Scansonic
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From the Scansonic website Michael says:
Having worked with Raidho speakers for more than 12 years, I found myself faced with a completely new challenge when I was asked to design a new range of high-performance speakers for the Scansonic brand.
From the start, I was very focused on building on all the experiences and strengths obtained from designing the Raidho speakers. At the same time, I also had to be aware of the long heritage and the Nordic design tradition of the Scansonic brand. This time, the task also came with a budget and a desire to create the very best possible within financial limits.
It was clear to me from the very beginning, that some core techniques from the Raidho speakers would be of importance: The speakers had to be designed around a ribbon tweeter that works with at super lightweight diaphragm that is sealed around the edges to allow for a seamless transition to the midrange region.
Furthermore, they needed to be designed and developed with a speaker driver with a ridged, pistonic-type membrane.
WEIGHT LOSS FOR RESOLUTION TRANSIENTS AND SUPERB LEADING EDGES
The MB ribbon tweeter has a membrane with an extremely low mass. It is formed by a Kapton-aluminum sandwich that is only 20 um thick, and the resulting mass is app. 0.03 g., which is approximately 50 times less than any conventional textile, ceramic, beryllium or diamond dome. The lower mass translates directly into higher resolution and less material coloration.
WEAVED CARBON CONES FOR STIFFNESS AND LOW COMPRESSION
For the MB-series, we have developed a ridged, dustcap free, carbon membrane. By carefully optimizing the shape and stiffness, we have succeeded in making a very quiet woofer that blends beautifully with the ribbon tweeter. The woofer has an overhung magnet system, with long linear stroke and excellent bass performance.
The new B series is now available.
The New B versions have been upgraded and optimized in almost all areas:
Cabinets: The internal construction has been changed, in order to optimize airflow which combined with the minimalistic use of damping-material has created a very dynamic and linear low frequency reproduction.
The old acoustically vented cabinets have now been replaced with a ported cabinet, which is tuned for optimal impulse response - resulting in a more linear, dynamic and detailed low-end reproduction, while at the same time making in-room placement of the speaker much easier and versatile.
Drivers: The woofer and midrange drivers, have been fitted with a new low loss spider which greatly improves the dynamic capabilities as well as expanding the frequency response in the bass region. - A very nice side effect of this is that the break-in period has been reduced greatly (around 100 hours).
Crossover: The crossovers have been completely redesigned. This has resulted in a much more linear and natural sound, which is clearly visible throughout the whole line.
The crossover has been designed to time-align all drive units at listening distance - The result is a speaker which not only presents a big and precise soundstage - it also boasts a timing that will make your foot tap and put a big smile on your face!
Upgrade: Because of the extensive internal changes to the cabinet, as well as redesigned woofers, upgrading old models to B version is not possible.
There are 5 models in the MB B series line and they offer exceptional performance for the money.
MB-1B monitor
$2295/pr
As one reviewer said:
Raido-DNA- The first time I heard a Scansonic MB-1 my jaw dropped-literally. This was at the fair in Munich and I am sure that many producers of considerably more expensive speakers who heard the small wonders, left the Raido room, because it was there that the speakers were on display, with worried minds. It was a big room but the small speakers performed at a level that speakers at $1600-$2500 are not supposed to be capable of.
They were simply one of the biggest surprises of the fair. Have I heard better speakers than Scansonic MB-1 for this price? No. Do I want a pair of MB-1? Yes. This is really something you need to consider if you are looking for some really good stand speakers where the price is not sky-high. Here, you get a sound picture you will immediately like, and it all just feels sooo right. A big applause for MB-1
- Size: (WxHxD) 7.4"'x 13" x 11.9"
- Weight: 13lbs
- Sensitivity: 86Db
- Freq. response: 45 Hz - 40 kHz
- Impedance: 8 ohms
- Crossover: 2600Hz 2. order acoustic slope
- Enclosure: Curved, heavily braced, ventilated box design with tuned front loaded port
- Drive units: 1 sealed ribbon tweeter with kapton/aluminum sandwich membrane!
- 1 carbon coned 4,5” bass/mid driver with overhung magnet system
- Finish: Black-silk or White-silk
- Amplification: We recommend high quality amplifiers >50W
MB-2.5B
$3495/pr
Available black or white
The MB-2.5 is a slim floorstander with two 4.5” carbon-coned drivers and a sealed MM ribbon tweeter. It is a 2.5 way design with the lower woofer only assisting in the low bass region. The 2.5’s cabinet is heavy, braced and curved, with carbon reinforcements. The speaker is crossed over at 3.5 kHz, and the second woofer assists up to 200 Hz. Dynamics are excellent and it throws a very large soundstage with bass that belies its size. It is perfect for rooms up to 3000 cubic feet. Over that and you may want to look at the larger MB-3.5 or add a subwoofer for low frequency reinforcement. Call us to discuss options.
"...you won’t find anything close to doing what the MB‑2.5 do for the money. They have enough of the Raidho genetic code to sound like Raidho, but not enough to stop a prospective Raidho owner from changing their mind... That’s the big thing about the Scansonic MB‑2.5, there are those who’ve heard what Raidho do and love it, but hate the price. They simply cannot or will not make that kind of financial commitment on a pair of loudspeakers, no matter how good. Those people will see the Scansonic range as a golden opportunity. It brings them much of what the Raidho speakers offer in a more affordable, more approachable package. Very highly recommended!"
