HSU Research CCB-8 Bookshelf Speaker Review

Manufacturer & Model
HSU Research CCB-8 Bookshelf Speaker
MSRP
$369 each (Satin Black), $449 each (Rosenut Wood Veneer)
Link
http://www.hsuresearch.com
Highlights
Coaxial driver design, moderately priced, versatile cabinet placement, highly detailed full-range sound, excellent build quality.
Summary
HSU Research’s CCB-8 Bookshelf Speaker offers a unique coaxial driver design, making it an interesting alternative to other bookshelf speakers on the market. The very nature of concentric drivers creates a sound field that’s evenly dispersed across a listening area, allowing the CCB-8 to be placed upright or on its side. Overall build quality and customer support is top-notch, with the backing of one of the industry’s highly respected Internet Direct speaker companies. Sound quality produced by the CCB-8 is loaded with character and detail, making it a desirable speaker for listeners that appreciate high quality sound.
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HSU Research has been on the frontline of direct to consumer audio sales for several decades, continually designing and manufacturing high performance products that unquestionably deliver bang for the buck performance. And while the company is recognized for its bevy of powerful room shaking subwoofers, it has also found success dabbling in the world of loudspeakers. For years, HSU has wowed enthusiasts and critics with its HB-1 MK2 Horn Bookshelf and HC-1 MK2 Horn Center Channel offerings. Speaking from firsthand experience, the HB-1 is a wonderfully dynamic performer capable of matching speakers costing two-times HSU’s asking price. That’s exactly why the arrival of the company’s most recent affordable speaker model – the CCB-8 Bookshelf – is exciting. Well, that and the fact that the CCB-8 carries a wickedly unique driver design that’s fairly uncommon in today’s market.

This is the first of a two-part review investigating the CCB-8’s performance capabilities. Part One evaluates the CCB-8 as a standalone stereo speaker, while Part Two will focus on HSU’s powerful ULS-15 MK2 subwoofer (giving the CCB-8 a chance to playback movie and music material as a 2.1 system).


Coaxial By Design
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(HSU Research)

HSU Research certainly deserves praise for bringing a radical speaker design to the bookshelf segment, especially considering its price point ($369 each and $699/pair in Satin Black; $449 each and $859/pair in Rosenut). That kind of cost cracks the door for moderately budget-minded buyers, providing access to a truly versatile speaker that can be used to fill any number of roles in a home theater environment.

HSU describes the CCB-8 as its first “constant directivity coaxial loudspeaker,” which refers to the speaker’s concentric driver array. At its core, a coaxial design utilizes a driver stack that emits sound from the same source point. In the case of the CCB-8, HSU incorporates a centrally located 8-inch woofer with a single aluminum dome tweeter mounted on the back of the driver. When looking at the speaker’s woofer, the tweeter isn’t readily visible because it’s hidden beneath the driver’s acoustically transparent dust cap.

The use of a coaxial design helps to address a number of audio problems introduced by traditional driver arrays. Primarily, it eliminates lobing, which is an acoustics phenomenon that results in poor off-axis sound (typically heard as a dip or null), an issue that’s especially problematic along the plane in which drivers are aligned. Horizontally arranged drivers (such as those found on Center Channels) are notorious for suffering from lobing, causing off-axis listening positions to hear less than stellar audio. It can result in a soundstage that’s disjointed, dialog that’s difficult to understand, and the removal of vital lower midrange and bass material.

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(AV NIRVANA)

Coaxial loudspeakers emit sound from a single source point, which limits interference of sound waves generated by the speaker’s drivers. The result is a uniform response across an entire listening area, even when sitting outside of the sweet spot. This makes for a more pleasurable audio experience no matter where a listener is seated.

Adding to the speaker’s attractiveness is its easy to drive nature. The CCB-8’s overall 94 dB sensitivity rating indicates that it can be played rather loudly without the use of a powerful amp – another bonus to buyers looking for great sound without ruthlessly expensive equipment.


