Scansonic MB1 B Bookshelf Speakers Pair

Scansonic MB1 B

The MB1 B is a small and very elegant 2-way speaker, designed to blend in anywhere. The elegant enclosure is curved and heavily braced with solid carbon reinforcements. The speakers are designed around a sealed ribbon-tweeter and a 4.5” carbon-coned woofer. The sound is open, crisp and very dynamic, and MB1 B is able to produce a soundstage that performs beyond its compact size. The reflex-port is located at the front which makes the MB1 B a good choice in rooms with little or no space, placed in a bookshelf or on the matching stands.

The MB-stands are sold separately and are available in two different designs. One matching the adjustable aluminium-feet seen on the larger MB B models.

Key Features:

- 2-way bookshelf speaker pair
- Low mass ribbon tweeters
- 4.5″ carbon cone drivers
- Rounded cabinet design reduces diffraction and colouration
- Reflex port at front of speaker for ease of placement
- Visually and tonally matches the rest of the MB Series speakers
- Authentic Scandinavian design
- Easy on the eyes and ears
- Maximum performance in the price range
- Technology inherited from world-renowned Raidho Acoustics speakers
- MB-B series speakers have been upgraded and optimized in almost all areas
- Matching stands available separately
- Fabric grilles available separately

Scandinavian design and build quality

The MB1 B has a solid foundation in the Nordic design tradition. It is simple, sleek, elegant and visually square when seen directly from the front, and curved and organic when seen from an angle.

The rounded edges of the cabinet reduce diffraction and minimize the sonic imprint on the frequency response. It does not matter if your home features a modern or classic decor, or anything in-between, the timeless design of the MB1 B will fit in any space.

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.

Ribbon Tweeters

It was clear to Scansonic from the very beginning, that some core techniques from the Raidho speakers would be of great 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.

The MB-B ribbon tweeter has a membrane with an extremely low mass. It is formed by a Kapton-aluminium sandwich that is only 20 um thick, and the resulting mass is app. 0.03g, 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 colouration.

Redesigned 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 MB-B range. The crossover has been designed to time-align all drive units at listening distance. The result is a speaker which not only presents a large and precise soundstage, it also boasts a timing that will make your foot tap and put a big smile on your face!

Weaved Carbon Cones

For the MB-B series, Scansonic developed a ridged, dustcap free, carbon membrane. By carefully optimizing the shape and stiffness, Scansonic has 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 drivers are carefully designed to match the slim enclosure. The carbon-cone benefits from a very low weight, which in combination with the powerful magnet system, offers a very dynamic sound.

A nice side effect of these design choices is that the break-in period has been reduced greatly to around 100 hours, meaning you can hear the best sound your speakers can offer sooner.

Sounds great with any amp

The Scansonic MB-B speakers are, by design, easy loads on practically any amplifier. The impedance doesn't drop below 4 ohms on any model, and the sensitivity is high on all models.

We will recommend a high-quality amplifier at any time, but it doesn't matter if it is a tube amplifier, solid-state, a Class D, or a Class A. The MB-B speakers are designed to sound great with anything, you connect them to.

About the MB Series

The MB Series, now in its second generation, is based on technologies that originated in the world-renowned Raidho Acoustics speakers, most notably, the signature ribbon tweeter. The MB-B Series presents a wide range of affordable speakers where the goal is to offer a very high-quality level, all wrapped in classical and authentic Scandinavian design.

The MB-B series was designed to see how far it is possible to go on a budget, designing a series of products that is accessible for most people but also with no compromise in sound quality.

The design was essential, and the visual appearance of an MB-B speaker will fit any room with the clean lines and a simple choice of modern colours: satin white, black, or walnut.

About Scansonic HD

It would be impossible to introduce Scansonic without first mentioning Raidho. Having worked with Raidho speakers for more than 12 years, this Danish group of engineers and designers found themselves facing a completely new challenge when they were tasked with creating a new range of high-performance speakers for the Scansonic brand.

From the start, Scansonic's team were dedicated to building on all the experiences and strengths obtained from designing the Raidho speakers. At the same time, they also had to be aware of the long heritage and the Nordic design tradition of the Scansonic brand. The ultimate goal was to create the very best possible speakers within reasonable financial limits.