Floorstanding loudspeakers — Scansonic HD MB5 B

Built by hand in Denmark, the MB5 B from Scansonic HD is a narrow passive tower that benefits from Raidho know-how passed down to the more affordable brand. It pairs a sealed ribbon tweeter with four carbon-coned drivers in a curved cabinet, and belongs to the MB series, which Scansonic presents as Danish design with a curved shape meant to fit into most interiors. The Danish list price ranges from DKK 49,999 to 54,999 according to finish.

Key specs that matter

Frequency response spans 29 Hz to 40 kHz, sensitivity is 90 dB and impedance is rated at above 4 ohm. Crossover frequencies are 250 Hz and 2600 Hz, with a minimum-phase network. Scansonic gives the cabinet size as 178 mm in width, 1185 mm in height and 319 mm from front to back. Black-silk, white-silk and walnut versions exist, and fabric grille fronts are offered as optional accessories. The tweeter uses a sandwich membrane of Kapton and aluminium, while the carbon bass/mid units are driven by an overhung magnet system.

Engineering and use context

The MB5 B is a 2.5-way design. Scansonic states that two carbon mid-woofers work in series to raise dynamic power handling, while two further carbon-coned drivers support the bass. Solid carbon reinforcements stiffen the curved, heavily braced enclosure, a ventilated box design resting on adjustable aluminium feet. Scansonic explains that MB cabinets have an optimised internal airflow combined with minimal use of damping material, and that the port tuning targets impulse response. Low-loss spiders on the woofer and midrange units are intended to improve dynamic capability and extend low-frequency response. The crossover is designed to time-align all drivers at the listening position, and carbon fibre in key parts reflects technology passed down from Raidho. The series is described by the company as tall and Danish, with a refined exterior produced by skilled craftsmen.

Pairing

Scansonic recommends an amplifier delivering more than 50 W. The current MB series also includes the MB1 B and the MB8B with dual 8-inch woofers, and the brand also offers the M, Q and L lines, where the L10 centre speaker and the L12 SUB active subwoofer allow a multichannel system.

Alternatives

The Scansonic HD MB2.5 B is the smaller MB floorstander with two carbon-coned drivers and a ribbon tweeter in a 998 mm tall cabinet.