Ascend Acoustics Sierra LX Review

[Guddu]

Yes, I realize the 30 day period is over.
Would you lose $200 from a customer if you could then make $800 from that customer?
Or would you stick with your rules and make $200, but lose out on $600 more?
These numbers aren't real, they're just an example, because I'm positive that's where you'd go next if I didn't say so.
I'm just trying to explain things in a very simple way for you.
And by making sure a customer is happy, they'll be more likely to buy more products in the future.

Give them a call than waiting for their email response, you might find yourself a solution.

 

[Livnmuskoka]

Give them a call than waiting for their email response, you might find yourself a solution.

As I said in a previous post, I'm not really worried about it. I'm not exactly sure what I want to do yet anyway. If they answered me about the ELX towers I would've bought them, but can't have them in an ideal area for another 2 or 3 years anyway. And for the 15 minutes or so that I did hear them, the LX's were really good.
So far I'm thinking in the next house that I'll keep the LX speakers for an office set up with a smaller amp, and use my michi X3 with some Revel Be or Kef meta in-wall and ceiling speakers in the main livingroom.
Then probably just a decent sound bar/surround speakers/subwoofer set up with room correction in the basement for movies.

 

[Ricardojoa]

Yes, I realize the 30 day period is over.
Would you lose $200 from a customer if you could then make $800 from that customer?
Or would you stick with your rules and make $200, but lose out on $600 more?
These numbers aren't real, they're just an example, because I'm positive that's where you'd go next if I didn't say so.
I'm just trying to explain things in a very simple way for you.
And by making sure a customer is happy, they'll be more likely to buy more products in the future.

You have to remember that the item taken back no longer is a new item and must be taken as a loss or sold at a lower price. Maybe you can try to sell it at your local used market and purchase the towers later when you have made the decision.

 

[Livnmuskoka]

You have to remember that the item taken back no longer is a new item and must be taken as a loss or sold at a lower price. Maybe you can try to sell it at your local used market and purchase the towers later when you have made the decision.

See post above, #462.
And they could probably sell those "used" LX's at cost, especially when I paid for shipping both ways. And then make HIGHER PROFIT from selling me the ELX's.
I can't believe that it's hard for people to understand.
Anyway, I said that my email must've been overlooked, and that it's probably for the better because I haven't finalized any decisions yet.
I believe Ascend is a great company, and I'm sure they'll get my business again.

 

[audioje]

Doing a business seems to be not easy at all.

 

[audioje]

Especially if you're dumb and have no reading comprehension.
I'm sure Ascend is doing just fine though.

Well, so be it Good luck!

 

[AVKS]

See post above, #462.
And they could probably sell those "used" LX's at cost, especially when I paid for shipping both ways. And then make HIGHER PROFIT from selling me the ELX's.
I can't believe that it's hard for people to understand.
Anyway, I said that my email must've been overlooked, and that it's probably for the better because I haven't finalized any decisions yet.
I believe Ascend is a great company, and I'm sure they'll get my business again.

And where do the exceptions/considerations stop for a business? At some point, and that point comes very quickly, stepping outside of established policy creates more headaches than it solves in the long term.

I'm not saying that Ascend won't do this for you (or any other customer) if you ask. Your perspective is just a bit near-sighted and a business sticking to their policies, particularly a business that has been around the block a few times, does not represent bad service.

 

[PatentLawyer]

Not sure if it was the intended effect, but I’m laughing.

 

[AscendDF]

I ordered mine in February, also non magnetic grills. A little disappointing.
Although I've had them for 4 months, I've only used them for about 15 mins to make sure the speakers and my new amp work. Then I packed them up again.
Our basement should finally be finished in a couple weeks to set it all up.
I emailed Ascend last week about shipping them back for ELX towers, and got no response.
It was probably just overlooked or maybe they're on vacation or something.
I haven't pursued it further because the room they're going to be in isn't ideal for any speakers, especially the ELX towers.
But we are moving one more time in 2 or 3 years when that house is built, and I'll invest more into the room.
So I'll probably do a nearfield system with the LX's for now.
But now I wish I had the LX's in the natural finish with magnetic grills, which won't be used, instead of the satin cherry with grill holes.

Hi Livnmuskoka.

Have you checked your email recently? We replied to your email a few days ago and presented you with 2 different options for the trade-up, for which we are happy to offer you.

Also not really sure what you are disappointed about, you ordered your speakers 5 months ago, there was no option for magnetic grilles back then and the price you paid for the pair reflects that (lower pricing).

Anyway, please check your email and let me know how you would like to proceed.

 

[Ron Texas]

Hi Livnmuskoka.

Have you checked your email recently? We replied to your email a few days ago and presented you with 2 different options for the trade-up, for which we are happy to offer you.

Also not really sure what you are disappointed about, you ordered your speakers 5 months ago, there was no option for magnetic grilles back then and the price you paid for the pair reflects that (lower pricing).

Anyway, please check your email and let me know how you would like to proceed.

You guys are super nice.

 

[madrac]

You guys are super nice.

So true. Dave and Dina are some of the nicest people I've had the pleasure of doing business with. Patient, responsive, and honest.

 

[Livnmuskoka]

I emailed Dave and decided that I'm going to keep the LX's for now.
I'm going to try them in a near-field set up.
I may buy ELX's in a couple years, but I need to stop taking on new projects right now that I barely have any time for.
This house isn't even completed yet, and it's almost time to put a deposit on the next one.
While still working full time, raising a 1 and 2 year old with a younger wife that has 2 jobs, 2 small dogs, and an 18 year old that I still see most weekends. As well as thinking about a vacation property across the country.
I'm trying to get the company I work for to find skilled people to help me, so I can cut down to 25-30 hours per week and take more vacation time. But no luck so far.
My life is balancing between very rewarding but also exhausting and very stressful. That's probably why I get impatient sometimes with people that don't listen or won't read back a few posts before replying.
Anyway, I can figure out my system easy enough with measurements when time permits.
Best of luck to you all.

