Scansonic MB5 B Floor-stander

The MB5 B is Scansonic's latest development.

The MB5 B 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 2.6 kHz and the two added woofers assist up to 250 Hz. The MB5 B carries the base right down to the deepest notes and does that with an effortless drive that will leave amazed.

Size: (WxHxD) 178 x 1185 x 319 mm
Weight: 53.8 lbs ea.
Freq. response: 29 Hz - 40 kHz
Impedance: > 4 ohm
Sensitivity: 90dB
Crossover: 250 Hz + 2600 Hz / Minimum phase
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 or White-silk
Amplification: We recommend high quality amplifiers >50W

Tom Lyle of Enjoy the Music.com wrote (February 2022):
"...I could easily fill Enjoy The Music.com's server with praise for the Scansonic MB5 B. Many times during the audition period, I would sit back and enjoy the music (pun unintended) because I would forget that I was reviewing these speakers while listening to both old favorites and enjoying new musical finds. That's what it's all about. I highly recommend the Scansonic MB5 B..."
CLICK HERE to read the entire review

Pete Davey of Positive Feedback concluded (July 2017):
"...lightning fast highs, punchy mid-bass, and tons of low-frequencies exciting glass-wear in the farthest reaches of my audio room and I just can't get enough. There is nothing like listening to an old favorite that if executed properly (on the right gear) can always bring back a trickle of nostalgia. In fact that has happened several times to me while writing this—I'll stop typing, close my eyes, turn the volume up and be transported away almost immediately. There really just is nothing like it. These speakers do everything right—and not kill the wallet. Highly Recommended."
CLICK HERE to read the entire review

Placing your Scansonic HD Loudspeakers for Optimal Performance

Though rear-ported, your Scansonic HD are easy to place in your listening room. Please follow these simple guidelines:

- In general, Scansonic HD like to be placed far apart, but relatively close to the listener. - Assuming your room can accommodate such placement, Scansonic HD like to be placed approximately 9-12 feet apart (measured from the central, vertical axis of the speaker drivers).
- Imagine a line running left to right from the front of one speaker to the other. This is the lateral plane of the loudspeakers. Now, from the center-point of this line (i.e. halfway between the left and right speaker), place a measuring tape perpendicular to this line, running perpendicular from the lateral plane of the loudspeakers and aiming towards your listening position. Your listening position should be directly on this line, approximately 6'-8' from the lateral plane of the loudspeakers.

Tonal Adjustments
Let's start by adjusting the speakers for the proper tonal balance...
- Scansonic HD need to be placed at least three feet from the back wall, i.e. the wall behind the speakers. Place the speakers at least three feet from the back wall and at least nine feet apart. Using a piece of music with which you're familiar, and which has significant bass content, move the speakers front and back until natural, powerful bass is achieved.
- Next, vary the distance between the speakers and side walls. This will allow you to adjust mid- and high-frequencies for proper balance.
- IMPORTANT: although Scansonic HD MB-series loudspeakers need to be placed several feet from the back wall, as described above, they can tolerate placement within a few inches of the closest side wall. Don't be afraid to experiment with such placement of speakers, as spreading the speakers farther apart and therefore close to the nearest side walls is often essential for best spatial performance.

Spatial Adjustments
Now, let's dial-in the speakers for best spatial performance, i.e., image focus and soundstage width...
- Scansonic HD speakers like a bit of toe-in. Aim each speaker so it points just to the outside of each shoulder, i.e. the left speaker should be aimed just to the left of your left shoulder, the right speaker aimed just to the right of your right shoulder.
- Once aimed per above, adjust for best compromise between image focus and soundstage size. Increase toe-in to achieve greater image focus, increase toe-out to enhance soundstage width. You may also want to move the speakers slightly closer together or farther apart and assess the effects upon image focus and/or soundstage width. Please note: very small movements of an inch or less can have a significant impact: proceed slowly!
- As per our recommendations included in 'Tonal Adjustments' directly above, Scansonic HDs can be placed within a few inches of the nearest side wall (This is a unique attribute for a high performance loudspeaker). Experiment with moving the speakers farther apart and closer together and choose the location that achieves the best tonal and spatial performance.