Ascend CBM-170SE2 Speaker Review

[Spkrdctr]

Come on guys! Do I have to start taking your man cards? These speakers are fantastic performing very low price serious speakers. Complaining about a waveguide? Real men don't need waveguides. These are a fantastic buy. Also, we all know the audio secret that no one likes to talk about in polite company. So many people have setups that are NOT set up. They just plop them in the room and that is it. If these were $2000 a pair then yes they would go into peoples homes who you would "hope" take the time to really set them up. So I say anyone looking at these seriously should buy them. Heck I might even buy them and I then have to buy a Wiim amp ultra. If I can get the wife to let me get them. She took my man card years ago and I now ask her if I can use it every once in awhile!

This is seriously the main reason I support ASR 100% as Amir finds the hidden gems in a sea of mediocrity proving good sound does not have to cost and arm and a leg. Thank heavens for Amir! Again as I always say, we all get this info for free! We need to get Amir an award or something for progressing the audio hobby the most in the last 10 years.

 

[Michou]

Commenting on Elac, it is $800 a pair now so much more expensive. It looks nicer but has rougher response compared to Ascend.

That’s true, but the $800-per-pair price is mainly relevant to U.S. buyers. Ascend and similar brands aren’t readily available outside the U.S., whereas ELAC and other widely distributed brands can often be found in Europe for around €400 to €600, or roughly $470 to $700, even after a considerable price hike. So although Ascend may offer the smoother measured response, ELAC and similar options can still be much more practical and affordable for European buyers.

 

[Karmacoma]

That’s true, but the $800-per-pair price is mainly relevant to U.S. buyers. Ascend and similar brands aren’t readily available outside the U.S., whereas ELAC and other widely distributed brands can often be found in Europe for around €400 to €600, or roughly $470 to $700, even after a considerable price hike. So although Ascend may offer the smoother measured response, ELAC and similar options can still be much more practical and affordable for European buyers.

I don't know about the shipping costs, but in Europe for 468$ it's a good deal.

 

[Timcognito]

Just want to say that it is a pleasure to see that Amir's professionalism has been demonstrated once again. This speaker competes with the Ascilab F6B at around the same price anyway and yet we see nothing but pure impartiality and dogged adherence to testing protocols, even when listening. Many probably remember all the conjecture upon his announcement to become an Ascilab distributor and how this would taint his view of competitors offerings. Bias is human nature after all so this level integrity deserves recognition, putting that issue to bed.

 

[Michou]

I don't know about the shipping costs, but in Europe for 468$ it's a good deal.

Fair point, but the $468 price is a bit misleading for many European buyers. Shipping costs have risen significantly worldwide in recent years, and for something heavy and bulky like a pair of speakers, they can now represent a surprisingly large part of the final cost.

From the estimates I could find, the realistic landed cost after shipping, import duty and VAT is more likely in the range of:

~$725 at the low end (USPS shipping, lower duty, 19% VAT) and up to ~$900 at the high end (express courier and higher VAT countries)

So yes, Ascend is an excellent value at the U.S. price, but the European reality is different. Once all costs are included, the gap with brands that are deeply established in the European market, like ELAC, Dali, Canton, Wharfedale, Mission or even Focal, becomes much smaller.

For example, the Wharfedale Diamond 12.2i can be found in the UK for around £299, roughly $405. At that price level, it becomes a very different comparison, especially when you factor in the availability, warranty support and the fact that there are no expensive international shipping costs involved.

These brands may not always match Ascend’s measurements, but they can still be very competitive when you consider the actual out-of-pocket price. They benefit not only from local distribution, but also from an established presence, dealer networks and economies of scale in Europe.

It’s a bit like what is happening with Schiit Audio: a brand that is extremely attractive in the U.S. but no longer has the same price advantage in Europe once shipping, VAT and import costs are taken into account. The products can still be very good, but the overall value proposition changes quite a lot.

