MB-1B SPEAKERS FROM SCANSONIC HD

Featuring Scansonic’s version of Raidho’s recessed planar tweeter, Paul Rigby gets to grips with these wee speakers 

You could say that the planar tweeter, drip-down tech from owner Dantax’s high-end Raidho range, is the star of the show. And it is with the membrane formed by a Kapton-aluminium sandwich of 20 microns thick. But as you know, a star can carry a show but certainly isn’t the show. You need more than a planar tweeter to create a great speaker so look out for the 133mm carbon fibre weaved mid/bass driver sans dust cap, that sits below and the heavily braced and rather curvy ventilated cabinet with a front-loaded port. 

Spanning 178 x 312 x 286mm and weighing in at 6.1kg per speaker, these 8 Ohm, black or white speakers provide a 86db sensitivity which means you really should be running a 50W or more amplifier to run these designs.  

THE PROCESS

A quick word about the reviewing process and pardon me if you’ve heard this one before. The traditional method when reviewing speakers is to trolley in another set of competing speakers of a similar price. Do an A-B and Bob’s you’re grandmother. I was taught to do this, many years ago, when I was a print journalist but I find the practice deeply unsatisfying.

What if the speakers under review have 20 competing designs? So what about the other 19 then? And most people can’t get access to your reference speakers anyway. To be fair, I would need to draft in all 20 and A-B those but the review would take six months and I ain’t being paid enough and most manufacturers wouldn’t entertain it either because it would be a group test and most manufacturers hate group tests. 

Instead? Because I’m on my own here with not much time? I prefer to review in contrasts. So I’ll give you the benefit of my experience subjectively reviewing hundreds of speakers over the decades, then I’ll review based on price contrast. Then I’ll review based on tech contrast. At least that will help you in your research and give you an overview of the speakers capabilities. On that basis? Let’s get on with the review.    

SOUND QUALITY

Firstly? I wanted to change the tech and brought in my Quad 57 electrostatics with their One Thing panel upgrades which, at least when I bought them, were of the same price point. Although, they’re probably a lot more nowadays, I suspect. I then turned to CD and Stereolab and the band’s quite stunning LP, Emperor Tomato Ketchup with the track Cybele’s Reverie, featuring some lovely vocal interplay, organ, percussion, electric and acoustic guitars, analogue synths and strings. 

What I loved about the Scansonics during this test is that they were not floored with a right hook by the 57s in the first 10 seconds but fought, toe to toe, and gave as good as they got. Did they win the fight? No. But to suggest that the end of the bout was a score draw was quite startling, at least to me, a big Quad 57 fan. 

What the 57s won out on was the large reverberating sound of the organ. That big box resonance that only the 57s can give you. The large and packed soundstage, the attack from the analogue synths that really jabbed and prodded and the clarity in the vocal area. 

The Scansonics were not at all bad on these points, they were excellent, in fact, but the Quad 57 is a specialist in all of these areas.

Even so, what the Scansonics provided was more bass so tonal balance was much improved. They provided impressive midrange insight so the cello on this track really did sound like a collection of strings as opposed to an amorphous mass. The treble was also delicate and present in the mix, the shy cymbal action being obvious to the ear while offering greater information from the tweeter. The soundstage was also wide and spacious providing a tremendous sense of freedom to the music. 

vs SPENDOR A1

Next? I grabbed a vinyl version of Songs of The Beatles by Sarah Vaughan, quite possibly the best Beatles covers album I’ve ever heard, certainly the most eccentric.

I played the song about my distant cousin, Eleanor Rigby with an almost Earth, Wind & Fire arrangement and brought in a pair of Spendor A1 stand mounts which retail now for around £1,550. So cheaper, yes, but still of a price to challenge the MB-1Bs. They sat on HiFi Racks stands which, in turn, sat on Stack Audio feet.

What the MB-1Bs offered here was tremendous clarity across the upper frequencies with plenty of instruments providing characterful performances and tonal realism. Secondary percussion like the Bongos were particular examples of that. 

Also, while the bass guitar wasn’t any stronger in the mix, that guitar provided more information and detail during its performance. Secondary percussion, such as cymbals, was also more insightful.

They added space between themselves and everything else that was going on around them.

CONCLUSION

What is notable about the Scansonic MB-1B speakers is that you get a lot of performance from a relatively small form factor. Sure, the small size puts a limit on bass depth and expanse but these speakers still manage to provide an effective performance from that area. 

The highlight, of course, is the upper frequency insight and tonal realism. That tweeter and general design direction enhances instrumental separation, the measure of space and air in between those instruments, the broad and expansive soundstage and the accuracy from both the mids and treble. 

While some designs do nothing but spin you a fairy tale, the Scansonic MB-1B speakers deliver a big dose of reality. 

SCANSONIC HD MB-1B SPEAKERS 

Price: £2,250 (£2,750 wood finish)

Stands: £699

Website: https://scansonichd.dk/

GOOD: small footprint, tonal realism, midrange accuracy, treble insight 

BAD: nothing

RATING: 8