i had listened to several people talk about these speakers... they will be my first venture into legit home audio.. and this listening session pushed me over the edge.. just ordered a pair to build. Thanks for creating this.

Woo! Been looking forward to this, thanks Ron!

That was well done. I normally don't watch audio demonstrations on KZfaq, but this was thoughtfully recorded and had excellent selections that showcased each part of the spectrum. Thanks.

Wow I like when you when you play sound clips during reviews. It was a real treat thanks

Many frown on sound demos on KZfaq, but for those of us with high quality nearfield systems or decent headphones, as long it is recorded right with the applicable equipment, the demos sound amazing. The detail layers on this demo are superb. Very well done!

YES! RON! I don' think I've ever commented on your videos, but every time I watch you, the camera is always facing you... It's so important to show the setup. Especially when doing sound clips. In audio terms it gives viewers a bigger stage and space to watch your videos in. Keep doing new shots.

Probably one of the best recorded videos on KZfaq. I love both the overall balanced frequencies, and the open baffle bass. It's tight, punchy and never boomy (which I can't stand). Great job

This was extremely well recorded -- as good as I've ever heard on YT. Thanks for the effort! 🙂

Thanks so much for these "Sound Clips with Commentary" videos. You do such a fine job recording, and I've learned a lot from your commentaries. I think I might have to build those spectacular speakers ... but sadly, the tweeters are back-ordered 6 months. Gives me some time to save up for them :)

Hi from Australia. I listened to this and the Sapphires video through LCD-1 hp’s. Both were very illuminating and very good, thanks. I thought that the Sapphires sounded more open, etc, and that the bass wasn’t as dominant. The Sapphires seemed more cohesive and planar like. Both would be difficult for me to accommodate because they need to be placed out a fair way. With my humble Martin Logan EM ESL’s, I’m able to place them closer to the wall. Anyway, thanks for both demos and I think I’m in love with the Sapphires. Tc 🙏

Thank you much Ron for letting us listen to those extremely modified X-LS Encores. Certainly a great option for those who want the best and have the budget to afford them. Would like to hear a typical pair of X-LS Encores with all of the upgrades available from GR Research both with and without the nice open baffle subs. Great work as always Ron.

I really do appreciate this sound clips. Using words to describe sound is just not enough. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks Ron, they sound wonderful.

I have several X-LS Encore's from back when AV123 was selling them, I got them for $30.00 each in a garage sale so I bought the MTM's as well, I have them in a bedroom 7.1 setup and they sound fantastic. The sound clips incorporating the open baffle subs really show off a pair of Mackie MR824's I have hooked up to my PC and a Schiit Modi 3, the bass is incredible!

That really was fun.

I don't know what's going on but I'm listening to this video through a small form-factor desktop PC, running a tiny Fiio dac/amp feeding a pair of tiny audio engine speakers and I can actually feel the bass through these tiny speakers. I can't imagine what a dynamite experience the real thing must be. Holy doodle!

One of the best review clip on this channel!

Brilliant sound.

That’s how you review a product. Good job.

Many thanks for the effort to set up this review! BUT, trying to find the most objective aritcles in deciding my purchase of the XLS speaker, are there other reviews comparing any other efficient bookshelf speakers that would be of help ? Thanks.

Very precise and clean sound. Engineer trying to reproduce the exact recording. Sometime we question the recording and mixdown engineer how the recording is being made. Recording the history of sound, like my late wife yelling at me. Great work, for share your thoughts with the world.

Hi Ron thanks for the awesome review and sound demo. I am looking at trying out a DIY kit and was curious about your thoughts on the XLS compared to something like the CSS Criton 1 or the 2 that you just reviewed a few weeks back. Would love to hear a side by side comparison of some options maybe on a future review. Thanks again Bart

When I first heard M3 Sapphire clips my impression was that low bass is exaggerated by 6-9dB. As you did not show measurements I could not be sure. But now that you showed flat frequency response for this setup, by comparing first clip of both in Audacity it is clear that M3 Sapphire produced about 5dB louder 55Hz tone at the end of the clip.

