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forum threadZorbat1446 posted Today 02:55 AM
forum threadZorbat1446 posted Today 02:55 AM

Ascend 170SE bookshelf speakers, $250/pr + shipping - manufacturer direct (alleged) B-stock

$250

$368

32% off
3 Comments 678 Views
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Fantastic all-around speaker for both movies and music, especially if you have a sub to fill in the low end. They do have a distinctively square-ish form factor and a non-descript (but very solid) MDF cabinet that may be a hard sell to the WAF-constrained...no question that something like a KEF Q1 or Q3 provides more eye candy.

The actual SOUND that comes out of these is very very good, with nice full and balanced mids. Overall sound is clear, natural, uncolored, and surprisingly dynamic because they sacrifice a little bit of mid-bass extension for the 89db anechoic extension (the aforementioned KEF are 85-86db sensitive) that makes them easy to drive to higher volumes than you'd expect for a speaker this size. Despite the modest price you actually * can * do critical music listening with these, if desired. Very impressive given it's just the entry level series of the Ascend stable.

Ascend is an internet-direct-only company, which is why few people outside of audiophile circles have ever heard of them. Owner/designer used to work for M&K and preserves their design philosophy. They cater to a high-info audio enthusiast crowd, which is reflected in the reams of detailed information INCLUDING full measurements on all of their speakers that can be found on their website. Unlike most mainstream speaker companies which drown you in gushy ad copy and flashy pics on their website but force you to scroll way down and dig to find some small PDF download links if you want to see any actual numbers (cough cough, Klipsch).

https://www.ascendacoustics.com/c...6138978358
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About the Poster
Fantastic all-around speaker for both movies and music, especially if you have a sub to fill in the low end. They do have a distinctively square-ish form factor and a non-descript (but very solid) MDF cabinet that may be a hard sell to the WAF-constrained...no question that something like a KEF Q1 or Q3 provides more eye candy.

The actual SOUND that comes out of these is very very good, with nice full and balanced mids. Overall sound is clear, natural, uncolored, and surprisingly dynamic because they sacrifice a little bit of mid-bass extension for the 89db anechoic extension (the aforementioned KEF are 85-86db sensitive) that makes them easy to drive to higher volumes than you'd expect for a speaker this size. Despite the modest price you actually * can * do critical music listening with these, if desired. Very impressive given it's just the entry level series of the Ascend stable.

Ascend is an internet-direct-only company, which is why few people outside of audiophile circles have ever heard of them. Owner/designer used to work for M&K and preserves their design philosophy. They cater to a high-info audio enthusiast crowd, which is reflected in the reams of detailed information INCLUDING full measurements on all of their speakers that can be found on their website. Unlike most mainstream speaker companies which drown you in gushy ad copy and flashy pics on their website but force you to scroll way down and dig to find some small PDF download links if you want to see any actual numbers (cough cough, Klipsch).

https://www.ascendacoustics.com/c...6138978358

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Pro
Today 03:46 AM
12,432 Posts
Joined Jul 2010
supermanrob
Pro
Today 03:46 AM
12,432 Posts
Key words here "b-stock" & "budget loudspeakers".
$250 is about right, that's what you should expect.

Maybe near field music listening, will definitely need a sub though.
Decent surrounds for HT.
Pro
Today 04:05 AM
3,872 Posts
Joined Nov 2006
dcpoor
Pro
Today 04:05 AM
3,872 Posts
saw ascend and immediately thought this deal was for sierra's or something higher end. lol
Original Poster
Today 05:10 AM
530 Posts
Joined Sep 2018
Zorbat1446
Original Poster
Today 05:10 AM
530 Posts
Quote from dcpoor :
saw ascend and immediately thought this deal was for sierra's or something higher end. lol
Nope they almost never have "B-stock" on the Sierras. You might get 10% off tops around Black Friday or when a new model is introduced, but never seen anything better than that.

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