AsciLab C8C vs GGNTKT M1

Short answer: the AsciLab C8C. It ranks #34 of 48 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $5799; the GGNTKT M1 ranks #35 and costs $7500, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.

What the AsciLab C8C gets right: Dual opposed 8 inch side firing subwoofers deliver true cardioid bass control and the deepest low frequency extension of any speaker in this batch, measured to just 23.4Hz at -6dB with a listening window smoothness score of 0.75, both near the top of everything on spinorama.org. Set against that: The measured Q of the bass alignment (2.13) is on the peaky side, suggesting some boominess near the port tuning frequency without EQ correction.

The case for the GGNTKT M1: One front and two rear firing 6.5 inch aluminum woofers cancel each other’s rearward radiation for genuine cardioid bass control, confirmed by a sound power directivity index that climbs steadily through the midrange rather than the erratic pattern typical of non cardioid designs. The tradeoff: On axis deviation measures a comparatively rough 0.475dB average despite the excellent listening window smoothness, meaning a listener sitting dead center may notice more unevenness than the off axis figures suggest.

Buy the AsciLab C8C. It ranks higher for sound quality than the GGNTKT M1 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.

Specifications Side By Side

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The Two Speakers In Full

AsciLab C8C: 5799 EUR/pair Audiophonics

Pros: Dual opposed 8 inch side firing subwoofers deliver true cardioid bass control and the deepest low frequency extension of any speaker in this batch, measured to just 23.4Hz at -6dB with a listening window smoothness score of 0.75, both near the top of everything on spinorama.org. On axis deviation measures a remarkably tight 0.108dB average, the flattest of anything added to this catalog from spinorama.org’s current measurement set. The alumina ceramic 3 way design offers switchable minimum phase or linear phase DSP modes for either low latency tracking or maximum time domain accuracy.

Cons: The measured Q of the bass alignment (2.13) is on the peaky side, suggesting some boominess near the port tuning frequency without EQ correction. AsciLab has repeatedly sold out of the C8C direct from the manufacturer, so buyers often pay a premium through resellers like Audiophonics or Tested Audio and may face a long wait. At 27.5kg (60 lbs) per cabinet it is heavy for a stand mount monitor.

Full AsciLab C8C review and specifications →

Bass Extension (-10dB)	20.5Hz (measured, Audio Science Review)
Bass Extension (-3dB)	30.8Hz (measured, Audio Science Review)
Bass Extension (-6dB)	23.4Hz (measured, Audio Science Review)
Country	South Korea
Crossover Points	150Hz, 1.2kHz
Dimensions	22"H x 10"W x 13.8"D (560 x 254 x 350 mm) (22.05 x 10.0 x 13.78 in)
Drivers	1" alumina ceramic dome tweeter with waveguide, 2x 6" alumina ceramic midrange/woofers, 2x 8" side mounted opposed cardioid subwoofers
Enclosure	sealed
Power Output (Watts)	600W total (100W tweeter, 250W midrange, 250W subwoofer)
Warranty	2 years
Weight	60.6 lbs / 27.5 kg (60.6 lbs) each

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• Links
  • AsciLab C8C Official Page
• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
  • Audio Science Review: AsciLab C8C Active Speaker Review
  • Audio Science Review Measurements (spinorama.org)
  • Reddit Search for AsciLab C8C Review
• Head-to-Head Comparisons
  • AsciLab C8C vs Palmer Orbit 11

GGNTKT M1: 7500 GBP/pair Purite Audio (UK)

Pros: One front and two rear firing 6.5 inch aluminum woofers cancel each other’s rearward radiation for genuine cardioid bass control, confirmed by a sound power directivity index that climbs steadily through the midrange rather than the erratic pattern typical of non cardioid designs. Listening window smoothness measures 0.67, among the best of any speaker added to this catalog from spinorama.org’s measurement set, and the measured extension reaches 33.8Hz, deeper than most speakers in this class.

Cons: On axis deviation measures a comparatively rough 0.475dB average despite the excellent listening window smoothness, meaning a listener sitting dead center may notice more unevenness than the off axis figures suggest. At £7,500/pair it is one of the most expensive speakers in this catalog, sold through a single UK dealer with no direct online checkout. The electronics live in a separate outboard enclosure connected by cable rather than being built into the cabinet, adding setup complexity most active monitors avoid.

Full GGNTKT M1 review and specifications →

Bass Extension (-10dB)	28.2Hz (measured, spinorama.org vendor data)
Bass Extension (-3dB)	33.8Hz (measured, spinorama.org vendor data)
Country	Germany
Dimensions	12.6"H x 15.9"W x 5.5"D (319 x 405 x 140 mm) (12.6 x 15.9 x 5.5 in)
Drivers	1.75" titanium ring diaphragm compression tweeter with waveguide, 3x 6.5" aluminum cone woofers (1 front, 2 rear firing, cardioid)
Enclosure	sealed
Frequency Response	36Hz-20kHz -3dB
Max SPL	112.8dB @ 1m
Power Output (Watts)	560W total (70W tweeter, 210W woofers per channel, Class D)
Warranty	3 years (with registration)
Weight	24.3 lbs / 11.0 kg (24 lbs) each

As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.

• Links
  • GGNTKT M1 Official Page
• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
  • Audio Science Review: GGNTKT Model M1
  • Manufacturer Measurements (spinorama.org)
  • Reddit Search for GGNTKT M1 Review
• Head-to-Head Comparisons
  • GGNTKT M1 vs Palmer Orbit 11