Genelec vs Ascend Home Theater

[Antwon947]

Hello all,

I have been a long time lurker of ASR and am so thankful that a website like this exists. I have loved reading dozens of speaker/equipment reviews and looking at charts on spinorama.org. I am now at a point where I can make a home entertainment setup, and I have it narrowed down to two setups. We sit about 7 feet from the TV, and it is a small room with a shared wall, so I am not super concerned about producing high volume levels.

1.) Genelec
Speakers: 4x 8330a ($4,100)
Subwoofer: 7350a ($1,625)
GLM: ($393.61)
Stands: 4x Genelec Design ($1,658)
Receiver: Onkyo TX-RZ30 ($999)
Total: $8,775.61

2.) Ascend
Speakers: 4x Sierra 1 V2 ($1,996)
Subwoofer: Rythmik LV12M ($923)
Stands: 4x TP-24 Pedestal ($480)
Receiver: Onkyo TX-RZ30 ($999)
Dirac Live Bass control: $299
Total: $4,697

As much as the Genelec setup excites me, I am having a hard time justifying spending almost twice the amount of money. How big of a sound difference would there be between an active and passive home theater setup (assuming adequate amplification power in the AVR), and how much of a difference in quality is there between GLM and Dirac with Bass Control?

Thank you so much for your help!

 

[suttondesign]

diminishing returns. the less expensive option is awesome. seems like some final preference eq would get you the last couple percent.

 

[kemmler3D]

Genelec is excellent but so is ascend in this situation. I think the reasonable recommendation here is for the cheaper option.

 

[Curvature]

Sierra 1 V2

Measurements for speaker Ascend Acoustics Sierra 1 V2

www.spinorama.org

That vertical directivity just sucks. Very, very narrow optimal range and wide, deep cancellations below and above. I would never buy these.

You can't EQ or room correct directivity issues.

You can keep the cheaper option the same other than switching out the main speakers.

For comparison: https://www.spinorama.org/speakers/Genelec 8330A/ASR/index_asr.html

 

[darth]

1 minor-ish thing I should point out in regards to the Genelec setup: if in the future you want to upgrade to more than 5 channels, then the 7350A will not suffice as it doesn't have enough analog XLR I/O ports. This is of course assuming you use GLM and the Genelec sub to bass manage instead of the receiver directly. The 7360A+ has 3 more I/O ports and can suffice for a 5.1.2 analog setup.

 

[darth]

Also btw, you can get the Genelec vesa adapter and buy any vesa compatible stand. Or just put the Genelec on a tree trunk stump like I did. Might bring the cost of he setup down by a few hundred to sub 8k.

 

[ShadowBoxer]

That vertical directivity just sucks

Why does the DI plot (bottom of first chart) of the Ascend S1V2 look much smoother than the Genelec DI plot?

 

[Curvature]

Why does the DI plot (bottom of first chart) of the Ascend S1V2 look much smoother than the Genelec DI plot?

SPDI? It's the listening window (+/-30° horizontally, +/-10° vertically, averaged) minus sound power (average total radiation).

In the Genelec speaker the jaggedness seems to be a crossover issue combined with some woofer resonances.

This is the more important chart: https://www.spinorama.org/speakers/...rinsAudioCorner/eac/SPL Vertical Contour.html

 

[Oddball]

If you decide to go passive, should give some thought to where you want to go with EQ. I heard that Onkyo recently fixed their DLBC issue, but not sure if the firmware was actually released yet. This was taking quite a while. Also, at this point, they did not announce anything regarding potential ART support for their AVR line. So objectively, not a stelar track record with Dirac compatibility.

Denon 3800H will be a bit more expensive with Dirac package, but has history of DLBC working relatively well, and commitment to support ART by the end of this year. Not an expert, but apparently ART is a "game-changer".

Subs don't like a single life - so getting a pair is always a good idea if space and budget allow.

Looks like you are going without center. Well, try it out. You can always add a center later if you don't like the phantom.

Plenty of solid passive speakers in $2-4K range (for 2 pairs), so you need to pick your poison.

 

[MarkS]

"We sit about 7 feet from the TV, and it is a small room with a shared wall"

The Ascends are fine. Unless you plan to do some listening while standing up, at that distance vertical directivity is a complete non-issue. Also, one sub is plenty and you do not need DLBC with it. (You do need DL.)

Now others will chime in to strongly disagree on all these points. They are correct that this will not be a maximally fine-tuned, state-of-the-art system. Worst potential problem is seat-to-seat bass variation. How much do your other family members care about that? My bet is not much.

 

[Marc v E]

Having just received an Ascilab C6B that sounds way better than a Genelec 8030, I would personally go for an Ascilab speaker based on performance and value for money at this price.

I have heard the 8331 and although nice for desktop setup, I wasn't that impressed. The 8351 is a whole different speaker that blew me away. Still would choose the Ascilab for home theater setup though.

For a full range sound, starting point for me would be Denon x3800h, 2 fronts, 1 center and 1 or 2 subwoofers. Backs can be added later. Beware that at this point in time there is no center speaker from Ascilab that I'm aware of. I would personally start with left and right and wait for a center to be announced. Or get a third Ascilab speaker of the same type to act as a center speaker for the time being.

Pick your speaker type/size depending on the size of the room and required spl. I would measure it at your listening position and compare to the specs.

I think the difference in sound and bass control is mostly due to a speaker's engineering + size and amount of subs.

It's not a general trait between passive or active.
Even though in your example the Genelec 8331 is very limited in spl due to it's design choice of a limited amplifier.

 

[ShadowBoxer]

In the Genelec speaker the jaggedness seems to be a crossover issue combined with some woofer resonances.

IOW, worse?

 

[Curvature]

IOW, worse?

Both have compromises. In a forced choice between the Ascends and the Genelecs, I would choose the Genelecs. In an open one, I would choose another speaker.

Edit: Typos.

 

[Matt34]

Option #2 but drop the ported LV12 and get two L12 to even out bass response and give yourself more options for placements.

 

[darth]

As much as the Genelec setup excites me

imho, if something really excites you, go for it. No point in getting something that didn't excite you and then eventually switching anyways causing more e-waste and more $$$ spent. Buy once, cry once. Just my 2c, ymmv.

 

[kyuu]

Measurements for speaker Ascend Acoustics Sierra 1 V2

www.spinorama.org

That vertical directivity just sucks. Very, very narrow optimal range and wide, deep cancellations below and above. I would never buy these.

You can't EQ or room correct directivity issues.

You can keep the cheaper option the same other than switching out the main speakers.

For comparison: https://www.spinorama.org/speakers/Genelec 8330A/ASR/index_asr.html

Why are you so concerned with the vertical directivity here? The PIR shows that the reflections shouldn't be an issue. Unless one plans to listen to the speakers while lying on the floor or standing up, I'm not sure what the concern is.

 

[Mort]

I love Genelec but not in that configuration for that price. Go with Ascend if those are the only two options.

 

[Curvature]

Why are you so concerned with the vertical directivity here? The PIR shows that the reflections shouldn't be an issue. Unless one plans to listen to the speakers while lying on the floor or standing up, I'm not sure what the concern is.

I have owned speakers with this kind of directivity. The tone changes with height. This kind of instability I lived with for a long time. Now it's one of the main signs I look for in a poorly considered design.

One of the main mistakes I've made in the past is to buy gear for one specific purpose or for one room arrangement. Circumstances change. I also don't know about you, but I watch movies and listen to music while doing other things, or lying down, or sitting on the floor, or walking around during a party, at various distances.

"Man sitting in chair at correct listening position" is a false idol.