Ascend Acoustics announces their new reference monitor.

[Tex-amp]

The new cabinets are made from bamboo! Pretty interesting read on the sonic properties/density that bamboo brings to cabinets. http://forum.ascendacoustics.com/showthread.php?t=2597&page=1&pp=10

 

[silversurfer]

Hey, that is very cool. Off to the Ascend forum for more reading.

 

[j_garcia]

What, they couldn't get any Whiskey barrels?

 

[mazersteven]

I would much prefer sound quality to looks, but it is nice to see them come out with some wood finishes.

 

[silversurfer]

I would much prefer sound quality to looks, but it is nice to see them come out with some wood finishes.

Just read the info on the Ascend Forum, and it does seem that the use of the bamboo is beneficial to the sound quality because of better rigidity and less resonance.

 

[emorphien]

Just read the info on the Ascend Forum, and it does seem that the use of the bamboo is beneficial to the sound quality because of better rigidity and less resonance.

we'll see how that works out! They seem like an interesting speaker.

 

[MUDSHARK]

I would much prefer sound quality to looks, but it is nice to see them come out with some wood finishes.

Is bamboo wood? The article by the owner seemed to indicate the cost was significant. Wonder if the cost will exceed 1000 per pair. Will these compete with the Mackies of the world?

 

[Tex-amp]

Is bamboo wood?

I think it is actually considered a grass.

 

[emorphien]

Is bamboo wood? The article by the owner seemed to indicate the cost was significant. Wonder if the cost will exceed 1000 per pair. Will these compete with the Mackies of the world?

Are they going after the "Mackies" or the B&Ws, Totems, Paradigms, Focals, ..... so on and so forth of the world making $1000 bookshelves. Some of them call their speakers monitors too, but Mackie is the last thing that comes to mine wrt them.

 

[mazersteven]

I think it is actually considered a grass.

Grass? It's amazing they turn all this into these.

 

[j_garcia]

Are they going after the "Mackies" or the B&Ws, Totems, Paradigms, Focals, ..... so on and so forth of the world making $1000 bookshelves. Some of them call their speakers monitors too, but Mackie is the last thing that comes to mine wrt them.

??? Mackie makes some excellent studio monitors....both powered and unpowered.

Grass? It's amazing they turn all this into these.

Ummmm, for medicinal purposes huh? Not bamboo....

 

[silversurfer]

bamboo:

 

[emorphien]

??? Mackie makes some excellent studio monitors....both powered and unpowered.

I realize this, but maybe I wasn't clear. There are studio monitors, and then there are bookshelf speakers not designed to be studio monitors that some companies like to call "monitors." I am just curious about which of those two categories these speakers are supposed to fall in to.

 

[j_garcia]

Neither. I don't think they make any speakers that are truly intended for "home theater" use. Anyone can refer to their bookshelf speakers as "monitor", the term is generally accepted regardless of real world intention of the term.

 

[emorphien]

By they I assume you mean Ascend.

 

[mazersteven]

I realize this, but maybe I wasn't clear. There are studio monitors, and then there are bookshelf speakers not designed to be studio monitors that some companies like to call "monitors." I am just curious about which of those two categories these speakers are supposed to fall in to.

I don't think they are meant to be "Studio" speakers. We will see.

The Mackie's are a hidden gem that most don't know about. And are also to stubborn to check out.

 

[Nick250]

Tex,

Wow did this topic take off over at AVS. The pot is being stirred really good.

And the AVS speaker forum is already a war zone to being with. I think I'll stick with the AH thread.

Nick

 

[j_garcia]

By they I assume you mean Ascend.

No, I meant Mackie. They make live performance speakers and montors for the studio - they don't have a specific line intended for home use, though I have heard the powered monitors in a music setup in a home and they sounded great. Conversely, Ascend doesn't make any speakers intended for actual studio use to my knowledge.

 

[silversurfer]

Conversely, Ascend doesn't make any speakers intended for actual studio use to my knowledge.

Not specifically. I can't confirm this, but talking to Ascend, they say that the CBM-170 is used in some studios.

 

[mazersteven]

Not specifically. I can't confirm this, but talking to Ascend, they say that the CBM-170 is used in some studios.

I have only heard the 340's, but would have to say based on that, that there should be a huge difference between the Ascend 170's, and the Mackie HR824's.


Mudshark should be able to tell.