HiFi Subjectivist ¦ Audio Forum ¦ NVA User Group

I had a soft spot for these back in the day, though the treble was a bit obvious, and the box sang along, they did communicate. There's an 'all new' version...

https://heybrookhifi.co.uk/product/hb1/

I bought these speakers in 1983 after comparing them with a number of similarly priced ones. They sounded so much better and cost around £180. I had them for over twenty years. Fond memories.

I paid £127 for my HB1's back when they first came out in 1983. They are in use as surround speakers in my AV system. I refoamed the surrounds about 10 years ago.

Over time I think that the tweeters on mine have become less hot.

They're the sort of speakers that if you see a pair with rotten surrounds on the woofers selling for £50ish, they are worth buying as acceptable sounding ultra budget speakers. Along with a refoam kit.

Audio Note speakers - from what I've heard of them so far - seem to share a similar sonic signature to HB1's. The same strong points and the same basic weaknesses. A lack of bass extension and bass impact. Some crudeness in the midrange. A lack of in room authority in larger rooms. But overall listenable enough for a fairly small speaker.

Am I right in thinking that the new HB1's are sealed? The same as original HB1's? If so, I'd say that that was a sound design decision.

Lindsayt wrote: ↑Wed Jun 01, 2022 1:42 pm I paid £127 for my HB1's back when they first came out in 1983.

That was probably about what I paid, it was a long time ago.

Can't remember if they were £129 or £149 when I was selling them back in the late 80's.

A little rough around the edges, but very engaging, and revealing. One of my favourites.

They were easy to drive. I partnered them with a NAD 3020 fronted by a Rega Planar 3. A modest system which sounded very good.

£127 from June 1983 is the equivalent to £500 today.

The new, 2022 version of the HB1 retails for £2750.