The Cabinet
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(AV NIRVANA)

The CCB-8’s cabinet is slightly on the large side for a bookshelf, measuring 15-inches tall x 10 1/2-inches wide x 12-inches deep. Keep in mind its coaxial driver array allows the speaker to be oriented on its side, so both height and width measurements are technically interchangeable (depending on how you choose to sit the speaker). And at 22-pounds, the CCB-8 is more than manageable to handle.

Our review samples arrived with HSU’s signature Satin Black finish, which offers a subdued sheen and low reflectivity of light. The finish isn’t impervious to smudges from hands and fingers, but those are easily remedied by rubbing with a microfiber cloth. When the finish is visually combined with the speaker’s gently rounded corners and smooth surface, the CCB-8 looks every bit the part of a HSU Research speaker: simple and unassuming. The speaker does have some physical spark, however, which is revealed by removing its front grille. What you’ll find is an eye-catchingly cool yellow woofer (and an instant punch of visual confidence).

Speaking of grilles, the CCB-8 is furnished with a magnetically attached circular grille cover. Its rigid metal mesh surface is artfully depressed in a concave manner, adding some character to the speaker’s presentation. The grille is easy to remove and adjust, allowing users to match the cover’s “HSU” markings to the speaker’s orientation.

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(AV NIRVANA)

The backside of the cabinet features dual ports (for better low frequency extension) and gold plated binding posts (which accept banana plugs, spades, and bare wire). HSU includes two foam plugs for the ports, allowing users to tune the bass response to their liking. And the binding post assembly can be unscrewed and rotated to account for speakers that are placed horizontally.

Overall fit and finish is exceptional, matching my experience with other HSU products.


Out of the Box
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(AV NIRVANA)

The CCB-8s arrived in a single heavy-duty double walled cardboard box. Internally, the speakers were encased in form-fitting foam and individually wrapped in soft protective bags. Buyers should have no concern about potential shipping damage from cheap or lacking packaging – both speakers were in pristine condition.

HSU ships the speakers with a relatively simple instruction manual that includes information on unpacking, optimal speaker placement, proper toe in recommendations, wiring, and general set up instructions. It also details the speaker’s seven-year warranty inclusions and limitations.

We captured the entire unboxing process on video, which can be viewed by clicking on the image below.




Set Up
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(AV NIRVANA) Photo of speaker positioning taken mid-evaluation.

The speakers were evaluated in a 12 1/2-foot wide x 17-foot long x 9-foot tall room; single GIK Acoustics 4A Alpha absorption/diffusor panels were situated at the first reflection points along the sidewalls.

The CCB-8s sat on IsoAcoustics Aperta isolators perched upon 28-inch tall speaker stands (for a total height of 31-inches), positioned 34-inches from sidewalls and 58-inches from the front wall. Spacing between the speakers and the primary listening position was approximately 80-inches.

After initial listening tests, I opted to run the speakers with one port plugged (which offered a great balance of deep bass and perceived tightness). Overall bass response in that configuration began to roll off around 40Hz (in-room). While two ports opened performed fine, I did find a sealed tuning to be somewhat limiting in the low frequency department.

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(AV NIRVANA) For purposes of discussion: Ground plane, 1/3 smoothing

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(AV NIRVANA) One port open configuration.

Following Dr. Hsu’s recommendations, I began initial listening tests by toeing the speakers inward, allowing the tweeter axes to cross several feet in front of the middle listening position. According to Dr. Hsu, the speaker is designed to be optimally heard at 15-degrees off axis. I ultimately tweaked positioning to a wider toe-in (still somewhat aggressive), which played better to my ear.

Associated test equipment included a Pioneer Elite VSX21-THX AVR and an OPPO UDP-205 4K UHD Blu-ray Player.


Performance
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(Images: Alexi Murdoch)

From the first moments of my initial listening session, the CCB-8 confidently exposed its most potent strength: detailed sound. It’s a revealing speaker that prefers to operate as a sonic microscope, audibly etching musical detail with laser-guided precision. In fact, new details nestled within some of my favorite albums sprung to life – which, frankly, shocked my ears.

