Ascend Sierra-1 V2 Speaker Review

[Humbahodo]

I love the speakers but they seem very power hungry. I'm using a Onkyo Tx RZ50 rated at 250 W/Ch (6 ohms. The source is my computer which I use to play back every type of file Flac ,DSD, Blu ray Dolby Atmos audo ect. I find especially on my older disk recorded before the loudness war I can't get the volume very high. It seems after the receiver after reads 75db, anything past that point there is no difference in volume. Most material plays loud enough but not all. I did not have this problem with my previous speakers. I'm sitting 8 to 10 feet away. I'm Has anyone else experienced this.

 

[Bamyasi]

I love the speakers but they seem very power hungry. I'm using a Onkyo Tx RZ50 rated at 250 W/Ch (6 ohms. The source is my computer which I use to play back every type of file Flac ,DSD, Blu ray Dolby Atmos audo ect. I find especially on my older disk recorded before the loudness war I can't get the volume very high. It seems after the receiver after reads 75db, anything past that point there is no difference in volume. Most material plays loud enough but not all. I did not have this problem with my previous speakers. I'm sitting 8 to 10 feet away. I'm Has anyone else experienced this.

Looks like for this Onkyo's model amp performance is actually closer to 30 WCh @ 4R due to poor thermals / power management, see Amir's review https://www.audiosciencereview.com/.../onkyo-tx-rz50-review-home-theater-avr.30842/

The speakers, on the other side, are low sensitivity and measured by Amir as having very high impedance, so can easily bring pretty much any AVR's amp on its knees.

 

[AscendDF]

I love the speakers but they seem very power hungry. I'm using a Onkyo Tx RZ50 rated at 250 W/Ch (6 ohms. The source is my computer which I use to play back every type of file Flac ,DSD, Blu ray Dolby Atmos audo ect. I find especially on my older disk recorded before the loudness war I can't get the volume very high. It seems after the receiver after reads 75db, anything past that point there is no difference in volume. Most material plays loud enough but not all. I did not have this problem with my previous speakers. I'm sitting 8 to 10 feet away. I'm Has anyone else experienced this.

I am not sure where you are seeing that rated power (wattage) for your RZ50. The published specs list the power at 120 watts into 8 ohms. I believe Amir's test indicated about 130 watts. That stated, that is still plenty of power, and at a 10 foot distance, should be able to reach peaks of ~ 100dB, which is far louder than I recommend listening at. Some of these receivers have maximum volume settings, so you might want to just go through the menu in your Onkyo. Also check your left/right trim levels.

In addition, different sources and even different recordings are going to have differing amounts of gain. If you are reaching comfortable volume levels with one source, but not another, the issue isn't the speakers. (it is gain) I am not too familiar with your receiver, but please feel free to reach out directly for assistance.

 

[AscendDF]

The speakers, on the other side, are low sensitivity and measured by Amir as having very high impedance, so can easily bring pretty much any AVR's amp on its knees.

Just the opposite, these are true 8 ohm nominal speakers. The *higher* the impedance, the easier the workload for an amplifier. The lower the impedance, the higher the current demand, it is basic Ohm's Law. The S1V2 do like power though, but they are an exceptionally easy load for any amplifier or receiver.

 

[Bamyasi]

Just the opposite, these are true 8 ohm nominal speakers. The *higher* the impedance, the easier the workload for an amplifier. The lower the impedance, the higher the current demand, it is basic Ohm's Law. The S1V2 do like power though, but they are an exceptionally easy load for any amplifier or receiver.

Except it will also require higher output voltage and cheaper/smaller power supplies often found in AVR's might not be able to cope with the demand. But looking at the actual impedance measurements plot, I agree that it does not look like anything special at all. No idea why Amir called it "unusually high" but he sure has more experience than pretty much anybody else.

He also mentioned issues with the apparent thermal throttling when measuring Onkyo power, causing much lower than rated output. This was during full power test sweeps, so might not be that bad in real life though.

 

[AscendDF]

Except it will also require higher output voltage and cheaper/smaller power supplies often found in AVR's might not be able to cope with the demand. But looking at the actual impedance measurements plot, I agree that it does not look like anything special at all. No idea why Amir called it "unusually high" but he sure has more experience than pretty much anybody else.

He also mentioned issues with the apparent thermal throttling when measuring Onkyo power, causing much lower than rated output. This was during full power test sweeps, so might not be that bad in real life though.

Higher voltages aren't the issue, the limiting factor for receivers' or amplifiers' output capabilities is current demand and thermal issues (which are directly related, high current = high heat generation). Low sensitivity combined with lower impedances is indeed a problem, even more so if you factor in high reactance. But lower than average sensitivity combined with true 8 ohm nominal impedance is easy.

