Hiro (Pair)

Hiro — The Flagship Expression of the Hiro Sound

The largest and most capable model in the Hiro lineup. Full-size horn, full-size cabinet, full-scale performance.

The Hiro Philosophy at Full Scale

All Hiro models share the same engineering philosophy and sound signature. As size increases across the family, you gain deeper bass, greater scale, and more dynamic authority — while the core presentation stays true to the Hiro voice.

Little Hiro delivers the Hiro sound in a compact form. Hiro Junior expands the sound with a larger cabinet and the ME45 horn. The full Hiro completes the lineup with the deepest bass, the most headroom, and the most immersive sense of space.

Full-Size 12-Inch Cast Aluminum Constant-Directivity Horn

At the center of Hiro’s sound is the B&C ME45 — a full-size, 12-inch cast-aluminum constant-directivity horn sourced from Italy. Paired with the Beyma CD171 FE/PK compression driver, it offers effortless clarity, scale, and dynamic realism.

Why constant directivity matters:

consistent tonal balance across the listening area
stable imaging and soundstage
predictable room reflections
a clean, open presentation at any volume

This horn defines the Hiro family — the ME45 is responsible for the wide, open, live-sounding character that listeners recognize immediately.

Woofer Options — Appropriately Sized for Hiro’s Full-Scale Cabinet

Hiro is available with either of two Mark Audio woofers, each chosen for its natural midrange and controlled low-frequency behavior:

CHR120 (6.5″) — Balanced, smooth, and dynamic
MA200M (8″) — Increased bass depth and authority

Both options maintain the Hiro voicing. The larger woofer simply expands bass extension and room impact appropriately to the flagship cabinet size.

Crossover Integration

A carefully engineered passive network blends the woofer and horn at approximately 2 kHz. The design emphasizes:

phase-coherent integration
natural vocal reproduction
effortless dynamic transitions
a seamless handoff from woofer to horn

High-quality film capacitors, air-core inductors, and robust internal wiring ensure longevity and consistency.

User-Adjustable Horn Voicing

Hiro includes a top-mounted, user-accessible resistor that allows you to fine-tune the horn’s output to your room and personal taste. This adjustment does not alter the crossover design — it simply balances how forward or relaxed the horn feels relative to the woofer.

The circuit operates at low speaker-level voltage. There is no risk of electric shock, and no setting can damage the horn, woofer, or amplifier.

Bold
The horn becomes slightly more forward, increasing presence, immediacy, and perceived detail. Well-suited for lower listening levels, absorptive rooms, or listeners who enjoy a more vivid, energetic presentation.

Neutral
The reference voicing. The horn and woofer integrate seamlessly, preserving tonal balance, imaging, and scale. This is the factory-recommended starting point.

Relaxed
The horn steps back subtly, emphasizing warmth, body, and long-term listening comfort. Ideal for lively rooms or listeners who prefer a smoother, more laid-back sound.

All voicing options are intentional, safe, and fully reversible — trust your ears.

Baltic Birch Cabinet — Built for Strength and Scale

Hiro uses a large-volume cabinet constructed entirely from ¾″ Baltic Birch plywood for stiffness, control, and long-term durability.

Front Baffle

The face is ¼″ solid exotic hardwood, cut from a single slab and hand finished. Seasonal species include walnut, oak, Brazilian hickory, black limba, and wenge plus more. See wood options page for details. and more. Grain-matched, hand-sanded, and individually finished.

Rabbet-Joint Joinery

increased glue surface area
mechanical interlock for rigidity
self-aligning construction
visible end-grain — an honest expression of real woodwork

Digitally Engineered Composite Components

Every Hiro includes precision 3D-printed polymer hardware — horn cradles, internal mounts, and structural reinforcement — all modeled in CAD and printed to exact tolerances.

These optimized parts eliminate vibration, maintain perfect alignment, and mirror modern composite practices used in premium loudspeaker construction.

Performance

Hiro offers the largest sense of scale, deepest bass extension, and greatest dynamic headroom in the Hiro family. It is the fullest expression of the Hiro sound — open, rich, effortless, and immersive.

The signature Hiro voicing remains consistent. The flagship cabinet simply allows it to reach its maximum depth and authority.