The CCB-8 proved to be an extraordinarily fun speaker to demo. As referenced above, musical detail was simply off the charts, magnifying every breath, string squeak, lip smack, and recording imperfection. It also exhibited beautiful depth of sound (especially in the bass region) where the vibrancy and subtle characteristics of low frequency reproduction where handled nicely. Music was layered with an organic low-end and mid-range character; songs sounded shaped, controlled, and artfully crafted.

In my room, the speakers presented with uber clean and super sharp highs; the phrase “crystal clear” comes to mind. That kind of crispness helped the CCB-8 speakers to possess a lifelike nature. If you think of a spotlight illuminating figures cloaked by darkness, then you can imagine the CCB-8’s ability to expose sonic subtleties in the high frequencies – revealed detail was that dramatic.

The soundstage produced by the CCB-8 was lively and expansive. Not only was it loaded with imaging between the speakers, but also presented a fair amount of details outside of the speakers. I also noted a consistent depth of soundstage, with plenty of sound appearing to exist on a distant vertical plane. There were instances of a forward presentation, but they were far and few between. Overall, imaging and airiness of sound was pleasing to the ear.

The following is a selection of notes taken during listening sessions:

Alexi Murdoch Four Songs (CD)
Alexi Murdoch’s introductory EP contains four songs layered with flowing vocals, delicate acoustic guitars, and rolling bass. The CCB-8s delivered tantalizing amounts of detail, revealing beautiful subtleties contained within each track, including: Murdoch’s breaths between lyrics, finger rubs on guitar strings, and tiny background sounds dancing through the air. The speakers weren’t shy about delivering a crispness that punctuated high-frequency sounds, and the CCB-8’s natural bass proved to be a perfect counter balance. That balance was on full display during “Orange Sky,” with Murdoch’s voice accentuated with razor-sharp pop, and the song’s bass guitar and bass drum gently punching with a controlled presence. This is a song where bloated bass can dominate the presentation, and the CCB-8 speakers kept fantastic control of the low-end.

Overall imaging was focused, allowing the songs’ various components to occupy their own areas of space. The speakers also exhibited pleasing depth to the soundstage.

The Orb The Orb’s Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld (CD)
Shifting gears, I wanted to experience the CCB-8’s capabilities when fed challenging bass heavy material. The Orb’s seminal album, The Orb’s Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld, is loaded with plenty of chest thumping beats. The presentation proved to be majestic, with bass that was harnessed and delivered with poise. The speakers didn’t exhibit any driver or port noise during playback.

The soundstage created by the CCB-8 speakers was massive and deep. “Back Side of the Moon” sent samples dancing through the air as vintage NASA communications wrapped around the edges of the room. It was a mesmerizing listen, as voices appeared to crawl along the walls. “Perpetual Dawn” played to the CCB-8’s strengths, with sharp symbols and pulsating waves of techno rhythms bubbling outside of the soundstage.

Norah Jones Come Away With Me (SACD)
Come Away With Me is a Top Five demo disc in my audio world, and an album that my ears have enjoyed hundreds of times. The CCB-8 speakers injected lively spunk into its presentation, accentuating the upper-end feel of its music. Jones’s voice popped with vibrancy and life in a way I’d never heard – occasionally tripping into what some might categorize as a controlled brightness. The vocal’s fine details, however, were absolutely exquisite and accentuated by the smallest of details.

“Turn Me On” was a highlight listen, delivering pleasing bass that dripped with soft texture. The song’s Hammond organ was also mesmerizing, as it appeared to gently float in the background of the soundstage.

Pink Floyd The Wall (CD)
Pink Floyd’s The Wall quickly became my favorite demo disc during the CCB-8’s evaluation; it contains an inordinate amount of fine details to capture your ears’ attention. The speakers delivered a solid performance, loaded with a rich soundstage and sharp imaging. “Comfortably Numb” rolled with perfectly rounded bass punctuated by precision, while Waters and Gilmour’s haunting vocals rang with a metallic air. And “The Trial” was one of many songs that allowed the speakers to show off soundstage capabilities (most noteworthy being clopping footsteps that appeared to echo away from my listening position).

