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AsciLab F6Bs Speaker Review

Rate this speaker:

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 2 0.6%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 6 1.7%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 56 16.1%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 283 81.6%

  • Total voters
    347
@AsciLab - is there an amount of orders that would trigger more economical shipping rate? Wondering if there is a group buy opportunity. Not signing up to manage this, just trying to understand since I suspect there may be quite a few US consumers interested in a pair of these.

Also any plans to product a center channel speaker?
 
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I wonder if it would be an interesting alternative for those who insist on a sealed box for studio work. For example David Mellor could surely do better than those NS10M he gets so much grief for. AsciLab F6Bs should be a noticeable upgrade over them.

For those also needing amps I thought the 3e Audio A5 might be just the ticket. For use on a desktop it should suffice.

 
Wonder if AsciLab is considering production of a larger speaker, say one with two Purify woofers, for a larger room?
Here's a full list of planned Ascilab models:
 
Here's a full list of planned Ascilab models:
Ah dang. For some reason I thought a passive MTM was planned. Looks like it's only active cardioids that are a wee bit out of my price range. Ah well.
 
Is it "ok" to have the F6Bs mounted in the upper corner of a wall near ceiling (above, say, 6.5 feet so I don't hit my head -- I'm 6'4") using its VESA mounts, with the speakers angled down toward listening position which is a bed with a headboard about 12' away. Side walls for both VESA mount points are about 6' away.

How close to the wall can these be mounted -- would the width of the VESA mount and angling mechanism be enough distance?
And how close to the ceiling is ok? Is it ok for them to be in the corner between the back-wall and the ceiling pointed down towards the rear mid-wall? I guess that might give them the bass-boost they need, but perhaps in the wrong place, spectrally? Not planning on using a subwoofer with these; in fact the lack of bass output is fine since my rocking-out main system for that (and not disturbing nearby sleepers) is downstairs.

Any recommended VESA mounts to be used for this purpose??

PS: I already have Fosi V3 Monos to power them... decided life's too short to be listening to a $99.00 amazon-refurb speaker pair in the bedroom (Micca MB42X G2) which I get to "evaluate" up till August of this year. The port chuffing if I ever do turn them up is totally unacceptable -- I was all "what the hell is going on with that extra crap all over the bass" and I'm already sensitive enough to that, which is why I returned the Aayima A70 -- the capacitor coupled and completely unnecessary op-ampery and volume-controllery preceding the 3255 basically phase-separates the onset of the fundamental from its overtones, resulting in completely non-slamming, non-engaging, not-properly-sounding-if-you-actually-are-a-musician-dj-or-producer kind of bass. Those using their systems to reproduce Diana Krall in ever-increasing glory may never actually be able to hear that, or care, but I do.

If I order a pair of F6Bs now. how soon can I expect them to arrive? Hopefully before August right?
 
Is it "ok" to have the F6Bs mounted in the upper corner of a wall near ceiling (above, say, 6.5 feet so I don't hit my head -- I'm 6'4") using its VESA mounts, with the speakers angled down toward listening position which is a bed with a headboard about 12' away. Side walls for both VESA mount points are about 6' away.

How close to the wall can these be mounted -- would the width of the VESA mount and angling mechanism be enough distance?
And how close to the ceiling is ok? Is it ok for them to be in the corner between the back-wall and the ceiling pointed down towards the rear mid-wall? I guess that might give them the bass-boost they need, but perhaps in the wrong place, spectrally? Not planning on using a subwoofer with these; in fact the lack of bass output is fine since my rocking-out main system for that (and not disturbing nearby sleepers) is downstairs.

Any recommended VESA mounts to be used for this purpose??
The exact distance from the wall will depend on the height of the VESA mount itself, but in general, it is perfectly fine to mount the speakers as close to the wall as possible. There is no specific clearance required.

When placed in a corner, some boost in the lower midrange and bass frequencies may occur. While this can be somewhat mitigated by applying absorption around the rear of the speaker, it’s a natural acoustic phenomenon in typical environments and cannot be completely avoided.

Although we currently have a high volume of orders, we should still be able to ship your product by early July at the latest.

As for VESA 100 mounts, we haven’t tested any specific models ourselves, so we can’t make a concrete recommendation. However, any VESA 100 mount that supports M5 bolts should work fine. For the F6B's VESA mounting holes, please use M5 bolts with a length of 1/2 inch or less.
 
The flat smooth frequency response and 50 degree horizontal dispersion that is even through whole frequency response are the standout features for me and as a combined combination make it quite unique (uncommon). The fact the bass rolls off early just above 100Hz means they're not pushing the 6" woofer beyond it's means, and is also due to not being ported I guess, which makes it an ideal companion for combining with a subwoofer in my eyes. I've got JBL 308p Mkii speakers which are 8" woofers and I blocked the ports to combine with a subwoofer - subjectively I preferred the sound of blocked ports with 120Hz crossover vs open ports with 90Hz crossover even though the frequency response was measured in room to be identical. I think you'd probably have to cross these AsciLab F6Bs speakers at 120Hz too with a sub. Perfect partner for a sub I reckon!
 
