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.