Ascilab C8C Active Speaker Review

[amirm]

Fyi AsciLab is on national holiday so response will be delayed.

 

[AudioJester]

We are on hold for North America market for 2 to 3 months. There was an importation ban on a component used in the Hypex amplifier. The part is being designed out but naturally, we have to wait until that gets done. We actually had a shipment ready to go that we had to pull back. This worldwide uncertainty regarding trade is a killer.

Is that an issue with Hypex manufacturing or importing the amps into Korea?

Local sellers still have hypex plate amps for sale, but presume its old stock

Whats the deal with Purifi driver availability? Are they really complex to make?

 

[Defi]

Canada falls in our territory. You get local support for that bit of tarrif. Paying your local taxes though is something else. Didn't realize all the taxes you pay!

I would happily purchase from you otherwise, but I’m not paying a 25% tariff on a Korean product just because it passes through the states.

Hopefully it’s resolved by the time stock is available.

 

[Mort]

I would happily purchase from you otherwise, but I’m not paying a 25% tariff on a Korean product just because it passes through the states.

Hopefully it’s resolved by the time stock is available.

Can't blame you. Unfortunate situation.

 

[amirm]

Is that an issue with Hypex manufacturing or importing the amps into Korea?

No, it is US importation issue, not Korea. A capacitor used in the amp potentially uses an aluminum foil that was produced with forced labor or some such thing. The capacitor company has won a number of awards for being good for mankind, quality, etc. but doesn't matter. There is a suspicion of forced labor origin so in mid August importation was ordered to be halted by US government. Hypex now has to find other capacitors that can fit in that compact form factor, test and release new version of the amp.

FYI that has impacted a long, long list of Hypex amps used in normal amplifiers. I see folks still importing and selling them. But we decided to follow the letter of law.

 

[amirm]

I would happily purchase from you otherwise, but I’m not paying a 25% tariff on a Korean product just because it passes through the states.

Hopefully it’s resolved by the time stock is available.

I hope so as well. It is 12.5% by the way.

 

[amirm]

Whats the deal with Purifi driver availability? Are they really complex to make?

I haven't had visibility into them other than hearing that they can as much as 6 months to arrive! Seeing how much more expensive they are, I don't understand the demand. Perhaps they are difficult to manufacture. I should reach out to them and find out what is going on.

 

[PGansz]

Purifi supply - I got my PTT10's from Solen. They gave me a discount that wiped out 2/3 of the Denmark tariff. Highly recommend them.

Madisound said it was OEM orders holding up Purifi stock. But they are not honest. Told me they had units reserved for me then gave them away to ppl already on the list, even though I was "#1". Then they told me to wait until Dec. I will never talk to them again.

Contacted Solen, who couldn't have been happier to help me out. Great people.

 

[Defi]

I hope so as well. It is 12.5% by the way.

At what border? According to the Canadian government site USA to Canada is 25% when the new tariffs were enacted last month. So is there another tariff from Korea to USA that’s also 12.5%? Or is one of us misinformed.

Also I am just curious. This tangent can die if necessary.

 

[PGansz]

At what border? According to the Canadian government site USA to Canada is 25% when the new tariffs were enacted last month. So is there another tariff from Korea to USA that’s also 12.5%? Or is one of us misinformed.

Also I am just curious. This tangent can die if necessary.

It is where the product is manufactured. I did not pay Canadian tariffs for the Denmark-made Purifi's.

 

[amirm]

At what border? According to the Canadian government site USA to Canada is 25% when the new tariffs were enacted last month. So is there another tariff from Korea to USA that’s also 12.5%? Or is one of us misinformed.

As noted, that is the tariff we pay. With origin of product being Korea, your country, as we used to have, has a free trade agreement so the tariff rate is zero. In the shipments we have made to Canada, the only thing collected was local taxes, not any kind of import duty from USA.

 

[amirm]

Oh, wait. According to AI, once the product is imported into USA, it loses its free trade status. However, it still incurs zero liability in this regard as confirmed by our past experience: (this is from Gemini when I asked it for a formal response to the question of tariff):

Because we are shipping your speakers from our facility in the United States, your order will pass through the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Here is a breakdown of how the cross-border fees are handled:

• Customs Duties / Tariffs ($0): Loudspeakers qualify for a 0% Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) tariff rate in Canada under international trade agreements. Even though the product is shipping from the U.S., no customs duties or tariffs will be charged on this shipment.
• Import Taxes (GST/HST): While there is no tariff, the CBSA requires payment of Canada's standard domestic sales tax. You will be responsible for paying the 5% GST (or the applicable HST rate depending on your province) calculated on the Canadian dollar value of the items.
• Carrier Brokerage Fees: The shipping carrier (e.g., FedEx, UPS, DHL) acts as the customs broker to clear the package through the border. They will charge a standard customs clearance/brokerage fee for this service, along with a small disbursement fee for advancing the tax payment on your behalf.

