[rodge827]

http://stereomojo.com/SHELBYKROLLReferenceStandardMonitor1.0andReferenceWooferMonitor1.0.htm/SHELBYKROLLReferenceStandardMonitor1.0andReferenceWooferMonitor1.0.htm

I have had these speakers for 2 years now and Stereomojo just released a review.

Enjoy,

Chris

[roscoeiii]

Mighty impressive review. They weren't on my radar. Until now...

[wisnon]

You called it right Chris!

[ken]

I bought my pair based largely on Chris' opinion of these  and of course Tim Kroll's.  I was also the one who recommended these for Stereomojo to review over a year ago   Happy to see these are finally getting a little recognition.  Looks like they've gone up a little in price though but then again what hasn't.

[stlrman]

I had thought these were under two grand? I thought speakers were a thousand plus subwoofer?

[wisnon]

I had thought these were under two grand? I thought speakers were a thousand plus subwoofer?

These are not the Minis, they are a new top end model.

[rodge827]

I had thought these were under two grand? I thought speakers were a thousand plus subwoofer?

The original Nano Monitors were $2000.00 and the Woofer Monitor was $1000.00.
If they were purchased as a combo Tim offered a discount.

I found S+K searching for a sub to match my Lowther Medallion 2 BLH's on Audiogon 2 years ago.
I called Tim from his website and he convinced me that I needed to listen to them.
He called an owner in NW Jersey and a couple of days later I auditioned the combo set.
I knew within the first few minutes that I wanted them in my room.
Tim suggested that I purchase a 2.2 system due to the size of my room.
At the time Tim had some B-stock for sale at a healthy discount, and that is what I got.
I paid a lot more than $2000.00 for the 2.2 B-stock at the time.

Chris

   

[ken]

Evidently the Reference monitor is an upgrade from the Nano monitors, to what extent I'm not exactly sure, probably upgraded xover parts etc....  the drivers and cabinet symmetry do  look the same though and Chris did state Tim would still be selling the Nano Monitors at a lower price.  I do need to get that woofer monitor though and I'm upset I haven't done so up to this point    even though the speakers do drop off at 100 hz they still sound pretty damn good without a sub albeit a little lean at times, that being said I do feel the 100 hz measurement is conservative

[rodge827]

ken,

Yes there are upgrades to the minimal crossover, internal wiring, cabinet materials, and internal bracing.

http://www.shelbykroll.com/

C

[jackman]

The speakers are pretty cool looking and appear to be well constructed.  I checked out the website and, although there is a lot of "info" about the design goals and general description of the products, it has no real information about the actual design of the crossover and NO measurements at all, at least none that I could find.   I would never buy a speaker, especially an expensive one without any real quantitative data a d actual description of the crossover design.   Lots of fluff but no actual data. 

Just my opinion.  Maybe there was something I missed on the website but I looked all over and could not find anything of substance.

[rodge827]

jackman,

Have you read the review?
The measurements are there.
Bruce Brown is a professional mastering engineer who compared these to Wilson Audio Alexia's.

From the review:

     "I set up the Reference Standard Monitor 1.0 ’s approximately 52” from my front wall and 30” from the side wall. Toe-in was just so I could barely see the inside of the speaker, making the apex of the triangle about 24” behind my head. The matching stands filled with 100 lbs. of sand (not included of course) were used throughout the review. Using an Earthworks M50 measurement mic and a M-Audio Fast-trak Pro into Room EQ Wizard, I set the pair of subs up to where I had a +/- 1.5dB from 20Hz – 500Hz room response. This made a seamless integration into the RSM 1.0’s. Yes, I did say all the way down to 20Hz. Note that is or plus minus 1.5 db, even though the published spec claims a low of 30 Hz - but that's at +/- ONE db!. The published specs of the $50,000 Wilson Alexia (more about them in a minute) is 20Hz +/- 3 db, for example. The top of the line Wilson Alexandria XLF is spec’d at 19.5 HZ to 33Hkz +/- 3 db. But they are $200,000 per pair and weigh 655 lbs each. I'm just sayin'..."



C

 

[PMAT]

Does anybody believe the bass specs of +\- 1.5 db 20 to 500hz? When I read about perfect specs for bass indoors I feel that I can't trust the reviewer at all. The article is so salesy. Let's get real.

[Pete Schumacher]

Does anybody believe the bass specs of +\- 1.5 db 20 to 500hz? When I read about perfect specs for bass indoors I feel that I can't trust the reviewer at all. The article is so salesy. Let's get real.

