AsciLab speakers are about to launch

[kharan]

Let's go back to Ascilab.

It seems like cheaper cardioid monitors are starting to be a thing. And they come with coaxials, custom drivers, and backing from a large audio company.

Ascilab have their hands full at the moment with their current product line up so I don't expect an immediate reaction, but they had a single front midwoofer cardioid design in their timeline. Maybe we'll see something next year or after that.

 

[pat355]

Let's go back to Ascilab.

It seems like cheaper cardioid monitors are starting to be a thing. And they come with coaxials, custom drivers, and backing from a large audio company.

Ascilab have their hands full at the moment with their current product line up so I don't expect an immediate reaction, but they had a single front midwoofer cardioid design in their timeline. Maybe we'll see something next year or after that.

thanks for getting back to the topic!

 

[Goldhamster916]

I really hope we will see a high performant coaxial, cardioid speakers one day. Bonus point if it’s passive for reliability reasons. I hope KEF will explore cardioid options in the future or ascilab coaxial options. Imagine a cardioid blade.

 

[Matt_Holland]

I really hope we will see a high performant coaxial, cardioid speakers one day. Bonus point if it’s passive for reliability reasons. I hope KEF will explore cardioid options in the future or ascilab coaxial options.

If there’s one mainstream/hifi brand that will bring cardioid to the masses it will be KEF in my opinion. I also believe they will be very careful as to how they market it. They would likely not draw too much attention the fact.

 

[Goldhamster916]

If there’s one mainstream/hifi brand that will bring cardioid to the masses it will be KEF in my opinion. I also believe they will be very careful as to how they market it. They would likely not draw too much attention the fact.

I think there was a post of jack oclee brown (KEF’s head of engeneering) here on the forum where he said that the effects of cardioid design need to be studied more deeply if I recall correctly. To me it sounded like they were not sure yet if it’s even desirable.

 

[kharan]

I think there was a post of jack oclee brown (KEF’s head of engeneering) here on the forum where he said that the effects of cardioid design need to be studied more deeply if I recall correctly. To me it sounded like they were not sure yet if it’s even desirable.

To me, it's less of a question of "cardioid" or not "cardioid", it's about how far down in the frequency range you want to extend a narrow directivity. Funny thing, but if you look at the horizontal directivity of the Blade 2 or the Genelec 8961, you'll notice they remain fairly narrow in the low mids, unlike their cheaper speakers.

It is of course partly due to the using larger drivers, but I can't help but think this is also a desired result.

 

[Matt_Holland]

To me, it's less of a question of "cardioid" or not "cardioid", it's about how far down in the frequency range you want to extend a narrow directivity. Funny thing, but if you look at the horizontal directivity of the Blade 2 or the Genelec 8961, you'll notice they remain fairly narrow in the low mids, unlike their cheaper speakers.

It is of course partly due to the using larger drivers, but I can't help but think this is also a desired result.

I agree. Have my previous comment about how it would be marketed. As you say, essentially this is about directivity control and using the word cardioid might not be ideal in conveying the design goals.

 

[Goldhamster916]

To me, it's less of a question of "cardioid" or not "cardioid", it's about how far down in the frequency range you want to extend a narrow directivity. Funny thing, but if you look at the horizontal directivity of the Blade 2 or the Genelec 8961, you'll notice they remain fairly narrow in the low mids, unlike their cheaper speakers.

It is of course partly due to the using larger drivers, but I can't help but think this is also a desired result.

For the first version of the blade 2 yes. For the blade 2 meta they intentionally broadend the dispersion around the area where the speaker becomes more directional. However you are right that within the same model generation the blades control direcitivity a little further down the spectrum. Here is the white paper with a image of the blade 2’s and blade 2’s meta dispersion plot. they say in the text above the image that this kind of directivity tapering is an improvement:

I wonder which pattern ascilab sees as the preferable one.

 

[YSC]

The Asci Lab offerings are getting more and more interesting to me, any idea of when the active bookshelf ones will be available and approximately what price?

 

[pat355]

The Asci Lab offerings are getting more and more interesting to me, any idea of when the active bookshelf ones will be available and approximately what price?

they are starting shipping the pre-order batch as we speak. But they are out of stock if you want to order now, so you'll have to wait for the next batch.

 

[YSC]

they are starting shipping the pre-order batch as we speak. But they are out of stock if you want to order now, so you'll have to wait for the next batch.

right, hopefully they will be doing great! wonders how the C6B or F6B active version would sell for

 

[staticV3]

right, hopefully they will be doing great! wonders how the C6B or F6B active version would sell for

No active C6B or F6B is planned.

The only active bookshelves in the making are the

F6C ($3K Paper woofer Cardioid MTM)
C6C ($5K Ceramic woofer Cardioid MTM)
S6C ($11K all-Purifi Cardioid MTM)

A6B Active ($5K Purifi woofer 2-way)
S6B Active ($7K Purifi woofer+tweeter 2-way)

All prices per pair.

