KEF Blade 2 vs Ascend ELX Towers as End Game

[Chromatischism]

You posted Buchard's measurement, right? I've seen it before.

Otherwise I checked Erin's measurements for the A700 since it's complete and the speaker structure hasn't change that much between A700 and A700 LE, also looked at the A700 LE measurements from Buchardt themselves, and also cross checked Erin's measurements of the small bookshelves with their new tweeter and waveguide since this is present in the 700 LE.

So you looked at the 2022 Neutral/Stock tuning?

I'm not sure of the specifics, but it looks like the current tuning is different.

At any rate, it's a cool idea, running a speaker like this off the preouts instead of an amp (with most AVRs like the Denons, you have to externally amplify 2 of the speakers to do 7.1.4). The only question it would leave is, what do you do for a center channel.

 

[kharan]

So you looked at the 2022 Neutral/Stock tuning

I'm not sure of the specifics, but it looks like the current tuning is different.

At any rate, it's a cool idea, running a speaker like this off the preouts instead of an amp (with most AVRs like the Denons, you have to externally amplify 2 of the speakers to do 7.1.4). The only question it would leave is, what do you do for a center channel.

To be honest, I don't consider frequency response the most important in a DSP controlled speaker, it's something you can EQ yourself later too. I was more interested in the directivity of the tunings Buchardt provided.

 

[Chromatischism]

To be honest, I don't consider frequency response the most important in a DSP controlled speaker, it's something you can EQ yourself later too. I was more interested in the directivity of the tunings Buchardt provided.

This is true.

And the constant directivity from the waveguide helps a lot, at least above the crossover. You can see it in the S400 MKII as well. They should be very similar, once you flatten the frequency response. XO is at 1800 Hz on this speaker:

 

[kharan]

Yes, Buchardt can make very well measuring speakers.

 

[PristineSound]

Call Ascend and they will say the ELX towers are endgame. Erin refers to the Blades as end game. Not trying to get anybody to say who is right as I know this is subjective but is the law of diminishing returns very evident here? Would it be worth spending $5000 more or so to get a used pair of Blade 2’s over the ascends? Both would be used for music and HT with subs in a large room.

I realized that this thread is almost 1 year old, so not sure if you made any purchase yet.

If not the Ascilab are very much end game as well. And they have passive towers on the horizon.