Ascend Acoustics Sierra LX Review

[JATC]

What was it about these that you liked over the 1723 monitors? I'm thinking of changing up and like the 1723 sound but the dispersion isn't how I like it, ie wider, more enveloping.

In general I just liked the wider dispersion,it sounded more natural. For strictly home theater usage I probably would have kept the Arendal’s and gone all in with their 1723 lineup,but I listen to music much more than watching movies and my listening space is dedicated,but also limited to a smaller room so I usually lean more towards what sounds better for 2 channel listening. I actually have Philharmonic BMR's now,but I still rank the LX very highly in my favorite speakers.

 

[Sly fox]

In general I just liked the wider dispersion,it sounded nore natural. For strictly home theater usage I probably would have kept the Arendal’s and gone all in with their 1723 lineup,but I listen to music much more than watching movies and my listening space is dedicated,but also limited to just one room so I usually lean more towards what sounds better for 2 channel listening. I actually have Philharmonic BMR's now,but I still rank the LX very highly in my favorite speakers.

Appreciate you're thoughts

 

[mtaz]

In general I just liked the wider dispersion,it sounded more natural. For strictly home theater usage I probably would have kept the Arendal’s and gone all in with their 1723 lineup,but I listen to music much more than watching movies and my listening space is dedicated,but also limited to a smaller room so I usually lean more towards what sounds better for 2 channel listening. I actually have Philharmonic BMR's now,but I still rank the LX very highly in my favorite speakers.

I have the Sierra LXs now, and plan to add a subwoofer. Do you think the BMRs are a significant upgrade?

I was actually thinking about the BMR monitors as well. With a sub, I wonder if I could approximate the sound of the BMR towers for half the cost.

 

[JATC]

I have the Sierra LXs now, and plan to add a subwoofer. Do you think the BMRs are a significant upgrade?

I was actually thinking about the BMR monitors as well. With a sub, I wonder if I could approximate the sound of the BMR towers for half the cost.

Not really,I consider them to be equally great speakers. I'm not sure I can say one is better than the other overall. There are a few things I prefer with each. If I was setting up a dedicated 2 channel system I would chose the BMR.

 

[Moonlightshadow]

I love that ascend now provides Kippel measurements

At least frequency response on and off axis is there. Distortion measurements would still be desireable.

 

[AVKS]

At least frequency response on and off axis is there. Distortion measurements would still be desireable.

Can be seen here:

Independent measurements of Ascend Acoustics Sierra-LX?

That’s an interesting comparison. Basically that SVS speaker gets critical stuff wrong, such as avoiding a dispersion disruption at the crossover, but in way that averages out in the PIR (a totally overrated metric, IMO) such that it games the Olive score. The PIR is 44% Early reflections, 44%...

audiosciencereview.com

 

[tw 2022]

Not really,I consider them to be equally great speakers. I'm not sure I can say one is better than the other overall. There are a few things I prefer with each. If I was setting up a dedicated 2 channel system I would chose the BMR.

x2 .. i've met Dennis, and talked to him extensively over the past several years, he even did a mod on my mini monitors (emotiva b1 )...he'd probably say it's pretty close but rec the bmr as an original purchase , fwiw: he and Dave at ascend are (very) friendly rivals and the mutual respect is quite obvious...they both make great products...

 

[groovybassist]

I’ve had my Sierra LXs for a few weeks now and I think they’re terrific speakers. I literally just plopped them down on either side of my Philharmonic HT Towers, plugged them in and let them play. I haven’t felt any urge to move them around at all - they just sounded great from the get-go.

This system is: Matrix Audio Element X > Neurochrome Modulus-686 (Safe-n-Sane build by Tom Christiansen) > Ascend Acoustics Sierra LX.

 

[seewhatididther]

What center channel do you LX owners run? I’m curious if anyone goes for the ribbon on the center, and if you went with a bookshelf, Horizon or Horizon ELX since it features the LX woofers?

 

[WillBrink]

Dave did a really nice job implementing this metal dome. This is a really great speaker!

I'm surprised there's not more discussion and reviews of the 2EX V2 and how they compare to the LX. I didn't find a review/comparison of the EX.

 

[AVKS]

I'm surprised there's not more discussion and reviews of the 2EX V2 and how they compare to the LX. I didn't find a review/comparison of the EX.

I daresay the strengths of each speaker are different enough that it's probably fairly clear to many users which one they would prefer, e.g. bass extension, midbass punch, and vertical dispersion for the LX and 'air' and potential treble detail for the EX. In musical terms the findings seem to be (along with Dave's comments) that the LX is good for rock/electronic/etc and the EX shines with acoustic.

