AsciLab F6B vs Elac DBR62 for a small room.

[PaulF2020]

Hi guys,

I'd like to get speakers, which I can place close to the wall.
Looking at reviews here I've narrowed down to AsciLab F6B and DBR62 from Elac. My room is 5x5m with furniture carpet and low wooden ceiling.

I currently have Magnepan 0.7 and ARC VS110 tube amp + dual rel subs. Those speakers will be replacing magnepans, but I'm happy to replace amp as well.

 

[kemmler3D]

Welcome to ASR!

As far as I know both are very good sets of speakers but the Ascilab is better.

As an aside, but an important one: Given that you have subs I would definitely recommend adding EQ capability to this system, especially since the speakers will be placed close to the wall. This scenario is almost guaranteed to have unwanted, large variations in the bass.

The most affordable and straightforward way I know to do this is to use a WiiM unit as the source, but Topping has a few PEQ-enabled DACs also. There are a lot of options but definitely consider this as you're upgrading your system, I can't overstate what a difference EQ'd bass makes!

 

[staticV3]

When used with a sub, there's IMO no reason to pay extra for the F6B.

The sealed F6Bs will do just as well there for less money.

If price isn't a factor, I'd easily take the F6B/F6Bs over the DBR62.

 

[zonk]

A pair of Elac costs 350€ (sometimes even under 300€), a pair of F6B is 900€

What is your budget for speakers and amp?

 

[Bwaslo]

The Wiim Ultra (or maybe Ultra Amp) and a hidden amp and subwoofers makes a nice understated easy to operate, great sounding setup.

I need to get black grills to cover the white woofers, though.

These are C6B though, couldn't get F6B in known delivery time or cost, due to tarriff-du-jour

 

[PaulF2020]

When used with a sub, there's IMO no reason to pay extra for the F6B.

The sealed F6Bs will do just as well there for less money.

I'd easily take the F6B/F6Bs over the DBR62 if price is not a factor.

Thanks. I don't mind paying a bit more F6B and see if it will be enough for me without subs. if I can get rid of additional gear and cables on a floor I'd prefer it (well, my wife would) haha.
What amp requirements do those F6Bs have? Would my tube will be sufficient at least initially?

PS. My only problem is looks like buying Ascilabs in the UK is not very easy job.

 

[zonk]

The Wiim Ultra (or maybe Ultra Amp) and a hidden amp and subwoofers makes a nice understated easy to operate, great sounding setup.

I need to get black grills to cover the white woofers, though.
View attachment 474971
These are C6B though, couldn't get F6B in known delivery time or cost, due to tarriff-du-jour

A pair of the C6B is 1300€

This store sells the Ascilab in UK.

 

[PaulF2020]

Welcome to ASR!

As far as I know both are very good sets of speakers but the Ascilab is better.

As an aside, but an important one: Given that you have subs I would definitely recommend adding EQ capability to this system, especially since the speakers will be placed close to the wall. This scenario is almost guaranteed to have unwanted, large variations in the bass.

The most affordable and straightforward way I know to do this is to use a WiiM unit as the source, but Topping has a few PEQ-enabled DACs also. There are a lot of options but definitely consider this as you're upgrading your system, I can't overstate what a difference EQ'd bass makes!

Thanks! I'm newly registered here, but I was reading ASR for years, so not really a new user here

I'm happy to add EQ, just need to think how to arrange it into my setup. I have vinyl with phono, CD player (which i use as a transport only) to Topping D30 dac at the moment. I'm happy to replace dac with something with EQ, which WiiM/ topping would you recommend as a preamp/dac?

As a media source I'm currently using rasberry pi based room client over usb to topping DAC. I have large library on a NAS which Im streaming over wifi.

 

[PaulF2020]

A pair of Elac costs 350€ (sometimes even under 300€), a pair of F6B is 900€

What is your budget for speakers and amp?

Maybe in EU it is, but here in the UK elac cost almost 500GBP. I'd like to keep my budget for speakers under 1k GBP if possible.
Same for the amp, if I can keep it under 1k it would be great.

 

[Purité Audio]

We are in the UK and represent AscilAB
Keith

 

[PaulF2020]

The Wiim Ultra (or maybe Ultra Amp) and a hidden amp and subwoofers makes a nice understated easy to operate, great sounding setup.

I need to get black grills to cover the white woofers, though.
View attachment 474971
These are C6B though, couldn't get F6B in known delivery time or cost, due to tarriff-du-jour

Thanks, I looked at Wiim Ultra before, but something didn't work for me on this, I don't remember what it was exactly, I'll check again.

 

[staticV3]

What amp requirements do those F6Bs have? Would my tube will be sufficient at least initially?

Stereophile measured >100W from the VS110's 8Ω tap, that should be plenty: https://www.stereophile.com/content...r-sp16l-line-preamplifier-measurements-part-2

PS. My only problem is looks like buying Ascilabs in the UK is not very easy job.

https://www.puriteaudio.co.uk/ has you covered.

 

[Bwaslo]

A pair of the C6B is 1300€

This store sells the Ascilab in UK.

In UK. Here in USA, final price is godknowswhat at present. A barely used set of C6B was known price and decent, so I went for it.

 

[PaulF2020]

We are in the UK and represent AscilAB
Keith

Sent you a PM

 

[PaulF2020]

The Wiim Ultra (or maybe Ultra Amp) and a hidden amp and subwoofers makes a nice understated easy to operate, great sounding setup.

I need to get black grills to cover the white woofers, though.
View attachment 474971
These are C6B though, couldn't get F6B in known delivery time or cost, due to tarriff-du-jour

Thanks, maybe I'll just get wiim ultra and try. I think it doesn't support native DSD and also it looks like has only one analog input

 

[Bwaslo]

Thanks, maybe I'll just get wiim ultra and try. I think it doesn't support native DSD and also it looks like has only one analog input

It does have an additional phono input, if you're using vinyl.

 

[PaulF2020]

It does have an additional phono input, if you're using vinyl.

Yeah, from what i read phono input is not great one, but also all analogue inputs are converted to digital, not sure how critical it is in terms of quality, but I don't like additional conversions

 

[kemmler3D]

Fwiw I use a schiit mani 2 into a WiiM Pro, CD in to the digital input on there, and that works well for me. Could send that back out to the DAC and use it for EQ that way.

 

[PaulF2020]

Fwiw I use a schiit mani 2 into a WiiM Pro, CD in to the digital input on there, and that works well for me. Could send that back out to the DAC and use it for EQ that way.

Thanks, I think I'm going to try wiim ultra, it has EQ and decent DAC, so I can probably sell my topping

 

[Henryk]

Thanks. I don't mind paying a bit more F6B and see if it will be enough for me without subs.

Then, may I suggest the KEF Q11 Meta?
You'll stand a better shot at being able to ditch your subs with those.