RSL CG4

RSL CG4

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Home Theater Review Sound And Vision Review Electronic House Review Home Entertainment Review Positive Feedback Review

The RSL CG4 is the heart of our new sound systems combining 40 years of speaker design with parts of the highest quality. It beautifully covers the entire range of sound down to the subwoofer, with exceptional clarity and sound staging. The CG4's Compression Guide™ tuning provides life-like realism to whatever you listen to. Choose two CG4s and one Speedwoofer 10 for a stereo system you will love for years. Use four CG4s with one CG24 and one Speedwoofer for a surround-sound home-theater system that will instantly turn you into an RSL fan. The CG4 accomplishes sound that cannot be matched for $250.

  • Compression Guide tuned for greater clarity, sharper imaging, and faster bass response.
  • Highest quality parts and construction to preserve sound quality and minimize eliminate distortion.
  • Compact size allows easier room placement and better sound imaging.
  • CG4 is finished with elegant piano gloss and self-placing magnetic grills for easy application and removal.
  • Designed and developed by master speaker craftsmen who balance technology with the art form of speaker design.
  • No-compromise 30 day happiness guaranty. We even cover shipping back to us! Cost to try them: 0. Returns to date: 0.
  • The best speaker anywhere for $250. Happiness Guaranteed.
  • Woofer: 4" with Ferrite Magnet, Polypropylene Cone, and Cast aluminum frame
  • Tweeter: 1" Silk Dome, Ferrite Magnet
  • Frequency Response: 100-25,000 Hz ± 3db
  • Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms
  • Sensitivity: 88 db SPL @ 1 watt, 1 meter distance
  • Recommended Power: 25-125 watts (Please note the following: this rating is for use above 100 HZ. Amplifiers of higher power can be used if care is taken not to operate them at maximum volume)
  • Crossover Frequency: 2,500 Hz
  • Crossover Slope: 12 db/octave
  • Crossover Parts: Air core coil, Polypropylene capacitors, Gold Plated binding posts
  • Tuning Method: Compression Guide™>
  • System Resonance: 72 Hz
  • Weight: 9 lbs.
  • Dimensions: H: 10 1/2" W: 6" D: 6 3/8" (Without grill 6 1/8")
Home Theater Magazine Logo Top Picks Icon

Home Theater Magazine - All 5 Star Ratings

RSL 5.1 Theater Speaker System

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Compact Speaker Reviews

By Mark Fleischmann, Home Theater Magazine • Posted: Dec 29, 2011

“The RSL CG4 and CG24 made a gratifying first impression that never wavered as they journeyed through content with the unflappability of an experienced traveler. They were coherent from top to bottom”

“The balance among midbass, midrange, upper midrange, and high frequencies was everything one could hope for.”

“Bass integration between satellites and sub was seamless.”

“…..the RSL system delivered the goods with as little listening fatigue as I’ve ever had with any high-resolution speakers delivering a noisy movie.”

“It was hard to believe I was listening to loudspeakers driven by an amplifier.”

“I fell in love with it from the first moments I listened to it.”

“…a product can achieve a five-star performance rating only if it is “reference quality.” This speaker handily qualifies.”

“It got the best out of everything I used to audition it. Wow, wow, and wow again.”

“…the price/performance ration for these compact speakers sold direct on the Internet is through the roof.”

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Sound And Vision Logo  Sound-Vision Certified & Recommended

Tested: RSL Speaker Systems 5.1 Theater System

The SoCal speaker kings are back — and performing above their size and price point once again

By Daniel Kumin, Sound & Vision Magazine | Posted September 20, 2011

“The RSL sats sounded tight and honest.”

“The CG4 was accurate and well defined on voices and instruments, without any distinct coloration or bias. I found its sound to be open, crisp, and perhaps just the tiniest shade “forward” over the top octaves, but still even and unforced, making for an airy, detailed presentation.”

“I was halfway through Harry Brown’s credits before I realized that the RSL system had simply delivered the cinema-sound goods, left, right, and center (and surround).”

“Whatever I played, the system continued to deliver clarity and unforced detail.”

“Listening to the Corigliano (and other music) in surround proved satisfying, too. The surround-channel CG4s did not “flashlight” ambient sounds, while the front pair locked up with the center CG24 to form a truly seamless front stage.”

“RSL has a very, very good small speaker system here. …..it performs, without fuss, at a level higher than most at this price point. disregard physical size; for this kind of performance, it’s a bargain.”

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Home Entertainment Magazine Logo

PRODUCT REVIEW: RSL COMPRESSION GUIDE SPEAKERS

AFTER TWO DECADES, THE NEW RSL CG SPEAKERS COME WITH A SURPRISE IN EVERY BOX

January 14, 2011 By Home Entertainment Editorial Staff - Mark Elson

“I was able to pick up subtleties I had not previously heard. If speakers are windows into the music, these windows were squeaky-clean.”

“James Taylor was present in the room with his characteristic vocal insinuations, accents and humor intact... outside the box.”

“with the RSL CG24 Studio Monitor, the ground rules of performance versus price are about to change.”

“At no time was the sound fatiguing nor was there any smear or lack of definition among all those layered sounds coming from the CG system.”

“All in all, this was pretty amazing performance from a $750 subwoofer (RSL Speedwoofer 10).”

“The system imaged wider than anyone had a right to expect, including vertically.”

“the Rogersound Labs Compression Guide speakers represent the same outstanding value and performance that they did decades earlier.”

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Electronic House Logo

Hands On: RSL Compression Guide Speakers

An old speaker company is reborn.

April 14, 2011 | by Grant Clauser, Electronic House Magazine

“The RSLs created a very rich, three-dimensional soundstage that seemed larger than such small speakers should be able produce.”

