Hsu Research CCB-8 Bookshelf Speaker Review

[-Jim-]

Hi Gents,

As a very satisfied owner of 3 of these HSU CCB-8s for our Atmos HT Room for the past couple of years, I was pleased to see them still in the Top Six $700/pair rankings for 2021. See Audioholics Top Six $700/pair Bookshelf

 

[-Jim-]

Hi Gents,

I noticed this review is now "Featured" review. I happened by the HSU CCB-8 web page and saw the black cone version for the first time.

That should certainly help with the WAF for most of you. (I didn't even tell mine -OMG- when I bought our Front 3!)

 

[JengaHit]

Hi Gents,

I noticed this review is now "Featured" review. I happened by the HSU CCB-8 web page and saw the black cone version for the first time.

That should certainly help with the WAF for most of you. (I didn't even tell mine -OMG- when I bought our Front 3!)

I listen to mine with grills on, so the yellow cones aren't noticeable. And the grills do look nice. I haven't taken measurements re grills on/off, but to my ears subjectively there's no noticeable roll-off of highs or reduction in sound quality. Very satisfied with these speakers, especially the huge and deep soundstage, holographic imaging, and super-wide sweet spot.

 

[EBN]

@shadyJ rather positive review from you vs. measurements via Klippel. This is now the 2nd speaker from HSU which measures very poorly.

HSU CCB-8 Speaker Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the HSU CCB-8 "constant directivity horn" speaker aimed at home theater market. It was kindly drop shipped by a member and costs US $389 each. I kind of like the subwoofer styled, chunky enclosure. Back side shows dual ports which came partially...

www.audiosciencereview.com

HSU MFL-6 Home Theater Speaker Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the HSU MFL-6 home theater / Dolby Atmos speaker review. It was kindly sent to me by a member and costs US $279. HSU is one of the earliest companies focusing on home theater speakers. This sample has a slanted design that is stated to work well...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[everettT]

@shadyJ rather positive review from you vs. measurements via Klippel. This is now the 2nd speaker from HSU which measures very poorly.

HSU CCB-8 Speaker Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the HSU CCB-8 "constant directivity horn" speaker aimed at home theater market. It was kindly drop shipped by a member and costs US $389 each. I kind of like the subwoofer styled, chunky enclosure. Back side shows dual ports which came partially...

www.audiosciencereview.com

HSU MFL-6 Home Theater Speaker Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the HSU MFL-6 home theater / Dolby Atmos speaker review. It was kindly sent to me by a member and costs US $279. HSU is one of the earliest companies focusing on home theater speakers. This sample has a slanted design that is stated to work well...

www.audiosciencereview.com

View attachment 77003

The measurements are fairly close and the subjective review is just that. James' subjective listening is with 2 speakers vs 1, that adds further to the subjective side as they're not apple to apples.

 

[shadyJ]

@shadyJ rather positive review from you vs. measurements via Klippel. This is now the 2nd speaker from HSU which measures very poorly.

HSU CCB-8 Speaker Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the HSU CCB-8 "constant directivity horn" speaker aimed at home theater market. It was kindly drop shipped by a member and costs US $389 each. I kind of like the subwoofer styled, chunky enclosure. Back side shows dual ports which came partially...

www.audiosciencereview.com

HSU MFL-6 Home Theater Speaker Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the HSU MFL-6 home theater / Dolby Atmos speaker review. It was kindly sent to me by a member and costs US $279. HSU is one of the earliest companies focusing on home theater speakers. This sample has a slanted design that is stated to work well...

www.audiosciencereview.com

View attachment 77003

Looks like the crossover circuit in that sample wasn't quite in phase, maybe ninety degrees off. Possibly a drift in some value of a component in the crossover during manufacturing. I am sure they are looking at the QC after that set of measurements. I hope they bring that speaker back on track, I really like the CCB-8, however it is not a design that would ever have conformed to the 'Harman' ideal. Not all great speakers have to act alike.

 

[ryanosaur]

Big surprise that folk over there are jumping on trashing the Speaker. I don't have any skin in that game, but for a Speaker design as old as the CCB they are treating it like it just came out and should compete against Genelec or Neumann.

Also no discussion I saw regarding what might be a slightly different Driver since doing away with the Yellow Cone. Some changes can affect other aspects of performance.

Oh well. Just another ASR Dog Pile in a review thread. Always best to keep some distance from those.

 

[EBN]

Looks like the crossover circuit in that sample wasn't quite in phase, maybe ninety degrees off. Possibly a drift in some value of a component in the crossover during manufacturing. I am sure they are looking at the QC after that set of measurements. I hope they bring that speaker back on track, I really like the CCB-8, however it is not a design that would ever have conformed to the 'Harman' ideal. Not all great speakers have to act alike.

Yep i have reached HSU and they will check what is going on with the MFL-6.

@ryanosaur CCB-8 while old there is still no excuses for this to measure so poorly. That huge dip is tricky to fix with EQ in the region where our hearing is very sensitive and the distortion at higher SPL not ideal for HT use either which i guess HSU is aiming these for. It`s really sad to see two poor ones from HSU although i hope there is some issue with the other one. Amir has given some praise for HSU earlier and he is clearly not happy to see this either. Folks there can be quite harsh which is bit annoying, but in this case they are not wrong. This is nowhere as good as some older Kef`s with coax design at same price class and today is there is ton of better options. Even some @TLS Guy favorite brand B&W 600s might start look decent compared to CCB-8. Hopefully this is a wake up call for HSU to start working with MK2 version!

The company claims constant directivity.