New development thread: Sigberg Audio SBS Generation 2

[Mnyb]

You have done what you can but i've learned in my line of business , if it's even remotely possible to misunderstand , that's what's going to happen . So we rehash the same info several times with or qualified industrial clients and still communication is hard .

 

[sigbergaudio]

Thanks for the explanation, but what you're pointing out isn't exactly obvious to the average reader of Spinorama.
Now that we have the information, I think readers will be able to understand.

No, if you are simply looking at the Spinorama it doesn't look great, which is a problem of sorts. But I still wanted to be transparent and share the data.

I may try (again) to do anechoic measurements with a subwoofer for this new generation of the SBS. It isn't trivial (the anechoic chamber isn't 100% accurate below 100hz either), but probably not impossible.

 

[sigbergaudio]

First sample cabinets in the new Shady White color (same as the core of the Saranna) is expected Friday this week. Leaving for Capital Audiofest Wednesday next week, so not sure I will have time to assemble and take photos of these before that, but we'll see.

 

[JohnnyNG]

This is a 4-way speaker system that has been measured without the bass. It's like measuring a full-range speaker after disconnecting the bass driver. The missing bass in the speaker itself isn't a flaw, it's a deliberate design feature.

You have clearly explained this many times and will likely need to keep doing so since it seems the mind "auto-completes" what type of system it is based on the photos and past experience with "sat/sub" systems. My mind did this initially. As shown above the SBS-only option is available if you "already have subwoofers".

 

[sigbergaudio]

In the mean time, here are a few pictures from the cabinet production. It's not the most complicated cabinet in the world being a small enclosure with two drivers of course. But very solid and inert, with natural braces both ways, due to the three individual internal enclosures: One per driver and one for the amplifier.

 

[sigbergaudio]

What evolves in addition the speakers themselves, is the packaging. Over time packaging for our different products has been revised to improve damage resistance during shipping.

The SBS.1 is one of the few products that has had the same packaging since the start in 2021, but has now been redesigned from scratch with the upcoming Gen 2. So the size difference gives a good impression of how much padding and sturdiness has been added since then. The package to the left is a sample of the new packaging, while the one to the right is the packaging of a demo pair that has been traveling a number of times.

 

[sigbergaudio]

Under a sleet of cardboard you'll find a box with the grilles and accessories, and then a fun puzzle of styrofoam encapsulating each speaker (they're packed as a pair).

 

[Mnyb]

Cant be to careful I always wonder if shipping companies use bucket loaders at their terminals , before flinging the packet into your garden from their truck

 

[sigbergaudio]

Cant be to careful I always wonder if shipping companies use bucket loaders at their terminals , before flinging the packet into your garden from their truck

Yes I've gotten some interesting photos from customers of boxes that haven't exactly been handled with care along the way.

 

[JohnnyNG]

Yes I've gotten some interesting photos from customers of boxes that haven't exactly been handled with care along the way.

 

[sigbergaudio]

Preproduction cabinet assembled, with the new Shady white color, sharper/harder cabinet edges, and of course the new midbass driver.

 

[sigbergaudio]

Some early non-final, semi-nearfield, non-anechoic measurements of the pre production pair, so starting at 500hz.
Will go to the anechoic chamber at Seas for some proper measurements before Christmas hopefully.

On-axis:

10deg/ref axis:

0-10-30:

 

[sigbergaudio]

It sounds pretty awesome too, in case anyone is wondering! Excuse the cable mess.

As this picture also relatively accurately portrays, the fibonacci patterns on the new midbass driver has pretty muted colors in a dimly lit room. So they look very interesting, but are not drawing undue attention to themselves.

 

[sigbergaudio]

Things seem to be going faster than planned (that is a new experience!), so it looks like the new Gen 2 might be in stock as early as January! So we might end up skipping the pre-order phase alltogether, or possibly have a very short period, we'll see.

Trying to get product photos done before Christmas, but it will be tight.

 

[sigbergaudio]

Today Doug Schneider and Soundstage! Network stopped by our reference studio Velvet recording to have a look at and talk about the new SBS Generation 2, and about Sigberg Audio in general.

 

[David_M]

It sounds pretty awesome too, in case anyone is wondering! Excuse the cable mess.

As this picture also relatively accurately portrays, the fibonacci patterns on the new midbass driver has pretty muted colors in a dimly lit room. So they look very interesting, but are not drawing undue attention to themselves.

View attachment 489326

Which sounds best and why, Manta or Gen 2?

 

[sigbergaudio]

Which sounds best and why, Manat or Gen 2?

The Manta, as it has even lower distortion and is a cardioid design.

 

[sigbergaudio]

Which sounds best and why, Manat or Gen 2?

If the question was more about how it manifests in the sound, the Manta is even more open and transparent sounding, and especially vocals is even more forward and cleanly presented. The Manta also has more punch and impact in the midbass. Soundstaging and imaging is also even better with the Mantas.

That being said, the SBS is also great on all these points.

 

[sigbergaudio]

You can now preorder The SBS Gen 2 with early bird pricing (15% discount)!

SBS Gen 2 (2026)

SBS.1 SBS Active Speaker System delivers compact floorstanding speakers with full-range sound, deep bass, active speaker design, and precise high-end performance.

www.sigbergaudio.com

Finally,
A reminder of what's new in Gen 2:

• A new midbass driver with a laser etched fibonacci pattern (reducing cone resonances) and an aluminum phase plug. The new driver also has slightly higher sensitivity and even better frequency response in its operating range.
• Revised crossovers and tuning.
• The cabinet has a cleaner design with harder edger (less rounded), more similar to the Manta and Saranna.
• New white color, "Shady white". It is a deeper, softer white (same as the Saranna).
• The grille of the white Gen 2 is grey, while on the SBS.1 it's black. The new grille also stops before the logo, so that the logo is visible even with the grilles attached.

 

[theREALdotnet]

Preproduction cabinet assembled, with the new Shady white color,

This looks close to Pantone's Color of the Year for 2026, how did you know?

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