Thanks, I just noticed that a few minutes after I posted funnily enough!
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Ascend Acoustics Sierra LX Review
- Thread starter Narek
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JLGF1
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- Feb 23, 2023
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There are actual customer pics in the photo gallery: Ascend customer photo gallery
The drivers of the various models may be different, but the (bookshelf) cabinets are the same.
Also, these piano black pics, as already mentioned.
The drivers of the various models may be different, but the (bookshelf) cabinets are the same.
Also, these piano black pics, as already mentioned.
Last edited:
Ooh thanks, I didn't notice that customer page before.
ExPerfectionist
Active Member
I have these in piano black as well, 3x for my LCR. Amazing speakers.
When I got them 3~ ish months ago, I was experimenting with setup and I found I could toe them out quite a bit and maintain a solid center image (maybe 30 degrees away from LP). However later on I pointed them back inwards a little more, like towards my shoulders or slightly wider (maybe 10 degrees from LP), and compared listening to some Norah Jones tracks. I noticed that her voice lost some of the higher mid/treble timbre when toed out further, and regained when I toed back in. I've kept them with the closer toe-in angle since then.
I posted my initial thoughts and pictures here in June:
I've done some REW testing on them. I'm moving in a few weeks and planning on adding a sub (maybe Rythmik F12SE for FVX12), looking forward to having fun setting up and measuring them in the new house.
I think Erinsaudiocorner is going to be measuring and reviewing the Sierra-LX's soon, according to a response he made to a comment of mine on one of his YouTube videos recently.
When I got them 3~ ish months ago, I was experimenting with setup and I found I could toe them out quite a bit and maintain a solid center image (maybe 30 degrees away from LP). However later on I pointed them back inwards a little more, like towards my shoulders or slightly wider (maybe 10 degrees from LP), and compared listening to some Norah Jones tracks. I noticed that her voice lost some of the higher mid/treble timbre when toed out further, and regained when I toed back in. I've kept them with the closer toe-in angle since then.
I posted my initial thoughts and pictures here in June:
I've done some REW testing on them. I'm moving in a few weeks and planning on adding a sub (maybe Rythmik F12SE for FVX12), looking forward to having fun setting up and measuring them in the new house.
I think Erinsaudiocorner is going to be measuring and reviewing the Sierra-LX's soon, according to a response he made to a comment of mine on one of his YouTube videos recently.
ExPerfectionist
Active Member
IIRC these are the top rated non-powered/DSP monitor speakers on Spinorama @ 6.8 rating and ±1.7dB, 7.2 w EQ, 8.6 w sub.
www.spinorama.org
Also regarding the bass and the mid-bass SEAS driver, they use a custom 6" with the magnet structure from the 7" version of the driver for better control and excursion for bass extension.
Ranking table of speaker's measurements
www.spinorama.org
Also regarding the bass and the mid-bass SEAS driver, they use a custom 6" with the magnet structure from the 7" version of the driver for better control and excursion for bass extension.
ExPerfectionist
Active Member
Home theater and 2-channel music listening. I'm seated about 9~ feet from the speakers. Look at the off-axis response, I think they would be pretty good for near-field, although vertical above the tweeter would be the position to avoid. Granted, I don't know characteristics of what makes a good near-field speaker.
themarkkram
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Hello -
I registered on this forum just because I too recently purchased a pair of LX's. My speakers are around 12' apart outside my screen in a dedicated HT space and I sit 13' from the screen. I also plan on getting the Horizon (v2) soon. These replaced a pair of DIYSG Cinema 10's. I still run a 3rd for the centre for now.
I have only watched a couple of movies thus far, but I can tell right away they are more clear than the speakers they replaced. They certainly do not sound "bright" or hurt my ears when playing louder. I am not an audiophile or anything close and have very limited experience with speakers, so I cannot comment on specifics, only that I really really.....really like them.
I registered on this forum just because I too recently purchased a pair of LX's. My speakers are around 12' apart outside my screen in a dedicated HT space and I sit 13' from the screen. I also plan on getting the Horizon (v2) soon. These replaced a pair of DIYSG Cinema 10's. I still run a 3rd for the centre for now.
I have only watched a couple of movies thus far, but I can tell right away they are more clear than the speakers they replaced. They certainly do not sound "bright" or hurt my ears when playing louder. I am not an audiophile or anything close and have very limited experience with speakers, so I cannot comment on specifics, only that I really really.....really like them.
- Thread Starter
- #29
Just wanted to add, the term "bright" I used usually refers to detail retrieval and analytical sounding speakers, not that they are very sharp, that's a whole other thing.
robh
Member
Hi. I'll ask. Why... "had" ?
They are on my short list for an LCR home theater setup.
Just posted this in the Sierra-1 V2 thread but thought I'd add it here since it's more relevant to the LXs.
Post link, and I'll add the text as well:
audiosciencereview.com
... I picked up a pair of Sierra-LXs to compare with my M16s and the Sierras are fantastic. They measure very similarly to the M16s and while the M16s are no slouches, the Sierra-LXs are a step or three up in pretty much every way. I can't comment on them in a larger space since I use them in nearfield, but on my desk the imaging is impeccable, the soundstage is wider and deeper, and resolution/detail and separation are improved. Both speakers are basically un-EQd, only cutting down the midbass hump on the M16s and no EQ to the Sierra-LXs.
