Recommendation for a $3-4k bookshelf speaker (upgrade from Ascilabs C6B)

[MarkS]

Perception of "detail" is mostly due to (1) frequency response and (2) dispersion and room reflections. (At high loudness, harmonic distortion can also matter.) Try adding a 2dB shelf boost at 2 or 3 kHz and see if your preception changes (I assume the Wiim can do this). Then consider adding room treatment at first reflection points.

Experimenting with EQ is much simpler and cheaper than experimenting with speaker replacement.

Ascilab C6B (solid line) vs Clarity 6.2 (dashed) on-axis response:

 

[pablolie]

yup but seems subwoofers are a no go in their abode

The question is "why?".

For many years in the early 2000s, I thought myself too "accuracy loving" to consider subs, the very idea was abhorrent to me because it seemingly abadoned my expensive speakers "purity".

Then, wow, I could have slapped myself...

 

[IngMishael]

The question is "why?".

For many years in the early 2000s, I thought myself too "accuracy loving" to consider subs, the very idea was abhorrent to me because it seemingly abadoned my expensive speakers "purity".

Then, wow, I could have slapped myself...

people seem to thnk subwoofer means sluggish, soupy bass lol. also maybe more boxes in their space is a no go

 

[pablolie]

people seem to thnk subwoofer means sluggish, soupy bass lol. also maybe more boxes in their space is a no go

Back in the early 2000s, the subs often sounded sluggish and stupid. The integration tools were not there. It was done by emprical rules that didn't work well over half of the time and resulted indeed in lazy overdriven bass.

More boxes remains a challenge if we're honest. I have never been happy with the results of having two subs at over 120Hz xover in my place. The sound changes unacceptably -to my ears- at different SPL. I simply want to cater optimally to my typical listening patterns. And I am sure no one experiences it completely differently.

 

[Flaesh]

my horn speakers

What exactly?))

 

[Steve Dallas]

I tried to convey that in my original post, but probably was not clear enough about it. While the C6B is no slouch with regards to detail, a bit more of it would be welcome. In that regard, the AMT in the Clarity 6.2 could do the trick. But then I'm also a bit weary of a fatiguing top end, so that's a fine line to walk. But most importantly, I'd like to have better sound staging. Again, the C6B are good in that regard, but as described above, I feel, they stage well with regards to width, but could do better in terms of depth and height. Or is that more a function of setup and room interaction?

Using Erin's Review, let's break down what could be improved.

AsciLab C6B Review

AsciLab C6B Review

www.erinsaudiocorner.com

The main deficiencies of the C6B are distortion and compression if you listen loud. Other speakers could improve on the C6B in that area, but many (perhaps even most) people cannot hear bass distortion until it is very high and cannot detect compression until it is > 6dB. Again, these are only 'issues' if you listen loud and you can hear these things.

Another possible area of improvement I see depends on your room and your preference. The horizontal dispersion is on the narrow side at +/- 50 degrees, which is in KEF territory. Some people prefer 60 to 65 degrees for a wider soundstage. Whether that works for you depends on distance to side walls, distance to listening position, reflectiveness of side walls, etc. Arendal, Revel, Philharmonic, Ascend, and some others have wider dispersion than your C6Bs.

Keep in mind that AMT tweeters and true ribbon tweeters have very limited vertical dispersion, meaning your ears must remain at tweeter height to achieve linearity. Tonality changes drastically if you slouch in your seat or stand up.

Otherwise, according the data and subjective comments I seen in Erin's review, the C6Bs are very close to ideal in almost every regard. Unless you are experiencing one of the few deficiencies described above, I say stop worrying and enjoy those things.

 

[LTig]

But most importantly, I'd like to have better sound staging. Again, the C6B are good in that regard, but as described above, I feel, they stage well with regards to width, but could do better in terms of depth and height. Or is that more a function of setup and room interaction?

It's both, and depends on the recording as well. Regarding sound stage there seem to be two preferences - envelopment and precision. Often one can get only one, not both. Good speakers with a wide dispersion can create envelopment due to more room reflections (even if the recording is flat or mono) but imaging is rather diffuse. Good speakers with narrow dispersion have a precise imaging (playing a mono track sounds like coming from a non existent center speaker), and if the recording contains real (or artificial, see Q-Sound) room information the sound stage can appear very realistic.

 

[Chrispy]

Why stick with bookshelf/stand mount speakers particularly?

 

[Extreme_Boky]

I like neutral, detailed sound, but it could slightly err on the warmer side, with a good 3D sound stage

Dynaudio.

 

[pablolie]

Cmon man you can finance with 3k a year.. or a month!

 

[Chrispy]

Cmon man you can finance with 3k a year.. or a month!

Cannot even imagine financing such purchases...blows my mind as to how poor you need to be to go this route.

 

[pablolie]

Cannot even imagine financing such purchases...blows my mind as to how poor you need to be to go this route.

Clearly I hope it was obvious I was joking

 

[Chrispy]

Clearly I hope it was obvious I was joking

LOL I was thinking more OP than you....it certainly is a joke to need to "finance" stuff like this.

 

[pablolie]

LOL I was thinking more OP than you....it certainly is a joke to need to "finance" stuff like this.

Well it is easier to than ever I guess. And every vendor site encourages people to. Wasn't unknown in the past either. I remember being offered financing deals in the mid 90s when I bought stuff more actively. But I have never financed an audio purchase ever.

 

[Chrispy]

Well it is easier to than ever I guess. And every vendor site encourages people to. Wasn't unknown in the past either. I remember being offered financing deals in the mid 90s when I bought stuff more actively. But I have never financed an audio purchase ever.

I'm mostly just anti-"financing" as it is usually better simply to save up for what you need.

 

[pablolie]

I didn't grow up in an environment that emphasized the importance of financial awareness and discipline. If anyone that reads this and has influence on youngsters, I'd encourage them to pass the message emphatically.

 

[Chrispy]

I didn't grow up in an environment that emphasized the importance of financial awareness and discipline. If anyone that reads this and has influence on youngsters, I'd encourage them to pass the message emphatically.

I did but ignored it for a while until life did some lessons....

 

[perceptionist]

Check out Philharmonic Audio's new models at AXPONA 2026.

 

[phoenixdogfan]

If you are content with the narrower dispersion/tightly focused imaging school of home speaker, I think the Asci A6b's might be hard to beat at your price point. The alternative recommendation could be the Kef LS 60's which are not standmount but have the same footprint. The Kef's go deeper, and do the job of integrating sub bass (go down to 23 hz), and have outstanding imaging/soundstaging, but sacrifice some ultimate top end loudness. Either would be an excellent choice, and there are frequent deals on LS 60's making it perhaps possible to get a new or lightly used pair for l.t. $5000 pr, and they have their own amplification, dac, streamer, Dsp, so perhaps not quite as much of a price premium over the A6b's as it might seem at first blush.

 

[101geo]

Re Cadentia 2 #142