In the US, between 1.5k for a pair of Ascend Sierra LX, or 1.36k for a pair of AsciLab C6B, I would probably choose the C6B + a subwoofer. But both are compromised speakers IMO, and I would definitely save for an A6B instead (4k a pair).
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Ascend Acoustics Sierra LX Review
- Thread starter Narek
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PristineSound
Major Contributor
Know that the A6B would have cost you $3k USD, that extra $1kUSD goes to what it goes to.
Luckily for me, I have close friends in Korea, I can buy at Korean price, cut out the extra cost for nothing, but not sure how duties on personal gift items from family abroad would work.
Pareto Pragmatic
Addicted to Fun and Learning
And why pay for the bass extension if that will be made irrelevant by crossing over with a sub?
Welcome to how other countries have been operating since ever. In my country we always try to import stuff with friends coming back from vacations or trips etc. But speakers in particular are large and heavy for suite cases in airports. And if any damage happens, while in shipping or normal use later, it is a pain to import parts and hire someone or DIY the repairs. Doable, sure, so everyone should evaluate buying local versus importing and servicing by oneself.
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I just ordered a pair in the natural finish. I've been debating between these and the Ascilab C6B and made the decision to go with the Ascends for a few reasons:
• I'm attempting to do away with a sub. I'm not a basshead and as an apartment dweller in a smallish 11'x14' room and I think that the better bass extension vs the C6B will allow me to do so.
• They were available to ship now
• I strongly prefer the aesthetics of real wood vs a painted finished
• It doesn't hurt that the Ascends are assembled in the USA
I'll be powering them with my Fosi V3 monos with the 48V/10A PS and they outta do a fine job.
If for some reason they don't work out for me I'll try the C6B, but I'm almost certain they will.
• I'm attempting to do away with a sub. I'm not a basshead and as an apartment dweller in a smallish 11'x14' room and I think that the better bass extension vs the C6B will allow me to do so.
• They were available to ship now
• I strongly prefer the aesthetics of real wood vs a painted finished
• It doesn't hurt that the Ascends are assembled in the USA
I'll be powering them with my Fosi V3 monos with the 48V/10A PS and they outta do a fine job.
If for some reason they don't work out for me I'll try the C6B, but I'm almost certain they will.
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Audio Science Pal
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The natural Bamboo finish looks good. I am listening to my Cherry Sierra LX at this moment and I think you will be happy with your system.
Mine is espresso. Very happy with the color. The more i listen to LX, the more I feel like it is more than enough for my taste. Some imperfections are much more about my room than some miniscule difference that speaker upgrade could bring.The natural Bamboo finish looks good. I am listening to my Cherry Sierra LX at this moment and I think you will be happy with your system.
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For music and your room size, you probably won't need a sub. For HT sure, but I'm guessing that it will still sound good without.
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I believe so. While I still enjoy watching 4K UHD and Blu-Ray movies I'm not nearly as into HT as I used to be, and no longer care to listen to explosions and such at high levels or in surround as before. For me music is always the #1 priority.
* My plan is to sell my RSL Speedwoofer 10s MKII very soon.
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To those that own these speakers, I'm curious as to what you power them with?
I have dual Fosi V3 monoblocks and I know they'll be just fine with the LX power
-wise. But whether warranted or not, I do have some fears about them failing and damaging my speakers. By all accounts so far the V3s appear to reliable, but it's the long term reliability that I have concerns over.
Therefore, there's a pretty good chance in the near future I'll be purchasing a Schiit Vidar 2 to power them. I've been looking at it for quite awhile and may finally pull the trigger. The only thing I don't like is that it only has a single XLR input instead of dual.
I have dual Fosi V3 monoblocks and I know they'll be just fine with the LX power
-wise. But whether warranted or not, I do have some fears about them failing and damaging my speakers. By all accounts so far the V3s appear to reliable, but it's the long term reliability that I have concerns over.
Therefore, there's a pretty good chance in the near future I'll be purchasing a Schiit Vidar 2 to power them. I've been looking at it for quite awhile and may finally pull the trigger. The only thing I don't like is that it only has a single XLR input instead of dual.
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I have had a pair of the Sierra LX's in natural finish for over a year. I like them very much. I am happy with them, and glad I bought them. I also like and respect Erin's reviews enough to have supported him via Patreon for over three years. When it comes to the subjective evaluations in his reviews, he obviously has his tastes in both equipment and music, and I have my own. To a certain extent they overlap, but not totally.
