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Danny Richie, GR Research, doesn't recommend a speaker he can't sell an "upgrade" kit for
- Thread starter MrOtto
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Yikes! That cost benefit ratio is way off.
MattHooper
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Danny’s latest video addresses questions from the audience, including questions about why he doesn’t bother with double blind testing.
As you can imagine, Danny’s reply is quite poor. For one thing he says people don’t understand that it is practically impossible to do a double blind test.
Another is that he just doesn’t need to do testing - you make a change and if it changes the sound he can hear it, no need for silly blind testing.
I commented under the video pointing out how Danny just didn’t seem to understand the nature and relevance of blind testing.
I pointed out the double blind tests have certainly been done on all sorts of equipment, including speakers (Toole et all) and that even if double blind testing Is too difficult to pull off, a well done single-blind test can still be informative. I explained how some single blind tests can work . And of course, I pointed out that the idea he or other audiophiles weren’t susceptible to bias effects goes against everything we know about human psychology, as well as why science controls for such variables.
Danny promptly replied to my comment:
“ I’m sorry this is a no BS channel. So false and misleading information will be removed.”
And of course, removed the comment.
What a fraud.
As you can imagine, Danny’s reply is quite poor. For one thing he says people don’t understand that it is practically impossible to do a double blind test.
Another is that he just doesn’t need to do testing - you make a change and if it changes the sound he can hear it, no need for silly blind testing.
I commented under the video pointing out how Danny just didn’t seem to understand the nature and relevance of blind testing.
I pointed out the double blind tests have certainly been done on all sorts of equipment, including speakers (Toole et all) and that even if double blind testing Is too difficult to pull off, a well done single-blind test can still be informative. I explained how some single blind tests can work . And of course, I pointed out that the idea he or other audiophiles weren’t susceptible to bias effects goes against everything we know about human psychology, as well as why science controls for such variables.
Danny promptly replied to my comment:
“ I’m sorry this is a no BS channel. So false and misleading information will be removed.”
And of course, removed the comment.
What a fraud.
It was false and misleading because he can hear the differences in a power cable! Along with every other tweak imaginable. Since he hears it he knows it is true. No science research is going to prove him wrong. Don't forget he gives a lot of electrical properties to a very thin cotton string. He is so full of BS it boggles the mind! He has also claimed hat he has all the fancy gear (an ApXXX) just like everyone else and does all the testing with that too. But we have never seen it anywhere in his videos. You were so right in that a single blind test is all that is needed. No one can pass a test.. There used to be $10,000 available if anyone could pass a test. No one, not even golden ears tried. They all know they can't tell the difference once they can't see the product being tested. I have said many times that JJ, Amir and myself have heard all the lies and excuses on why they fail every single time. The speakers always swamp any other part of the chain. At least you tried Matt.
JSmith
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Old_School_Brad
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As with most car analogies, this one doesn’t quite fit. Naturally, new brakes would absolutely require a test drive for safety reasons.
Now, regarding the speakers -why wouldn’t he check to ensure the changes are functioning as intended? So many issues could arise: poor connections, out-of-spec components, incorrect polarity, and more.
It almost seems like the focus is more on selling components than genuinely helping people...
JSmith
Master Contributor
He doesn't change the brakes. He heavily modifies them and charge far more than what the original brakes cost. I don't know a single modder who wouldn't test their mods after the fact. Would a speaker designer completely change the crossover of his speaker and not bother to listen to it???
I miss dirty Danny.But was he wearing a clean t-shirt this time?
JSmith
Keith
uwotm8
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What's interesting, Danny's measurements with its smoothing look like an explanation of KEF being dull and unexciting for some: broad droop in high midrange/presence, sloped down HF.
With another scale and smoothing your measurement look quite similar.
Maybe there might be a chance that 2 broad filter could do more than fixing few sharp resonances?
Regardless to that they lack bass except one really compensate it with placement it seems. Audiophiles prefer "finding a proper amp" tho
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uwotm8
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The speaker cable in question, I believe.
Close up from Gr-Research web page.
