GR-Research NX-Studio DIY Kit

CohibaJoe

CohibaJoe

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After rebuilding the Vandersteen: Model 2Ce...I had purchased the NX-Studio kit in June 2021 with the Flat Pack in Dec 2020. So why the wait to post? Other projects and just lazy :rolleyes:. I was looking for a Studio DIY kit and with all the controversy with Danny at GR-Research I said let's go for it. Flatpack ordered from Captain Hemo (Canada 12/20) and NX-Studio delivered 8/2021. I ordered from Amazon Edge Supply Walnut Wood Veneer (Glued back) and with researching threads from Audiocircle (GR-Research form), many paint the enclosures with some using Veneer. I had never worked with Veneer and this was going to be a learning experience. So, NO power tools had been used with Hand Built being #1 (beat that Mac). Hand sanding, cutting, shaving and TLC was used for this project. Let's get onto the pictures and story.

NXStudioO.png
 
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I am impressed with the Flatpack as to its smooth razor-sharp edges and MDF weight. Just a light sanding on the join areas then applied the glue. Let me back up here as to Parts used with NX-Studios.

Parts:
GR Neo 3 is a planar magnetic design utilizing an Aluminum etched conductor on Kapton film.
M-165NQ woofers have a push pull motor design that uses a Neodymium magnet on the pole piece and a ceramic magnet on the top plate. They have Copper shorting rings and an Aluminum phase plug. The phase plug, back plate, and top plate are all Copper anodized. The voice coil is a large 44mm. The cones are paper, and play smoothly into the upper ranges with no breakup or ringing. And they use our popular non-resonant polymer frames. There is no better frame. The diameter of the driver frame is 7.25″ and mounting depth is 2.9375″.
Speaker Wire 16-Gauge 99.99% OFC and coated in polyethylene solid wire
No Rez is a damping material
Copper Foil inductors Bridgeport Magnetics Group
Films - Sonicap Gen I, Miflex KPCU
Path Audio Resistors
 
I had used 8 wood clamps for each cabinet (no pictures) and waited 4 days before moving onto the Veneer. The front baffle tweeter has a concave form and going back and forth with painting I had decided to Veneer :yikes:
I approached this by cutting 4 angled sections and the outcome I am very pleased.

NXStudioP.png NXStudioQ.png
 
Nice work :thumbsup: Now that is a beefy crossover.

What is the reasoning behind the sloped portion inside the cabinet? Is that the top of the cabs?
 
I'm looking forward to your listening impressions. I have an older pair of GR research speakers - the N2X. Mine use the older BG Neo 3 tweeter...not sure there is much difference between the two but I flat out love that tweeter. I imagine it only gets better mounted as a dipole in that open baffle top!
If the NX-Studio's are anything like my N2X's then I suspect they will be very enjoyable to listen to. Music just kinda oozes out of them, they are remarkably smooth to my ears. However, they still have tons of detail. I would expect NX-Studio's to be all that but just the next level.

You mention the controversy and I admit Danny has his opinions and they are strong at times. I try to avoid the back and forth that goes with that but I do enjoy his more technical videos where he explains his way of thinking and principles behind his designs/kits. I think overall he's a net positive and seems pretty genuine with his intent to educate and provide his customers with the best performance/dollar he can.
 
HappyT_Harry said:
I'm looking forward to your listening impressions. I have an older pair of GR research speakers - the N2X. Mine use the older BG Neo 3 tweeter...not sure there is much difference between the two but I flat out love that tweeter. I imagine it only gets better mounted as a dipole in that open baffle top!
If the NX-Studio's are anything like my N2X's then I suspect they will be very enjoyable to listen to. Music just kinda oozes out of them, they are remarkably smooth to my ears. However, they still have tons of detail. I would expect NX-Studio's to be all that but just the next level.

You mention the controversy and I admit Danny has his opinions and they are strong at times. I try to avoid the back and forth that goes with that but I do enjoy his more technical videos where he explains his way of thinking and principles behind his designs/kits. I think overall he's a net positive and seems pretty genuine with his intent to educate and provide his customers with the best performance/dollar he can.
Click to expand...
What I am hearing is "Open Space, music that flows from the soundstage". Detailed is an understatement as I have been going back thru my soundtracks (30+yrs) that I use to demo speakers. This Tweeter is at another level as to conventional Dome tweeters. I am so impressed I will be ordering for a Winter Project...NX-Otica Kit.
I also enjoy Danny's videos and it's good to "Ruffle the Feathers" as one must challenge the science crowd. I DID not use the tube connecters as my pair had corrosion in the inside of the copper.
 
@CohibaJoe - Did you ever build the NX-Oticas?

I've now built four GR-Research speakers plus two pair of Open Baffle servo subs. I started with the NX-Otica with a pair of Triple Threat subs (3-drivers per tower).

I was so impressed with these, that I had to have a pair of Line Forces. These took a while to build since the Bohlender-Graebener NEO10 drivers were a challenge to find, but the wait and effort was well worth it. The NX-Oticas are pretty impressive speakers, but the Line Forces are at another level. I've been to a number of audio shows in the past few years, and there are only a handful of six figure speaker systems that I thought were in the same league. I also built another set of woofer towers (using four drivers per tower) to go with them. The NX-Oticas are now with my son.

LineForce.jpg

I also built a pair of NX-Studios for my bedroom system. As you note, they are very nice sounding speakers with an open and airy sound stage, even when placed relatively close to the wall behind them.

And finally, my daughter and I built a pair of Bullies. These are a fun speaker that love to crank. They don't have quite the refinement and deep soundstage of the open baffle designs, but they work well for a wide range of music and also make nice home theater speakers.

Danny's speaker kits are an exceptional value. If you're willing to put a bit of time into building them, you won't be disappointed.

Beautiful job on the NX-Studios, BTW.
 
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