Heybrook hb2 -duffers or keepers?

[Wakefield Turntables]

I've never heard or seen a pair but I may have access to a pair. Are they any good?

[Arkless Electronics]

Very good yes! Smallish monitor speakers, a bit bigger than LS3/5A but not by much. I've been impressed on the occasions I've heard them.

[DSJR]

Very good. Limited power handling, especially on wobbly vinyl sources, but truly enchanting if the system allows it.

[Reffc]

They're actually pretty good and can be driven by lowish power valve amps. A Peter Comeau/Stuart Mee design, built in a rented barn in Ivybridge, the HB2 is quite noteworthy for the unusual crossover deign. Peter & Stuart were very experienced in this field and without the aid of test kit, using basic theory and hours upon hours of listening tests, they developed the relatively complex crossover which had a phase compensation circuit added to help match the drive units in phase at the crossover point. I spoke with Peter at some length about the design a few years back and it was quite clear that he was still very much attached to these little speakers, and had invested a hell of a lot of effort in their development. Quite some feat through listening tests alone! I only know of one other speaker engineer who does preliminary designs this way (a really spot on bloke who works with Spendor in case you might be wondering!). Years of experience and understanding how the electrical compensation circuits translate acoustically which allowed this labour intensive method of perfecting the HB2 made it into a roaring success. Part of that success was it was also affordable.

In terms of dynamics (ie how loud it plays and what wallop it delivers) it shouldn't be over-estimated, as typical of many similar boxes of the day, it is also a fairly polite listen. It's strengths were (and remain) good imaging, phase coherence and a nice mid-band. Not the most detailed speaker about but not too shabby either.

If you can get a really nice pair for under a ton, that's about their value (£70 to £100 per pair for a really nice pair). They don't take kindly to being over-driven as a friend of mine discovered when he leant his to his daughter for a party!

They do contain a fair few electrolytics which by now will likely require changing out. I've done several pairs of these where ESR was measured at around plus 3 Ohms from what they ought to have been new, a little like adding a 3 ohm resistor in series with the tweeters. Cheap to do though if needed.

A true classic.

[Wakefield Turntables]

They arrive tomorrow and they will be hooked upto a fully NET audio modded Quad 405-2 and I'll probably try them in the valve system as well. Should be a bit of fun.

[philv]

They arrive tomorrow and they will be hooked upto a fully NET audio modded Quad 405-2 and I'll probably try them in the valve system as well. Should be a bit of fun.

How did you get to n with the hb2?

I suppose not suitable for 8 wpm valve amp and 6 inches from rear walls?

Anyone else any experiences?

Thanks

[Wakefield Turntables]

I still own them, so that must be a glowing endorsement to say the thread was created 6+ years ago. I refurbed them and they sound very good indeed. Need a decent amount of watts to get the best from them.