 

[tw 2022]

I emailed Dave and decided that I'm going to keep the LX's for now.
I'm going to try them in a near-field set up.
I may buy ELX's in a couple years, but I need to stop taking on new projects right now that I barely have any time for.
This house isn't even completed yet, and it's almost time to put a deposit on the next one.
While still working full time, raising a 1 and 2 year old with a younger wife that has 2 jobs, 2 small dogs, and an 18 year old that I still see most weekends. As well as thinking about a vacation property across the country.
I'm trying to get the company I work for to find skilled people to help me, so I can cut down to 25-30 hours per week and take more vacation time. But no luck so far.
My life is balancing between very rewarding but also exhausting and very stressful. That's probably why I get impatient sometimes with people that don't listen or won't read back a few posts before replying.
Anyway, I can figure out my system easy enough with measurements when time permits.
Best of luck to you all.

yeah , by the sound of it you need a break... you've got the lx's , they are obviously good speakers, enjoy ....

 

[Ron Texas]

Has anyone here had a chance to do an extended listen of both the Sierra LX and LS50 (original or meta, but with EQ)?

 

[Guddu]

Has anyone here had a chance to do an extended listen of both the Sierra LX and LS50 (original or meta, but with EQ)?

I have Sierra LX for about a month now, and just grabbed pre-owned LS50 last week.
I have found Sierra LX much better is every aspect, no EQ but I am using S plugs on LX as those are in a small room.

 

[Ron Texas]

I have Sierra LX for about a month now, and just grabbed pre-owned LS50 last week.
I have found Sierra LX much better is every aspect, no EQ but I am using S plugs on LX as those are in a small room.

Could you elaborate? Did you EQ the LS50's? It makes a big difference on the originals when the bumps at 800 and 2500 Hz are taken out.

 

[Guddu]

Could you elaborate? Did you EQ the LS50's? It makes a big difference on the originals when the bumps at 800 and 2500 Hz are taken out.

I have this setup in a small room, while I really liked Sierra lx but dealing with bass & mid-base in small room for it is a pain in the neck.
So I grabbed LS50 when I saw a pair available on used market to see how does it do, and now I have almost negligible bass in comparison and hollowish mids in comparison. I have no issues with soundstage or imaging though.
I think it’s not a fair comparison either without a subwoofer with LS50.
Thanks for pointing out EQ, I didn’t look up much for LS50 but I will try.
I am going to try using LS50 as center channel now, it looks cute and probably work better as center.

 

[mtaz]

I bought these speakers a couple of months ago. I was actually in the market for floorstanders, but I was impressed with the reviews of the Sierras, and I was thinking that at my budget I was probably going to need to eventually augment whatever I bought with a sub or two anyway.

My unboxing impression is that these are very nice looking speakers (I got the walnut), and heavier than I expected. I also bought the matching stands.

The only amp I had at the time was an older Harmon Kardon receiver. The source for the time being is a Yamaha CD player.

My first listening impression was, well, not good. In particular, the vocals sounded very muddy and compressed. However, I got the impression that it wasn’t the speakers that were at fault. I had been wanting a small amp for my desk anyway, so I bought a Fosi ZA3.

This sounded far better IMO. The bass, as has been widely reported, is surprisingly strong for speakers of this size. The speakers can handle the ZA3 at 0db, and they produce a pretty impressive SPL for their size and, for the most part, did justice to my initial selections (Yes, Supertramp, Allen Parsons Project, Led Zeppelin).

However, I can’t say that I’m completely satisfied. I can’t get away from the impression that all this sound has been stuffed into two smallish boxes. Obviously, this is an entirely unscientific listening opinion, and I don’t know the cause. But listening to some selections (Donald Fagen’s The Nightfly comes to mind in particular), I just get the idea that I would be happier with larger speakers. And I think I’m probably going to need to double my budget. I may consider eventually trying to sell the Sierras, or I may decide to use them in a multichannel setup.

In the meantime, I bought a Purifi amp. Unfortunately it arrived DOA, so it’s on the way back to Apollon for replacement. I may post a review of the difference between the amps with these speakers, if I think it’s significant enough to warrant it.

 

[madrac]

However, I can’t say that I’m completely satisfied. I can’t get away from the impression that all this sound has been stuffed into two smallish boxes. Obviously, this is an entirely unscientific listening opinion, and I don’t know the cause. But listening to some selections (Donald Fagen’s The Nightfly comes to mind in particular), I just get the idea that I would be happier with larger speakers.

Sorry to hear your amp was DOA.
As to the LX, maybe not being completely satisfied is, at least in part, is an unconscious bias as it's hard to believe (at least for me) that such a small speaker can put out that much sound, particularly the bass.

 

[mtaz]

Sorry to hear your amp was DOA.
As to the LX, maybe not being completely satisfied is, at least in part, is an unconscious bias as it's hard to believe (at least for me) that such a small speaker can put out that much sound, particularly the bass.

I thought about that and tried listening with that in mind, but I still couldn't shake that impression.

And in hindsight, I think that trying to get by with a <$2000 pair of speakers was probably a mistake, regardless of size. Now I just hope that I won't feel like I've made the same mistake with my next pair, which will probably be in the $3000 - $5000 range.