There is no doubt that this set up is outstanding. I listened through headphones, no point going through my computer speakers, at least they gave me a chance to judge the quality. The choice of music too has been chosen for it's recording quality. I have a couple of questions though: How do the speakers sound without the subs, and for potential buyers, how would they sound with a more affordable and a less exotic amplifier? Apart from the fun and satisfaction of a home build speaker of quality, most people I'm sure, buy these because of the relative low cost to quality ratio and have in turn a relativley low cost amplifier. The choice of music, how do 'Ordinary' good recordings made by big studios sound? Classic recordings such as 'Kind of Blue' Miles Davis. or the excellent 'Acis and Glalatea' The Dunedin Consort, on the Linn lable sound for example?

With the sound clarity of these speakers, some of the vocals from music clearly reveals the use of Auto-tune during recording :X . Would love to have these speaker in my system :).

How about sound clips with X-LS Encore speakers alone without subwoofers?

Wow those sounded amazing. How efficient are these XLS speakers?

Hearing this through some studio monitors on the PC even over youtube these sound like something I need in my life, well, the H frame subs for sure anyway. I may have to go bigger than bookshelfs or I think I'll always regret it .

Very nice sounding. What amp pairs well with these on a less $800 budget for an amp?

Thank you for the review. How much for the pair of speakers, pair of subs and equipment to power them properly? Very interested in a bookshelf and twin sub system from Danny to scratch all my audio itches

I'd love to hear Eivor on that kit. Her voice is remarkable, especially her live recording of the track Falling free.

What stand height puts these at correct height? What caps , resistors , inductors do these use? Danny's standards parts or upgraded parts? Ok I have just found the answer to whats inside in previous video...

Damn you Ron!! I want to upgrade my pair of X-LS's RIGHT NOW!!!! :D

Excellent highs and lows but the midrange gets a little overtaken at times thanks for the sound demo wish you do more of them overall a great speaker just love that bass and highs Joe

so are we ever going to get some sound clips without the subs so we know what we would be buying if we just the speakers

I love mine. Highly recommended. Get the upgraded parts and a flat pack. Glue it up and solder the components. DIY for the win.

this sound demo through my zen dac 3 / kph30i setup sounds incredible.

Wherew might I find a tracklist or a playlist for this video?

Omg… simply amazing

Awesome review! Can you tell me the amps used for the encores?

Ron, how would you compare the XLS ENCORE WITH THE Harbeth P3ESR or the LS3/5a? Pros and cons, please?

Uff with the Dual Subs they look awesome. Really awesome. Especially the woodfinish and the chrome feet unter the Xls. Did you veneer the subs or is it wood? I cant find your build thread on audiocircle as I think you did one .....

I kinda wish you could do somed direct comparison of speakers in this format. These little speakers sound awesome.

Great presentation. You should do that with some smooth jazz and classical music mixed in as well next time.

imaging is awesome , much better than my klipsch by far.

What would be the sub placement scenario where both drivers on each of the subs are mounted in same direction?

Hello Ron. What exactly is the whole setup in this video to make the OB subs work with the XLS encores?

very clean highs and mids, :mids could be a bit tighter" but mid bass is very good.. large woofer bass needs work, but that is just my preferred sound thoughts. I like really tight frequency control, tight bass to.

Ron what’s your take on this config Vs Spatial audio OB speskers

Great sound clips. I tried listening on headphones then just pumped it through my main system, and could definitely hear the details very well even through the KZfaq filter. Thanks for taking the time to record and edit everything. Much appreciated, Ron. Keep up the good work, bro!

Would 30 watts power the Encores as well as in this demo? I think you are using a lot of power for this presentation. Thanks!

Man I gotta clean out the garage so I can build my xls speakers, I have a couple Dayton subs I may try this open baffle design, gotta see if the TS parameters are similar to the gr subs

is the first soundclip distorting?

It would be nice to hear them with out the subs, the package is nice but I would like to hear them with out the subs supporting the bottom end.

Hey Ron, what volume did you have the H frames subs set to? just curious.

I’m really interested in those open baffle subwoofers. Where can I go to here them live?

How do they compare with a pair of genelecs for example which is the most resolving and flat ?Is it worth it?

It’s tough to judge recordings of speakers for obvious reasons, but your recordings provide a very nice reference point. These sound very nice but they don’t seem to give quite the wow that those Spatials gave. Is that just the recording, or would you say that’s an accurate conclusion you can draw from comparing these 2 recordings? I’m guessing the subs could complement the Spatials too, but even in the mids and highs your recording of the Spatials sounds so much more composed. Thanks for the great content!

Ron, do these Encores have the top-end crossovers or the standard crossovers? Hard to tell. I'd really like to know. Thanks for this great demo.

Nice job! Do you have that playlist somewhere?

