Ascend Sierra LX vs Kef R5 at same price - First Proper Stereo - Tie Breakers Wanted!

[spookmountain]

Hello!

I am hoping to upgrade soon to a proper, complete stereo that I'll be happy with for awhile. I've been running some DIY Swan kit speakers for a few years now.

I was planning on Ascend Sierra LX - but have come upon a secondhand pair of Kef R5 for the same price (~$1700,) which has me stuck in some analysis paralysis:

I'm pairing the speakers with a subwoofer, managed with a MiniDSP Flex, and the priority is mixed 70/30 music/HT+gaming. (probably 50/50 time wise but my audio sense is in music)

My thoughts so far:

-Raw frequency extension is made moot by the subwoofer(s) for now

-Both speakers score close enough on spinorama for preferred speaker to be totally subjective (Ascends @ 8.6 vs Kef @ 8.2 w sub)

-People here and on other forums are seriously hype about the ascends, more so than any response I've seen to the kef R3 or R5 - I am curious if that is more a function of the value + impressive performance for a bookshelf, than an impression of raw performance? eg. Ascends "sound huge" but, would they sound bigger than the mini kef tower? (due to wider dispersion? bass w/out sub?)

-R5 could potentially save me some money on an amp, given their higher sensitivity

-Appearance and placement are a toss up - both will be gloss white, and ascends would be on stands

Future Proofing:
Kef looks like it has more HT expansion options (dedicated center and surrounds)
If I build a new system and keep them: Ascends could go to standalone bedroom/office system, Kef could go do dedicated home theater
If I sell them: Ascends smaller, can be shipped, Kef's have higher brand recognition and resale value but are big and hard to move

Music preferences: Essentially everything, but a lot of bass music, techno, idm, classical - dynamic stuff, ear candy
Sound preference: Neutral, I like messing with DSP

I can listen to Kef's at a store before picking them up but not the Ascends


I would really appreciate your thoughts - even arbitrary tie breakers - I'm sure both pairs are good!

Thanks All

 

[staticV3]

The KEF has controlled directivity, so would be my choice.

 

[3125b]

I have a pair of KEF R5 (1st gen) as my desktop speakers. Well, they're placed on short stands next to the table so that the coaxial driver is at ear height. This works perfectly fine and I would never go back to non-coaxials at short listening distances like that.
This does apply only to a much smaller degree at longer distances.
They do require a subwoofer in my opinion, as do most small floorstanders just like bookshelf speakers, but you are planning on doing that anyway.

Now that being said, I think $1700 is too much for a used pair, that's more than I paid new for them a couple years ago. I'm not too familiar with the US speaker market, but I'm sure you can find better deals.