Over the first 6 months, I used a Topping PA 5 II with the LX's. I then made some changes to my systems and moved in my old Classe Audio Seventy. The change had nothing to do with the sound with the LX's, which are in a small room (about 12' X 10'). The Classe is listed as 70 watts per channel, but that was a very conservative rating when they were made in the late 1990s (I'm the original owner.) I liked the sound with the Topping very much, I just had another place that needed a mini-sized amp. I now like the sound with the Classe very much, too.
I never really compared the two amps with the LX's, but I think the Classe might produce a slightly warmer (mid-range emphasized?), but no less detailed (upper octaves) sound with them. Of course, that may be due to expectation bias, or age...of either the Classe or me.
Over the first 6 months, I used a Topping PA 5 II with the LX's. I then made some changes to my systems and moved in my old Classe Audio Seventy. The change had nothing to do with the sound with the LX's, which are in a small room (about 12' X 10'). The Classe is listed as 70 watts per channel, but that was a very conservative rating when they were made in the late 1990s (I'm the original owner.) I liked the sound with the Topping very much, I just had another place that needed a mini-sized amp. I now like the sound with the Classe very much, too.
I never really compared the two amps with the LX's, but I think the Classe might produce a slightly warmer (mid-range emphasized?), but no less detailed (upper octaves) sound with them. Of course, that may be due to expectation bias, or age...of either the Classe or me.
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PristineSound
Major Contributor
Your Fosi is fine. I would too share your concern with reliability, I would do a search on ChatGPT to scrub the Internet to see if there are reported reliability issues with the Fosi.
If these speakers are this important to you to prevent a damage, then just use a different amp.
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Indeed, it is very important to me to do the best I can to feel safe with any amp I power $1.5k speakers with.
I've actually pretty much decided on the Vidar 2 since my earlier post. I just have to sell some things first and plan on listing a few items next week.
PristineSound
Major Contributor
The spec on the Vidar seems really good. And the price seems very reasonable too. I don't know much about their reliability though, if it's reliable I would go with the Vidar than the Fosi. At the very least you have something substantial to visually at look.
This is way better for the same money imho. More power, lower noise floor, lower distortion, lower heat, smaller, lighter, etc etc.
Buckeye Amps
Buckeye Amps utilizes the most advanced audio amplifier technologies available. Authorized seller for Hypex and Purifi Class D amplifiers. Based in the US. Free shipping and worldwide service!
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This is way better for the same money imho. More power, lower noise floor, lower distortion, lower heat, smaller, lighter, etc etc.
Buckeye Amps
Buckeye Amps utilizes the most advanced audio amplifier technologies available. Authorized seller for Hypex and Purifi Class D amplifiers. Based in the US. Free shipping and worldwide service!www.buckeyeamp.com
Thanks. Since I have some time to think about it, I'll do some research and consider it. I kind of forgot about that one.
I do like that it has dual XLR inputs as well as an auto on feature that the Vidar lacks, and like the Vidar it is assembled in the USA!
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PristineSound
Major Contributor
Except @Rick63 emphasized reliability, as such I would caution him on the Hypex MP series as there are more than sufficient reports on it's questionable reliability. There are few threads here that talks about the MP's reliability, which Rick63 can do some research on his own to assess for himself.This is way better for the same money imho. More power, lower noise floor, lower distortion, lower heat, smaller, lighter, etc etc.
Buckeye Amps
Buckeye Amps utilizes the most advanced audio amplifier technologies available. Authorized seller for Hypex and Purifi Class D amplifiers. Based in the US. Free shipping and worldwide service!
And if one is not getting the MP series, then it's not that much cost effective comparatively.
Also, if visual aesthetic matters, the Schiit is a better looking amp from my personal taste POV.
With that being said, heads up there may some members here (two specific individuals) who may attack me for bringing the MP's reliability issue back out from under the rug. Whatever they plan to say, I have already replied in other threads. And so to be respectful to the moderator, if they do attack me, I won't reply but know that I am giving them a silent **** you.
See for yourself:
Buckeye Nc502mp Review (6 Channel Amplifer)
This is a review and detailed measurements of the Buckeye Hypex NC502MP based, 6-channel amplifier. It was kindly purchased and drop shipped to me by our dear moderator, @AdamG247. I don't know what it costs. Not sure what there is to say about the case: Or the back panel: Other than...
www.audiosciencereview.com
Schiit Vidar 2 Stereo Amplifier Review
This is a review and detailed measurements of the Schiit Vidar 2 stereo/mono class AB amplifier. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $799. Nice to see Schiit (finally) put a stand-by switch in the front. They usually have only a power button in the back. Being a class AB amplifier...
www.audiosciencereview.com
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