Ascilab C8C Active Speaker Review

[Pearljam5000]

Who makes the drivers for this speaker?

 

[illusonic]

@mewho
Even accounting for my bias as the designer, the KH420 stands alongside the C8C at a level where choosing between them is genuinely difficult. Paired with the KH870 subwoofer, the combination would be formidable.

That said, once the bass extension module is brought into the comparison, I have to say honestly that I don’t believe any speaker currently matches the C8C + BX8C.

Unlike other bass-extension concepts that simply high-pass the satellite, the BX8C recalculates every crossover except the tweeter–midrange crossover when the system is integrated. The result goes well beyond the horizontal directivity the C8C is already recognized for — it delivers a level of vertical directivity control that, frankly, I had not seen achieved before. The full-bandwidth directivity integration that follows from this is unlike anything I’ve observed in other systems, and it’s borne out in listening as clearly as in the measurements.

That is the point I most want to emphasize as the designer.

View attachment 535401View attachment 535402View attachment 535403View attachment 535404View attachment 535405

Horizontal directivity is great. Vertically I prefer some more freedom to move. between lying/sitting on the sofa, sitting at the dining table and standing upright, there is quite a large vertical angle that needs balanced coverage. This is best achieved with a coaxial speaker.

 

[AsciLab]

Horizontal directivity is great. Vertically I prefer some more freedom to move. between lying/sitting on the sofa, sitting at the dining table and standing upright, there is quite a large vertical angle that needs balanced coverage. This is best achieved with a coaxial speaker.

At 2m away from the speaker, +/-15deg allows the coverage +/-50cm. At 3m, +/- 80cm. The vertical beam width is wide enough to listen the direct source well. Rather the controlled beam width helps to reduce unnecessary vertical reflections. Continuous beam width is more important.

 

[WerT]

Who makes the drivers for this speaker?

They are SB audio / audience

 

[AsciLab]

I can't, because you are right. A misremembering on my part, sorry.

I searched it again about Kii BXT and I found they work similar with BX8C though I couldn't find the measurement.
Thanks for noticing me.

 

[mewho]

APS Klasik 2020 is 2-way with a 7" mid-woofer. Kh150 has an exeptionally low distortion mid-woofer. KH310/Orbit 11 are 3-way which gives cleaner midrange at high level. See max SPL comparison below. All of the proposed speakers will have better directivity. So I think all of these would be a clear improvement over your current speaker. Personally, I love the Orbits playing in >35m2.

View attachment 535396


At 35Hz that room is a pressure chamber. And I think they would look huge too. But for the next room...

I've heard the KH150 in my friend's studio and they are definitely not what I'm looking for. I need an endgame 3-way speakers for mixing and mastering, that's why in my initial post I asked if anyone has tested the C8C for professional work. I know that many good engineers are choosing the KH310(+subs), but I have the money to burn and if I can get something that will give me better performance I'm ready to pay for it

 

[pat355]

has anyone posted a review yet of C8C+BX8C together? I don't think I have seen any feedback yet on the BX8C in a real life setting

 

[markstein]

Thank you @Matias

On paper, the C8C looks like exactly what I need, mainly because of the cardioid design. The other pair I have my eyes on is the Neumann KH420, but my room is not the biggest (~15m2) and my 20cm deep rockwool panels aren't doing much below ~130 Hz.

The combo of the C8C + BX8C delivering cardioid directivity down to 35 Hz sounds like a dream for my situation—in fact, it sounds almost too good to be true.

So I guess the question is: besides the cardioid advantage of the C8C which helps with room reflections, can it truly compete with the KH420 on everything else (detail, speed, etc.)?

Maybe @amirm, as someone who has tested and recommended both, can weigh in and help me with the decision

You may read my very subjective impressions here. I searched for an alternative to my Neumann KH310 and tried the D&D 8C, the KH420 in my room and finally ended with the C8C. I am very happy with my choice, which was also driven by visual reasons.

'Upgrade from Neumann KH310 for home listening?'

Upgrade from Neumann KH310 for home listening?

Hi all, What do you do when you have 2 days off? Right - test some speakers at home! I am currently thinking about replacing my Neumann KH310 as I feel they are not designed for my irregularly shaped, asymmetric, non treated living room and the relatively long listening distance (2.5 m for...

www.audiosciencereview.com

The KH420 are excellent speakers, and I liked them a lot. However, they are larger and visually less compatible with a living room than I thought. Placement near to the untreated back wall subjectively leads to better results (clearer, smoother voices) with the C8C. Although the KH420 has more "authority" (less distortion).than the C8C, I do not feel missing something at my usual listening levels.

 

[AudioJester]

Finally set up my BX8C, sounding glorious straight up. Was wondering what it would bring on top of the allready amazing C8C - a lot!

 

[pat355]

can't wait to receive mine and experience the glory then!

 

[illusonic]

At 2m away from the speaker, +/-15deg allows the coverage +/-50cm. At 3m, +/- 80cm. The vertical beam width is wide enough to listen the direct source well. Rather the controlled beam width helps to reduce unnecessary vertical reflections. Continuous beam width is more important.

