Ascend Sierra-1 V2 Speaker Review

[cavedriver]

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.

I don't want to nitpick, but bamboo is not tropical and is not a wood. It's a grass and it has a huge climate range. When used in flooring it has a hardness comparable to oak and other hardwoods. Unfortunately, some of the glues that have been used in laminating bamboo products are toxic (primarily, apparently, they can give off formaldehyde, which is also present in other engineered wood products, such as MDF, but possibly other chemicals are used during their manufacture?). We had bamboo flooring in our old house and it was both beautiful and very rugged, although we purchased it from a relatively premium manufacturer that no longer sells the same product. As a speaker veneer choice, though, there are so many prettier wood products.

 

[Ron Texas]

I don't want to nitpick, but bamboo is not tropical and is not a wood. It's a grass and it has a huge climate range. When used in flooring it has a hardness comparable to oak and other hardwoods. Unfortunately, some of the glues that have been used in laminating bamboo products are toxic (primarily, apparently, they can give off formaldehyde, which is also present in other engineered wood products, such as MDF, but possibly other chemicals are used during their manufacture?). We had bamboo flooring in our old house and it was both beautiful and very rugged, although we purchased it from a relatively premium manufacturer that no longer sells the same product. As a speaker veneer choice, though, there are so many prettier wood products.

You are technically correct. Likewise, palms could be called grass. So far as making stuff is concerned, it's similar enough to wood that comes from trees. I believe Ascend speakers are made from solid bamboo and the finish is not a veneer.

 

[Guddu]

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

@AscendDF can tell if they have sent lx for review?

 

[totti1965]

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

Look at Spinorama.org :

A collection of loudspeakers measurements

www.spinorama.org

The measurements of the LX are done by Ascend Acoustics themselfs but from highest quality. If you pay USD 500,— extra for a pair, they will measure also your individual item!
So the ranking of the Sierra LX from Spinorama is extremely good. One of the best passive Speakers (without sub and even with sub!) at ANY (!!!) Pricepoint. Without Sub and with a little bit of EQ the ranking is 7.2 (!) increadible good for a bookshelf speaker. And it is not USD 20.000,— or USD 10.000,— a pair.
But yes: it would be nice if Erin or Amir would evaluate the Sierra LX also!

 

[WillBrink]

@AscendDF can tell if they have sent lx for review?

 

[staticV3]

Different model.

 

[Ron Texas]

Look at Spinorama.org :

A collection of loudspeakers measurements

www.spinorama.org

The measurements of the LX are done by Ascend Acoustics themselfs but from highest quality. If you pay USD 500,— extra for a pair, they will measure also your individual item!
So the ranking of the Sierra LX from Spinorama is extremely good. One of the best passive Speakers (without sub and even with sub!) at ANY (!!!) Pricepoint. Without Sub and with a little bit of EQ the ranking is 7.2 (!) increadible good for a bookshelf speaker. And it is not USD 20.000,— or USD 10.000,— a pair.
But yes: it would be nice if Erin or Amir would evaluate the Sierra LX also!

I've seen the measurements. What I want is independent confirmation and interpretation by someone like Erin or Amir.

 

[ShadowBoxer]

I've seen the measurements. What I want is independent confirmation and interpretation by someone like Erin or Amir.

There is precedent as Ascend's latest iteration (Sierra-1 V2) was sent to Erin for review (as noted above).

 

[Shazb0t]

As a speaker veneer choice, though, there are so many prettier wood products.

Pretty sure these are not veneers. They are full bamboo cabinets.

 

[ExPerfectionist]

SIERRA-1 V2 PAIR

Our World-Renowned Reference Monitor, Now Even Better! "Innovation, performance, intensive quality controls and environmental-friendliness all precisely balanced in a truly unique loudspeaker." Our new Sierra-1 V2 is a complete reimagining of our true classic, the Sierra-1. It fully represents...

ascendacoustics.com

Cabinet:

• Exclusive vertically laminated bamboo cabinet construction dramatically reduces cabinet resonance for a cleaner, more detailed, and transparent performance
• Cabinet is a stunningly beautiful natural hardwood finish, there are no veneers and as such, no need to be concerned about peeling veneers or wraps or veneer cracks
• Cabinet is fully environmentally friendly as the bamboo we source is a completely renewable resource
• Unlike MDF, our bamboo cabinets are formaldehyde free (nearly all speaker cabinets use MDF)

 

[AVKS]

I've seen the measurements. What I want is independent confirmation and interpretation by someone like Erin or Amir.

