[PumaCat]

Hmmm...even the thought of comparing Harbeth speakers that list for $6,495 with a $249 kit speaks volumes.

Well, I have $915 ($540 in premium parts and $375 in the cabinets) into my X-LS Encores, not counting my labor, but the $6995 Harbeth 30.2s are my reference, so that is what the Encores get compared to. And you're right, it does speak volumes.

My X-LS Encores are not even fully run in yet, and I am already very impressed with them, and....I expect the X-LS Encores to continue to improve as I get upwards 100 hours on them; those big premium caps will take time to burn-in. But, presently, they're not the best-sounding speakers I've ever heard, either. Everything is fair game in high-end audio. And I'm fine with that...this was a fun DIY project for building up a speaker to go with my Amp Camp amps, and I'm enjoying the X-LS Encores very much. It's a win-win for me.

[mkrawcz]

My Encores took about 50hrs until I no longer noticed changes. They change a lot during that time. It took at least 24hrs of run time until they really opened up.

[PumaCat]

My Encores took about 50hrs until I no longer noticed changes. They change a lot during that time. It took at least 24hrs of run time until they really opened up.

Good to know, thank you. 

[Yorg1001]

As for bookshelf style builds you have 3 options;

NX-Studio: OB Neo 3 tweeter & sealed woofer, more forgiving with placement/space constraints.

NX-Otica MTM: Upper-half of the NX-Otica. Full OB intended to be paired with twin dual servo sub towers.

Super Mini: Neo3 & Neo 10 planar drivers. Fastest & most transparent, can be paired with dual servo subs and optional OB woofer stands. Expensive, due to limited Neo 10 availability. Danny is working on a replacement model.

Bit of a nube, so pls indulge me.
So, how do you go about having an upper half of the nx-otica? The kit is the full thing, so presumably you'd have to design your own cabinets and crossover?
Is there any info on people having done just the upper half that I'd be able to base a project on?

[mlundy57]

Bit of a nube, so pls indulge me.
So, how do you go about having an upper half of the nx-otica? The kit is the full thing, so presumably you'd have to design your own cabinets and crossover?
Is there any info on people having done just the upper half that I'd be able to base a project on?

It's referred to as the NX-Otica MTM Monitor. It's the top portion of the speaker in my avatar and is intended to be paired with a dual 12" H-Frame servo sub, which is the bottom portion of my speaker. You won't find it on the website. You need to call GR and ask for it.

[fsdaron]

My xls encores are a disappointment.The bass on my build is overpowering. Any suggestions .

[mlundy57]

My xls encores are a disappointment.The bass on my build is overpowering. Any suggestions .

Plug the port. You can literally put a sock in it. The foam from a piece of No-Rez also works.

Another option is to put bass traps behind the speakers

[Chewbacca]

Plug the port. You can literally put a sock in it. The foam from a piece of No-Rez also works.

Another option is to put bass traps behind the speakers

+1

I have a similar pair of monitors (not GR) that had a huge 50hz spike that I just couldn't get worked out, I was balancing out my sub to match it, and I just had wayyyy to much bass sub 50hz. I got it pretty decent eventually by keeping my crossover around the 50hz spike and making the speakers slightly out of phase at 50hz to kill the spike, along with the PEQ settings on my sub to counteract the spike in the speakers, but that can only get you so far...

Finally put a sock in it (literally) and it immediately fixed it... Have a nearly flat response (with a sub) down to less than 20hz. I felt so stupid afterwards I have actual port plugs now.

Do you have any measuring software so we can see an in room frequency response? Along with placement of speakers relative to walls etc.

[VinceT]

I really like my XLS Encores

I didn't build them but bought them from an experienced builder. He used premium parts.

I can tell you mine are not at all boomy in the bass region. If anything "maybe" a little tame in the 1-8k range, but that could also be my aging ears.

They are very clean and accurate, and do a great job presenting the music. They will tell you real quickly if you have a bad recording. If I had to critique them maybe they can get "little" congested with complicated music, but again this is a little 2 way. Overall very very happy with these. I would say if your having these issues let them break in a lot more, look at the room and placement as well. I took the socks out of mine and feel the sound is a bit more organic. I do pair mind with sealed subs.

[Hobbsmeerkat]

My xls encores are a disappointment.The bass on my build is overpowering. Any suggestions .

You likely have a room mode issue. Try listening in different rooms, or move around your current room while music is playing. You might have spots where the bass is overpowered, and other areas where its underwhelming.
If that's the case, the only way to fix it is to treat your room with bass traps, esp in the corners, or with furniture (like a couch) against the walls to help absorb the reflections that are causing the boominess.

[mlundy57]

Also, if they are close to the wall, especially to a corner, the bass will be augmented. Repositioning the speakers or a combination of the above actions should solve the issue

[fsdaron]

I did stuff the ports with socks. They are 5’ from the front wall and 3’ from the side wall. I have some cheap bass traps in the front corners. The bass is not clean and tight.

[fsdaron]

My room is 10’w x 15.5l x 7.5h

[mlundy57]

Did you use No-Rez and how much insulation, poly-fill, or AcoustaStuff did you put inside the cabinets?

[fsdaron]

Used norez and acoutastuff behind woofer per Danny’s utube video

[Hobbsmeerkat]

I feel like we're going in circles.

And I know ive said this before, The only way we can help you more beyond this is to send us some basic measurements with REW.

[mlundy57]

Hobbs is right. Finding out what is going on in a way we can see what is happening is the next step.

REW is free and doesn't take long to learn well enough for this purpose. The only things you need to buy are a USB microphone, Mini-DSP U-Mik 1 ($100) or Dayton Audio UMM-6 ($80) and a mic stand ($30).

Once you get it set up run some sweeps of each channel separately and post the graphs.

[EdwardT]

My xls encores are a disappointment.The bass on my build is overpowering. Any suggestions .

I had this problem with a different speaker. Not paying strict attention I had soldered one tweeter out of phase.

[MattSelinger]

I had this problem with a different speaker. Not paying strict attention I had soldered one tweeter out of phase.

This was my first thought in reading about the issue with bass being way too pronounced.  Possibly a wiring issue where something is not right in the crossover. 

[Hobbsmeerkat]

There's also this calibrated mic for $21 that ive used in the past with REW.
https://www.parts-express.com/Dayton-Audio-iMM-6-iDevice-Calibrated-Microphone-390-810?quantity=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw87SHBhBiEiwAukSeUXO9CDTYkkdAklm2ZXg0_AxvfFumHpxoq90lEyP7br8cslH0Uwd9gRoCdzYQAvD_BwE