RBH Sound 61/AX Listening Tests & Conclusion

Music on the RBH 61/AX

I began off the listening check
in my workplace, the DSP on the audio system was set to setting primary FIR Flat. Going
straight to considered one of my favourite speaker demos, “Helplessly Hoping” by Crosby,
Stills and Nash. This is without doubt one of the finest basic people remasters-the a number of
guitars and wonderful concord of those three legends really check a speaker’s
capacity to picture and reveal complicated layers and element. Lesser audio system I’ve
examined considerably smear the assorted layers of sound the recording has to supply. This was not
the case with the RBHs. Listening to this tune by means of 61/AXs rewarded me with a rock-solid
centered picture the place I may utterly hear every ingredient and layer of this
tune. I may separate and place every artist and their place on stage, and I
was completely floored at how huge the soundstage was, with the sound clearly transitioning
from proper to left in the course of the melody. I used to be impressed by how clearly outlined
every artist was offered, and the sound appeared to return from properly outdoors the
audio system. This tune has little or no info
beneath 60Hz, so the roll off at round 50Hz actually didn’t come into play right here
with out a sub.

Listening to this tune by means of 61/AXs rewarded me with a rock-solid
centered picture the place I may utterly hear every ingredient and layer of this
tune.

For my subsequent listening demo, I
performed one thing fairly completely different. Ghost Rider is considered one of my favourite digital artists,
that includes some wonderful, pulse-pounding and intensely well-recorded digital
music. The observe “Make Us Stronger” is an train for the senses and a exercise
for any system. I began off listening with out the RBH 12″ subwoofer. The sound was
managed, and the dynamics have been nice, particularly on this close to subject
listening position-but the bass produced by the screens alone couldn’t
ship the total expertise of this EDM observe.

I linked the RBH subwoofer and WOW! The music
actually got here alive. It was so extremely clear and clear. Getting caught up
within the second, I saved turning the quantity up and up, and the extra I did, the
extra my 12’ x 13’ workplace seemed like a nightclub however with none shrillness. As I turned these as much as
ranges peaking greater than 110db (one thing I solely do in very quick bursts,) I
noticed absolutely the lack of dynamic compression. As the quantity elevated the
speaker didn’t change tonal character in any respect. Actually, it felt like I may
preserve going as much as 11. The dynamics of those audio system are insane, particularly when
paired with the RBH 12P-SR/R subwoofer. One other factor I seen, is that as loud as I used to be
enjoying these, there was no harshness in any way…I needed to catch myself and switch
these down earlier than I broken my listening to. The closest comparability to that is
driving a supercar on a closed racetrack, one thing I’ve had the pleasure of doing.
You will be driving properly over 100mph in a Porsche 911 turbo on a right away
and not likely discover the speed- that’s what these audio system are like!

I then moved these audio system to my
Nice Room. This can be a considerably giant room, 26’w x 19’ d with a 12’ ceiling. I
linked the 61/AX
to the Eversolo streamer through XLR to the subwoofer then once more again to the
screens. I made a decision to rock it out right here, why not proper? I fired up “Kashmir” by
Marcin (this has grow to be an audiophile favourite once you actually need to demo
what a system can do.) So, I sat again and was rewarded with a very visceral
expertise. This setup crammed this huge room like no different bookshelf speaker
system I’ve examined. It’s actually lower than the extent of my 5ft tall 200+lbs
RBH SVTR audio system, few methods can come near matching the facility of this
system, however it was darn spectacular given the 61/AX’s dimension. It crammed to room sufficient to please
virtually anybody. Once more, the soundstage was large. it virtually seemed like I had a
middle channel and surrounds engaged. If I had not skilled this myself, I
will surely have my doubts. However I did expertise it, and sure, it carried out
that properly. The Eversolo is an exceptional streamer, and it might be among the finest
values in all of the audio world. I used to be shocked at how good this supply sounds for
the fee.

I sat again and was rewarded with a very visceral
expertise the RBH 61/AX screens offered.

Subsequent, I moved the 61/AX into my grasp
bed room system. This can be a medium sized room at 16’L x 13” W x10’ H. I changed
the principle L/R Focal Kanta No2 with the RBH screens on metal stands, connected from
the L/R Pre-outs on my NAD T778 receiver. Because the NAD doesn’t have balanced
Pre-outs, I used the RCA-XLR adaptors that RBH conveniently provides with the 61/AX. After connecting
the screens, I did some calibration, stage matching the RBH with the Focal
middle channel. This room has a pair of fantastic SVS SB-3000 subwoofers. These
ultimately turned out to be a very good match with the RBHs.

I first performed the screens set too
giant, in stereo with the subs turned off. I selected “Unusual Fruit” by considered one of
Audioholics favourite artists, Dominique Fils-Aime. Dominique has an extremely
wealthy and clean voice. This tune begins along with her buzzing the intro, then blends
her voice into the combo, creating a number of layers of sound. The RBHs have been ready
to current a large sound stage as soon as once more. I may additionally clearly outline every
layer of this world-class combine. With great vary in her voice, the RBHs have been
in a position to seize each element. They crammed the room with an ethereal and immersive presentation,
virtually haunting.

This isn’t a bass-heavy observe, so I
by no means felt like I used to be lacking the subwoofers. The restricted vary of bass they did
put out was delivered with nice authority. This fullness prolonged all the way down to
round 50Hz, which is what permits these audio system to combine so properly with subwoofers.

This sound was so good I poured
myself a bourbon, turned on the subs, and listened to the complete “Anonymous” album.
If this isn’t what this passion is about, I’m doing it fallacious. This was a really
pleasing expertise.