Well, he was using RoomEQWizard and who knows how much smoothing on his measurements.

makes me wonder if he was using EQ to flatten everything out, not just the subs.

[James Romeyn]

Text omits FR pre vs. post EQ.  Also, t'would tell an interesting tale to compare FR at several points several feet from the sweet spot, pre vs. post EQ.

I can still appreciate the best mono poles but would never chose such radiation pattern. 

$250k Lamm tube mono blocks with outboard PS powering Wilson's $70k Alexandria sounded darn good (overall) at 2012 CES.  Still cursed with that strange quality common to all single column full range speakers where the bass image stays in close proximity to the enclosure, never fully detaching from it.  I prefer bass image fully detached from the box, at different stage location depending on software.     

[ken]

Does anybody believe the bass specs of +\- 1.5 db 20 to 500hz? When I read about perfect specs for bass indoors I feel that I can't trust the reviewer at all. The article is so salesy. Let's get real.

I suppose I can understand some of the skepticism about a relatively little known speaker but the reviewer -  Bruce Brown is a pretty well respected sound engineer who does this stuff for a living.   Here is the publishers quote at the beginning of the review in case you missed it

Bruce Brown is the owner of Puget Sound Studios

and is a professional mastering engineer

who has worked on High Res masters for HDTracks, FIM and Dave Wilson's Master Tracks to name a few.

Incidentally, accoding to Tim Kroll most of S+K speakers are sold to studios

 


.

 



 

[nickd]

I like the look and the idea, Not too sold on the "value" 12K for a sat sub system direct from an unknown is still for the few.

I would have to hear a demo to be a true believer. My experience with down firing subs is that they " disappear", but at the expense of some mid bass harmonics and "whack" on drums etc. That sweet 4 inch driver is being asked to do a lot of work if the room is sizeable at all.

That said, Infinity made a sub sat system back in the 80's that was very similar (except for an Emit K tweeter). They retailed for about 3k at the time. they were just magical the way they disappeared. I will be seeking an audition of this little gem in So Cal soon.

[rodge827]

Incidentally, accoding to Tim Kroll most of S+K speakers are sold to studios

This is true.
Tim does sell his wares to recording studios.
The imaging is so good that the monitors are placed on either side of the board and the engineer can move around the board and never loose center focus. 

True story:
First a little description about my imperfect room. Room size is 15.5'w x 21'l x8.25h. I live in S. Jersey near Great Bay and my house is on pilings.
My first living floor is approx 10' off the ground, the underside is enclosed with a garage on the right and a finished multipurpose/listening room to the left.  There are 2 entry/exit doors on either side at the back of the room. On opens to a stairway to the upstairs and the other to the garage. The pilings are 8' apart and boxed in which creates 4 - 7' out coves along the side walls, and a lot of inside corners.
 
So, when I first got my S/K 2.2 combo I was setting them up and began to dial them in (which was extremely easy).  It was a Sat. morning and my wife, who can't understand why I listen to music this way since her iPod sounds just fine , came through the stairway door across the room to the garage. Her first comment was "Hey, they look nice enough to put in the living room"  . I asked her how they sounded and she said "pretty good, it sounds like Van Morrison is standing right there" her finger pointing to the middle of the sound stage! She was as far off axis in my room as you can be, and headed out the door to go shopping.
We use this room for many things one of which is a mini gym, treadmill, hand weights, pilates ball, etc...
I have found that as I get older a daily stretching routine is a must. So naturally the music is on and even from on the floor the speakers maintain their imaging. Walking towards the rack, in between the speakers, to turn off the system is an experience in itself. Standing at about 1.5' in front of the speakers is a very cool experience. I know it is cliche, but you really do feel that you can reach out and smack a cymbal!
This is no head in vise speaker!

Chris


 

[nickd]

Anyone heard the diference between the Mini/Nano and the Reference?

They look like the same speaker except for bamboo cabinets and maybe a platinum cap on the tweeter?

I'm thinking the real value for ur regular folk might be in the Mini.

[rodge827]

There isn't a "Mini" Monitor.
I had purchased the Nano Monitor which is S+K entry level and the only one available at the time.
S+K has since developed the Reference Monitor which is the same size as the Nano and is made with all upgraded materials.

[ken]

The website does state the Nano monitors are available at a discounted price and appears they may be discontinued but I'm really not sure, it would be a shame though if that's the case, as he should probably continue to offer a less expensive model like the Nano's in addition to the Reference.  Not sure what the difference in the woofer monitors are.  Perhaps Tim could chime in and address some if these questions, I think he may be a registered member on AC now.