Hello everybody on the other side of the pond.
I am a new member from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
It is very difficult in our neck of the woods to receive information on
Royd speakers for 2 very obvious reasons.
1: They were not very widely sold here.
2: They are out of business.
I was lucky enough to purchase a second hand pair of these small
speakers and would appreciate some advice.
The gentleman who sold me the RR3s had fastened a set of jumper
cables to allow for single speaker cables. However, after reading the
small paper slip that I found in the cartons I believe that the speakers
were already wired for this. Therefore, the speakers were basically being
"jumped" internally and externally. Do you think that any damage could
have resulted from this procedure? They sound wonderful but I would like
some reassurance.
If there are any RR3 owners on this Forum I would love to hear some opinions
about them.
Thank you

The Royd RRs (1, 2 and 3) were internally jumpered treble-to-bass to avoid the need for external jumpers. However, the way to convert them to biwiring/biamping capable, is to snip the internal jumpers. You could undo the 4 screws on the socket block to check the internal jumpers are intact. Else you could remove the external jumpers, connect your cables to only the tweeter sockets and see if the bass unit still drives.

No damage would result from double-jumpering, but it ain't going to help with sound quality whilst it's connected in this way...

The Royd RRs (1, 2 and 3) were internally jumpered treble-to-bass to avoid the need for external jumpers. However, the way to convert them to biwiring/biamping capable, is to snip the internal jumpers. You could undo the 4 screws on the socket block to check the internal jumpers are intact. Else you could remove the external jumpers, connect your cables to only the tweeter sockets and see if the bass unit still drives.

No damage would result from double-jumpering, but it ain't going to help with sound quality whilst it's connected in this way...

What were some prevailing opinions of the RR3's?

Needs lots of juice, must space them really wide at least 8+ feet, nice sounding with good bass for small speaker but doesn't go too loud without farting and doesn't quite have the slam of other royds including the rr2.

tried some RR1's last week. huge let down..then again so were the RR2's really..strangely for oppsoite reasons!! one was way too bright the other slightly dull.cant help thinking that Royds lost his way a bit with the RR range.

he should bring the minstrel back!!! :) :) :) :D

I agree. Having owned the prior, abbot and the doublet, I think royd went in th wrong direction with the revelation line. Not only was it a bit overpriced compared to the older lines, I found the speakers a bit boring sounding.
Mike Hanson is the Royd expert and he would argue that the rr3 was the best sounding of the line and while I wouldn't necessarily disagree, I would still take a pair of priors over most of the others.
Cheers

i dont understand how he had a particular sound that he thought was `right' and then produces speakers that dont sound anything like that. the RR range were ok-ish but as you say were very overpriced and im sure were riding on the reputation of the older ones..sort of like a last two fingered money making dash before he retired. altho i havent heard the RR3 which is supposed to be the best of the range by other accounts.cant knock his old stuff for the prices he charged tho! great speakers :)

Bourney -

Where did you get a hold of RR1s for a temporary dem?

Not wishing to jump in but try adventures in hifi when i was last there they had a pair

regards

Gosh - people being negative about Royds....!

I had Minstrels, then RR1s - found the RR1s to be MUCH better - classier and easier to listen to for a long time.

RR2s (which I have now and finally are working properly!) are better still - a bit smoother but still very involving!

Gosh - people being negative about Royds....!

I had Minstrels, then RR1s - found the RR1s to be MUCH better - classier and easier to listen to for a long time.

RR2s (which I have now and finally are working properly!) are better still - a bit smoother but still very involving!
I have the RR3's.
Which electronics and cables are you using?

the rr3's need lots of juice. At least a 4dr or naim 250

Bourney -

Where did you get a hold of RR1s for a temporary dem?

linds,

i bought some off a guy who was selling on ebay for 300 odd quid. he had them back off me after a week as he had another buyer who had offerred him more money after. once i had had tried them for a few days i knew they werent for me to be honest. you have to really wind you armp up to get them going and the treble was a bit intense, strange as the RR2's treble was too recessed for me.

i found the minstrels are slightly rougher around the edges but...go louder, are more fun,far less restrained, have more bass and are a lot cheaper!! the more i try various Royd speakers the more i think the Minstrel is the the star model..taking cost into account of course.bear in mind the RR1 was nearly 900 quid and that buys some nice speakers.id say they were a 400-500 quid new speaker at most. . maybe they work better with certain equipment.(Bourney in Royd dissapointment shocker!! :D)

I heard RR3s briefly at Hi Fi Fo Fum a few years ago. They embodied most of what I like about Royd but they're inefficient (83 db/watt/metre) in a way that would make Royd Sorcerers seem like Klipschorns in comparison.

Joe

Royd RR2s are super bitchin'. They are smooth and punchy and a bit cool tonally. They sound absolutely massive if spread wide apart.

Zu Druids are a fine upgrade, but cost twice as much.

Royd RR2s are super bitchin'. They are smooth and punchy and a bit cool tonally. They sound absolutely massive if spread wide apart.

Zu Druids are a fine upgrade, but cost twice as much.
Kit:
Can you define "wide apart" in relation to the sitting position please.

Spirit, the RR2 manual suggest up to twice the distance between speakers as between the listener and the speaker.

I pushed them right out to the sidewalls, which is a bit more, because I think the extra scale and openness and ease is worth the more diffuse spatiality.