 

[CDMC]

LOL - ooops... And just when I thought this was one of the easier product releases

We had our label company (here in the US) use the same label as our HTM-200SE2 with some changes, I'm not good at this stuff so typically I just send them the changes to the text. Looks like the change from using Acoustic Suspension to Bass Reflex did not get implemented.

Honestly not sure how this got past not only me, but my small crew here as well. 4K new labels just ordered!

Thanks for pointing that out, I wonder how long it would have before I noticed (getting older is NOT fun)...

If it makes you feel better, I discovered this year the phone number on the bottom of my law firm paper letterhead somehow was my ex wife’s cell phone number!! It had been that way for eight years. Fortunately nobody seems to actually look at the bottom of paper letters for contact information.

 

[Labjr]

How is this brand comparing to Ascilab?

 

[kemmler3D]

How is this brand comparing to Ascilab?

I would say in overall performance Ascend is not far behind Ascilab and in terms of listening experience Ascend has many strong fans.

Measurement-wise I think they are quite competitive most of the time when it comes to PIR.

I think Ascilab typically has the edge when it comes to SOTA performance on sub-metrics like smoothness of DI and on-axis smoothness. (Due, I think, to their intensive work on waveguides.)

On the other hand they also don't have a speaker this affordable and shipping / lead times tend to be worse.

 

[lewdish]

Looks like theyve improved vastly since the originals

 

[enricoclaudio]

Great review, @amirm as always. I own a pair of Ascend Acoustics Sierra Towers with RAAL V1. I had put my Revels M106s next to it and the Sierra Towers always win to my ears. Dave makes really good speakers for sure! I’m planning on getting the V2 conversion kit for my V1s later this year

 

[DanTheMan]

How is this brand comparing to Ascilab?

Both are absolutely great. Generally speaking, Ascend have a wider directivity pattern which sounds more enveloping and have a larger apparent source width (voice of God effect). Many people prefer this type of pattern but it's more of a factor for 2 channel stereo. If you are doing a full on surround sound system, the system may actually work better with AsciLab and its pinpoint imaging with envelopment taken care of by the multiple channels of audio. Listening distance and what you personally prefer for imaging will also play a roll. There are definitely setup options for increasing envelopment in narrow dispersion loudspeakers, but they may have a low WAF. I believe AsciLab tends to have higher output capabilities for similar sized speakers. Maybe the only way to be happy with your audio is to get one of each!

 

[Chrispy]

How is this brand comparing to Ascilab?

Ascend has been around far longer afaik. How would you compare "brands"?

 

[amirm]

How is this brand comparing to Ascilab?

I have been working with ChatGPT Pro to try to better answer questions like this. It is not there yet but it happens that I was using CBM-170SE2 and Ascilab F6B as samples. Here is the comparison as generated by AI:

Metric	Ascend CBM-170SE2	F6B	Better
Preference score (↑ larger is better)	5.80	6.53	F6B by +0.73
Preference w/subwoofer (↑ larger is better)	8.16	8.47	F6B by +0.31
LFX (↓ smaller is better)	51.3 Hz	41.0 Hz	F6B
NBD On-axis (↓ smaller is better)	0.405	0.271	F6B
NBD Listening Window (↓ smaller is better)	0.329	0.264	F6B
NBD Sound Power (↓ smaller is better)	0.260	0.263	Essentially tie
NBD PIR (↓ smaller is better)	0.227	0.242	Ascend, slightly
SM PIR (↑ larger is better)	0.932	0.944	F6B
SM Sound Power (↑ larger is better)	0.952	0.954	Essentially tie
AAD On-axis (↓ smaller is better)	0.205 dB	0.465 dB	Ascend

Using the absolute preference-score grading scale we established:

Speaker	Preference score	Grade
F6B	6.53	A−
Ascend CBM-170SE2	5.80	B+

The most obvious difference is much deeper bass extension which helps boost preference score good bit. The build quality is also at another level when it comes to F6B as it should be given its higher cost.