Ron, I have a pair of CSS Criton TD1 speakers and although very nice, I wish for a slightly more revealing speaker with a tad more sparkle is my preference. Do you feel the X-LS Encore is more in my ball park sound wise? In comparison, I have an older pair of Sonus Faber Concertinos that is more me, but they lack the mid bass I want to fix. I liked the KEF R3 with it's sparkle but love the DIY way and cost savings too of a built-it-yourself speaker. So much more rewarding.

What are the footers you are using?

wooow !! What amplifier would you recommend for XLS Encore and open sub help a lot for a better experience.

I know, not fair. But I use Genelec 8040. Should this be in the same league? Miles away? Thanks.

sounds great man. Can I ask how much u paid for the subs and speakers completed incl delivery charges?

What are the footers you are using？

Ron, what are the "pucks" the speakers resting on top of the subs? Thanks.

Is this better speaker than the elac uni 2?

Thanks for the Video. I am a classical music listener. What best example of spatial bass then 6 double Basses and 8 Cellos playing in an large Orchestra. Maybe in your next video we can experience that.

1. I hope Danny's new web site will allow to buy speaker/crossover kits and flat pack at least for small monitors all at the same time .... 2. Can we hear your review of mini monitor from Xotica line with these fancier flat tweeters open baffle ?

I’m very curious about the open baffle subs

Ron I may have missed it but at what range did you have the sub woofers cutting in? 50hz or 80hz?

Funny thing is i heard my xls encore ressonate while playing at 20:48 and again at 22:50. Must be a youtube compresion problem. Anyway, it led to me discovering that the low humidity this winter shrank the mdf enough that i had to tighten the woofers and tweeters a bit. still hear a bit at 22:50 and will have to have a look inside sometime. KZfaq compresion ruins the audio so bad i can barely stand it. anyone else notice this at all?

Hi Ron How is everything hooked up? Are you using a DSP?

Wow! Tweeters ruler flat.

Finger slides on last track are cool ☑️. Big sounds.. Love them!

Don't listen to a lot of music without singing, so perhaps more music with singing. I agree worry the super upgrades and sub have oversold the XLS

So... are you listening to music or to the equipment?

Oh my, hearing this , will things ever be the same again? HOW can it sound so good? Even over youtube? I need to know more , where do I start? Besides the speakers what's the signal chain? What are those subs called? I am a completely mindblown ..

Could you please share the information about the front end went with the X-LS?

Ron, I think the instrument you're hearing are castanets.

Hi Ron, Not a bagpipe. It's probably a Penny whistle (it's like a Recorder), but definitely not a bagpipe. The "wooden clacky things", are are called Castanets.

Interesting man, you like the treble but, appears it’s not hitting the ‘all important’ 20KHz, my guess is we’re getting old and this wavelength is inaudible at that level. The open baffle operation is a killer setup - nice rig but my suggestion is use AC/DC (rockin’ blues) test tracks are OK but it ain’t noise pollution 🔊

Can We hear some sound Clips without the subs?

Too bad this kind of a thing isn't available in europe.. Are those subs passive or active(from the look of them they seem passive)?

Raise the roof

how do these compare the CSS that you reviewed?

What crossover components are in these? The basic kit or the Sonicap and resistor upgrades?

Would you take this over a buchardt s400?

My only critique would be that the Encores seem to lack a little leading-edge bite. Just a bit timid when they initially present a note, giving them a slightly relaxed presentation. Also, and this may be due to how they are integrated with the subs, but the lower register of female vocals sounds a bit too thick, and it immediately disappears as the vocalist climbs up to higher notes. Anyone else notice these things as well, or is it just me?

I stared at the back of your head for the whole video only to find you hadn’t listed the tracks in the description.

rhythmic, I think you were searching for Ron 😁

May i ask what amp stack was used?

Are the mtm’s just as clear?

i cannot decide between these and css 2td-x. can you help, pleeeeeeeeaaaaaseeeeeeeeeee?

Do it with out subwoofers please!

Honestly Ron, which one do you like more the Triangle BR08 OR this one? I have the ability to buy the XLS tower and the Triangle at the same price.

I don't know if anyone added... Hand clacky instruments - castanets

I wonder how much money one must spend to get this sound... yeah speakers starts at... but till you get to this + the amp etc., I recon we are far above 10k, right?

Ron, the Celtic instrument you are hearing is a tin whistle not bagpipes