And if/when it happens, the measurements will look exactly like Ascend's measurements (as with the Sierra 1 review) and they will sound exactly like owners say they sound/how they measure.

 

[Ron Texas]

And if/when it happens, the measurements will look exactly like Ascend's measurements (as with the Sierra 1 review) and they will sound exactly like owners say they sound/how they measure.

Please reread my post with emphasis on the word interpretation. What is wrong with asking for a review when only measurements exist? You are not the first member here to imply that my request is irrelevant.

 

[AVKS]

Please reread my post with emphasis on the word interpretation. What is wrong with asking for a review when only measurements exist? You are not the first member here to imply that my request is irrelevant.

No need for drama - nothing I wrote implied irrelevance. It is, however, well established at this point what the outcome of such a comparison will be as we've seen many times with the reviewers you mention. That's the point of the Klippel system, is it not?

 

[Ron Texas]

No need for drama - nothing I wrote implied irrelevance. It is, however, well established at this point what the outcome of such a comparison will be as we've seen many times with the reviewers you mention. That's the point of the Klippel system, is it not?

What drama? I would like to see a review and I don't understand why you are telling me I don't need one. Following your logic all we need is measurements and the rest of the commentary is useless.

 

[AVKS]

What drama? I would like to see a review and I don't understand why you are telling me I don't need one. Following your logic all we need is measurements and the rest of the commentary is useless.

Again dramatic on your part. Nowhere did I say that your request is irrelevant and even more nowhere did I "tell you you don't need one". I simply pointed out what is well known and fully expected in such a scenario with the tools at hand.

And yes, isn't the point of easily digestable objective measurements like the Klippel to overcome the need for 'commentary'? Put another way, and playing devil's advocate, isn't the ability to eliminate the need for 'commentary' around reviews what makes such consistent measurements so valuable? Conversation certainly, always interesting to talk about. But valuable? If someone hears something, or thinks they do, that differs from the measurements, we all know what can evolve with quickness.

 

[PatentLawyer]

Guys, c’mon.

 

[Ron Texas]

Again dramatic on your part. Nowhere did I say that your request is irrelevant and even more nowhere did I "tell you you don't need one". I simply pointed out what is well known and fully expected in such a scenario with the tools at hand.

And yes, isn't the point of easily digestable objective measurements like the Klippel to overcome the need for 'commentary'? Put another way, and playing devil's advocate, isn't the ability to eliminate the need for 'commentary' around reviews what makes such consistent measurements so valuable? Conversation certainly, always interesting to talk about. But valuable? If someone hears something, or thinks they do, that differs from the measurements, we all know what can evolve with quickness.

Please leave me alone.

 

[Penelinfi]

Another engage and bail? I swear I've seen this somewhere else

 

[muad]

Again dramatic on your part. Nowhere did I say that your request is irrelevant and even more nowhere did I "tell you you don't need one". I simply pointed out what is well known and fully expected in such a scenario with the tools at hand.

And yes, isn't the point of easily digestable objective measurements like the Klippel to overcome the need for 'commentary'? Put another way, and playing devil's advocate, isn't the ability to eliminate the need for 'commentary' around reviews what makes such consistent measurements so valuable? Conversation certainly, always interesting to talk about. But valuable? If someone hears something, or thinks they do, that differs from the measurements, we all know what can evolve with quickness.

I would love to see an Erin or amir review. Especially since I had the lx and didn't love all aspects of it.

 

[AVKS]

Another engage and bail? I swear I've seen this somewhere else

Not sure if that's directed to me, but if it is, only being an occasional commenter/visitor is hardly bailing Would love to be around forums more but just the nature of life right now, just like how it would be great to try more speakers/get ahold of these Sierras to check out. Great nearfield solution for those who can accommodate the size.