HSU CCB-8 Speaker Review

[Sal1950]

It's truly disheartening to see, day after day, products being analyzed that are essentially scams. Thank you to Amir and all contributors for your invaluable, objective analyses and measurements.

I wouldn't hang the "scam" tag on this though it is a very disappointing product overall.
I appears to me that with this and the recent MFL-6, a very Home Theater market has been the focus but too much has been sacrificed in some performance areas. With this one the focus on high sensitivity and low distortion gains, at least at reasonable SPL, really made a bit of a mess in FR linearity. .
With the MFL-6, the big boost on the top end will make it tend to perform "OK" as a Atmos, bounce the signal off the ceiling, type speaker but like the CCB-8 this makes it a fairly poor performing speaker in general. Maybe considering low cost the errors could be forgiven but overall I believe too much is wonky.
Looking back at the HSU HB-1 Mk2, which only costs $199, a much better job was done to balance design against low cost and ended ups a speaker with Amir's recommendation. I still have a full 5.2 system in the closet and found them a very listenable, easy to drive product for the very low cost..

 

[Power Pop 23]

I wouldn't hang the "scam" tag on this though it is a very disappointing product overall.

Agreed. Perhaps I would be more offended by the claims on the relevant product pages if I wasn't already exposed to similar for decades.....

I believe too much is wonky.

Looking back at the HSU HB-1 Mk2, which only costs $199, a much better job was done to balance design against low cost and ended ups a speaker with Amir's recommendation. I still have a full 5.2 system in the closet and found them a very listenable, easy to drive product for the very low cost..

Aah, to have a walk-in closet big enough for a proper 5.2 system !

Hsu Research's product page for the MFL-6 loudspeaker notes Don Keele did not design the horn used in the HB-1 loudspeaker.

 

[thewas]

Stating the less obvious here, when you consider low priced these speakers are compared to the 3 you mentioned, maybe you get more than you pay for after modern EQ? How do they SOUND is the question. For a lousy $800 a pair, I think most people would enjoy these, although I would never compare them to my Danley SH-50's that sound incredible after Room EQ! You can't base everything on measurements, which I know is a Heretic comment in this forum. Just sayin'.

They are not really that much more cheap than for example the KEF Q Concerto Meta which can be bought for $1000 per pair and is even a 3-way that beats it probably on all aspects.

 

[PristineSound]

This should be named the "Inconsistent Directivity Horn"

 

[Steakhouse]

They are not really that much more cheap than for example the KEF Q Concerto Meta which can be bought for $1000 per pair and is even a 3-way that beats it probably on all aspects.

They also dont get that loud. Yes, the sensitivity is quite high but the maximum SPL is not. At 94 dB harmonic distortion is already high and I guess IMD and short term compression wont look good.

 

[SuicideSquid]

I thought people were far too harsh on the previous HSU speaker reviewed, which had some problems but nothing that couldn't be fixed by EQ or a small crossover tweak.

This, on the other hand, is the definition of "Headless Panther". Absolutely dreadful in every respect except maybe 'average listening level' distortion.

 

[Doenerkunde]

To play "devils advocate": I wonder if just the tweeter playing without the woofer would yield constant directivity across the tweeters range. From 4 to 20khz it's somewhat constant, but the crossover region suckout might have ruined what otherwise could potentially have been constant directivity. Maybe Don Keeles involvement was limited to just optimising the woofer cones shape?

 

[xanalog]

I think the 'HeadlessPanther" award for the CCB-8 is @amirm's fault.
If only @amirm did not test/review this speaker, Hsu would've probably prospered on their past brand lore.

Fool me once, it's probably my fault but you don't get a second chance!

Thank you to the member for sharing his new asset. You are not alone!
A center-speaker [nameless] I sent for ASR testing/review -rightfully- ended-up as a door stop, I feel you!

 

[ClaudeJ1]

Your logic is a little bit flawed here, there's not point in being apologetic.
For 800$ there is a truckload of speakers who perform better and will objectively provide more enjoyment to most people.

Not for the average person out there, it's not. The people here, myself included, are not average. My logic is not flawed. I indicated that my comment was heretical, did I not?

 

[ClaudeJ1]

Amir's measurements reveal the ways current Hsu Research CC8-B owners can and cannot mitigate the measured performance of their loudspeakers.

