AsciLab F6B Bookshelf Speaker Review

[jbattman1016]

I'm currently running RSL CG5s and lolking at either the HSU CCB8 or this ascii speaker to replace. My concern is how direct the ascii is. I have a really small theater, about 6 ft from the speakers to the couch. Planning to run phantom center, current a cg25 is there. Thoughts are appreciated. Thanks and great review as always.

 

[jeffaegrim]

We are currently discussing a dealer agreement with a company in the EU.

Sorry to ask, but is there an approximate ETA on this? I want to order a pair of F6Bs for surround duty - but if the waiting time for EU availability is 6+ months, then I’d rather purchase directly through you. I am also unsure what degree of difference in price is to be expected in case you successfully manage to acquire a dealer in Europe, though I am taking into account that this is possibly not something you are able to disclose at this time. Great work as usual, in any case

 

[FrantzM]

HI

A double WoW! to AsciLab!!
SOTA performances, at excellent prices...

Now a suggestion : Many of us use subwoofers, I would have loved to see THD figures with a 80 Hz 2 nd order crossover applied to the input at the nominal SPLs (86,96, 106 dB /1 meter)...
What say you @amirm ?

Peace.

 

[Inertiaman]

@AsciLab , can you comment on how your shipping costs change if you were to ship one speaker vs two speakers?

It may be advantageous for U.S. customers to make two purchases of a single speaker, so that each shipment is below $800 de minimis threshold. This would not only avoid any applicable tariffs/duties, but also avoid brokers fees and most of the customs delays.

Alternatively, you could promote a $795 price for U.S. customers

 

[AsciLab]

Sorry to ask, but is there an approximate ETA on this? I want to order a pair of F6Bs for surround duty - but if the waiting time for EU availability is 6+ months, then I’d rather purchase directly through you. I am also unsure what degree of difference in price is to be expected in case you successfully manage to acquire a dealer in Europe, though I am taking into account that this is possibly not something you are able to disclose at this time. Great work as usual, in any case

We are aiming to set the pricing at a level that European customers will find reasonable. If both the dealer and we make some compromises on the margin, we believe it should be entirely feasible.
The current negotiations with potential partners are progressing well, and we expect to begin supplying to Europe within 3 to 4 months once the contracts are finalized.

 

[juliangst]

Can't wait for a reseller in Europe. The F6B or F6Bs should be a nice replacement for my aged Kef LS50

 

[AsciLab]

@AsciLab , can you comment on how your shipping costs change if you were to ship one speaker vs two speakers?

It may be advantageous for U.S. customers to make two purchases of a single speaker, so that each shipment is below $800 de minimis threshold. This would not only avoid any applicable tariffs/duties, but also avoid brokers fees and most of the customs delays.

Alternatively, you could promote a $795 price for U.S. customers

This is something we would need to check with FedEx. Currently, we don’t have a box specifically designed for a single unit, so even if we ship just one speaker, the shipping cost may not be half of what it would be for two units.

As for customs duties, the U.S. and Korea are currently under an FTA, so tariffs are 0% regardless of the de minimis threshold.
However, since the change in the U.S. administration, the de minimis rule has effectively been removed, and tariffs are reportedly subject to ongoing changes. The best way to confirm this would be to check directly with the relevant U.S. authorities.

For reference, based on feedback from U.S. customers who have already received their orders, no duties were charged.

 

[Matt34]

I'm currently running RSL CG5s and lolking at either the HSU CCB8 or this ascii speaker to replace. My concern is how direct the ascii is. I have a really small theater, about 6 ft from the speakers to the couch. Planning to run phantom center, current a cg25 is there. Thoughts are appreciated. Thanks and great review as always.

I have both the HSU ccb-8 and now the C6b. The HSU is decent but it does sound a little "cup your hands around your mouth" shouty. I believe the F6b will give you a more accurate representation of the source material.

Angled properly should give you a good phantom center and cohesive soundstage with either option, though HSU recommends you use time-intensity trading (basically crossing the speakers in front of the listening position) which I didn't care for.

