This is a review, listening tests and detailed measurements of the GRIMM Audio LS1c active DSP speaker and its companion SB1 subwoofer. It was sent to me by the company. Speakers cost US $26,500 in the tested finish (pair). Companion SB1 sub costs US $12,750 for the set, brining the total to $39,250 (other finishes cost a bit more/less).
This is one gorgeous and unique looking speaker! It nicely crosses the bridge between bland studio monitors and home speakers. Innovative mechanical engineering is employed to ship the speaker safely in multiple parts that you put together. Clever things such as magnets on side columns that attach to the sides of the main unit put a smile on your face. As does the SB1 subwoofer which tightly slides into the bass of the speaker, making it look like it is built in. Grill is provided for it although probably still not safe with kids and pets around.
Here is a closer look at the sub:
The wiring is optimized for the sub with short cables provided to pass both digital data and power:
Control ports can actually carry digital data which is the utilized to complete the system with LS1i USB which as a DSP bridge and configurator:
Plug the this into the USB port of your computer and it shows up as a DAC. A control panel then provides simple interface for changing inputs and such. On that front, on my high dpi laptop, the buttons overlapped a bit. There was a bit of work also to figure out that this is what you have to do to select inputs. I wish there was a physical selector on the speaker so I could do that easier.
Both the speaker and subwoofer are sealed. Amplification is provided courtesy of Hypex amplifiers.
One of the problems using studio monitors with digital audio is how to handle volume control. GRIMM nicely solves that with the LS1r controller:
The rotary controller is a joy to use. I would sit there and keep adjusting the volume for the fun of it.
I understand there is a remote control which I did receive. The long included locking RJ45 cables do the job but deter from the clean look of the system.
These are optional extras. LS1i USB costs US $1,200 and the LS1r, $US 1,650.
While it is possible to use the speaker in 2-way configuration, I went for the 3-way setup with the SB1 subwoofer. System was tested as a whole on Klippel Near-field scanner.I have shared my measurements with the company but have not heard of they see any issues with them.
EDIT: Company responded post review here: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...dsp-speaker-review.63015/page-33#post-2319711
GRIMM Audio LS1c and SB1 Subwoofer Measurements
As usual, we start with our computed anechoic family of frequency responses:
Other than some tiny variations, the on-axis response is almost perfectly flat. We can see that the blue early window directivity is essentially a copy of that, with a tinies of dip at crossover frequency of 1.5 kHz. There is little droop in that, or the power response for that matter, implying wide directivity (shown later). Usually with good directivity, we sacrifice wide response but we seem to have both of them here, indicating some clever engineering.
Here is the early window broken out:
If you want to reduce the slight dip, use a ceiling absorber or have high ceilings.
The combination of flat on-axis and similar early window results in excellent predicted in-room response:
Typical of studio monitors, the slope is rather shallow. Will be interesting to see if the speaker gets penalize for this in the preference score.
Near field response of the drivers shows very good response with only stand-out being low level resonances from the sub:
Distortion is very well managed both at 86 and 96 dBSPL:
I went up to 100 dBSPL and all of a sudden, saw a new resonance:
It may be a measurement, error, I am not sure. The sweep certainly sounded clean still.
As noted, directivity is quite wide, probably the widest I have measured:
Woofer nicely blends into the tweeter, after which it starts to beam somewhat. For most of the range, you have similar levels of response to sides of the speaker and then some!
The round edges essentially eliminate diffraction errors as evidenced by clean (relatively speaking) trend from red to white. Little jaggedness is to be seen.
Vertical has the similar issues of 2-way speakers although by placing the tweeter below woofer, you are much more likely to be sitting at optimal angle:
The shocker, in a good way, came in the form of waterfall:
As you see, the response stops on a dime and that is that. I don't think I have ever tested a speaker that was this good.
And fans of step response can rejoice in how the overall response is as if there is only one driver player:
GRIMM LS1c & SB1 Subwoofer Listening Tests
Due to size and weight of the speaker system, I chose to listen to it in our living room as opposed to dedicated music space. This is a very large space with 30+ feet ceilings. It is also highly reflective. Boy did the combo shine in this environment. I always start with female vocals and here, I was hearing an effect I had not experienced before: the vocals would separate out tonally and spatially from the rest of the band in the most delightful way. The halo was quite large around the (single) speaker I was listening to as well, making for a wonderful experience. This was still there somewhat with male vocals but really, there with females. Maybe it is the wide directivity. I am not sure but whatever it was, it put the LS1c+SB1 combo in a class by itself.
It is spring here and my allergies are bad which usually serves to reduce my high frequency response. That disclaimer stated, I found the tonality wonderful with zero need to modify anything so I sent the EQ team on a well deserved vacation. High frequency clarity was out of this world in the way those notes would shimmer and tell you they are there in only right amount.
Sub-bass response was fine meaning it was there with controlled/very mild level of distortion. Go up a few hertz though, and this SB1 would make you sit up and take notice. Not because it stood out but because while being fully integrated, it could pump out serious bass and upper bass notes that were ultra clean.
Despite evaluating just one speaker, I could sit there and listen for hours and hours. Indeed I did fair amount of that without either our dogs or my wife complaining!
Conclusions
It is a breath of fresh air to see a speaker be different from looks to functionality yet provide what we expect as far as ideal response. Not only the objective response is there, the combination of LS1c and SB1 delight this reviewer in ways he has not experienced. The integration provided through the external accessories it not to be underestimated in the way you can just plug everything and start playing and controlling the system without a glitch or any issues whatsoever.
Does the system look like a $45,000 one? Probably not. But the experience, considering that it includes everything you need from amplification to DAC and subwoofer, it within what can be justified. For some people at least, myself included. The number of times I have been sad to let a speaker go can be counted on one hand. One more finger was utilized to include the Grimm Audio LS1c system.
