Ascilab C8C Active Speaker Review

[AsciLab]

Bump @AsciLab

2 grilles are included. It's same as C6B grille.

 

[markstein]

I hope the C8C is not just a copy of the D&D 8C, as I did not like their sound. While the imaging of 8C is holographic, they did not engage me emotionally when listening to them. Instruments sounded very precise but small, voices somehow too ,,clean".

How do the C8C compare? How do they represent voices and size? Are you looking through a window into a small miniature sound stage or are they presenting singers and instruments more lifelike?

Maybe @amirm can share his impressions.

I would like to repeat my question from an earlier post (see above) to all owners of the C8C. How large do they present phantom images? Large in the sense of lifelike size vs. miniature size. Reason for asking is that I auditioned the D&D 8C and - while extremly precise and pin sharp - the 8C presented very small phantom images, e.g. small singers, small acoustic double bass, everything somehow shrinked. As a result, while extremely precise, the 8C somehow sounded "small" to me, which I strongly disliked. At least this was my subjective impression at that time.

Is the C8C comparable to the 8C regarding this effect or does it project "large" images? Maybe @Purité Audio can comment, as you know both loudspeakers. Amir provided his feedback and compared to his Revel speakers, however I do not know these.

BTW, this matter was also discussed in this older thread - very interesting theories, however, without final conclusion what exactly causes these perceptual differences:

Post in thread 'What makes big speakers sound "big"and smaller ones sound "small"?'

What makes big speakers sound "big"and smaller ones sound "small"?

I previously gave my two personal definitions of 'big sound' back in #197. 1. Spatially. 2. Dynamic/SPL/Bass Erin's vid strikes me as addressing the spatial viewpoint Yeah unfortunately we (or at least I) don't have a good vocabulary in this area. In the "spatial" category, I would say the...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Purité Audio]

The width of the image obviously depends upon how far apart you place the speakers, experimenting with them here I find they have a wide and deep image with for examples having their own ‘space’ , I haven’t found myself looking at the image ( which I have found with smaller monitors such as the Genelec 8351B for example once you distance yourself more than a couple of metres away ) rather I have always been immersed in the image, I hope that makes sense.
The other point is the clarity of the C8Cs in that regard they are exceptional.
Keith

 

[markstein]

The width of the image obviously depends upon how far apart you place the speakers, experimenting with them here I find they have a wide and deep image with for examples having their own ‘space’ , I haven’t found myself looking at the image ( which I have found with smaller monitors such as the Genelec 8351B for example once you distance yourself more than a couple of metres away ) rather I have always been immersed in the image, I hope that makes sense.
The other point is the clarity of the C8Cs in that regard they are exceptional.
Keith

Hi Keith, thank you for your reply, that somehow helps. How would you compare them to the D&D 8C? This is not about better or worse, but about different characteristics of different speakers.

 

[Purité Audio]

Mark, I know you didn’t enjoy the 8Cs, I find that all fine measuring loudspeakers sound more similar than different, Kii/Genelec and perhaps KEF have a slightly lighter tonal balance , D&D and AsciLab have for me a more ‘natural’ sound, voices for example have more of a chest component which I prefer but contemporary active designs can of course be adjusted to your taste. Kii can be adjusted to sound much more like 8C with ust a change in their target curves.
You have seen the ‘spins’ AsciLab just posted for the BX8C?
C8C and BX8Cs together still far less expensive than a pair of 8Cs.
Probably not that much help, sorry.
Keith

 

[markstein]

Mark, I know you didn’t enjoy the 8Cs, I find that all fine measuring loudspeakers sound more similar than different, Kii/Genelec and perhaps KEF have a slightly lighter tonal balance , D&D and AsciLab have for me a more ‘natural’ sound, voices for example have more of a chest component which I prefer but contemporary active designs can of course be adjusted to your taste. Kii can be adjusted to sound much more like 8C with ust a change in their target curves.
You have seen the ‘spins’ AsciLab just posted for the BX8C?
C8C and BX8Cs together still far less expensive than a pair of 8Cs.
Probably not that much help, sorry.
Keith

Hi Keith, thanks again. The final test of course will be listening by myself, but if I could avoid buying and then returning this not so small product, this would be appreciated. That is why I am asking so many questions...