Amir's measurements reveal to prospective buyers of the Hsu Research CC8-B loudspeaker that similarly-priced loudspeakers like the ELAC DBR62 have measured better. Room EQ will likely have less 'work' to do with the ELAC DBR62 in most listening spaces than with the Hsu Research CC8-B.

Unless one arranges for local pickup, a pair of Hsu Research CC8-B loudspeakers incurs a (ground) shipping charge of $100 for a net cost of $878.

This compares to the list price of about $900 for a pair of KEF Q3 Meta loudspeakers and the list price of about $800 for a pair of the well-reviewed, ELAC DBR 62 loudspeakers. Both are typically available with shipping at no extra charge.

I used KEF LS-50's for computer speakers. I have designed and modified many speakers since Jr. Hight School. All these little itty bitty speaker are trash to anyone with all horn systems, like I have. Including subwoofers. All speakers need a sub and all of them need EQ that includes the room. It can wipe out many sins in the process. I'm glad I'll never have to do it.

 

[JohnBooty]

This is disappointing and confusing. I heard these briefly and they didn't sound crazy. I also know a guy, who has good ears and experience with lots of technically sound speakers, who loves these speakers. I'd really love to hear from Don Keele and/or Hsu and get their perspective on these measurements.

 

[lewdish]

It has a horn, but doesnt seem constant directivity

 

[mcdonalk]

I have a pair of these in my secondary system, and I like them a lot. Evidently, the unique shape of my auditory canals and the pressure behind my tympanic membranes must equalize them perfectly.

Besides, this is the only negative review I have read for them, so I'll go with the majority.

 

[Power Pop 23]

The review at Audioholics and this review includes measurements of the Hsu CC8-B loudspeaker.

Are there other reviews of the Hsu CC8-B loudspeaker that include measurements ?

 

[nick-v]

This is disappointing. I've seen these being quite highly recommended over the years.

 

[Power Pop 23]

I hope the measurements of Amir and Erin incentivize other sites to acquire a Klippel Near-field Scanner for measuring loudspeakers.

 

[Ktacos]

I'm kind of bummed this companies speakers appear to not be good. I always had the impression they were an underdog that would forego aesthetics for good performance. Oh well.

 

[Tim Link]

It looks to me like the crossover is set too low on these. It's about 1500 but to keep that tweeter from going wide too early it needs to be maybe 3500? I'll bet that woofer won't go that high. Looks like its response is already getting rough where they have it. The dispersion is pretty rough from the tweeter in its range too, but a higher crossover could at least reduce that big dispersion swelling around 2k.

 

[MEGB1262]

Hi dear audio science enthusiasts,

if you take the time to look at the spec sheets of other 8 inch coaxial drivers like those just as examples
Celestion FTX0820

Celestion FTX0820 - Coaxial Loudspeaker

Celestion FTX0820 - This 8 inch 200W coaxial loudspeaker has an aluminium chassis and demodulation ring to minimise acoustic and electromagnetic distortion

celestion.com

18sound 8CX650

https://www.eighteensound.it/en/products/coaxial/8-0/8/8CX650

BMS 8C250

Overview

www.bmsspeakers.com

it looks for me quite difficult to develop a working passive crossover that do not destroy the good efficiency

i know some DIY developments that adopt these kind of speaker chassis, they all use plate amps with DSP crossover

but since they want to sell bundles for home cinema active is not an option

so far - so good, Stefano

i found this here https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/tannoy-gold-8-rew-measurements.14738/

i would really love to see the official ASR review for them

 

[Dj7675]

I'm setting the bar precisely where Erin has set and maintained it for a few years now.

You're falling into the second part of the comment. The snarky worthlessness of the actual forum posts here is off the charts. Have you never looked at an Erin review....? Even Nunes does better Klippel reviews here on this forum.

I have read most of Erin’s reviews and they are good and much appreciated like all reviews with high quality data. I don’t know what your issue is, but this speaker shows a bad speaker IMO. Can it work for some? Sure anything can…. But it…
-Can’t really play very loud without issues
-dispersion is neither wide nor even so not EQ friendly
It is certainly possible there was a running change on the speaker making it worse than originally designed but this speaker, as is, just isn’t very good. Hopefully HSU can take a look at the data and see if this is as intended or if there is an issue somewhere that can be fixed.