 

[CheapskateCCAOwner]

Ascend Acoustics is one of the few remaining American speaker manufacturers that is a small company still offering budget speakers of exceptional sound quality, harkening back to the heydey of 70s and 80s, when there was an abundance of iconic American speaker manufacturers known for quality budget offerings - companies like AR, Advent, EPI, KLH and Boston Acoustics, among other small companies that are now all defunct.

As a budget-constrained American kid who came of age during that era, I was thrilled at the abundance of affordable, but quality speaker options available at that time. I bought a pair of new EPI 100s in the late 70s for less than a hundred bucks, which I enjoyed for the next 20+ years.

Perhaps I'm being over-nostalgic, but the point of this rambling post is that I believe Ascend Acoustics should be cherished as a spiritual descendant (and present-day standard bearer) of the iconic budget American speaker brands from that wonderful, but bygone era.

Dave from Ascend Acoustics has put in a lot of hard work, dedication and continuous improvement to what I'm guessing has been his labor of love for the past 27+ years, ultimately resulting in really exceptional speakers that compete at multiple price points with the best available today, and with consistently good budget offerings that even the everyman can afford.

I've been hankering to buy a new set of Ascend speakers for the past several years. The problem is that I need approval from my better half to acquire yet another pair of speakers, so it might be a while before that happens (like @Spkrdctr , my man card has long been revoked).

 

[dmac6419]

Price hike?

 

[Hipster Doofus]

-----------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are better

 

[Labjr]

I have been working with ChatGPT Pro to try to better answer questions like this. It is not there yet but it happens that I was using CBM-170SE2 and Ascilab F6B as samples. Here is the comparison as generated by AI:

What about F6B or C6B vs Sierra V2 or Sierra LX?

 

[Mort]

That's the beauty of this hobby.. Lots of ways to get " there "....and none are wrong...from $500 set ups to 5 figures... It's about fun and learning how to set up the best experience for yourself...

Many of us enjoy both. I prefer a wide dispersion home theater because I find the pinpoint center distracting and I much prefer a large soundstage.

For music I listen nearfield 5.2 with medium narrow monitors and the center is convincingly and tightly placed. .

 

[Power Pop 23]

Same. I have no use for them but just want to hear what they can do.

I too, have no use for another PAIR of loudspeakers but.....

I use a single loudspeaker in one room and

alas,

@AscendDF offers the CBM-170SE2 as a single.

 

[Power Pop 23]

I have been working with ChatGPT Pro to try to better answer questions like this. It is not there yet but it happens that I was using CBM-170SE2 and Ascilab F6B as samples. Here is the comparison as generated by AI:

Metric	Ascend CBM-170SE2	F6B	Better
Preference score (↑ larger is better)	5.80	6.53	F6B by +0.73
Preference w/subwoofer (↑ larger is better)	8.16	8.47	F6B by +0.31
LFX (↓ smaller is better)	51.3 Hz	41.0 Hz	F6B
NBD On-axis (↓ smaller is better)	0.405	0.271	F6B
NBD Listening Window (↓ smaller is better)	0.329	0.264	F6B
NBD Sound Power (↓ smaller is better)	0.260	0.263	Essentially tie
NBD PIR (↓ smaller is better)	0.227	0.242	Ascend, slightly
SM PIR (↑ larger is better)	0.932	0.944	F6B
SM Sound Power (↑ larger is better)	0.952	0.954	Essentially tie
AAD On-axis (↓ smaller is better)	0.205 dB	0.465 dB	Ascend

Using the absolute preference-score grading scale we established:

Speaker	Preference score	Grade
F6B	6.53	A−
Ascend CBM-170SE2	5.80	B+

The most obvious difference is much deeper bass extension which helps boost preference score good bit. The build quality is also at another level when it comes to F6B as it should be given its higher cost.

I look forward to more help from ChatGPT Pro and will refrain from regularly asking Are we there yet ?


I am unfamiliar with the cost of using paid A.I.

How much it does it cost in tokens to ask ChatGPT Pro to compare the Ascilab F6B to the CBM-170SE2 ?