24 Strand DIY Speaker Cable | GR-Research
gr-research.com
Close up from Ali-Express.
Lol. That's actually looks like
I gather this is the latest "latest" video...
I did not listen to the whole video but did check on his 200 Hz measurement excuses and they have not changed. He claims to do bass design with simulation software and implies it is superior to measuring. He never shows that he achieves high correlation between a sim and actual results (hint, he only shows measurements that support his assertions). His design process is iterative trial and error and is physically substituting components. The real tell is when an upgrade changes the measured sensitivity significantly but, since he is not considering the bass response, he still wants to claim he does not need to consider it. For that matter, what if the speaker had some bass defect due to design or a part problem, you would have paid for an upgrade that still has a major flaw or flaws. Save your time and money and buy from a reputable vendor.
Often you will hear his defenders repeat his excuse that bass only matters in-room. They fail to see that this is really just an excuse for not putting in the effort to design properly. Why should anyone bother with good bass design if all that matters is the room environment? 
@thewas posts earlier in this thread showing how he really fails to understand what good off-axis measurements are. So, while his designs may compete with older ones from decades ago, his process and demonstrated ignorance means more contemporary designers readily create more accurate speakers.
I did not listen to the whole video but did check on his 200 Hz measurement excuses and they have not changed. He claims to do bass design with simulation software and implies it is superior to measuring. He never shows that he achieves high correlation between a sim and actual results (hint, he only shows measurements that support his assertions). His design process is iterative trial and error and is physically substituting components. The real tell is when an upgrade changes the measured sensitivity significantly but, since he is not considering the bass response, he still wants to claim he does not need to consider it. For that matter, what if the speaker had some bass defect due to design or a part problem, you would have paid for an upgrade that still has a major flaw or flaws. Save your time and money and buy from a reputable vendor.
Often you will hear his defenders repeat his excuse that bass only matters in-room. They fail to see that this is really just an excuse for not putting in the effort to design properly. Why should anyone bother with good bass design if all that matters is the room environment? 
@thewas posts earlier in this thread showing how he really fails to understand what good off-axis measurements are. So, while his designs may compete with older ones from decades ago, his process and demonstrated ignorance means more contemporary designers readily create more accurate speakers.
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Old_School_Brad
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He very likely understands more than he lets on. He's not an amateur nor a dummy. What he does appear to be is a con artist and a liar. People of that ilk craft their messaging to generate maximum exposure and profit, even if that means putting forth claims that they themselves know are bullshit. He's also managed to build up a comfortably large group of sycophants who treat his every statement as gospel, and are happy to shield him from anyone daring to refute his nonsense. Such "haters" are branded as ignorant or simply trolls unworthy of rebuttal. We've also seen multiple instances of corrective comments politely made on his channel scrubbed out of existence.
Somehow this is reminding me of another group of people frequently in the spotlight these days.
I will use myself as an example about why he has some success. While researching my first significant speaker purchase, I went into a shop where the owner demonstrated a "product" that filtered electromagnetic waves or something. He placed the sheet on top of either the amp or pre/pro, and he played some music with and without the sheet. I swear I heard a difference, even though he was not trying to sell it to me. I knew on some level it was BS, and I know I fell for his suggestion.
Another example: years earlier I was looking for speakers. I went into the store not trusting salespeople, which is understandable. I tried out Bose 301s. The sales person was trying to steer me to other speakers, a Boston Acoustics, and one other I do not remember. Looking back, the salesperson was being honest and sincerely trying to help me make a better purchase, but my preexisting attitude overwhelmed what I was hearing.
It is amazing and humbling how our senses inform and distort.
Agree Danny demonstrates some level of competency but pushes back when shown better methods or simple corrections. This shows a lack of scientific competency. He is slick and a crafty salesman but is not an evil genius.
Between his online censorship of others and controlling who reviews his products, Danny wants to control information. This might have worked in the past but, as long as we have open internet access, others do not need to fall victim to his propaganda.
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His favorite pejorative is "flat earther."
The irony is stifling.
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Just a bit...
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