 

[Defi]

Oh, wait. According to AI, once the product is imported into USA, it loses its free trade status. However, it still incurs zero liability in this regard as confirmed by our past experience: (this is from Gemini when I asked it for a formal response to the question of tariff):

Because we are shipping your speakers from our facility in the United States, your order will pass through the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Here is a breakdown of how the cross-border fees are handled:

• Customs Duties / Tariffs ($0): Loudspeakers qualify for a 0% Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) tariff rate in Canada under international trade agreements. Even though the product is shipping from the U.S., no customs duties or tariffs will be charged on this shipment.
• Import Taxes (GST/HST): While there is no tariff, the CBSA requires payment of Canada's standard domestic sales tax. You will be responsible for paying the 5% GST (or the applicable HST rate depending on your province) calculated on the Canadian dollar value of the items.
• Carrier Brokerage Fees: The shipping carrier (e.g., FedEx, UPS, DHL) acts as the customs broker to clear the package through the border. They will charge a standard customs clearance/brokerage fee for this service, along with a small disbursement fee for advancing the tax payment on your behalf.

First pic is if importing for USA, second if from South Korea. It’s kind of hard to tell. There is always so much grey area, but that’s the best tariff code I could find for loudspeakers and that’s the result from the official Canadian website. I have no idea if they just blanket the steel/aluminum over all speakers.

Anyway, should it come to it I will have to call an agent for clarification. We will see what the situation looks like then.

 

[PGansz]

The last bit for the tariffs - I had to pay UPS to even get the delivery. Tax directly applied to consumer through the executive branch. Absurd.

 

[Stecko]

I’d like to thank Keith from @Purité Audio Audio for having me over today. I had the opportunity to listen to the AsciLab C8C.
I won’t go into too much detail about how they sound, as I’m sure you already know that very well .
But I was really positively surprised by how clean and clear their presentation is.
The C8C have just jumped to number one on my list for the final audition at home. I’m hoping they’ll show what they’re capable of and that I’ll end up going down the active speaker route.
My only complaint to the manufacturer is: why aren’t the side-firing woofers available in black? Even white would look pretty cool. But silver…?


Joking aside, they’re really well-proportioned speakers. They’re not excessively large considering how many drivers are packed into them.

Artur

 

[amirm]

The last bit for the tariffs - I had to pay UPS to even get the delivery.

They are actually "nicer" than DHL which sends you a threatening letter, saying you have 5 days to pay or they will send the product back! I hate this carrier with passion as they don't even have their own crew to deliver to our area. Alas, they are so strong overseas that most of the packages come from them and I have to keep dealing with them.

 

[dfuller]

They are actually "nicer" than DHL which sends you a threatening letter, saying you have 5 days to pay or they will send the product back! I hate this carrier with passion as they don't even have their own crew to deliver to our area. Alas, they are so strong overseas that most of the packages come from them and I have to keep dealing with them.

Fedex does the same thing. Really hair raising.

 

[AudioJester]

I’d like to thank Keith from @Purité Audio Audio for having me over today. I had the opportunity to listen to the AsciLab C8C.
I won’t go into too much detail about how they sound, as I’m sure you already know that very well .
But I was really positively surprised by how clean and clear their presentation is.
The C8C have just jumped to number one on my list for the final audition at home. I’m hoping they’ll show what they’re capable of and that I’ll end up going down the active speaker route.
My only complaint to the manufacturer is: why aren’t the side-firing woofers available in black? Even white would look pretty cool. But silver…?


Joking aside, they’re really well-proportioned speakers. They’re not excessively large considering how many drivers are packed into them.

Artur

You will not be disappointed with the C8C. The worse your room is accoustically, the more they will shine compared to non-cardioid speakers. You will get full range performance in room as well.

Did you try the BX8C as well?
Listen to any other of Keith's offerings?

Ascilab should do a Mercedes Benz AMG style "Black" edition with all black drivers.

 

[Stecko]

No, I did not try bx8c today. I didn't want to. Just focused on c8c comparing (in my head) to my dynaudio speakers.
C8c has two 8" woofers. I believe they can play low enough in my room

Bx8c is a future plan once approved by my missus (they are really big in average size room).

 

[AudioJester]

@Purité Audio are you trialling the AsciLab remote app?

Makes it really easy to switch between C8C and C8C/BX8C when demoing using just the phone interface.

I created 3 groups
1. C8C and BX8C for master volume control
2. BX8C to switch between cardioid presets
3. C8C to switch presets
Simply mute the BX8C and switch to preset 1 or 2 on C8C.
Its almost realtime/instantaneous

@AsciLab - a master switch/single button to do same would be cool.
Really shows what the addition of BX8C does.