It is my pleasure to recommend the LS1c and SB1 subwoofer plus its control accessories.
------------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.
Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/
This is one gorgeous and unique looking speaker! It nicely crosses the bridge between bland studio monitors and home speakers. Innovative mechanical engineering is employed to ship the speaker safely in multiple parts that you put together. Clever things such as magnets on side columns that attach to the sides of the main unit put a smile on your face. As does the SB1 subwoofer which tightly slides into the bass of the speaker, making it look like it is built in. Grill is provided for it although probably still not safe with kids and pets around.
Here is a closer look at the sub:
The wiring is optimized for the sub with short cables provided to pass both digital data and power:
Control ports can actually carry digital data which is the utilized to complete the system with LS1i USB which as a DSP bridge and configurator:
Plug the this into the USB port of your computer and it shows up as a DAC. A control panel then provides simple interface for changing inputs and such. On that front, on my high dpi laptop, the buttons overlapped a bit. There was a bit of work also to figure out that this is what you have to do to select inputs. I wish there was a physical selector on the speaker so I could do that easier.
Both the speaker and subwoofer are sealed. Amplification is provided courtesy of Hypex amplifiers.
One of the problems using studio monitors with digital audio is how to handle volume control. GRIMM nicely solves that with the LS1r controller:
The rotary controller is a joy to use. I would sit there and keep adjusting the volume for the fun of it.
I understand there is a remote control which I did receive. The long included locking RJ45 cables do the job but deter from the clean look of the system.These are optional extras. LS1i USB costs US $1,200 and the LS1r, $US 1,650.
While it is possible to use the speaker in 2-way configuration, I went for the 3-way setup with the SB1 subwoofer. System was tested as a whole on Klippel Near-field scanner.
EDIT: Company responded post review here: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...dsp-speaker-review.63015/page-33#post-2319711
GRIMM Audio LS1c and SB1 Subwoofer Measurements
As usual, we start with our computed anechoic family of frequency responses:
Other than some tiny variations, the on-axis response is almost perfectly flat. We can see that the blue early window directivity is essentially a copy of that, with a tinies of dip at crossover frequency of 1.5 kHz. There is little droop in that, or the power response for that matter, implying wide directivity (shown later). Usually with good directivity, we sacrifice wide response but we seem to have both of them here, indicating some clever engineering.
Here is the early window broken out:
If you want to reduce the slight dip, use a ceiling absorber or have high ceilings.
The combination of flat on-axis and similar early window results in excellent predicted in-room response:
Typical of studio monitors, the slope is rather shallow. Will be interesting to see if the speaker gets penalize for this in the preference score.
Near field response of the drivers shows very good response with only stand-out being low level resonances from the sub:
Distortion is very well managed both at 86 and 96 dBSPL:
I went up to 100 dBSPL and all of a sudden, saw a new resonance:
It may be a measurement, error, I am not sure. The sweep certainly sounded clean still.
As noted, directivity is quite wide, probably the widest I have measured:
Woofer nicely blends into the tweeter, after which it starts to beam somewhat. For most of the range, you have similar levels of response to sides of the speaker and then some!
The round edges essentially eliminate diffraction errors as evidenced by clean (relatively speaking) trend from red to white. Little jaggedness is to be seen.
Vertical has the similar issues of 2-way speakers although by placing the tweeter below woofer, you are much more likely to be sitting at optimal angle:
The shocker, in a good way, came in the form of waterfall:
As you see, the response stops on a dime and that is that. I don't think I have ever tested a speaker that was this good.
And fans of step response can rejoice in how the overall response is as if there is only one driver player:
GRIMM LS1c & SB1 Subwoofer Listening Tests
Due to size and weight of the speaker system, I chose to listen to it in our living room as opposed to dedicated music space. This is a very large space with 30+ feet ceilings. It is also highly reflective. Boy did the combo shine in this environment. I always start with female vocals and here, I was hearing an effect I had not experienced before: the vocals would separate out tonally and spatially from the rest of the band in the most delightful way. The halo was quite large around the (single) speaker I was listening to as well, making for a wonderful experience. This was still there somewhat with male vocals but really, there with females. Maybe it is the wide directivity. I am not sure but whatever it was, it put the LS1c+SB1 combo in a class by itself.
It is spring here and my allergies are bad which usually serves to reduce my high frequency response. That disclaimer stated, I found the tonality wonderful with zero need to modify anything so I sent the EQ team on a well deserved vacation. High frequency clarity was out of this world in the way those notes would shimmer and tell you they are there in only right amount.
Sub-bass response was fine meaning it was there with controlled/very mild level of distortion. Go up a few hertz though, and this SB1 would make you sit up and take notice. Not because it stood out but because while being fully integrated, it could pump out serious bass and upper bass notes that were ultra clean.
Despite evaluating just one speaker, I could sit there and listen for hours and hours. Indeed I did fair amount of that without either our dogs or my wife complaining!
Conclusions
It is a breath of fresh air to see a speaker be different from looks to functionality yet provide what we expect as far as ideal response. Not only the objective response is there, the combination of LS1c and SB1 delight this reviewer in ways he has not experienced. The integration provided through the external accessories it not to be underestimated in the way you can just plug everything and start playing and controlling the system without a glitch or any issues whatsoever.
Does the system look like a $45,000 one? Probably not. But the experience, considering that it includes everything you need from amplification to DAC and subwoofer, it within what can be justified. For some people at least, myself included.
The number of times I have been sad to let a speaker go can be counted on one hand. One more finger was utilized to include the Grimm Audio LS1c system.It is my pleasure to recommend the LS1c and SB1 subwoofer plus its control accessories.
------------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.
Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/
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