It's more like +/-12deg if you want to stay within -3dB window. This calculates to +/-43cm at 2m and +/-64cm at 3m distance. Don't know tweeter height, but if it is at 90cm, this will work for lying on the sofa at 2.5m distance but not standing in 3m distance. At 3.5m most people should be within -3dB window. Maybe not optimum but still quite acceptable.
Vertical reflections will be unbalanced but low level. Not sure what this means for sound image height. In the horizontal plane I prefer to have lateral reflections to extend image width past the speaker positions. I would expect a small but precise sound image when your speakers are directed towards the listening position. With speakers toed out, image width should increase. So that's what I would do. Vertically there is not much one can do to adjust image height.
Due to narrow dispersion, I expect a relative well defined sound image even at higher distance >3.5m. Definitely an advantage. Generally, image size is a question of taste. There is no good or bad.
I bet you would also like to see more even vertical dispersion. Unfortunataly, there is no off-the-shelve coax with Genelec/Kef performance. Given the engineering efforts and investment required to develop even a relatively good (not stellar) coax like in the Orbits, I fully understand your choice of drivers/topology. If you decide to develop your own drivers in the future, a coax would make a lot of sense in my view.

 

[Paul7777x]

@AsciLab

Are you able to give a definite answer as to when the C8C will be available to buy in the UK and Europe? And, especially, the BX8C?

 

[Purité Audio]

Finally set up my BX8C, sounding glorious straight up. Was wondering what it would bring on top of the allready amazing C8C - a lot!

I am envious still waiting for ours to arrive.
Keith

 

[mewho]

You may read my very subjective impressions here. I searched for an alternative to my Neumann KH310 and tried the D&D 8C, the KH420 in my room and finally ended with the C8C. I am very happy with my choice, which was also driven by visual reasons.

'Upgrade from Neumann KH310 for home listening?'

Upgrade from Neumann KH310 for home listening?

Hi all, What do you do when you have 2 days off? Right - test some speakers at home! I am currently thinking about replacing my Neumann KH310 as I feel they are not designed for my irregularly shaped, asymmetric, non treated living room and the relatively long listening distance (2.5 m for...

www.audiosciencereview.com

The KH420 are excellent speakers, and I liked them a lot. However, they are larger and visually less compatible with a living room than I thought. Placement near to the untreated back wall subjectively leads to better results (clearer, smoother voices) with the C8C. Although the KH420 has more "authority" (less distortion).than the C8C, I do not feel missing something at my usual listening levels.

Thank you for the input @markstein

Even though my use case is different, it's still nice to hear different perspectives. I'm also big on aesthetics, but it's definitely not a priority here. In my case, speakers are a tool for decision making, so looks and everything else will be considered a bonus.

 

[Pearljam5000]

Will there be a similar model to this one but with a coaxial driver?

 

[Fletcher–Munson]

Even accounting for my bias as the designer, the KH420 stands alongside the C8C at a level where choosing between them is genuinely difficult. Paired with the KH870 subwoofer, the combination would be formidable.

That said, once the bass extension module is brought into the comparison, I have to say honestly that I don’t believe any speaker currently matches the C8C + BX8C.

Unlike other bass-extension concepts that simply high-pass the satellite, the BX8C recalculates every crossover except the tweeter–midrange crossover when the system is integrated. The result goes well beyond the horizontal directivity the C8C is already recognized for — it delivers a level of vertical directivity control that, frankly, I had not seen achieved before. The full-bandwidth directivity integration that follows from this is unlike anything I’ve observed in other systems, and it’s borne out in listening as clearly as in the measurements.

That is the point I most want to emphasize as the designer.

Hi there Ascilab, i am glad that i found you on this forum and i will appreciate it if you answer my questions!

I am a mastering engineer and as a Dutch & Dutch 8C owner i am very happy with my setup, but i am constantly looking to upgrade my monitoring system.
My room is 18sq/m, well treated.

In your opinion, can C8C + BX8C outperform the DD 8C for nearfield listening (distance from speakers is around 1.5 metres) with better/cleaner and more precise low end + more detail in the mids and closer to the original source sound overall?

Is there any point at all of towers in a room with this size (18 sq/m) or C8C alone will be enough?
Thanks

 

[markstein]

Thank you for the input @markstein

Even though my use case is different, it's still nice to hear different perspectives. I'm also big on aesthetics, but it's definitely not a priority here. In my case, speakers are a tool for decision making, so looks and everything else will be considered a bonus.

Well, in this case you should definitely listen to the KH420 - especially of you can treat the backwall with sufficiently thick absorbers. Very good speakers!

 

[AsciLab]

Hi there Ascilab, i am glad that i found you on this forum and i will appreciate it if you answer my questions!

I am a mastering engineer and as a Dutch & Dutch 8C owner i am very happy with my setup, but i am constantly looking to upgrade my monitoring system.
My room is 18sq/m, well treated.

In your opinion, can C8C + BX8C outperform the DD 8C for nearfield listening (distance from speakers is around 1.5 metres) with better/cleaner and more precise low end + more detail in the mids and closer to the original source sound overall?

Is there any point at all of towers in a room with this size (18 sq/m) or C8C alone will be enough?
Thanks

I think C8C alone can outperform over the 8C. It is well shown in measurement side already. Much lower distortion, well controlled vertical dispersion, same form factor of subwoofer. D&D has better dispersion in midrange, I mean the less lobbing leakage to side and rear side thanks to close cardioid hole at the side plane though it makes a lot of distortion and midbass range.

If you consider BX8C too, 1.5m is the recommended minimum distance. You can use it at that distance But I’d like to suggest longer distance. You can place the tower close to the front wall while avoiding strong SBIR. And thanks to its line array-like vertical dispersion, you will have much less vertical reflection from the floor and ceiling that is not good for imaging and bass response.

We don’t have strong functions that D&D has yet, but the acoustical performance is a way better as I think.

 

[WerT]

anyone got a picture with grills on?

 

[traind]

Finally set up my BX8C, sounding glorious straight up. Was wondering what it would bring on top of the allready amazing C8C - a lot!

How would you describe the improvement? What size is your room?