The flat smooth frequency response and 50 degree horizontal dispersion that is even through whole frequency response are the standout features for me and as a combined combination make it quite unique (uncommon). The fact the bass rolls off early just above 100Hz means they're not pushing the 6" woofer beyond it's means, and is also due to not being ported I guess, which makes it an ideal companion for combining with a subwoofer in my eyes. I've got JBL 308p Mkii speakers which are 8" woofers and I blocked the ports to combine with a subwoofer - subjectively I preferred the sound of blocked ports with 120Hz crossover vs open ports with 90Hz crossover even though the frequency response was measured in room to be identical. I think you'd probably have to cross these AsciLab F6Bs speakers at 120Hz too with a sub. Perfect partner for a sub I reckon!
Maybe that is why they are going to build a subwoofer extension for it! ;)
 
Exactly as AsciLAB,

Keith
I've not been able to decide to buy new speakers for my desktop until now. These seem ideal. I had a look at your website but I can't see how to order. Is it best to have a look at these and a listen before buying?
 
Just send me an email or telephone, both are towards the bottom of the homepage and on the footer.
Keith
 
As I understand it, none of those tariffs would apply to a $725 order while the de minimis exemption remains in place for non-Chinese origin shipments. It was removed for China (so sub-$800 parcels from China now subject to duty) but for other countries it has been postponed until a TBD date.

The information on this is all so ambiguous and changing daily that I don't feel particularly confident in any specific scenario, but the above observation is my best sense currently.

I think Ascilab should consider sale/shipment of individual speakers in some cases. For example the normal F6B with an $825 total won't benefit from de minimis treatment. Better to order two speakers a couple days apart unless the shipping costs scale very non-linear.
It will be interesting to see. Just a gamble these days.

In theory one should not split an order. Quick search "Border officers look for ‘split shipments’ (also known as smurfing) designed to bypass duties. If CBP deems your shipments intentionally split, they can consolidate their value and charge full responsibilities."

And even a single speaker, if the (freight company) brokerage fees (for administering the tariff process, even if tariffs are not due) are high -- as they often seem to be -- the cost of the shipment may hit the threshold since brokerage fees have in the past counted towards the de minimus number, at times. And at any time, de minimus could disappear just long enough to be a problem for a particular shipment (even if the tariff situation is deemed illegal later).

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But even with the uncertainty it would seem like these are among to top two or three choices in the world at their price point -- even if their price point is increased via tariff's for US customers.
 
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It will be interesting to see. Just a gamble these days.

In theory one should not split an order. Quick search "Border officers look for ‘split shipments’ (also known as smurfing) designed to bypass duties. If CBP deems your shipments intentionally split, they can consolidate their value and charge full responsibilities."

And even a single speaker, if the (freight company) brokerage fees (for administering the tariff process, even if tariffs are not due) are high -- as they often seem to be -- the cost of the shipment may hit the threshold since brokerage fees have in the past counted towards the de minimus number, at times. And at any time, de minimus could disappear just long enough to be a problem for a particular shipment (even if the tariff situation is deemed illegal later).

---

But even with the uncertainty it would seem like these are among to top two or three choices in the world at their price point -- even if their price point is increased via tariff's for US customers.
I've never had a broker fee applied to a de minimis shipment to U.S. (dozens of shipments since 2010) so cumulative brokers fees are not a concern to me unless one exceeds de minimis. When brokers fees have been applied (to Canadian destinations, or above de minimis to U.S.) they sometimes exceed the duties, so then your concerns are valid. Paying $90 to UPS for their "service" of pre-paying a $20 duty is highly annoying! Paying that twice on two shipments would be even more annoying :) When de minimis eventually goes away for S. Korean parcels, then all this math will change of course.

Split shipment enforcement requires sustained patterns of behavior, is virtually always targeted at commercial importers, and even that scenario is relatively rare. A consumer choosing to buy individual speakers a few days apart is a far different case and I've never seen a single example of a consumer receiving even a warning for such action.
 
I bet the crossover it's not the Parts Express kinda design Looks like a lot of optimization 24dB/oct and resonance traps/compensation networks to get this kind of performance. And yeah to cross the tweeter that low, just above 1kHz you need a damn good waveguide. I'm very impressed.
I'm no expert neither, but I also suspect maybe a very steep crossover curve?

I think the benefit of a new company is fresh blood with fresh ideas, who have learn the latest science, and engineering techniques to apply. And hopefully, they will push other legacy speaker manufacturers along as well.
s
 
Does anyone have any recommendations for an all-in-one integrated receiver to pair with the F6Bs's?

For I/O I'm looking for something with at least two inputs, one being phono for vinyl, and I will only need one set of speaker outs (not RCA). Adedicated sub-out would be nice, but is not essential. As far as functions, I am hoping to find something with bluetooth and a wireless remote.

I am hoping to spend a max of $200 (super down to buy used) without massively bottlenecking my setup. My alternative plan was to get a Fosi amp and a Wiim, but thought I might be able to get away with spending a little bit less by using an integrated receiver.

Thanks!
 
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