Sierra-1 Measurements and Conclusion
To get a better idea of what was going on, we pulled a few measurements of the Sierra 1’s. There is a slight dip in the 1kHz to 4kHz range both at 1 meter and via nearfield measurements on/off axis. Or, another way to look at it is there is a slight elevated response in the 5kHz to 10kHz region. This may explain why Tom felt the midrange was a bit recessed in his listening sessions. Bass is definitely a strong point for these speakers with a 3dB point in the upper 40Hz region. Though don’t expect to get high SPL’s at these frequencies as you are limited by the cone excursion of such a small woofer. We still recommend crossing these speakers over at 80Hz and letting a good sub or two handle the bass duties below that region.
Impedance / Phase Ascend Sierra 1 (from manufacturer)
Though we didn’t measure impedance/ phase, judging by the manufacturers measurements the +-45deg phase shift and relatively moderate sensitivity and 5 ohm impedance magnitude in the lower frequency band suggests usage of quality amplification from the likes of Emotiva, B&K, etc is advised. We measured an average sensitivity of 86dB at 1 watt so don’t be alarmed that these speakers will need quite a powerful amplifier (recommended 100+ watts) to play loudly in large rooms.
Conclusion
Full bamboo construction, solid build materials, stunning sound… what's
not to like about the Ascend Sierra-1's? Very little I tell you… very little at
all. As bookshelf speakers go, they aren't the cheapest but this is definitely
a case of "you get what you pay for." And you're getting a lot. The
bass and treble extension seems out of place in the same box. Usually you hope
for one or the other. In this case, you get both and in a bookshelf package.
Quite a deal if I do say so myself.
About Ascend Acoustics
Our pledge at Ascend Acoustics is to
create the highest quality and most affordable loudspeakers available
today. Ascend will bridge the gap between value brands and overpriced
high-end brands. We will bring, and continue to bring, the high-end audio
experience previously not affordable to most consumers, into the homes of our
loyal and future customers.
The Score Card
The scoring below is based on each piece of equipment doing the duty it is designed for. The numbers are weighed heavily with respect to the individual cost of each unit, thus giving a rating roughly equal to:
Performance × Price Factor/Value = Rating
Audioholics.com note: The ratings indicated below are based on subjective listening and objective testing of the product in question. The rating scale is based on performance/value ratio. If you notice better performing products in future reviews that have lower numbers in certain areas, be aware that the value factor is most likely the culprit. Other Audioholics reviewers may rate products solely based on performance, and each reviewer has his/her own system for ratings.
Audioholics Rating Scale
— Excellent
- — Very Good
- — Good
- — Fair
- — Poor
| Metric | Rating |
|---|---|
| Build Quality | |
| Appearance | |
| Treble Extension | |
| Treble Smoothness | |
| Midrange Accuracy | |
| Bass Extension | |
| Bass Accuracy | |
| Imaging | |
| Soundstage | |
| Dynamic Range | |
| Fit and Finish | |
| Performance |  |
| Value | |
This is my first decent gear ever and I'm pretty darn happy.
J.
So what do you mean by a small/midsize room? This past Friday I ordered that last available pair of Sierras (at least until November) and they're on the way. My room is 17'x22'. It has brick floors and 10ft. wood beamed ceilings. I hope the speakers fit the bill. Receiver is a Denon DRA-6971 and player is Denon DVD-3910. This will be, by far, the nicest gear I've ever owned so I'll probably be happy no matter what. But your comment about the room size has me a bit concerned.
I'm interested in the Sierra-1's, but also considering:
Paradigm Studio 20 V.4
NHT Classic 3
B&W 685
Thanks.
Is there a breakdown of price range that defines a speaker class somewhere?
billnchristy;294906And this is a great point for all. Anyone is welcome to build a speaker on their own, in fact we encourage it - what a great experience. But there aren't many people who can afford the level of trial and error to get experience to compete with a manufacturer who has tried tens (or in the case of long-standing companies, hundreds) of designs and modifications before settling on a final loudspeaker model.
And you are right, it is very easy to please yourself but not so easy to please the masses, I have learned that with the looks of my PC speaker design.