Motion pictures/Spatial Audio on the RBH 61/AX

After finishing a very good quantity of
stereo listening, and for the reason that 61/AXs have been now connected as mains in a multi-channel system, I
determined to present them a hear in encompass. Crossing over the RBHs together with the
Focal middle channel and surrounds at 80Hz, I used to be rewarded with a stable
presentation, because the sounds performed throughout my room. Though the RBH sound
blended fairly properly with the $4,000 Focal middle, it understandably didn’t have
fairly the identical full and cohesive sound because the $11,000 matching Focal towers. It
was quite a bit nearer than I had anticipated, given the dimensions of the screens. This can be a
testomony to the dynamic output of the RBHs. To place this in perspective, the
pair of 61/AXs are
about the identical value because the Focal middle channel alone!

For multi-channel music I began off
with Pink Floyd’s “Darkish Facet of the Moon” 40^th anniversary in
Spatial Audio (Atmos) sourced from my Apple TV.  Kicking it off with the basic tune “Breathe”,
I discovered that the RBH screens held their very own with the remainder of the Focal system.
The RBH AMT tweeters turned out to be a greater match than I had anticipated to the
Focal’s inverted dome Beryllium tweeters. Each are very dynamic and correct
drivers that play properly past 20k. If pushed, I might say that though each
have been extraordinarily detailed, the AMTs could have slightly extra of a laid-back sound, however
this was a really minor distinction. The RBHs did an ideal job anchoring the multi-channel
audio in lieu of the a lot bigger (and dearer) Focal towers.

Matching audio system, particularly the
LCRs, is one of the simplest ways to immerse your self in a multi-channel expertise. RBH
will quickly be releasing an lively center-channel model of the 61/AX. RBH additionally has plans
for a twin driver “MTM” LCR model. I hope when these can be found, I might be
in a position to assessment a full multi-channel system utilizing all RBH powered screens.

For my film encompass listening, I made a decision to fireside up the
bombing scene close to the top of “High Gun Maverick”. This video is now a staple
performed on in all probability each dwelling theater in America, and with good purpose…It
rocks! First, I positioned the NAD into stereo with the RBHs and subwoofers on-line.
Even in stereo, I may clearly hear the dialogue and expertise sounds flying
throughout my room. This can be a testomony to anchoring any encompass system with
nice stereo audio system, as Gene has all the time suggested. It’s wonderful how good a film
can sound in stereo alone, however once I engaged the Dolby Atmos, the actual enjoyable
kicked in.

As soon as once more, the RBHs held their very own, giving me true
cinematic expertise at reference stage. A lot so, I listened to the top of
the film forgetting that I used to be “working”. I’ve listened to this film on this Focal
system a number of occasions. With the RBHs changing the traditional mains, I didn’t really feel
I used to be lacking a lot within the output division. This was wonderful given the value
and dimension distinction.

Measurements and Evaluation of RBH 61/AX

All measurements of the 61AX have been carried out outdoor at 2 meters in an open parking zone by RBH Sound’s facility.

This graph reveals the On Axis (Brown) and Horizontal Off Axis Frequency Response from 500 to 20kHz; 15 levels (Inexperienced)), 30 levels (Purple), 45 levels (Magenta)

This graph reveals the on axis (Inexperienced) and  vertical off axis frequency response above the tweeter axis of the speaker: 15 levels (Magenta), 30 levels (Blue), 45 levels (Orange).

These measurements present the on Axis Frequency Response of the speaker (setting 1) from 20Hz to 20kHz in addition to the audio system impulse response which could be very clear.

This group of measurements reveals the on axis frequency response of the 61AX taken at 2m with every of the 7 out there DSP settings. The next is an outline of every of the selectable DSP settings:

Setting 1: Full Vary (Supplies Most Bass Extension)

Setting 2: Full Vary (Tweeter +)

Setting 3: Flat Response (No EQ)

Setting 4: 80Hz HP filter  (for integrating with subwoofer)

Setting 5: 80Hz HP filter (Tweeter +)

Setting 6: Close to Discipline (Tweeter-, for Close to-field/Desktop use)

Setting 7: Close to Discipline (Tweeter- Bass+, for Close to-field/Desktop use)

Measurement displaying low Harmonic distortion ranges (black)  of 61-AX taken at 2m on axis

This measurement reveals the separate frequency response of the woofer and tweeter in addition to the extraordinarily excessive order FIR Filters (108dB/Octave) of the crossover made doable utilizing a robust DSP.

This stage of filtering can’t be achieved utilizing passive networks and one of many greatest benefits supplied by lively speaker designs.

Conclusion

Energetic bookshelf audio system are a
rising and aggressive style. KEF, JBL, Totem, B&W and lots of others are
producing some nice audio system on this class, and it’s rising quick. I’m
excited to see what different speaker producers might be introducing within the close to
future. The RBH Sound 61/AXs are
a main instance of what’s doable with in the present day’s new digital DSPs and environment friendly Class D amplifier
applied sciences.

We wish to say right here at Audioholics
that “RBH Sound is without doubt one of the finest saved secrets and techniques in audio”. These audio system actually
dwell as much as this assertion. After residing with the 61/AX for a while, I can say that they’re amongst
essentially the most versatile and finest sounding audio system I’ve ever reviewed at any value
level. Add a top quality sub and nice streamer, you may be rewarded with world
class, full-range sound that may fulfill virtually any audiophile. Whether or not you
are a working studio skilled or a house audio fanatic, the 61/AX’s capacity to play
any style of music in a large number of environments, with unbelievable constancy and
seemingly limitless dynamics will make you smile. Anybody in search of this sort
of speaker ought to put these on their short-list to audition. Extremely
advisable!