Yello Touch (CD)
The CCB-8s were right at home with Touch, happily accommodating the album’s dynamic nature. “The Expert” was presented with sounds living well outside of the speakers; synths, guitars, and samples danced in the center of the soundstage as the song’s vocals exploded to the room’s sidewall boundaries. A tremendous amount of character and detail was on display, with the most minute of sounds appearing. And “Bostich (Reflected)” had beautiful bass pounding away as small clicks and beeps floated in mid-air. Imaging for “Bostich” was flat out phenomenal, once again presenting a three-dimensional auditory experience that pushed away from the primary listening position.

Various Artists HSU Demo Disc (CD)
Dr. Hsu kindly included a disc stocked with his favorite demo tracks (what a delightful listen!). Many of the tracks are vocal heavy with songs that allow the CCB-8 speakers to show off their incredible ability to relay highlight details. Track Two presented Rebecca Pidgeon singing “Spanish Harlem.” The CCB-8s took her vocals and reproduced them beautifully, complete with fine echoes and sharp details. Abdullah Ibrahim’s “Calypso Minor” also sounded fantastic, with crystal clear imaging, an expansive soundstage, and a nakedness of sound that made it appear as if the instruments were in my listening space. And a rendition of “Hallelujah” had vocals that seemed to rise into the thinness of air, with minutia (like the smallest breath or lip smack) raw and present.

Other tracks featuring string and brass instruments relayed that same sense of intricately layered detail and composition.


Conclusion
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(AV NIRVANA)

The CCB-8 Bookshelf Speaker is the latest in a line of impressive loudspeaker offerings from HSU Research, and was incredibly fun to audition; it’s truly a master of reproducing fine sonic character. While the speaker possesses warmth in the low frequency realm, it certainly has a presentation that’s driven by its sharp presence. If you’re a listener that appreciates unique speaker designs, versatility, a budget friendly price-point, and exactness in presentation, then the CCB-8 should be on your shortlist. And with HSU’s generous 30-Day return policy, it’s an easy speaker to recommend.




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CCB-8 Bookshelf Speaker Specifications
  • Frequency Response: 50Hz – 20kHz +/- 2 dB at 15 degrees off axis
  • Sensitivity: 94 dB / 1m / 2.83V in Half Space
  • Recommended Amplifier Power: 10-400 W RMS Per Channel
  • Woofer: 8-Inch
  • Enclosure Type: Vented ; 3⁄4” MDF
  • Recommended Impedance Setting: 8 ohms
  • Enclosure Dimensions: 15” H x 10 1⁄2” W x 12” D
  • Dimensions with Grille: 15” H x 10 1⁄2” W x 121⁄2” D
  • Weight: 22 lbs
  • Warranty: 7-years
 
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tripplej

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Nice write-up and review. I have always been impressed with HSU Research.
 

Todd Anderson

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Thanks trippleJ!
HSU is definitely a good company to be impressed with! ;-)
 

tripplej

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Yeah, very few manufacturers get consistent awards like HSU Research so it is good to get up to date information on these type of manufacturers and see what they are up to. :)
 

Todd Anderson

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Video review added:

 

tripplej

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Thanks for uploading the video. Very nice video with a lot of detail.
 

Sonnie

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Awesome review Todd... :T

I remember listening to these at Axpona and they were fabulous. He had them pulled way out into the room... I was puzzled at the placement until I sat down and started listening. I could sit and listen to this system for hours on end and never get tired. It is really amazing how he can produce these at such a bargain price.
 

Jack

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Thank You Todd, as usual this is a wonderful review and most certainly wets out appetite for these speakers. I bet having this at all points in a home theater system would rock the Casbah.
 

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Awesome review Todd... :T

I remember listening to these at Axpona and they were fabulous. He had them pulled way out into the room... I was puzzled at the placement until I sat down and started listening. I could sit and listen to this system for hours on end and never get tired. It is really amazing how he can produce these at such a bargain price.

Thank you. Yes, the positioning on these is slightly different, for sure. As I mentioned, I loosened up the toe-in some.

