Measurements and Analysis
All measurements were conducted in room, on axis at the acoustical center of each speaker 1 meter away. The results were 1/3rd octave smoothed for easier readability.
Onix x-ls, Polk M30 & HSU HB-1 Frequency Response
Onix – blue trace; Polk
– red trace; HSU – purple trace
The Onix x-ls measured the most linear of the group with usable bass extension down in the 45Hz range. The Polk’s had +5dB bump above 5kHz topping off at +7dB above 10kHz. These speakers were very bright making me wonder if they skewed our bias towards them in the instantaneous comparisons of the more tonally neutral x-ls and HB-1 speakers. The HSU HB-1’s surprisingly measured a few dB hot above 5kHz. I wish I would have pulled some off axis measurements to understand why they sounded more recessed off axis.
RBH TK-5CT & Usher S-520 Frequency
Response
RBH – green trace ; Usher
– red trace
Both speakers measured quite well, though the Ushers were a bit more linear in the upper midrange. The bump in the 1-2kHz range of the RBH’s may be attributed to the slight midrange coloration we heard due to cabinet resonance. The Usher’s appeared to have lower bass extension with a -3dB point around 45 Hz compared to the RBH’s 50Hz but it was a moot point since the Usher’s couldn’t play these frequencies at adequate SPL levels without bottoming out.
RBH Sound MC-6C; Dali Mentor 1, Ascend Acoustics Sierra 1
Frequency Response
RBH – blue trace; Dali
–yellow trace; Ascends – purple
trace
The RBH MC-6C measured the most linear of all the speakers in this review. it had a slightly elevated midrange response which most manufacturers tend to recess to hide speaker imperfections. They also had the steepest low frequency rolloff of the group and were the only sealed speakers in this comparison.
As you can see in this measurement, the Dali’s had a +7dB bump above 10kHz. I found it highly unusual that a speaker company would incorporate such a deliberate boost of the ultra high frequencies, but there is no denying our listeners preferences (at least short term). For such a small speaker, they had impressively low end bass extension (mid 40hz range) but were prone to bottoming out.
The Ascend Acoustics Sierra 1’s had the most pronounced bass extension of all the speakers in this review. They almost seemed like floorstanding speakers with usable bass extension in the sub 40Hz region. They had a slightly elevated response in the 5-10kHz region gradually tapering off above 15kHz.
For more detailed measurements and analysis, please refer to our formal reviews of these speakers.
Recent Forum Posts:
Guiria;302038
I find it interesting that reviews away from this one regarding the X-LS are all great, positive, and people boast the ID concept as a better bang for your buck than speaker companies using brick and mortar distribution etc. Then this review has a slightly less expensive (than X-LS) model of Polk's from a line available at Circuit City that appear to be equally if not better than the super valued X-LS.
I now doubt my internet direct beliefs which were "You get more for your dollar going ID".
There is more wisdom in auditioning several speakers before purchasing than many believe.
Thank you for writing a review that challenges my hyped up notions from all the forum buzz out there, and a review that has made me a wiser consumer.
I hope other people read this and come to the realization you did (thanks to this review). There are no absolutes in the audio world.
My observations:
ID brands are not always a better value than B&M brands sonically.
Price only loosely correlates to sound quality when comparing brands.
Sound quality is highly variable among different speaker brands.
PENG;303908
You may be right about the B&Ws, but Paradigm? Don't they offer products from US$120 a pair Cinema series all the way up to US$6,000 top of the line Signature series? I would say they can compete at all levels except the real high end level such as the B&W80X Diamond series and beyond.
I think the poster is referring to Paradigm offerings at the same price point.
This is what a reviewer had to say about the Sierra 1 and where it matches up with Paradigm...
With the Ascend Acoustics, something did: From the very beginning, I could tell that the Sierra-1 had outstanding clarity, and was conveying much more low-level detail than any other under-$1000 two-way I’d ever heard -- qualities that became even more apparent when I sat down to do some critical listening. In fact, the Sierra-1’s ability to let me hear into recordings was right up there with Paradigm’s Signature S2 and PSB’s Platinum M2, two of the best two-way monitors on the market, and each of which sells for about two grand per pair. (I own a pair of Signature S2s.)http://www.soundstageav.com/onhifi.html [soundstageav.com]
silversurfer;303610
Have you actually done side by side comparisons?
At the same price points, I would agree that PSB and Energy have comparable product, but not Paradigm and B&W. Again, none of them can touch the finish of the X-LS.
You may be right about the B&Ws, but Paradigm? Don't they offer products from US$120 a pair Cinema series all the way up to US$6,000 top of the line Signature series? I would say they can compete at all levels except the real high end level such as the B&W80X Diamond series and beyond.
anamorphic96;303870
But getting back to the main point. All of these speaker companies being talked about are like great bottles of wine. Each has a slightly different character.
It's all subjective. One mans neutral is another man's bright. Just because someone doesn't like a certain companies character does mean its a bad speaker. Their just not the flavor you like.
If that is the case, then everything is comparable.
