Ascend Acoustic Ribbon Towers

KEW

KEW

Audioholic Overlord
I think you should do it again and see what happens when you run heavy bass through them!
Will the driver throw the grill?
Will the grill get lifted off, but not enough to fully break the grill free?
Will the driver be physically limited by the grill?

... you know, Science!!!
 
lovinthehd

lovinthehd

Audioholic Jedi
I think you should do it again and see what happens when you run heavy bass through them!
Will the driver throw the grill?
Will the grill get lifted off, but not enough to fully break the grill free?
Will the driver be physically limited by the grill?

... you know, Science!!!
Might even be more concern from limiting the cone movement to that one side....more I think about it the less I like....but then again I just leave my grills on :) and with some speakers there's no choice how they fit...maybe they should have offset the magnets a bit....
 
Pogre

Pogre

Audioholic Slumlord
Well, that's one way to "loosen up' the surrounds on your woofers. :p
You should see how @Danzilla31 loosens up the ports on his speakers... :p

I took them up to reference today for 1 song, Chocolate Chip Trip. It's a drum solo and the kick drum ain't no joke. It's a pretty good stress test. I was on the edge of my seat waiting for something to pop the whole time, but they seemed to handle it well. I'll tell ya tho, it was a little alarming being able to see all 3 drivers bounce back and forth from my seat 15' away. They were jumping very hard.


I don't listen at reference levels very often, but every once in a while I'll crank it up. It made me kinda nervous with the Sierras tho... am I fussing over nothing or are these just not the type of speakers to play at high spl? For the record, my normal listening range is -20 to -15 for music and less for tv. It's Audyssey calibrated so I'm assuming reference is at least close to 85 dB.
 
Pogre

Pogre

Audioholic Slumlord
Might even be more concern from limiting the cone movement to that one side....more I think about it the less I like....but then again I just leave my grills on :) and with some speakers there's no choice how they fit...maybe they should have offset the magnets a bit....
I thought of that too. I'm glad I took them off before I put something on.
 
lovinthehd

lovinthehd

Audioholic Jedi
I thought of that too. I'm glad I took them off before I put something on.
Was trying to remember if they'd been used or not....that's probably best you didn't "experiment" as that doesn't always work out :)

Why are you taking them on and off so much is my question I guess....make up your mind! :)
 
Pogre

Pogre

Audioholic Slumlord
Was trying to remember if they'd been used or not....that's probably best you didn't "experiment" as that doesn't always work out :)

Why are you taking them on and off so much is my question I guess....make up your mind! :)
I put them on that one time since I've had them!

I might put them on again tonight, now that I know up from down. Why? Because... magnets!
 
lovinthehd

lovinthehd

Audioholic Jedi
Are you just in love with the aesthetic of a bare driver? Or magnets? :)
 
KEW

KEW

Audioholic Overlord
I don't listen at reference levels very often, but every once in a while I'll crank it up. It made me kinda nervous with the Sierras tho... am I fussing over nothing or are these just not the type of speakers to play at high spl? For the record, my normal listening range is -20 to -15 for music and less for tv. It's Audyssey calibrated so I'm assuming reference is at least close to 85 dB.
That is something worth knowing and something the good people at Ascend should be able to give you great guidance on!
 
Pogre

Pogre

Audioholic Slumlord
That is something worth knowing and something the good people at Ascend should be able to give you great guidance on!
I plan on hitting them up too. I'm just gonna play it safe for now. Thank you Kurt.
 
KEW

KEW

Audioholic Overlord
I plan on hitting them up too. I'm just gonna play it safe for now. Thank you Kurt.
I think they'd be intensely fascinated if you shared the method and result of the science project with them while you were at it!
 
Last edited:
M

Mpsafranski

Audioholic
I’ve given mine the ol what for a handful of times. I had them up past reference once, listening to the 1812 overture. Albeit a version that seemed mixed so that I HAD to turn it up that loud to get what I was looking for (much the same that any of the 4K Blu rays put out by Disney seem too “quiet”).

with the subs engaged I’ve never noticed any woofer excursion that concerned me.What keeps me from driving them too hard is fear of something happening to the tweeters, they just look so impossibly fragile in there!
 
D

Danzilla31

Audioholic Spartan
You should see how @Danzilla31 loosens up the ports on his speakers... :p

I could post you some videos if you'd like? Send you a PM?

We could title it...... Port porn! :D :po_O:oops:
 
ryanosaur

ryanosaur

Audioholic Overlord
Just sayin:
Maximum long term power: 300 w
Maximum short term power: 500 w
If the 92dB sensitivity is correct, that’s peak dynamics of ~118dB @1m and sustained maximum SPL of ~117dB
Your ears will give out before the speakers!
 
S

shadyJ

Speaker of the House
Staff member
Just sayin:
Maximum long term power: 300 w
Maximum short term power: 500 w
If the 92dB sensitivity is correct, that’s peak dynamics of ~118dB @1m and sustained maximum SPL of ~117dB
Your ears will give out before the speakers!
Power handling specs don't mean a whole lot. That might be for pink noise or something like that. You can easily damage your speakers with less power than that by shoving the power into a narrow frequency range. And I very much doubt those speakers will do sustained 117 dB as we know it. That would kill them. The 92dB sensitivity is an in-room spec. Those speakers should be able to get loud enough for most people but they aren't for THX Reference level listening. I just blew the driver of a speaker with a similar spec set.

If you like to listen loud, in order to protect the speakers I would advise a high crossover frequency to the sub.
 
B

Beave

Audioholic Chief
Isn't that more checking their shape memory? :) I would hope most modern surrounds could do this in any case....
Right, exactly, it's a new audiophile test to see just how well the surrounds return to shape after being pressed on all night. If your speaker passes this test, they get the seal of approval.
 
ryanosaur

ryanosaur

Audioholic Overlord
You’re no fun Shady.
I little hyperbole...
But let’s face it 32w as a peak, say, would likely be fine. What say you?
 
B

Beave

Audioholic Chief
Geez, now I'm feeling emasculated. I haven't had my Sierra towers anywhere near loud enough to see the drivers moving from my couch. Think they're feeling neglected?
 
newsletter

  • RBHsound.com
  • BlueJeansCable.com
  • SVS Sound Subwoofers
  • Experience the Martin Logan Montis
Top