HB-X1

Key Features

• Two-way bass-reflex standmount loudspeaker
• Cabinet handcrafted by Takamine Gakki in Japan
• Thin, lightweight cabinet inspired by acoustic instruments
• No internal acoustic-absorption material
• Selected 100 mm cone woofer
• 17 mm wood-horn tweeter individually carved from ebony
• Premium Mundorf crossover coils, capacitors and resistors
• Copper-foil inductors with optimized skin-effect and vibration characteristics
• Ultra-low-loss crossover capacitors
• Revised internal bracing, base geometry, bottom panel and wiring
• Hard-maple front panel with premium piano-black finish
• Natural-wood purfling
• Rosewood cabinet binding
• Rhodium-plated tellurium-copper terminals
• Banana-plug compatible
• Single centre-channel version available by special order
• Handcrafted in Japan

Design & Build

The HB-X1 advances the instrument-building principles introduced with the original HB-1. Its thin, lightweight enclosure is handcrafted by Takamine Gakki and uses carefully shaped internal bracing rather than conventional acoustic-absorption material to control resonance.

The crossover network incorporates premium Mundorf copper-foil coils, ultra-low-loss capacitors and high-quality resistors. Kiso Acoustic also refined the internal bracing, base structure, bottom-panel material and wiring to complement the upgraded network.

Natural-wood purfling and rosewood binding are applied around the cabinet by experienced instrument makers, while the hard-maple front panel receives a high-grade piano-black finish.

System Pairing

With an eight-ohm nominal impedance and 85 dB sensitivity, the HB-X1 can be paired with refined tube or solid-state amplification capable of providing suitable power for its sensitivity and listening level.

Its compact dimensions allow it to perform in intimate listening spaces, yet its specified 40 Hz–30 kHz bandwidth makes it suitable as the primary loudspeaker in a full-range two-channel system. Careful stand placement, generous spacing and precise toe-in will help optimize imaging and soundstage scale.