Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: GR Research Criterion Speakers by jon

Model:	Criterion
Category:	Speakers
Suggested Retail Price:	$849 - Kit Price - No Cabinet
Description:	2 way Standmount Monitor
Manufacturer URL:	GR Research
Model Picture:	View

Review by jon_s ( A ) on August 30, 2004 at 13:46:14
IP Address: 130.203.194.56

Add Your Review
for the Criterion

I listened to these for an in-home demo more than one year ago and, while I did write a review, I never got around to posting it since I was working on my masters thesis at the time. So, here goes, one year late:
On first listen, I was completely surprised that the Criterions sounded nothing like I had expected. They had a "darker" presentation than I was used to: especially compared to the Paradox 1's, which do sound somewhat "bright" by comparison.
After a week of listening to the Criterions, I realized that they were in fact remarkably good at reproducing detail and microdynamics. Instruments and voices were shifted deeper into the room than with the Paradoxes, but layering and separation were noticeably better. Their relaxed sound really came as a surprise: It was hard for me to accept that a speaker could sound so not-bright and yet reproduce high frequencies with such detail and clarity. I felt that I didn't need to "try" to hear the music; I doubt it is possible to experience any degree of "listening fatigue" with the Criterions.
The Criterions were surprisingly forgiving: bad recordings were still very listenable, but every production flaw and "special effect" could be identified. Clicks and pops in recordings were rendered in an almost scary fashion. During one track, where my M3ti's or Paradox 1 would make a "ptt" sound, the Criterion reproduced a most frightening "t-t-t" instead. What I had always heard as a single "impulse" was really several impulses occuring in a very short span of time. From an engineering perspective, the fact that they were able to reproduce a fast impulse train implies excellent time-domain (phase and transient) response in addition to good frequency response.
Caveats: Efficiency--I listened with 6550's in my Consonance Ella and I think this was probably a "minimum necessary configuration" to keep them under control. I was very happy with this configuration, but I suspect EL84's or 6V6's would be insufficient.
For someone with good ears (and good amplification) who wants a relaxed and accurate musical presentation, these speakers should prove nearly ideal. I thought they were equally suited towards all music that I tried. They have remarkable bass response and clarity, a clear and brilliantly-detailed midrange, and they have no top-end glare or sizzle. There was absolutely no sense of transition between mid-bass and tweeter. While the Paradoxes are still a brilliant design that I will always enjoy listening to, the Criterions are a revolutionary step forward in refinement and precision. The Criterions are easily the most listenable, best-behaved bookshelf speakers that I have yet heard.

Product Weakness: Require a fairly beefy amplifier. Due to bass response, they may be better suited towards larger rooms than their size suggests.
Product Strengths: Coherency, detail, transparency, refinement. Revealing, yet not insulting, to poor recordings. Remarkable low-end response for their size. Fantastically clear and uncolored high-end.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Consonance Ella (pr. 6550's per channel)
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Consonance Basie
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Denon DCD1650AR
Speakers:	Paradox One (comparison) / Criterion
Cables/Interconnects:	Bottlehead, Kimber 4PR
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Rock, Acoustic, Jazz
Room Size (LxWxH):	12 x 12 x 9.5
Time Period/Length of Audition:	One week
Type of Audition/Review:	Home Audition

Product Weakness:	Require a fairly beefy amplifier. Due to bass response, they may be better suited towards larger rooms than their size suggests.
Product Strengths:	Coherency, detail, transparency, refinement. Revealing, yet not insulting, to poor recordings. Remarkable low-end response for their size. Fantastically clear and uncolored high-end.