First Impressions of the Ascend Sierra Towers/Horizon with RAAL Ribbons

[Rob from NJ]

FirstReflection,
I can't thank you enough for all the information and knowledge you've shared with me, as well as, guiding me to the Ascend Sierra towers/Horizon. These speakers are awesome and I've jst started listening.

[Rob from NJ]

Dave's transparency & honesty was the sole reason why I decided to go with the Ascends in the end. He'll lay it out for you in black and white all you have to do is trust your instincts....

Congrats on the new speakers Rob from NJ....I don't have the RAALs but I love my Towers and STC.....

Billy p
Thanks. My communications with both Dave and Dina were very informative and interesting. Their customer service is first rate. Based on my objectives for speakers, Dave had recommending the ribbon for the Horizon and the NrT tweeter for the Towers. I decided to splurge and get ribbons across the fronts. Dina found it humorous that I was not going with Dave's recommendation. I'm sure the NrT tweeter is great and one day I would love to listen to the Towers with the NrT tweeter to hear what I'm missing out on.

[GranteedEV]

The speakers surely have very nice looking graphs but the tower weighs 44 lbs, about the same as the P363.

Yes, but it uses bamboo, which is both stiffer and lighter than the MDF used in the Infinity (but more expensive).

[Rob from NJ]

Nice.... Hows about some pics....

The Sierra Towers are pretty darn nice... In our recent shootouts...

Yes, I ordered the Ascend Sierras about one week before your GTG and followed through thread very closely. Great stuff. I was also PMing Joe. I took some pictures of the speakers and will post hopefully this weekend when I move the pictures from my camera to my computer.

[cschang]

YI took some pictures of the speakers and will post hopefully this weekend when I move the pictures from my camera to my computer.

What? Are you lazy or too busy listening to your speakers?

Someone mentioned, I think FirstReflection, said Ascend modified the RAAL. I think all that was done was a different faceplate (round instead of rectangular) and the housing's edges are beveled for easier fit in the Sierra Tower cabinet...in fact I think this is now standard on 70-20XR.

[billy p]

The speakers surely have very nice looking graphs but the tower weighs 44 lbs, about the same as the P363. I wonder if they have structural engineers on staff who has the know how to design/build highly rigid and vibration free cabinets without using thick plates all round. I wonder how they compare to the Philharmonic 3.

Peng some information is available in the Wisconsin GTG thread over at Avs...the Sierra's with the RAAL acquitted themselves rather well. I know there was an issue with the phils as was found out later upon their to return back to DM...but the Sierra's were favoured over the Song Towers and Phils by a couple of the third party interests in attendace that day....

Yes, but it uses bamboo, which is both stiffer and lighter than the MDF used in the Infinity (but more expensive).

Here is an explaination why Ascend used bamboo in building their cabinets. I know bamboo is also a preferred cabinet material used by Nathan at Funk Audio...but it also comes at a premium.

Ascend Acoustics Community - View Single Post - Sierra - The Cabinet

[Rob from NJ]

A few pictures of the Sierra Towers (grills on).

[Rob from NJ]

Pictures of the Towers/Horizon with grills off.

[billy p]

You made the right choice going with the black satin finish over the gloss black and the RAAL sure looks purdy....

[Rob from NJ]

You made the right choice going with the black satin finish over the gloss black and the RAAL sure looks purdy....

Thanks. I figured that the Black Matte is not reflective and I do mostly HT. Plus it was less money.