HB-1

Key Features

• Two-way bass-reflex standmount loudspeaker
• Developed through collaboration between Kiso Acoustic and Takamine Gakki
• Cabinet handcrafted using advanced acoustic-instrument construction techniques
• Thin, lightweight solid-wood enclosure
• Resonating side panels change vibration behaviour with frequency
• No internal acoustic-absorption material
• 100 mm cone woofer
• 17 mm wood-horn tweeter individually carved from ebony
• Crossover network housed inside the speaker’s base
• German Litz-wire internal cabling
• Sculpted bass-reflex duct machined from laminated maple
• Rhodium-plated tellurium-copper terminals
• Banana-plug compatible
• Gloss finish
• Single centre-channel version available by special order
• Handcrafted in Japan

Design & Build

The HB-1 was created by combining Kiso Acoustic’s loudspeaker voicing with Takamine Gakki’s expertise in building fine acoustic instruments. Rather than suppressing cabinet vibration through heavy internal reinforcement and absorbent material, its thin solid-wood enclosure is designed to resonate in a controlled manner.

The side panels change their vibration mode according to frequency, while carefully considered internal construction shapes the cabinet’s acoustic behaviour. Its crossover network is protected within the base and connected using German Litz wire. A precisely shaped bass-reflex duct, carved from laminated maple, supports low-frequency response.

System Pairing

With an eight-ohm nominal impedance and 85 dB sensitivity, the HB-1 can be partnered with high-quality tube or solid-state amplification capable of supplying appropriate power for the desired room size and listening level.

The speaker is intended for placement on dedicated stands, with careful positioning and toe-in used to optimize imaging and tonal balance. Its compact proportions suit smaller rooms, while the specified 40 Hz–30 kHz bandwidth allows it to serve as the main loudspeaker in an ambitious two-channel system.