I'd be interested in trying the EX but I can say that I was looking for bass extension/body and detail in my process and the LX does exactly what I was looking for.

 

[WillBrink]

I daresay the strengths of each speaker are different enough that it's probably fairly clear to many users which one they would prefer, e.g. bass extension, midbass punch, and vertical dispersion for the LX and 'air' and potential treble detail for the EX. In musical terms the findings seem to be (along with Dave's comments) that the LX is good for rock/electronic/etc and the EX shines with acoustic.

I'd be interested in trying the EX but I can say that I was looking for bass extension/body and detail in my process and the LX does exactly what I was looking for.

It sounds like perhaps the EX might shine more of the two with a sub if it's strengths are mids and highs.

 

[AVKS]

It sounds like perhaps the EX might shine more of the two with a sub if it's strengths are mids and highs.

Very possible. Dave as well as other users have noted that the LX seems to have an upper bass and midbass advantage vs the EX, though not night and day by any means, and the RAAL advantage over the Titan is similarly subtle as well with others not really hearing the difference. The bass difference is perhaps the most drastic between them but for folks with a subwoofer it may come down to something more like the dispersion difference and if that fits their listening habits or not.

Great problem to have, choosing between two excellent speakers.

 

[tw 2022]

Very possible. Dave as well as other users have noted that the LX seems to have an upper bass and midbass advantage vs the EX, though not night and day by any means, and the RAAL advantage over the Titan is similarly subtle as well with others not really hearing the difference. The bass difference is perhaps the most drastic between them but for folks with a subwoofer it may come down to something more like the dispersion difference and if that fits their listening habits or not.

Great problem to have, choosing between two excellent speakers.

I have anecdotally heard pretty much the same narrative, I tend to believe it to be true...

 

[mrmojo]

I understand these are great at how volumes, but how are these speakers at low/moderate volumes in an apartment?

 

[Pareto Pragmatic]

I understand these are great at how volumes, but how are these speakers at low/moderate volumes in an apartment?

I regularly play at -90db, which is about 45db at 12'/4m. Sounds fine, good enough that I go quiet with the LX instead of headphones before my wife wakes up. That's often 4am, so very low noise floor. I'm never listening critically at that level, it is very much background, but pleasant background.

Lower than that, the background instruments start to drop too low in relationship to the main instrument or voice at that moment.

So for what that's worth, that's my experience.

 

[Ognian]

I understand these are great at how volumes, but how are these speakers at low/moderate volumes in an apartment?

I'm using these occasionally at pretty low volumes around 50-55db and the sound remains very balanced and clear. I previously had dynaudios and they sounded very dull at lower volumes.

 

[Guddu]

I'm using these occasionally at pretty low volumes around 50-55db and the sound remains very balanced and clear. I previously had dynaudios and they sounded very dull at lower volumes.

+1.
I will also add that bass/mid-bass presence vails on lower volume. My main reason to buy these was to avoid subwoofer at low volume listening but seems like its kind of unavoidable!

 

[Pareto Pragmatic]

+1.
I will also add that bass/mid-bass presence vails on lower volume. My main reason to buy these was to avoid subwoofer at low volume listening but seems like its kind of unavoidable!

Loudness settings exist for this very reason, boost to the bass and treble at low volumes to make things sound "right" to our ears.

Mine are 5' off the wall, but I assume if you are able to put them very close to a wall for low volume that would bring some of the bass up to fill things in for you. I turn off my EQ when listening this quiet, which helps as well.

I am focused on what happens when I listen at normal levels, which for me is generally 65-70db at 12'. So far I have not boosted bass and treble for quiet, other than turning off the bass cuts to my EQ. I should probably try throwing a high and low shelf on tomorrow morning to make a loudness ON eq, see how that works for me.

 

[Guddu]

Loudness settings exist for this very reason, boost to the bass and treble at low volumes to make things sound "right" to our ears.

Correct

Mine are 5' off the wall, but I assume if you are able to put them very close to a wall for low volume that would bring some of the bass up to fill things in for you. I turn off my EQ when listening this quiet, which helps as well.

Mine are even closer to wall and bass gets muddy without full plugs (Q plugs or something) is put closer to wall in a small room as mine (10 x 12 feet).

I am focused on what happens when I listen at normal levels, which for me is generally 65-70db at 12'. So far I have not boosted bass and treble for quiet, other than turning off the bass cuts to my EQ. I should probably try throwing a high and low shelf on tomorrow morning to make a loudness ON eq, see how that works for me.