My experience so far is, that one can discuss forever about theoretical stuff, sometimes without coming to a conclusion, but when doing e.g. a listening test in the physical world, decisions tend to be quite easy

Unfortunately there is no AsciLab dealer in Germany I could visit. Are there any AsciLab C8C users in Northern Germany? Then please send me a PN.

 

[kharan]

Hi Keith, thanks again. The final test of course will be listening by myself, but if I could avoid buying and then returning this not so small product, this would be appreciated. That is why I am asking so many questions...

My experience so far is, that one can discuss forever about theoretical stuff, sometimes without coming to a conclusion, but when doing e.g. a listening test in the physical world, decisions tend to be quite easy

Unfortunately there is no AsciLab dealer in Germany I could visit. Are there any AsciLab C8C users in Northern Germany? Then please send me a PN.

Book a flight to London.

 

[Purité Audio]

Mark yes absolutely comparing in your own space is the absolute ideal.
Keith

 

[markstein]

Book a flight to London.

Well, that sounds like a great trip and may not even be the worst idea ;-)

 

[lewdish]

I hope theres a purifi version of the MTM coming soon

 

[Endibol]

550 dollars for just a dac

look at the 2x4 hd and compare to the topping d10s/smsl su-1.

The Flex is not just a DAC. Also ADC, DSP, Dirac integration possibility.
Anyway, you are not a fan

 

[kharan]

It's only audible when your face touches the baffle

They are extremely quiet, a couple of centimetres , I happened to have a nineteen year old available and he was able to corroborate..
Keith

Mine are dead quiet too, I hear something, but only with my ear inside the waveguide. Anything beyond that gets lost in the ambient noise floor, which is high for me. A flat is the suburbs isn't exactly quiet.

 

[pat355]

Mine are dead quiet too, I hear something, but only with my ear inside the waveguide. Anything beyond that gets lost in the ambient noise floor, which is high for me. A flat is the suburbs isn't exactly quiet.

same for me

 

[Scrutable]

Ditto!

 

[dfuller]

Mine are dead quiet too, I hear something, but only with my ear inside the waveguide. Anything beyond that gets lost in the ambient noise floor, which is high for me. A flat is the suburbs isn't exactly quiet.

The Hypex modules are very low noise floor which makes them very well suited to active designs where noise floor is a problem.

 

[dan_uk]

Is the C8C top of the range from Ascilab? Or is there a passive speaker that is better?

 

[Bland_username42069]

in my (weak) defense I just got it along with the C8C, was totally focused on the breakout cable with digital I/O and making sure my 100% digital dual set-up was working. This device is a beast and NOT easy to configure...

RME + C8C will be an awesome set up.

if you have the remote software for your computer it helps a lot in setting things up

 

[kharan]

Is the C8C top of the range from Ascilab? Or is there a passive speaker that is better?

Hard to say. S6B will have lower bass distortion, but will bottom out sooner. You also get the lower-distortion Purifi tweeter and wider, more consistent dispersion in the tweeter range. But you don't get the cardioid radiation.

C8T is a tower and, with a larger enclosure, will also be able to sustain seemingly higher SPL at low distortion based on Ascilab's data. But distortion in the mids is a bit higher, and you only get cardioid-like radiation into the low mids. You also get a more traditional vertical radiation pattern, whereas you get somewhat tortuous vertical dispersion with the C8C due to it being an MTM design. So far I like the vertical imaging, but I figure it's something to be aware of.

So, different strengths and weaknesses, I suggest looking at the measurements in the Ascilab thread in the Audio Industry section and asking questions there.

 

[staticV3]

Is the C8C top of the range from Ascilab? Or is there a passive speaker that is better?

The passive C8T has more bass headroom, but its cardioid effect doesn't extend as far as on the C8C and you cannot add a bass extension module to it like you can with the C8C.

Ascilab's TOTL offering will likely be the S8C+BX10C, which is expected to cost $28k per pair excl. VAT.

It will use all-Purifi drivers (Tweeters as well), larger woofers on the bass extension module, and Hypex Plate Amps with the updated NCx modules.

 

[Mort]

Ascilab's TOTL offering will likely be the S8C+BX10C, which is expected to cost $28k per pair excl. VAT.

Was this announced? Missed that.