Regarding Amir's measurements of the Onkyo, I believe he ran into those issues at lower impedance loads (6 ohms and lower for example). This goes back to my point, higher impedance = lower current demands = lower heat dissipation = less potential issues.

 

[Humbahodo]

Looks like for this Onkyo's model amp performance is actually closer to 30 WCh @ 4R due to poor thermals / power management, see Amir's review https://www.audiosciencereview.com/.../onkyo-tx-rz50-review-home-theater-avr.30842/

The speakers, on the other side, are low sensitivity and measured by Amir as having very high impedance, so can easily bring pretty much any AVR's amp on its knees

I am not sure where you are seeing that rated power (wattage) for your RZ50. The published specs list the power at 120 watts into 8 ohms. I believe Amir's test indicated about 130 watts. That stated, that is still plenty of power, and at a 10 foot distance, should be able to reach peaks of ~ 100dB, which is far louder than I recommend listening at. Some of these receivers have maximum volume settings, so you might want to just go through the menu in your Onkyo. Also check your left/right trim levels.

In addition, different sources and even different recordings are going to have differing amounts of gain. If you are reaching comfortable volume levels with one source, but not another, the issue isn't the speakers. (it is gain) I am not too familiar with your receiver, but please feel free to reach out directly for assistance.

Thanks. Your right I did not get that wattage right. I'm compensating pretty well with adjustments to the gain. It was just such a noticeable difference in volume when I changed speakers. They sound great and I hope my comment won't dissuade anyone from purchasing them. Just consider the power requirements. I've since hooked up a turntable it plays relatively loud. It comes down to source and the need for gain.

 

[Audio Science Pal]

I'm using a Onkyo Tx RZ50 ... Most material plays loud enough but not all.

Page 141 of your Onkyo owner's manual indicates going to Source, My Input Volume, then adjusting the setting. After you navigate the OSD menu settings and that adjustment, you should be able to increase the music input (output) volume.

 

[Endibol]

I just purchased a pair and they do have magnetic grills now.
Build quality is very good by the way!

 

[Labjr]

I just purchased a pair and they do have magnetic grills now.
Build quality is very good by the way!
View attachment 382199View attachment 382200

How do they sound? Which amplifier are you using?

 

[DearSX]

That was a great finish option, those look great and measured very well. Hope they sound great!

 

[Endibol]

How do they sound? Which amplifier are you using?

I don’t know yet, moving homes..
I am planning to connect them to the Fosi v3 mono blocks that just arrived.
Keep you posted.

 

[Endibol]

That was a great finish option, those look great and measured very well. Hope they sound great!

Finish is bamboo, very nice.

 

[DanTheMan]

T

I just purchased a pair and they do have magnetic grills now.
Build quality is very good by the way!
View attachment 382199View attachment 382200

Those look beautiful!

 

[Ron Texas]

"Designed engineered, and assembled in the USA"

 

[Doodski]

If you Doods like the bamboo look there are coffee mugs and drinking cups made from it. They are turned on lathes to exacting tolerances. Very nice stuff.

 

[totti1965]

I just purchased a pair and they do have magnetic grills now.
Build quality is very good by the way!
View attachment 382199View attachment 382200

Absolutely beautiful! David Fabrikant seems to know what he does!

 

[Dmitri]

If you Doods like the bamboo look there are coffee mugs and drinking cups made from it. They are turned on lathes to exacting tolerances. Very nice stuff.

From my woodworker’s perspective, laminated bamboo is an amazing product. Incredibly stable. Lovely to look at! As it’s a grass it has a lot of silica in it; the Ascend’s speaker cabinets are almost literally solid as a rock. Makes it tough on blade/bit cutters in my price range so I’ve hesitated to work with it. But maybe some day…

 

[Doodski]

From my woodworker’s perspective, laminated bamboo is an amazing product. Incredibly stable. Lovely to look at! As it’s a grass it has a lot of silica in it; the Ascend’s speaker cabinets are almost literally solid as a rock. Makes it tough on blade/bit cutters in my price range so I’ve hesitated to work with it. But maybe some day…

I've done a bit of woodwork making houses, furniture and small wood accessories for around the home in cedar, pine, walnut and teak. I've never cut bamboo other than sticks and old fishing rods but it was veryy tough stuff.

 

[Ron Texas]

Tropical woods like bamboo are often billed as being more sustainable than other woods. I know they grow much faster, but any tree once cut down can be grown again. I suppose the faster it grows the more carbon is sucked out of the atmosphere. My bedroom furniture is made from Mango IIRC. The bamboo cabinet is definitely more attractive than MDF. Paint, which is what KEF and Wilson use, is a nice option as well. Exotic veneers add a lot of cost and do nothing for the sound.

PS I have yet to see a formal review of the Ascend Sierra LX although there are many positive owner comments.