While I've owned the M16s for several years I've heard the M106s a few times, and always found them a bit better but they didn't make me want to spend the money to upgrade. With the Sierra-LXs, I was buying primarily due to the desire for deeper bass extension and to more effectively manage the M16 midbass hump (even with EQ it would pop up and 'drone' in certain songs). With these goals met and the other increases in performance I'm now enjoying, for me the purchase is well worth the expense, even considering that I paid less than 50% of retail from a dealer for my M16s. IME and IMO the Sierra-LXs are at least equal to the upper-tier Revels, even a little better across the board to my ears in my use. Given Erin's review and my own experience, IMO it is reasonable to assume that the new versions of the other Sierra speakers provide similar objective and subjective performance relative to their specs.
Post link, and I'll add the text as well:
Ascend Acoustics Sierra-1 V2 - Review & Measurements by Erin
I'm going to ignore your previous reply for the purposes of advancing this conversation in a productive direction. I'm not emotionally invested in advocating for, or against, any measurement system. Though I am an enormous fan of Klippel & the NFS. I am not demanding anything. I am simply...
audiosciencereview.com
... I picked up a pair of Sierra-LXs to compare with my M16s and the Sierras are fantastic. They measure very similarly to the M16s and while the M16s are no slouches, the Sierra-LXs are a step or three up in pretty much every way. I can't comment on them in a larger space since I use them in nearfield, but on my desk the imaging is impeccable, the soundstage is wider and deeper, and resolution/detail and separation are improved. Both speakers are basically un-EQd, only cutting down the midbass hump on the M16s and no EQ to the Sierra-LXs.
While I've owned the M16s for several years I've heard the M106s a few times, and always found them a bit better but they didn't make me want to spend the money to upgrade. With the Sierra-LXs, I was buying primarily due to the desire for deeper bass extension and to more effectively manage the M16 midbass hump (even with EQ it would pop up and 'drone' in certain songs). With these goals met and the other increases in performance I'm now enjoying, for me the purchase is well worth the expense, even considering that I paid less than 50% of retail from a dealer for my M16s. IME and IMO the Sierra-LXs are at least equal to the upper-tier Revels, even a little better across the board to my ears in my use. Given Erin's review and my own experience, IMO it is reasonable to assume that the new versions of the other Sierra speakers provide similar objective and subjective performance relative to their specs.
I owned a trio of LX's for my LCR for a few months and sold them to upgrade to the ELX towers. I would be lying if I didn't say I missed the LX's. They were great in my room and I really didn't have any complaints. I'm most likely going to sell the ELX's and get the LX's again.
Wow, may I ask how the ELX's came up short? I was going to order a pair of them but I can't decide on what tweeter to select
Tweeter preference,I have the RAAL version of the ELX towers and after listening to them awhile I prefer the Titan dome of the LX,atleast for my listening habits. I would trade my towers for the Titan dome version but it would probably be easier to sell and just buy the LX again. I have dual PSA 15" subs so the lower bass extension and output of the towers isn't really needed in my small room.
Jajdact, Thank you for the reply. This is why i found it confusing in selecting a tweeter. I read other posts where someone liked the titan more also. How did you find the bass quality of the elx without subwoofers?
You may be able to modify the crossover and buy some titan tweeters if Ascend Acoustics will give you the values to change and it's not a complete rework if you are up for it. I saw that the tweeter is 92.50 each on madisound.
The bass is excellent,not as much deep extension as dual subs obviously, but I could see it being plenty enough for a lot of people,depending on listening habits and room size. I did a lot of listening without subs when I first got them and was quite surprised with how good they sounded without them.
How large is your room and how loudly do you plan to listen?
I have both. The LXs are wonderful bookshelf speakers - they're very neutral/balanced and offer truly impressive bass output and power handling for their size.
To me, the ELX ribbon towers are on another level. Even above subwoofer frequencies, (upper bass) the ELXs are noticeably "punchier". They're smoother and less constrained sounding across the midrange. The directivity widening around the crossover region of the LXs (very typical of 2-ways) I think is a large reason why I prefer the ELX here. For treble reproduction, it's also an easy nod to the ELX to my ears. If you start really cranking up the volume (upper 80s to 90+dB from the LP), the scale of the ELX becomes progressively larger and more impressive than it does with the LX. I use both in essentially the same 20' x 11' room (one above the other, the floorplans are virtually identical). In a small/untreated space I can believe that the ELX might overwhelm the listener with reflected sound before the LXs would. You're then also much less likely to need to push either speaker to their limits (where the ELX has a headroom advantage). If your listening distance is rather short, as might be the case in a small room, the vertical window of the LX is larger and better suited to nearfield use.
I have a small room,13'x14',and my speakers are usually 6' away,and I think that's part of the reason I preferred the LX bookshelves to the towers. I agree with everything you said about the dynamics of the ELX towers,it really is impressive,but they might be too much for my space.
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