Hiro Junior (PAIR)

Hiro Junior —The Hiro Personality, Expressed in a 28-Liter Design

Hiro Junior carries the same Hiro character and engineering principles, scaled naturally to a 28-liter enclosure. It is not a reduced version - it is the appropriate, purpose-built Hiro for its size.

The Hiro Philosophy, Applied at Different Scales

Every model in the Hiro lineup is engineered to deliver the same core sound signature. What changes is scale — the cabinet volume, driver size, and horn size increase as you move up the line, giving each model the performance appropriate to its physical design.

Little Hiro uses the ME20 horn in a small enclosure. Hiro Junior steps up to the larger 12-inch ME45 horn. The full Hiro continues upward with even greater cabinet volume and bass authority. Each model is a complete, properly engineered Hiro — simply expressed at its intended size.

Full-Size 12-Inch Cast Aluminum Horn

Hiro Junior uses the B&C ME45 — a full-size, 12-inch cast-aluminum constant-directivity horn. This is the same horn used in the full-size Hiro and a major step above the smaller ME20 used in Little Hiro.

The ME45 offers a wider acoustic window, improved pattern control, and greater ease of presentation — all while maintaining consistent tonal balance throughout the room.

Why constant directivity matters:

stable imaging across a wide listening area
predictable off-axis behavior for cleaner room interactions
consistent tonal balance throughout the room
a more open and effortless presentation

Paired with the Beyma CD171 FE/PK compression driver, Hiro Junior delivers the instantly recognizable Hiro clarity and dynamic ease.

Mark Audio CHR-90 Main Driver

The Mark Audio CHR-90 handles bass and midrange duties, chosen for its smooth response, transient accuracy, and natural integration with the ME45 horn at the 2 kHz crossover point.

extended, balanced midrange
clean low-frequency behavior appropriate to a 28L design
excellent speed and articulation
natural handoff to the horn

In the 28-liter cabinet, the CHR-90 delivers the correct low-frequency foundation for a Hiro at this size — coherent, tuneful, and proportionally scaled to the enclosure.

User-Adjustable Horn Voicing

Hiro Junior 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 change the crossover design — it simply balances how forward or relaxed the horn feels relative to the main driver.

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 presentation.

Neutral
The reference voicing. Horn and driver integrate seamlessly with natural balance and stable imaging. This is the factory-recommended starting point.

Relaxed
The horn steps back subtly, emphasizing warmth 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.

28-Liter Baltic Birch Cabinet

Hiro Junior uses a 28-liter CNC-cut enclosure built from ¾-inch Baltic birch plywood for structural rigidity, reduced resonance, and long-term durability.

The ¼-inch solid exotic hardwood front baffle is cut from a single slab and finished by hand. 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 Construction

increased glue surface area for stronger joints
precision alignment during assembly
superior resistance to cabinet flex
visible end-grain — an honest detail of real craftsmanship

Performance

Hiro Junior maintains the unmistakable Hiro voice — open, dynamic, coherent, and natural — while offering performance appropriate for its size. Compared to Little Hiro, it delivers greater scale, deeper bass, and more effortless dynamics. The full-size Hiro extends these qualities even further with increased cabinet volume and woofer displacement.

Each model in the Hiro family is complete and correct for its size - not limited, simply engineered to match its physical design.

Specifications

Frequency Response: ≈ 46 Hz – 20 kHz
Sensitivity: ≈ 92 dB @ 1 W / 1 m
Impedance: 8 Ω
Crossover: ~2 kHz, 2nd order
Cabinet Volume: 28 liters
Dimensions: 20″ H × 10″ W × 13″ D
Weight: ≈ 32 lbs each
Woofer: Mark Audio CHR-90
Horn: B&C ME45 constant-directivity cast aluminum
Compression Driver: Beyma CD171 FE/PK

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