 

[DSJR]

Forecasting and providing realistic delivery times is not magic these days, really. People may not be happy when you tell them, but with a solid supply chain and forecasting system it's not too hard... In my company, we have several products that have a one year plus delivery time. It's both a curse and a blessing, but at least both our supply chain and our customers can plan around those clearly published timelines. And predictability is a HUGE priority in business.

I just hope and pray that the company doesn't simply increase their prices to tame demand. After doing this, they get sales, based on product reputation and desirable cachet in owning such products, but no real understanding behind what they've just purchased. I can't explain better what I'm trying to convey here, but I do wish Ascilab the very best and sincerely hope the production can be gently ramped up to the benefit of all

 

[DSJR]

Fair point! But I've been using TV speakers until now, so the jump will be massive. I chose the C6B because they are neutral and designed to match the studio mix, Also, from what I’ve gathered, AsciLab offers performance levels that are basically unheard of in the current Hi-Fi market at this price point. Plus, Erin from 'Erin's Audio Corner' was extremely complimentary about them, and I trust his expertise. I’m confident I won't be disappointed!

Going via a traditional dealer network would way more than double the retail prices once distributor and dealer margins, taxes etc are factored in. For some brands, a more 'direct' or 'via a distributor' model as here, should work really well.

 

[pandasonic]

Such halos are being replaced at accelerated rate with logic and knowledge.

Then 10 years ago, we came around. Started to measure gear, with no motivation to sell anything to anyone. Just sheer interest to speak the truth about performance of products. Folks at first ignored us. Then started to be dismissive. Then angry. Meanwhile, new entrants such as Ascilab decided that there is a business to be had, selling to our very large and educated audience. They came on the heels of many electronics manufacturers who had realized the same and with it, hugely grew their business.

Basically, Amir and ASR came to deliver what Hi-Fi enthusiasts and audiophiles have been after all along - transparency.

The members of this forum, and in a sense the industry as a whole, are the beneficiaries of all that effort. As someone else said, by testing and sharing the results with us, ASR and Amir have saved us all countless $$ while educating and better informing us, for free.

Thank you!!
Best wishes!

 

[Cheeseburger]

I’m a complete beginner in the hi-fi world, but for my 20th birthday I really wanted to treat myself to my first serious system. So I did a ton of research — watched reviews, compared measurements, and gathered as much data as possible before making my choice.

Obviously, this is my first hi-fi system, so I don’t really have a high-end reference point — just the sound from my TV and my phone. But honestly… the difference is light-years apart. The best analogy I can give is that it’s literally like going from 360p to 4K. The change is phenomenal.

And to be honest… I didn’t expect this. At this price point, the performance-to-quality ratio is simply unheard of. From everything I understood from the measurements and reviewers, these speakers clearly compete in a category well above their price.

And once you start listening, it’s immediately obvious: the sound is clean, detailed, natural, and addictive.

For a first hi-fi system, I couldn’t have hoped for better. I’m more than satisfied — for me, they’re simply the best speakers in the world in this price range. It’s just amazing.

 

[YSC]

No active C6B or F6B is planned.

The only active bookshelves in the making are the

F6C ($3K Paper woofer Cardioid MTM)
C6C ($5K Ceramic woofer Cardioid MTM)
S6C ($11K all-Purifi Cardioid MTM)

A6B Active ($5K Purifi woofer 2-way)
S6B Active ($7K Purifi woofer+tweeter 2-way)

All prices per pair.

the A6B is really tempting! though I wonder in current economy in Asia I could afford one.

 

[delta76]

I’m a complete beginner in the hi-fi world, but for my 20th birthday I really wanted to treat myself to my first serious system. So I did a ton of research — watched reviews, compared measurements, and gathered as much data as possible before making my choice.

Obviously, this is my first hi-fi system, so I don’t really have a high-end reference point — just the sound from my TV and my phone. But honestly… the difference is light-years apart. The best analogy I can give is that it’s literally like going from 360p to 4K. The change is phenomenal.

And to be honest… I didn’t expect this. At this price point, the performance-to-quality ratio is simply unheard of. From everything I understood from the measurements and reviewers, these speakers clearly compete in a category well above their price.

And once you start listening, it’s immediately obvious: the sound is clean, detailed, natural, and addictive.

For a first hi-fi system, I couldn’t have hoped for better. I’m more than satisfied — for me, they’re simply the best speakers in the world in this price range. It’s just amazing. View attachment 511679View attachment 511680View attachment 511681View attachment 511682

you made the wrong first move. How will you go UP from there ? Why do you rip yourself off the feeling of upgrade to something better

j/k. Very wise choice for someone your age

 

[Purité Audio]

Yes you really should have purchased some over priced rubbish, damn ASR.
(btw smart system)
Keith

 

[YSC]

you made the wrong first move. How will you go UP from there ? Why do you rip yourself off the feeling of upgrade to something better

j/k. Very wise choice for someone your age

he might if the speaker somehow magically break down prematurely... (seems more likely for an active, not his own)

# I have a good idea, how about throwing those nice pair to my home and buy the active or higher end one again