One of the things I like about this channel is it's very anglo-centric focus. It represents a long tradition of a very British approach to hifi, also represented, to a lesser degree, with hifi riff. I don't think I have ever seen Phil discuss a Chinese or American product. Now my systems are full of Chinese products and some American, and I love them, but there are a million RU-vid channels talking about that stuff, so it's nice to have a different viewpoint other than the next hyped Chinese DAC or streamer.
My first speakers were HB1's, remember them fondly. Couldn't afford the HB2 at the time. Then again I was young and the HB1's had a bigger bass driver, so to me they were better🙂
Peter Comeau has had an extraordinary career in hifi. My end point speakers are the Elysian 4s which he was involved in designing and, if there was ever a speaker which was good at everything, it's them. I have never heard Heybrooks, though. Must try sometime. Damn. Meant to put this in general comments. Phil is excellent though.
Fascinating discussion thank you. £165 in 1980 equates to around £443 today according to my inflation calculator. Try getting anything near as good for that price! I took my old Kef 104s along to a dealer to see what they could offer that was 'better sounding' (of course it's subjective), and nothing came close. The main shortfall in the modern designs was bass authority and punch. Physics tells us that to set up large low frequency sound waves needs a solid platform and the smaller, flimsier designs just can't do it IMO.
Not just for speakers but for other components as well I find that higher resolving and more “accurate” does not always satisfy. Sometimes what is missing is “truth AND beauty”. Musical *involvement and communication* is equally important, if not more so. So far I have found components that get me almost there and that the next step is “fixing” the room. After that (which will not be exactly cheap) I will (probably) need just a few more tweaks and maybe a cartridge upgrade. Note: One of the components that I absolutely love is a 70s vintage Sansui 717 AM/FM tuner. Good analog FM signals are somehow magical. The Sansui had to be completely gone through and upgraded (my tech replaced over 90 caps!) but it was worth every penny.
I've owned a pair of HB2s since about 1982. From what I can remember they cost around £180, a tidy sum to be found from a Saturday job, Christmas and birthday money. The first bit of kit was a Rogers A75 Series 2 amplifier, bought half price as an ex demo for £149, which sat in solitary splendour until I could afford the Rega Planar2 and Sennheiser HD400 headphones to go with it. For the next 30 years these three bits of kit formed the core of my stereo. I always wanted a pair of HB3s but they were (a) too expensive and (b) too big for my bedroom. In the last ten years I've managed to acquire a vintage Planar 3 from my father and a pair of HB3s from eBay. The HB3s were a bit disappointing at first. They are much more efficient that the HB2 and therefore much louder, but the sound stage wasn't as well defined and they seemed harsher. Of course there's a lot of what you're used to, but I also have a theory that the electrolytic capacitors suffer if they're not used. Any way, since the HB3s have been "run in" again they're sounding much better and I suspect better placement has improved the sound stage. The HB2s are now relegated to the garage with a NAD3020, Denon CD player and an old lap-top for streaming from Spotify. The Rogers continues to perform flawlessly, as does the Rega - with a Goldring 1042. Thanks for these little gems, they're very interesting.
The Heybrook HB100s I purchased in the late 80's are still my main. Every time I think about trying something "new", a put a record on and change my mind. They're not perfect, but they have the "live" mojo that the other speakers I auditioned at the time did not possess.
The one gem that came with the HB1 were their rigid 4 pillar stands, for about an extra 50UKP. I put a set if these under my Tangent RS4s speakers where they replaced the ubiquitous flimsy low-laying castor wheel stands that put the tweeter way below ear level. Although this was 40 years ago I vividly remember the first record played.. Van Morrisons 'Crazy Love'....and for the first time I heard the female back up singers spread out in their own spaces, while before they were in a murky background. And the bass started and stopped much quicker with the HB stands. In the way my LP12/Ittok was supposed to deliver-put previously didn't. Yes the HB stands and the Sound Organization equipment table ( also priced at 50UKP) seemed to find their way into many systems.
Interesting review, agree the other comments about Kelvin of Stereo ReviewX! Never owned HB2s, but I did have a pair of HB3s. Wish I still did, but they had to go, too big! They were excellent though, so not surprised the HB2s are good as well.
It's interesting the vintage v modern debate. I recently got rid of an Exposure 2510 and have kept a Sansui 221 in my office because the Exposure was just not pleasant for all day listening as the Sansui is. I think of it like watching a movie on 35mm film, not totally accurate but definitely a lovely presentation.
