Ascilab A6B Speaker Review

[Sokel]

Knowing that even a SOTA speaker such as the A6B struggles with sub base (below 60hz) does it not follow that, irrespective of what speakers you have, ALL stereo systems should incorporate a high pass filter on the mains together with a sub, especially if you want to achieve an SPL inexcess of say 90db with 100db peaks.

I'm using a 100W Wiim Amp Ultra with Room Fit ($550) to drive a pair of B&W AM01 ($600) external speakers with an old second hand 112" Velodyne sub ($200) crossed over at 70 db within the Wiim App. The system is outside on my patio, with a roof over and two open sides, and to my ears it sounds wonderful.

The high pass filter not only saves the speakers from over excursion and opens up the midrange, but also reduces the load on the amp, as it works hardest to produce sub base. I would imagine it would contribute to the systems longetivity, however, I have no evidence to support that.

If its low distortion what you're after, any sub won't do it equally.
It's up to the quality of build, amps and drivers, like anything else.

This thread shows very big differences distortion-wise for example:

I measured 10 subwoofers.

Hi, it's been a while! I would like to thank the people who made this project possible on a scale never before imagined in South Korea. I measured a total of 10 subwoofers, including my own DIY subwoofer(L26RO4Y), and measured them to the CEA-2010 standard using a Klippel TBM module. Below are...

www.audiosciencereview.com

On top of that, sloppy DSP or weak gear can also add tons of low freq distortion as well.
Doable, but not easy.

 

[soundwave76]

I have quite a low TV shelf where my speakers are. Would it deteriorate the sound a lot if the speakers point to about the listeners knees instead of the ears on the vertical axis? Finding a way to tilt these in an elegant way might not be easy...?

 

[YSC]

Darn it looks really great! both in design language and performance, can't wait for the active version

 

[amirm]

I have quite a low TV shelf where my speakers are. Would it deteriorate the sound a lot if the speakers point to about the listeners knees instead of the ears on the vertical axis? Finding a way to tilt these in an elegant way might not be easy...?

It depends on how far back you sit. The closer you are, the more important it is to tilt them up. That could be done with just some foam slipped under the front. it doesn't take much to get the angle to be closer to your ear axis.

 

[MC_RME]

Maybe I missed it - is there any explanation what 'Cross over at "O" frequency' means? Also 'secondary non-linearity' and tertiary non-linarity' are fully confusing for non-native speakers. I can only imagine that this is not about second and third harmonics, but describes the steeper rise of distortion setting in at one point. so it's a third distortion level or distortion range - maybe...

Also the already mentioned color swap of the two comments in that pic should be really fixed - it confuses even more.

 

[Sokel]

Maybe I missed it - is there any explanation what 'Cross over at "O" frequency' means?

The way I got it, it seems to be recommended (to subs) crossover points.

 

[amirm]

Maybe I missed it - is there any explanation what 'Cross over at "O" frequency' means? Also 'secondary non-linearity' and tertiary non-linarity' are fully confusing for non-native speakers. I can only imagine that this is not about second and third harmonics, but describes the steeper rise of distortion setting in at one point. so it's a third distortion level or distortion range - maybe...

I was documenting different distortion mechanisms kicking in, causing the slope to increase. Given that, I picked the point before the first kicked in and put an O there. Ideally then, you would roll off at that frequency (for that SPL) as to not enter that first increase in non-linearity. And have a sub take over if you have one.

Definitely nothing to do with harmonics as all the graphs are THD.

 

[amirm]

Also the already mentioned color swap of the two comments in that pic should be really fixed - it confuses even more.

I just fixed it.

 

[amirm]

If I take the 100 Hz at the reference level, then -10 dB is at ~33 Hz with Amir's measurements, whereas -10 dB is at ~29 Hz with Ascilab measurements. Alternatively, at the same 30 Hz frequency, Ascilab's measurements are a few dB higher (-14 dB for ASR, -9 dB for Ascilab). Isn't the Klippel NFS system supposed to get rid of this level of uncertainty or are there some different settings (smoothing?) at play?

There are a number of variables here. Different samples. Different microphones. Different environmental conditions (my room is pretty cold this time of year). Different computational and display settings in Klippel NFS. All of these variables can be dialed out but requires work that is not necessary in the context of measuring electromechanical devices.

 

[kharan]

There are a number of variables here. Different samples. Different microphones. Different environmental conditions (my room is pretty cold this time of year). Different computational and display settings in Klippel NFS. All of these variables can be dialed out but requires work that is not necessary in the context of measuring electromechanical devices.

Now, I regret having chosen to avoid being cheeky, I wanted to ask whether it was another KH80 situation, but I chose not to do so.

 

[roladyzator]

I like the new graph that Amir came up with. I think it helps in figuring out whether you need a sub if you know the SPL you're going to need.

These are powerful, but in a large enough room and listening distance, the bass won't be as impressive.

Also when you're going for cheaper nearfields like the JBL305p, the Kali LP-UNF or even the iLoud Micro Monitor, it's useful to know at which SPL they still deliver the advertised extension down to 50 Hz or so.
Maybe some of those you could take away from your desk and hook up to a TV or another secondary audio system and still have some some bass. This kind of measurement makes it easier to answer that.

 

[WillBrink]

If I was in the market for new speakers, they would be on a short list. I too dislike the looks of the drivers, but knowing the wrinkles have a real functional measurable reason they exist, I would learn to live with it.

"It just can't blast out its beautiful very low frequency beyond medium levels of loudness." That pesky physics again!

If people want that, large floor standers or subs are the reality of it. Better yet, large floor standers and subs! I guess I'm getting old, I rarely listen to music above 90db these days.

 

[Matt_Holland]

Intuitively I know that if I replaced my Revel M16 with these in my 5x4m living room I’d be reducing the LF significantly with EQ and enjoying insane levels of low bass.

 

[GWolfman]

His usual one is Fading Sun from this album:

https://www.discogs.com/release/3060086-Terje-Isungset-Winter-Songs?srsltid=AfmBOopNd7HK_ckouIJZXc0S5jyIT0MM5837qUxC-0UGLgK749BYyb71

About the speakers, they seem to do everything right, at the right set-up nothing will be missing probably.

Distortion test is review's highlight though, that's a good one!

Thanks Amir!

CD release? Or if HiRes, from which source/vendor?

 

[amirm]

CD release? Or if HiRes, from which source/vendor?

I use Tidal.

 

[jhwalker]

Sure.
96dB is quite loud already

Indeed.

I listen to both movies and music at an average of around 70dB, peak volume is <85dB (which is almost painful to me). I can't even imagine listening to something at over 90dB.

 

[krabapple]

Yes. The price I stated at the start of the review is ours at $1,995 (each). There is a bit of an unknown about the shipping cost but this should be close.

A pity, that, at least for the bargain-hounds among us.

 

[jbattman1016]

I have quite a low TV shelf where my speakers are. Would it deteriorate the sound a lot if the speakers point to about the listeners knees instead of the ears on the vertical axis? Finding a way to tilt these in an elegant way might not be easy...?

Door stops maybe

 

[soundwave76]

Door stops maybe

It depends on how far back you sit. The closer you are, the more important it is to tilt them up. That could be done with just some foam slipped under the front. it doesn't take much to get the angle to be closer to your ear axis.

Thanks. It’s about 3,5 meters. I also have a brand new 3d printer (P2S) I could use to print a small matching tilt stand.

 

[amirm]

Sounds like you will be in good shape.