Short answer: the AsciLab C6B for the higher ranking, the HiVi Swans 3.1A Sehlin Sound Solutions mod for the lower price. The AsciLab C6B ranks #4 of 47 bookshelf speakers at $1145. The HiVi Swans 3.1A Sehlin Sound Solutions mod ranks #13 at $346.74, $798.26 cheaper.
What the AsciLab C6B gets right: Two-way design pairing a 1” aluminum ceramic dome tweeter on a large waveguide with a 6” aluminum ceramic cone woofer. The tradeoff: Bass rolls off around 50Hz in-room (F3 54Hz, F10 35Hz), so a subwoofer is needed for real extension below that.
On the HiVi Swans 3.1A Sehlin Sound Solutions mod side: CEA2034 spinorama shows a mostly smooth on-axis response for a DIY three-way kit. Set against that: Some directivity error appears around 2.1kHz on-axis.
Buy the AsciLab C6B if the ranking matters more than the price. Buy the HiVi Swans 3.1A Sehlin Sound Solutions mod if the price matters more than the ranking.
Specifications Side By Side
| AsciLab C6B | HiVi Swans 3.1A Sehlin Sound Solutions mod | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1145 | $346.74 for the kit (assembly required) |
| Ranked | #4 of 47 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #13 of 47 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz | 38Hz |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 54Hz | 60Hz |
| Dimensions | 15.7"H x 8"W x 10.4"D (398.8 x 203.2 x 264.2 mm) | - |
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 85dB | 87dB |
| Drivers | 6" Aluminium Ceramic Cone with cast Aluminium Chassis woofer, 1" Aluminium Ceramic Dome tweeter | 6.5" Kevlar woofer, 2" Dome midrange, 1" Soft Dome tweeter |
| Weight | 18.5 lbs / 8.4 kg each | 13.7 lbs / 6.2 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | Rear ported |
The Two Speakers In Full
AsciLab C6B: $1145 Ascilab
Pros: Two-way design pairing a 1” aluminum ceramic dome tweeter on a large waveguide with a 6” aluminum ceramic cone woofer, crossed over at 1.1kHz, plus a rear passive radiator. Unusual trait: horizontal radiation actually widens at higher frequencies instead of narrowing like most two-way designs, which keeps image focus and soundstage depth consistent whether you toe the speakers in or out (5-10° off-axis was the sweet spot in testing). Vertical radiation also stays wide straight through the 2kHz crossover region, so the sound doesn’t collapse when standing up - unusual at this price. CA2034 measurements show strong on-axis linearity, listening window, early reflections, and directivity. Midrange and tweeter distortion stay very low even at 96dB, holding up against a $5,900 Arendal speaker in that regard despite roughly a 5x price gap. At $935 (about $1,135 shipped to the US), the reviewer calls it the best-value bookshelf speaker he’s tested, rivaling speakers 2-5x the price.
Cons: Bass rolls off around 50Hz in-room (F3 54Hz, F10 35Hz), so a subwoofer is needed for real extension below that. Low-frequency harmonic distortion increases substantially at 96dB versus 86dB, though it’s second-order and less audible than it looks on paper. Minimum impedance dips to 2.6 ohms (EPDR as low as 1.2 ohms), so it wants an amplifier comfortable driving 4-ohm loads, ideally 100W or more. At 102dB, compression noticeably eats into midrange, bass, and some treble output. Shipping to the US adds roughly $200 on top of the $935 price. Against the reviewer’s reference Audiofirst Fidelia at a similar price, has slightly less lower-midrange body (about 1dB difference) and a smaller perceived soundstage size.
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 54Hz |
| Dimensions | 15.7"H x 8"W x 10.4"D (398.8 x 203.2 x 264.2 mm) |
| Drivers | 6" Aluminium Ceramic Cone with cast Aluminium Chassis woofer, 1" Aluminium Ceramic Dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 4 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 85dB |
| Weight | 18.5 lbs / 8.4 kg each |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Links
HiVi Swans 3.1A Sehlin Sound Solutions mod: $346.74 for the kit (assembly required) Amazon
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows a mostly smooth on-axis response for a DIY three-way kit. Horizontal beamwidth of about ±70 degrees is wide and consistent. Distortion stays under control down to 40Hz at 96dB SPL/1m, a strong result for a 6.5” woofer in this class.
Cons: Some directivity error appears around 2.1kHz on-axis. Predicted in-room response needs about 1-2dB of correction to fit an ideal target curve. Vertical directivity is just okay, so listening height matters more than with a coincident design. Minimum impedance dips to 3.8 ohms with several peaks, a moderately demanding load. Requires DIY assembly (kit only), with additional Sehlin-mod parts and labor beyond the base kit price.
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60Hz |
| Drivers | 6.5" Kevlar woofer, 2" Dome midrange, 1" Soft Dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 4 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 87dB |
| Weight | 13.7 lbs / 6.2 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | Rear ported |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- HiVi Swans 3.1A Sehlin Sound Solutions mod vs MoFi SourcePoint 10
- HiVi Swans 3.1A Sehlin Sound Solutions mod vs ELAC DB63
- HiVi Swans 3.1A Sehlin Sound Solutions mod vs GR-Research NX-Studio
- HiVi Swans 3.1A Sehlin Sound Solutions mod vs GR-Research X-LS Encore
- HiVi Swans 3.1A Sehlin Sound Solutions mod vs ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
- HiVi Swans 3.1A Sehlin Sound Solutions mod vs Polk Monitor XT20
- HiVi Swans 3.1A Sehlin Sound Solutions mod vs Zu Audio Method
- Links
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Product prices and availability were last checked August 9, 2026 at 6:57 AM UTC and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.