I have a pair of Spendor Preludes and they will give any modern speaker a lesson in how to make a speaker sound “right”. In those days people used their ears to voice speakers, now it’s mainly done on computers, yes they might measure well, but the sound of the music, especially timbre and instrument resonance (woodiness) has been lost.
I stand corrected here is the quote....for the HB1 and HB2... “We didn't like the sound of. MDF,” says Comeau. “I preferred the sound of chipboard and still do. ´´
I still have a pair of Heybrook HB3 speakers. They are still pretty capable driven by an Audio Innovations 500/Border Patrol combo. The drivers are 10", 5" and 19mm soft dome all by SEAS. It would take a lot of persuasion for me to part with them. They would probably benefit from a better tweeter and x-over rebuild but would definitely cost a lot to replace with anything that sounds as good. As you say they are not a common speaker. Not sure of original cost but price and size would have made them less appealing than the smaller speakers of the time.
You’re absolutely right about the vintage nostalgia bug. I’m still fond of my first system that I bought from Sevenoaks HiFi (after much deliberation!), Dual CS505-2 deluxe, Rotel RA820BX, AR18BX (didn’t love so replaced with Royd Minstrels in 96). I then bought Royd Abbots and Heralds because I love the Minstrels so much. Recently I bought Videoton Minimax 2’s purely out of curiosity as I fancied but couldn’t afford them as a teenager around 1984. They’re nice but not sure how true to the originals as drivers have been changed. I also bought a NAD C320 to see if I’d originally made the right choice buying the Rotel back in 1986 rather than the NAD 3020. I find them pretty similar. These days I actually listen mostly on in ear headphones (KZ ZSN Pro) with a dongle DAC (Fiio KA1) from my iPhone into my Schiit Lyr 2.
Original price was £165, so not exactly a budget speaker. A mate got a pair when they were £185. The crossover has 13 elements, so effecting on efficiency, I would have thought. Worked really well with a Nad 3020.
I bought the Heybrook 2’s back in 1982/83, I had them on their dedicated steel stands and used them first at home, (high ceilings) and then in my first and second homes. I liked them, but they didn’t do bass and sounded compressed when pushed. I hadn’t used them for many years then sold them prior to my next house move, probably gave them away
Good speakers these. I eventually owned a pair of Heybrook Sextets in walnut which were beautiful speakers. Only sold them in the last few years and wish I hadn’t.
i bought HB 2's in 1981 and used them for many years, i found them very refined but recently wanted a bigger sound and bigger bass in a new house and have moved them for use in a smaller spare room. Wonder what i changed them for? B&W 620 S2, not quite so refined though very efficient and very big wide sound.
Ah yes the HB2s. They were my very first speakers and I had them a long time. The rest of the system was an A&R A60 and an LP12. I remember hearing the Mission 770 Mk1s and thinking they were better than my HB2s.I still enjoyed them and I think I paid £150 for them and about £770 for my LP12/Ittok/Assak.
I had the HB1s back in ‘84 but they didn’t last. The bass cones degraded by about ‘00 and I replaced them with Monitor Audios which are still going strong.
HB1's were massive sellers but I'm not so sure the HB2's were. My HB1's were awesome when positioned correctly in the right sized room with the right type of music. Loved them to bits but they were a bit picky. I also remember listening to some Heybrook floorstanders - Heylios? They were pretty good too. It's a shame Heybrook have gone now.
I would upgrade the HB2 drivers and the cross overs with new. In my opinion this would match if not better newer speakers. I have castle richmonds with modern drivers and they are excellent in sound reproduction.
Hey, have just come across your channel. You have a great presentation way and obviously very knowledgeable. May I respectfully suggest you 'up your game' with the lighting and video quality to match the quality of the content. Keep the videos coming.
I restored a pair of these a few weeks ago thewere nice speakers, I fitted them with seas 8” drivers and ls3/5a tweeters and made custom crossovers , and ported them , miles better
@@Ricky-cl5bu Width ways, I didn't think the cabinet would be big enough for an 8" driver. But, as you've done it... They seem like a perfectly good speaker originally.
What do you need? New grilles can be got from Wilmslow Audio. I had some made to measure as their off the shelf ones are for the Mk2 without the brushed aluminium name plate across the middle. They made them slightly thicker than standard which was closer in appearance to the original foam covers.
Only if manufactured in China - even then at least £500 these days . Very limited choice up to £400. My Dali Oberon 1s retail £399 UK manufactured brands sold through dealers start North of £1000 now
