crossover where the woofer output is out of phase with the tweeter output, thus interfering with the response. Look at how the tweeter only graph line raises above the full speaker frequency response line. That alone is an issue that makes things sound fuzzy, blurry, congested, however you want to call it. Skirt the issue all you want, but that's a proper concern in design.

Try setting your subs even just 90° out of phase and see how uncomfortable it sounds. Then try rolling it even further to where it actually pulls down your frequency response and creates a dip. That would just be at bass frequencies. These speakers do that from 4khz all the way up to 10kh thus making all the treble sound cringy, dull and sharp at the same time. Even better to try, if your speakers have easy push on connectors to the drivers, try setting your tweeter wiring backwards just for fun.

Also the Klippel measurement documentation for the speaker would only cost the customer an extra $500...... That's kinda funny.

I apologize,  I misspoke. The measurements pointing out the phase interaction where the tweeter and woofer were measured independently was done by Danny. Amir did not measure drivers individually. Since they were on his video and he was questioning what was even wrong with the measurements to warrant an upgrade, I assumed they were his measurements.

A lot of you guys that have been on here for a long time know me.  I was GM at Marcof Electronics and SpeakerCraft out of Webster Groves/St. Louis mo.  Retiring, decided to do similar work that GR does.  My new business concentrates on Speaker Upgrades and Repairs.  I saw Danny’s original video and I saw the ASR post.  2 things,  lowering the ribbon to 2.5k could have added a little distortion, without measuring, I’m not sure it was enough to cause the problems that Amir maintains, but I doubt that it would be as bad as he states.  second thing.  The waterfall that Danny showed was a dramatic improvement. Nor did Amir mention cabinet resonance improvements. I have no doubt that overall this speaker sounded better... Lastly, the parts improvement do improve focus, imaging and soundstage that ASR really did not check at all.  I hope this helps in some way,  Tim..... I am now Speaker Upgrades  dot com