Agreed on the price... a very common theme across all HSU products!
 

Todd Anderson

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Thank You Todd, as usual this is a wonderful review and most certainly wets out appetite for these speakers. I bet having this at all points in a home theater system would rock the Casbah.


Thanks Jack!
 

cgramer

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The CCB-8s sat on IsoAcoustics Aperta isolators perched upon 28-inch tall speaker stands (for a total height of 31-inches), positioned 34-inches from sidewalls and 58-inches from the front wall. Spacing between the speakers and the primary listening position was approximately 80-inches.

Thanks for the detailed review! How do you think the CCB-8s would sound in a room where I don't have enough space to place them nearly 5 feet into the room? The room is big enough, I guess, but it's used for TV/movies as well as music, so having my TV and speakers 5 feet out from the back wall wouldn't be very practical (and they'd be right in front of a storage room door, too). :) Do you think they'd perform well at, say, 12-18" from the back wall and maybe 3 feet from the side walls (the room's about 14 feet wide and about 20 feet long, front to back)?

Thanks!
—Chris
 
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Todd Anderson

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SVS Prime Elevation x4 (Top Middle, Top Rear)
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dual SVS SB16s + dual PSA XS30s
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JVC NX7
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Seymour Screen Excellence, Enlightor NEO AT Screen
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iFi Audio Zen Blue
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LG Electronics 65-inch B6 OLED, Sony 65-inch X900F, ZeroSurge 8R15W x 2, ZeroSurge 2R15W x 2
Hi Chris!

Tough question... remember, they're ported (yes, can be run sealed, but I preferred one port open), so the further away from a wall, the better. As for how they'd perform about a foot to a foot/half away from a wall? I'd assume they'd perform quite well.

The biggest set up requirement is achieving the proper toe-in. I had a chance to use these speakers a second time (in my dedicated home theater room) and revisited toe-in. I ultimately decided that (in that room) a toe-in that crossed in front of the listening position (which basically puts the MLP 15-degrees off axis) created a seriously sharp and active soundstage.

Have you tried emailing Dr. Hsu? He might have a more productive comment about front wall placement (if you do, let me know what he says ;-)
 

Matthew J Poes

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Hi Chris!

Tough question... remember, they're ported (yes, can be run sealed, but I preferred one port open), so the further away from a wall, the better. As for how they'd perform about a foot to a foot/half away from a wall? I'd assume they'd perform quite well.

The biggest set up requirement is achieving the proper toe-in. I had a chance to use these speakers a second time (in my dedicated home theater room) and revisited toe-in. I ultimately decided that (in that room) a toe-in that crossed in front of the listening position (which basically puts the MLP 15-degrees off axis) created a seriously sharp and active soundstage.

Have you tried emailing Dr. Hsu? He might have a more productive comment about front wall placement (if you do, let me know what he says ;-)
Dr. Hsu also suggests this. Its a way of taking advantage of time-intensity trading. a method that is only feasible with controlled dispersion speakers. it ensures the center image remains stable as you move around.
 

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Dr. Hsu also suggests this. Its a way of taking advantage of time-intensity trading. a method that is only feasible with controlled dispersion speakers. it ensures the center image remains stable as you move around.

Yes, I discussed Dr. Hsu's suggestion in the review... I should have made that more evident my response above. ;-)

The review setup ended-up not having quite an aggressive toe-in... second time around I found the aggressive toe-in to sound fantastic.
 

-Jim-

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Hi Gents,

Based on this review - Thank-you - (and others) I purchased a set of 3 CCB-8s for the fronts in our 7.2.4 Dolby Atmos system in our remodeled Games Room. (I never heard them - just read about them. We never have made this large a purchase, especially in a foreign country. I reside in Canada not the USA. So this was a huge leap of faith.)

After obtaining a set of Rockville RHTSB 36" Inch Bookshelf Speaker Stands to get the CCB-8s to ear level as recommended by HSU, and tweaking the set-up (it still needs some refinement); I can say that I'm definitely satisfied with the purchase.