“On movie soundtracks, the system also performed well. Once again I was impressed with the fullness of the presentation.”

“After spending a couple of weeks tossing a wide variety of music and movies through the speakers, I packed them up very impressed with what a $2,075 sub/sat system could deliver.”

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Positive Feedback Logo

Rogersound Labs

Compression Guide (CG) Stereo System

Reviewed by Michael Wechsberg, Positive Feedback

"The first thing I noticed when I sat down for serious listening was that the speakers completely disappeared. This fundamental and sought-after characteristic of all music systems is hard to achieve, especially at this price range and often at much higher price ranges.”

“The speakers threw a wide and deep image with great definition throughout the soundstage. This has always been an advantage of small satellites but often falls apart when the subwoofer is added. Not so with the RSLs.”

“Vocal music, both male and female, was full with plenty of midrange detail.”

“I played some big symphony works and they sounded wonderful from the deepest bass to the highest highs. The system was especially good at portraying hall acoustics faithfully. I was very conscious of the acoustics in the silent spaces between cuts or movements.”

“But the best thing about this speaker system is the way music literally leapt out of the speakers. Its not that they had an exaggerated front and center perspective but the timing and pace of the music were so palpable it was hard to sit still. I found myself playing the RSLs much louder than I usually listen because the music just didn't want to stay inside the speakers. It wanted to come outside and boogie. At the same time slow and quiet songs and movements drew you inside to enjoy the terrific detail.”

“I really believe the star of the RSL CG system is the Speedwoofer™ 10. Once properly set up it delivered strong, deep and dynamic bass with truly excellent detail. In my main system I use a subwoofer that costs 3 times the RSL yet does not go as deep with the same level of detail.”

“RSL gets "it", that listening to music should be fun and you will have fun with these speakers.”

“Even if you are willing to spend twice as much you should listen to the CG Stereo System.”

“You are sure to enjoy all your old recordings more than ever before.”

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Average customer rating:




5 Most recent customer reviews (see all reviews):
Mike
April 4, 2012
To break in the speakers I had run a 25 hertz tone through them over night for a couple of nights. This pretty well broke in the woofers but apparently not the tweeters. When I set them up for some serious listening there was still a nasty stridency in the upper midrange. That had me worried.
After playing full-range music through the speakers for a couple of days while at work -- as you recommended -- that nastiness disappeared. The speakers now sound just as the reviewers had said, and as I had hoped. The balance is pretty much perfect and, like expensive studio monitors, the RSLs reveal differences between recordings that I hadn't heard with my previous speakers.
I'm building a collection of blu-ray opera and jazz recordings (good recordings are still pretty scarce) and these speakers, along with my NAD receiver, provide just the kind of musical experience I was looking for. There definitely is something to your Compression Guide tuning. The midrange sounds remarkably natural and balanced -- neither forward nor recessed.
I'm amazed at how full the bass sounds, even without a subwoofer. I played them most of one evening without the subwoofer and the RSLs sounded surprisingly balanced and complete. I had to check a couple times to make sure the subwoofer was still turned off. Turning on the subwoofer only added that bit of floor shake that had been missing at the bottom.
I've auditioned and purchased many speakers during my several decades of fascination with hi-fi, home audio and home theater. Considering the price and value, the RSLs are easily the best purchase I've ever made.
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Brian
March 26, 2012
These speakers have the best top end I have heard period, they sound more open and real than the B&W speakers I used to own which cost multiple times more. Best audio purchase I have ever made. Huge presence and realism. Great looking also!!
Thanks again!!
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Mark & Susan
March 22, 2012
Here is the best way I can describe my satisfaction, and, then my wife's satisfaction with the speakers:
When I first used them, I decided to put on an Eric Clapton DVD to see how everything sounded. I really wanted to listen to only one song but I couldn't stop listening. I did manage to grudgingly get myself back to my work after I had listened to half the disc. Obviously, the speakers were great.
Now, for my wife. First, I told her to listen to the first 10 minutes of Beverly Hills Cop III. I didn't think it was such a good movie, nor did she, but she insisted on watching the whole movie. The movie sound was certainly attention grabbing. Then, we listened to a Barbra Streisand DVD. Her voice was coming smack-dab (as we used to say in the South) out of her mouth and was as beatiful as if we were there. But, alas, again, we couldn't stop watching until the disc had finished.
I appreciate all of your help and advice on the speakers and the setup.
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Jeff
February 24, 2012
"I have been enjoying my RSL CG4 and CG24 speakers for a month. I decided to purchase RSL speakers after many hours of research. At first I was a bit apprehensive about purchasing speakers online without listening to them first but was reassured by their 30 day no-risk guarantee return policy. I ordered the speakers online in the morning and they arrived at my doorstep in perfect condition by noon the next day! Throughout the whole ordering process RSL sales kept me informed on the status of my order.
The build quality of these speakers is top rate from the glossy piano black finish to the heavy duty binding posts and removable magnetic speaker grill. The sound quality is superb and the sound clarity is crisp & precise. I can hear every detail of the voice dialog coming from the CG24 center channel.
I am happy with my decision to purchase RSL speakers and would definitely recommend them to anyone."
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Matt
October 17, 2011
Wow what a great speaker. The imaging and over all sound from this small speaker is completely accurate. When I listen to pieces of music that I have recorded and mixed, I am finally hearing what was actually going on in the studio. This is not true for other speakers I have listened to my music on, as they all seem to add coloration to the recording.

What a Paradox of a speaker, huge accurate sound in a little box. They should of named the series Paradox because it is a huge sound for a little price
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