Spirit, the RR2 manual suggest up to twice the distance between speakers as between the listener and the speaker.

I pushed them right out to the sidewalls, which is a bit more, because I think the extra scale and openness and ease is worth the more diffuse spatiality.
Wow!
How many feet apart do you have them apart?
My experience with all other speakers is that when you spread them too far apart I would begin to experience a null or hole where the image breaks down.
I know that one of Royd's technical features of the RR line was that this syndrome was rectified in the design. Can you explain this any further?

maybe they work better with certain equipment.(Bourney in Royd dissapointment shocker

I've read before (either on PFM or on the Naim Forum) that the RRs are particularly fussy about the partnering equipment. Someone quoted that in particular Creek amps work really well with RR1s. This hifi lark really is too damn complicated most days, as someone also once quoted that a lot of Linn owners like Royds. But is that feckin Minstrels, RR1s or friggin Abbots, 'cos they're all different animals!

All I can say is that I've never had a problem with a hole in the middle, even 5m apart. I only sit a meter or so off the axis between the speakers, and toe them in so they're pointing right at my ears (ie the inner most side of the speaker cabinet is not visible from the listening position).

Also, I'd add that put the speakers further apart can lead to a warbly ringing sound, a kind of harmonic resonating in sympathy with the music. Perhaps this is some sort of phase problem.

There seems less of this when the speakers are closer together, though sometimes I thinks this may be due to the resonance moving up a few octaves in pitch.

I have a pair of RR3's for sale in mint condition, maple with stands and box etc. One thing I can say about them is that they are much better wider apart and completly disappear. They work extreemly well with Creek amplifiers, the olive naim stuff (140 and 70 pre power combo I think) as well and I have found MF stuff also sounds magical. Chord cable works beatifully with them, Odessy was good but I think Sig would smoke them, I used DH labs q10 as well, which also worked nicely. Basically if you get the right combo they really are jaw dropping, if not they can sound ordinary. I think that is why there are mixed reviews here. I phoned phonography who used to sell them last and bought out their stock. They can also repair them :D which is brilliant. They are very good at giving matching suggestions.

On the placement issue, there is no need to toe these in till you cant see the inside face of the speakers. toeing in by about2-3 inches will do the job. It will depend on the listening conditions at the end of the day but generally beacause of the front facing bass port they are happy almost anywhere. If you are getting a hole in the image I would look to the CDP. If you modded it then that might be the problem, gotta be careful with that. At the end of the day you need nice equipment to run these, when you get the combo right though these are sublime.

Bourney! Look out! There are RR3s for sale.
Surely the only Royd you've not yet had.

where where where?!?!?!?

Sprit
Any questions you have about the RR3 go to Hi Fi FO Fum and talk to Steve. He sold me mine and also my Densen B150 and Densen 400xs which IMO is miles better sounding then when I had them with my Exposure 21 and Naim 250.2 set-up. Also depending on how used they are the RR3s take forever to break in,and after down time take long to warm up ( a good day ).
Ian

Needs lots of juice, must space them really wide at least 8+ feet, nice sounding with good bass for small speaker but doesn't go too loud without farting and doesn't quite have the slam of other royds including the rr2.

You more and less nailed it, except the placement issue. I used them in the "normal" way, with less space between them than between the speakers and the listener. It worked very well. Actually, they are the most easy to place and use speakers I've ever owned. Just pop them on to some decent stands and place them where you think they will sound good. If there turn out to be to much bass, move them a bit further into the room, and the opposite if there is to little.

JohanR

These speakers come with thieir own Royd stands which is kinda nice so no need to mess around with finding some, they bolt on at the back so reduce vibration to a minimum, I guess its piossible to get better ones though.

As for these spaekers farting I never found that. I dont think I turned em up loud enough for that but they can play drum and bass without putting a foot wrong. The pendulum album sounds cracking:cool:

To be fair, these are not party speakers, they are designed for listening and becoming absorbed into the music and putting a big grin on your face. Not jumping around dancing while your neighbours bang on the door lol, though they are lively if the music is. That said I have never heard them with Naim Creek or Byston and apparently they make these puppies sound incredible, as has been said these need lots of juice.

Luckily a company called phonography can still repair most Royds if there were any problems and give excellent sound advise.

Interestingly I took these to demo against a pair of Wilmslow Phoenix, desipte the scanspeak drivers etc the Royd just sounded more involving and Mr Willmslow himself commented on their very good top end.

These are sold now just so everyone knows - I think they went for 550 - as reference

What have you replaced them with? I can't find anything close to the RR3 at the moment, and the ones I want to try (I think someone mentioned druids already) are more money than I have right now....

Needs lots of juice, must space them really wide at least 8+ feet, nice sounding with good bass for small speaker but doesn't go too loud without farting and doesn't quite have the slam of other royds including the rr2.

You more and less nailed it, except the placement issue. I used them in the "normal" way, with less space between them than between the speakers and the listener. It worked very well. Actually, they are the most easy to place and use speakers I've ever owned. Just pop them on to some decent stands and place them where you think they will sound good. If there turn out to be to much bass, move them a bit further into the room, and the opposite if there is to little.

JohanR

No Johan, you nailed it !
Juice, doesn't go loud, and easiest to place I've ever met.
I love mine, but do agree they are sometimes too smooth.

Omer.