By the way, I bought them in November 2018. So almost two years years later they are standing up to the test of time. I'm amazed these haven't taken off with others in the Audiophile Community. They remain a secret to most, which is a pity.

Thanks for the reviews.
 

Sonnie

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Agree... these should be doing really well... wish I had another room for a setup.
 

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Hi Gents,

Based on this review - Thank-you - (and others) I purchased a set of 3 CCB-8s for the fronts in our 7.2.4 Dolby Atmos system in our remodeled Games Room. (I never heard them - just read about them. We never have made this large a purchase, especially in a foreign country. I reside in Canada not the USA. So this was a huge leap of faith.)

After obtaining a set of Rockville RHTSB 36" Inch Bookshelf Speaker Stands to get the CCB-8s to ear level as recommended by HSU, and tweaking the set-up (it still needs some refinement); I can say that I'm definitely satisfied with the purchase.

By the way, I bought them in November 2018. So almost two years years later they are standing up to the test of time. I'm amazed these haven't taken off with others in the Audiophile Community. They remain a secret to most, which is a pity.

Thanks for the reviews.

Thanks for the kind comments, Jim! The CCB-8 is definitely a very unique speaker. I'd hazard to guess that some folks are hesitant to spring for a rather novel design?

Curious to know if you have your listening setup with the speakers at an aggressive front-crossing toe-in? I know that one review (Z Reveiws on YouTube) was down on the speaker, but he failed to accommodate HSU's recommended toe-in, which I found to make a world of difference.
 

-Jim-

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Thanks for the comments Gents. I tried the CCB-8s as I'd "normally" set up new speakers, and also with the front-crossing toe-in.

I've left it with the latter, as it does make a major positive difference. But lately I haven't had much time to play with that system.

I've purchased a MIC and downloaded REW some time ago to play with it here, but the PC I loaded it onto died. So once I rebuild it (another hobby) I hope to get competent enough with REW to make sense of the whole 7.2.4 system in that room.

Somehow I think that learning curve is going to be a steep one.
 

michaelspiellman

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Hi Todd, It's been a long time since you reviewed the HSU CCB-8 speakers. Recognizing that you have probably listened to thousands of speakers since this review, do you think the HSUs still hold up as a quality speaker (It's been 5 - 6 years since they were originally released)? On a more granular basis, do they compare favorably to the SVS Ultra Bookshelf. I have an HSU sub and just run a Marantz NR 1608. Thanks in advance for your thoughts. Regards.
 

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Qobuz, TIDAL, Spotify, ROON
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LG Electronics 65-inch B6 OLED, Sony 65-inch X900F, ZeroSurge 8R15W x 2, ZeroSurge 2R15W x 2
Hi @michaelspiellman, glad you found the review! The CCB-8 is an interesting speaker. They throw a very detailed image when you set them up properly... and if I remember correctly, they can reach down the sides of your room as well. They aren't the warmest of speakers, so I'd tend to recommend them to someone that values imaging and exactness over everything else.

The Ultra Bookshelf is a killer speaker. They also image well but bring some lower-end capabilities to the party. When I reviewed them, I thought they actually presented better than the Ultra Towers for soundstage (tho, I'd concede that some of that may have come from set-up).

What are you looking to use the speakers for? Music? Movies?

Welcome to AV NIRVANA, btw! ;-)
 

michaelspiellman

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Todd, Thanks for the prompt response! My wife and I use our setup for about 80% movies/TV and 20% music, running a 6.1 set up now.

In addition to the SVS, I was looking at the KEF LS50 Meta, but I just don't think my little Marantz NR 1608 (50 W per channel) has enough juice to drive them. The KEF's did remind me though of the HSU CCB-8's (with the tweeter imbedded in the Woofer), and the HSU's are pretty efficient. The HSU's are also a well-built, heavy speaker (22 pounds) like the KEF's which I think are around 19 pounds. Although the similarities may end there.

There are a lot of really good speakers and picking a new set for my L/C/R front speakers can seem daunting. I like speakers with nice detail, have good depth, and a big soundstage. With the sub-woofer we have, I don't necessarily need a speaker that is really bass heavy (like the SVS Prime Pinnacle tower).