 

[Hiten]

@AsciLab
are the main woofers of F6B and F6Bs same ? Congratulations on well made speakers !
Regds.

 

[AsciLab]

@AsciLab
are the main woofers of F6B and F6Bs same ? Congratulations ! on well made speakers.
Regds.

Yes, they use the same woofer.

 

[Heinrich]

Thanks for your kind words.

You nailed it! IEMs got better every day, and, as I feel it, the mission is virtually accomplished. Now you come and do likewise for speakers. In a few years no audiophile would have anything left to worry about, what a drag

But the 700Hz bump might ask for an explanation. Thanks for your note on the waveguide.

Anyway, the looks is great too. It is so European, modest and clean, love it.

 

[BeeKay]

It is so European, modest and clean, love it.

Exactly

 

[phoenixdogfan]

We are witnessing the birth of what will be a titan of high end audio. It's like we're seeing the first products of a Genelec or a Kef. This company will be a difference maker in terms of the price to value ratio in the same way Topping is with DACs or Purifi is with amplifiers, it's every bit that significant.

$835 for this level of full range performance, shipping costs included! That's just nuts. In the best way imaginable.

Great review, Amir. It speaks volumes about what you've built up with ASR, that the first reviews of these seminal products have been entrusted to you.

 

[tmtomh]

We are also planning tower models for each speaker line.
Additionally, we are preparing an expansion method using a modular bass stand.

I think the part I've bolded here deserves repeating - what a great idea!

 

[Robbo99999]

So if you're not going to use subs then this is the one to get vs it's F6Bs brother. I'm thinking that if you do use subs then other one would be better, the sealed F6Bs, as long as you were OK with a higher crossover point - I'm kinda thinking this F6B in this review would distort if crossed over at 80Hz at louder playback levels. But there's no doubting that without a sub with the F6B you're getting flat bass down to 70 or 80Hz whereas on the sealed version it's only flat to around say 120 or 130Hz, so you're really getting a lot more bass extension with the F6B. They're both certainly nice speakers for what they are!

 

[Robbo99999]

HI

A double WoW! to AsciLab!!
SOTA performances, at excellent prices...
View attachment 455877

Now a suggestion : Many of us use subwoofers, I would have loved to see THD figures with a 80 Hz 2 nd order crossover applied to the input at the nominal SPLs (86,96, 106 dB /1 meter)...
What say you @amirm ?

Peace.

Sounds like a good idea to me, and why not toss in a 120Hz crossover as well for another possible setup.

 

[Robbo99999]

We are witnessing the birth of what will be a titan of high end audio. It's like we're seeing the first products of a Genelec or a Kef. This company will be a difference maker in terms of the price to value ratio in the same way Topping is with DACs or Purifi is with amplifiers, it's every bit that significant.

$835 for this level of full range performance, shipping costs included! That's just nuts. In the best way imaginable.

Great review, Amir. It speaks volumes about what you've built up with ASR, that the first reviews of these seminal products have been entrusted to you.

Maybe we need to see the same thing happen with active monitors too, as some people prefer those kind of setups (not having to have a seperate amp). Can't remember off the top of my head if we've reviewed an active monitor that measures as well as this for same kind of price. I had thought maybe the JBL 308p Mkii would be an example that could compete, but it has higher distortion, even if paired with a sub, but of course it does play a lot lower.

 

[Rja4000]

Nice ! Thanks for the review !

Now we are speaking.

It's still far from full range or kind of level a full size column speaker may produce, but level at 40Hz -which is where most real-life bass ends- it at least reasonable.

I hope you have more models to test from that brand !?

 

[Kevinfc]

Considering Amirm’s reputation, I plan on getting a pair. The only problem is they’ll probably be a long wait.

 

[kemmler3D]

If I ever find myself looking for passive bookshelf speakers these (or maybe C6B) will be at the top of the list. The tilt looks a little steep for me but that's easily corrected with EQ if it is. These compete with top studio monitors in their size class for a bit more than half the money. Crazy!