- Size: (WxHxD) 7.4" x 41.58" x 11.91"
- Weight: 36.5lbs ea
- Sensitivity: 88Db
- Freq. response: 36 Hz - 40 kHz
- Impedance: 6 ohm
- Crossover: 3.5 kHz 2. order acoustic slope 250 Hz 1.order slope
- Enclosure: Curved, heavily braced, vented box design with front loaded tuned port and adjustable aluminum feet
- Drive units: 1 sealed ribbon tweeter with kapton/aluminum sandwich membrane
- 2 carbon coned 4,5” bass/mid driver with overhung magnet system! Finish: Black-silk or White-silk
- Amplification: We recommend high quality amplifiers >50W
MB-3.5B
$5300.00/pr
Available black or white
The top of the line MB-3.5 is a slim 47.4" high floorstander with two 4.5” carbon-coned midrange drivers, a sealed ribbon tweeter and two side firing 6.5” woofers.
The MB-3.5 works as a 2.5-way speaker, where the two midrange-woofers are supported by two 6.5” aluminum coned woofers.
The two carbon midrange-woofers are run in series for increased power handling.
The MB-3.5 cabinet is heavy, braced and curved, with carbon reinforcements. The speaker is crossed over at 2600Hz and the two added side woofers assist up to 150Hz.
The MB-3.5 features a very high quality crossover with top quality components and a complete cable harness from Ansuz Acoustics. The filter has been carefully tailored to linearize the frequency region where cone and cabinet geometry play a role and also to carefully tune the speaker to a natural sounding frequency response.
The MB-3.5 is designed for larger rooms and makes excellent extended tight bass. The woofers can be run either on the inside or outside to optimze sonics.
- Size: (WxHxD) 7.4" x 47.4" x 11.9"
- Weight: 45.76lbs ea
- Sensitivity: 89Db
- Freq. response: 27Hz-40kHz
- Impedance: > 5 ohms
- Crossover: 2600Hz 2. order acoustic slope 150Hz 1.order slope
- Enclosure: Curved, heavily braced, ventilated box design with front loaded tuned port and adjustable aluminum feet
- Drive units: 1 sealed ribbon tweeter with kapton/aluminum sandwich membrane
- 2 carbon coned 4,5” bass/mid driver with overhung magnet system
- 2 Aluminum coned 6,5” bass drivers
- Finish: Black-silk or White-silk
- Amplification: High quality amplifiers >50W
MB-5B
$7500.00/pr
The MB-5 is a unique slim floor stander with four 4.5” carbon-coned drivers and a sealed ribbon tweeter. The 5 works as a 2.5-way speaker design, where two 4.5” carbon coned midrange-woofers are supported by two additional Carbon coned drivers for additional base performance. The two carbon midrange-woofers are run in series for an increased and dynamic power handling. The 5 cabinet is heavy braced, curved and with solid carbon reinforcements. The speaker is crossed over at 2600Hz and the two added woofers assist up to 250Hz. The MB-5 carries the base right down to the deepest notes and does that with an effortless drive that will leave amazed.
Technical information
- Size: (WxHxD) 178 x 1185 x 319 mm
- Weight: 53.8lbs ea
- Freq. response: 29Hz - 40kHz
- Impedance: 4 ohms
- Sensitivity: 90Db
- Crossover: 2600Hz 2. order acoustic slope 250 Hz 1.order slope
- Enclosure: Curved, heavily braced, ventilated box design with adjustable aluminum feet
- Drive units: 1 sealed ribbon tweeter with kapton/aluminum sandwich membrane
- 4 carbon coned 4,5” bass/mid driver with overhung magnet system
- Finish: Black-silk is stock or White-silk is special order
- Amplification: We recommend high quality amplifiers >50W
MB-6B
$10,700.00/pr
The MB-6 is the Scansonic flagship speaker. Tall, slim and elegantly curved it follows the core of traditions in Danish loudspeaker design. The design is centered around the ultra light moving mass sealed ribbon tweeter, that has unique speed, resolution and dynamic transient capability. This makes for a very transparent and highly detailed reproduction of the finest details in the program material. The tweeter is crossed over to dynamic driver array at 2600Hz.The MB-6 boasts a powerful lineup of 6, 4,5” carbon coned dynamic drivers, arranged in a power sharing line array. The inner pair of the driver covers the midrange up to where the tweeter takes over and as you move out from the center the driver cowers more and more of the lower registries. In the deepest bass the line array boast a total membrane area larger than a 12” driver, but still with the speed and agility of the smaller drivers. This makes the MB-6 have outstanding capabilities even in the deepest bass. The MB-6 is an incredible music performer with an impact an authority the will leave you breathless.
Technical information
- Size: (WxHxD) 178 x 1410 x 410 mm
- Weight: 36,5 kg
- Freq. response: 27Hz - 40kHz
- Impedance: 4 ohms
- Crossover: 2600Hz 2. order acoustic slope 250Hz 1.order slope
- Enclosure: Curved, heavily braced, ventilated box design with adjustable aluminum feet
- Drive units: 1 sealed ribbon tweeter with kapton/aluminum sandwich membrane
- 6 carbon coned 4,5” bass/mid driver with overhung magnet system
- Finish: Black-silk or White-silk
- Amplification: We recommend high quality amplifiers >50W
Scansonic M Series
M10
$590.00/pr
The M10 monitor is a small two way with ribbon tweeter and single bass/midrange driver. The speaker is crossed over at 3.5 KHz with a second order filter. It is designed for smaller rooms or to be used with a subwoofer in larer spaces. Imaging is superb as is resolution and detail. Bass is surprising for a samll box once broken in.
Technical specs
M20
$1699.00/pr
M40