Any additional thoughts you may have would be appreciated. My budget is around $2,000 or so for the L/C/R speakers, although I can go higher (just don't think it is necessary with all of the solid options out there).

Regards,
mike
 

-Jim-

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After almost 4 years of L/C/R ownership, I still think the HSU CCB-8s are an undiscovered Gem, and I would have no complaints at all in buying them now in 2022. According to everything I read, they perform far, far above their price point. I learned enough to use REW some time ago on a good laptop, and ran a few tests in our Games Room. Without much tweaking (I shifted the positions of my Subs, and angled the Center upwards just a bit) and they sound fantastic. Using a CCB-8 as a Center avoids the "lobbing" found in using typical MTM setups like SVS (and many others).

My only knock was the yellow LF cones were a bit strange (you get used to them - but I typically leave the grills on); but now they are available in Black, so that little gripe has been overcome. Make sure you get speaker stands at the correct height (I got Rockville RHTSB 36" Inch Bookshelf Speaker Stands for the CCB-8s) for whatever you purchase. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
 

michaelspiellman

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That is great feedback Jim, thank you! In your setup, do the HSU's provide nice detail and a fairly large soundstage? I've had an HSU sub since 2005. Always thought the build quality and performance delivered by the HSU product line has been outstanding.

My only concern with the HSU CCB-8 speakers is there seems to be a very small user base and it is difficult to get a broad enough perspective on how they perform from that narrower audience base. For most of the higher sales volume speakers, there are a lot of reviews and an abundance of individual consumers sharing their real-life experience.

Thanks in advance for sharing your experience.
Regards
 

-Jim-

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That is great feedback Jim, thank you! In your setup, do the HSU's provide nice detail and a fairly large soundstage? I've had an HSU sub since 2005. Always thought the build quality and performance delivered by the HSU product line has been outstanding.

My only concern with the HSU CCB-8 speakers is there seems to be a very small user base and it is difficult to get a broad enough perspective on how they perform from that narrower audience base. For most of the higher sales volume speakers, there are a lot of reviews and an abundance of individual consumers sharing their real-life experience.

Thanks in advance for sharing your experience.
Regards
My "sound" experience with HSU CCB-8s is all positive, great detail and large soundstage and imaging. I'm into Concert Blu-Ray disks and the CCB-8's perform fabulously with good source material. However, I use this Atmos system for all kind of sources. Our latest purchase (a year ago now - time flies!) was to move to a 75 inch QLED TV for this room. So this has become my go to room for TV Sports as well (Football & Hockey mostly) and the CCB-8's don't let you down here, but you are at the mercy of whatever the broadcaster / cable company transmits. As with all systems, good source material is the foundation for performance.

One of the key evaluators for me was the ability to use a CCB-8 as a center and place it under the TV and avoid issues with MTM speakers "lobbing". Of course it blends perfectly (as it is identical) with the L&R speakers. The speaker is only 10.5" high in this orientation and allows me to keep the TV at a desired height.

But rather than take my word for it really you should read the reviews from the Pros (and there are lots of reviews out there => and every one I read was very positive.). I think the reason these didn't take off initially was the odd yellow cones (resulting in some negative feedback & lower WAF - but is now resolved with black cones being available); and HSU not matching SVS (and others) on "free" return freight (which is built into the price from the other OEMs).

I'm usually a very conservative purchaser, and had never bought speakers on line without hearing them. Even though HSU offers a 30 day return policy (and a 7 year warranty!), I chewed on buying the CCB-8s for a long time as I knew if I didn't like them, it would be a tough go to export them back to California from Canada.

All said and done, if I was making the buying decision today, I'd do it again but this time with black cones. ;)

Good luck with your selection and purchase.
 

michaelspiellman

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Thanks Jim, that is the exact type of feedback I was hoping to hear. Similar to you, we moved up to a 75" TV awhile back as well (the upper end TCL) and the HSU Center will fit fine under our TV. We have a relatively large living room (30 x 16) so the HSUs should sound great in there!
Regards,
mike
 
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