AsciLab C5B Review.

[kemmler3D]

You make an excellent point.

What I really like about the direct to consumer model is that it simply doesn’t suit the typical BS audiophile marketing ploys. Consumers want reassurance when buying at distance that the product is properly and well engineered and only high quality measurement data can provide this.

Of the big boys, KEF seem to have embraced this idea. I think we’ll know the tide has really turned when another big one like B&W joins in.

Also a good point. The new culture of manufacturers issuing highly detailed measurements and then 3rd parties verifying those measurements is really the diametric opposite of snake oil and dealer BS. This may give people the confidence to buy an expensive item sight-unseen, sound-unheard. It's a matter of trust.

This type of trust has been hard to come by in the past, but manufacturers can apparently build trust by getting a track record of sharing accurate measurements that match up to independent testing. At this point I would probably actually believe specs from Topping, JDS, KEF, Hypex, Purifi, etc. without verification. Probably some others like Ascend and @sigbergaudio too. It looks like Ascilab is on this track.

Which is really saying something when you think about it. I may reasonably and sensibly take the word of a speaker company in another country (Korea) over the word of a Hi-Fi salesman in my own town of SF. The power of measurements (when used correctly) is not small.

 

[Purité Audio]

So far everything they have done has been right, I feel sure that will continue.
Keith

 

[kemmler3D]

So far everything they have done has been right, I feel sure that will continue.
Keith

"Start as you mean to go on" as the brits say, right?

 

[Chr1]

Amplification being only second to DACs in terms of being a solved problem.
Not sure why this particular speakers got everyone riled personally. I'd love a pair and have at least 8 amps that I believe would work sufficiently. My 2c.

 

[somebodyelse]

(Cue: Vintage Monty Python sketch adapted to amplifiers)

Upper-Class Amp of the Year?

 

[Chr1]

Definitely worthy of a new thread/topic.

Rock on Tommy.

 

[Chr1]

Really? I don't believe that a small pair of speakers like this can be that difficult.

Surely all you need is a decent quality powerful amp and the discretion to tame the urge to push the volume beyond the drivers SPL capabilities.
Look forward to future testing and info.

 

[Ktacos]

Yes, but why not vice versa?

Probably some sort of klippel related idiosyncrasy.

 

[Crabity]

beautiful

 

[Hipster Doofus]

Nice,

 

[Doenerkunde]

Yes, but why not vice versa?

Because of the higher directivity of the highs. I got the very same pattern when I toyed around with ultra near (like 1cm to the driver) measurements of my Elac DBRs with an Umik mic. You nearly have a 90 degree angle to the other driver If you measure from very close distance.

 

[IamJF]

And a .9ohm load in the bass which wants big current. Listen with measurement's and your ears.

Which Wilson Alexia has 0,9R impedance? This one goes down to 2,0R, the new one is specified with 2,6 or so impedance minimum.

Wilson Audio Specialties Alexia loudspeaker Measurements

Sidebar 3: Measurements

www.stereophile.com

Building a speaker with 0,9ohm impedance on PURPOSE ...

 

[Jim Taylor]

Which Wilson Alexia has 0,9R impedance? This one goes down to 2,0R, the new one is specified with 2,6 or so impedance minimum.

Wilson Audio Specialties Alexia loudspeaker Measurements

Sidebar 3: Measurements

www.stereophile.com

Building a speaker with 0,9ohm impedance on PURPOSE ...

From Stereophile, this review seems to state that the minimum EPDR of the Alexia V is 1.15 ohm at 66 Hz. It also goes on top say that the original was "below 1 ohm through most of the bass and midrange" and that "the Alexia 2 was below 2 ohms in the same region." (Fourth paragraph down.)

Wilson Audio Specialties Alexia V loudspeaker Measurements

Sidebar 3: Measurements With Jason Victor Serinus's listening room 2900 miles from my home, measuring the Wilson Alexia V presented potential logistical problems. Fortunately, Elliot Fishkin of Manhattan audio retailer Innovative Audio was amenable to my measuring the Alexia Vs that had just...

www.stereophile.com

This begs the question, however ... "Why are we discussing Wilson speakers in a AsciLab review?" Is this not OT?

 

[Sokel]

At the older days were 1 Ohm driving was expensive some added Zobels.
(or get a nice big McIntosh )

 

[kemmler3D]

It also goes on top say that the original was "below 1 ohm through most of the bass and midrange" and that "the Alexia 2 was below 2 ohms in the same region."

Must have been a conspiracy with the high-end amp builders and dealers... yikes. I mean, we dunk on Wilson here all the time, but there's no way they would just ship such a hard-to-drive speaker by accident, right?

 

[cocoachoco]

Isn't this thread meant for reviewing and discussing the C5B? Why are we talking about Wilson and other unrelated topics?

 

[mcdn]

Isn't this thread meant for reviewing and discussing the C5B? Why are we talking about Wilson and other unrelated topics?

Because some people can’t get over the truth that sources and amps are solved problems. It bothers them for some reason. I usually just add them to my block list

 

[Ktacos]

Isn't this thread meant for reviewing and discussing the C5B? Why are we talking about Wilson and other unrelated topics?

Most threads have nothing worth reading after the 2nd or 3rd page.

 

[cocoachoco]

Most threads have nothing worth reading after the 2nd or 3rd page.

Yeah, figures.

 

[kencreten]

Around $1000? I'm going to say yes.