Ascend

[JohnnieB]

I have decided to go with the Ascend Sierra towers. 2 channel music was the main use of my build. The horizon is the timbre matched center for the towers, rated 300 w/ch, but what about rears. I would like to have rears with the same w/ch as the center, or doesnt this matter? Anyone have these speakers? Can you suggest a rear channel? Thanks.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

If I were to buy Sierra towers, I would get 3 Sierra-1 bookshelf speakers for the Center and 2 Surrounds.

 

[zhimbo]

I would like to have rears with the same w/ch as the center, or doesnt this matter?

Doesn't matter.

 

[ReUpRo]

Unless you mostly listen to multichannel music, the surround and rear speakers need not be timber matched with the LCR. Further, in movie mixes surround and rear speakers are not energized nearly as much as LCR. So, they don't even need to be as robust.

IMO, the Sierra 1 is overkill for movie surrounds (the CBM 170 make more sense), but, are a good choice if multichannel music is a priority.

 

[ReUpRo]

If I were to buy Sierra towers, I would get 3 Sierra-1 bookshelf speakers for the Center

I believe the Sierra 1 is not timber matched with the towers since the drivers are different.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I think $60 NHT SuperZero or $60 Infinity P143 speakers would work well for surround speakers too - if sound quality is the only thing that matters.

 

[cschang]

If I were to buy Sierra towers, I would get 3 Sierra-1 bookshelf speakers for the Center and 2 Surrounds.

Why a Sierra-1 for a center?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Why a Sierra-1 for a center?

It's like having five S1 all around for 5.1. Except in this case, the front L/R are towers.

My question to you is, why not?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I believe the Sierra 1 is not timber matched with the towers since the drivers are different.

Sierra-1: 26mm high-definition soft dome tweeter w/integrated elastomer wave guide, wide surround, low-viscosity magnetic fluid cooling. Fully manufactured by SEAS<ST1:COUNTRY-REGION><ST1LACE>

Sierra-T: 26mm high-definition soft dome tweeter w/integrated elastomer wave guide, wide surround, low-viscosity magnetic fluid cooling. Fully manufactured by SEAS</ST1LACE></ST1:COUNTRY-REGION>

Sierra-1: 5.25” long throw mineral-filled polypropylene cone, non-resonant cast aluminum frame, copper shorting rings, low-inductance motor assembly, vented pole-piece and vented spider.

Sierra-T: 5.25” long throw mineral-filled polypropylene cone, non-resonant cast aluminum frame, copper shorting rings, low-inductance motor assembly, vented pole-piece and vented spider.

Looks the same to me, except the tower has the extra mid-woofer. But the important thing to me is that they have the same tweeter.

And BTW I think "timbre matching" is way overrated.

 

[monkish54]

And BTW I think "timbre matching" is way overrated.

I used my BS-22 as a center for my Philharmonic 2s and it was less than pleasant. I quickly switched back to phantom center. The BS-22 as rears, however, are perfectly fine. They aren't the epitome of accuracy, but I never notice that the content from the rears sounds less realistic than the content from the fronts. It's a nonissue.

 

[fuzz092888]

And BTW I think "timbre matching" is way overrated.

I used my BS-22 as a center for my Philharmonic 2s and it was less than pleasant. I quickly switched back to phantom center. The BS-22 as rears, however, are perfectly fine. They aren't the epitome of accuracy, but I never notice that the content from the rears sounds less realistic than the content from the fronts. It's a nonissue.

I don't think it matters too much, within reason and depending on the listener and content. If the center and the front L/R are both of similar quality and both have approximately the same design goals (accurate response, smooth off axis response, etc) then it'll probably sound fine for TV and movies. Multi-channel music might be an exception. I've gone through 5 different centers now, including one that was timbre matched to my front L/R and most sounded pretty darn good. I probably could've been happy with 4 out of the 5 for an extended period of time and all were used with variety of content. Maybe it's me, but none of them sounded really out of place with either pair of my towers that I have up front, but 4 of them measured well both on and off axis and so do my towers.

Also, I think it's less of a major issue when you're buying within the same brand like with the Ascend speakers mentioned.

 

[ReUpRo]

Looks the same to me, except the tower has the extra mid-woofer. But the important thing to me is that they have the same tweeter.

I'm pretty sure Dave confirmed in the Ascend Forum that Sierra 1 does not make a good center for the Sierra Tower. (Not his exact words.) I can't seem to find it, but I'll keep looking.

I assume the presence of the mid makes a significant difference in timber. Not to mention that the RAAL vs NrT vs stock tweeter will also create differences.

BTW I think "timbre matching" is way overrated.

Lol! I can't say anything for that, its a personal opinion .

 

[monkish54]

I've gone through 5 different centers now

Center fetish?

You're starting to sound like ADTG. :O

 

[cschang]

Sierra-1: 26mm high-definition soft dome tweeter w/integrated elastomer wave guide, wide surround, low-viscosity magnetic fluid cooling. Fully manufactured by SEAS<ST1:COUNTRY-REGION><ST1LACE>

Sierra-T: 26mm high-definition soft dome tweeter w/integrated elastomer wave guide, wide surround, low-viscosity magnetic fluid cooling. Fully manufactured by SEAS</ST1LACE></ST1:COUNTRY-REGION>

Sierra-1: 5.25” long throw mineral-filled polypropylene cone, non-resonant cast aluminum frame, copper shorting rings, low-inductance motor assembly, vented pole-piece and vented spider.

Sierra-T: 5.25” long throw mineral-filled polypropylene cone, non-resonant cast aluminum frame, copper shorting rings, low-inductance motor assembly, vented pole-piece and vented spider.

Looks the same to me, except the tower has the extra mid-woofer. But the important thing to me is that they have the same tweeter.

And BTW I think "timbre matching" is way overrated.

You left out the dedicated midrange driver in the Tower...and you copied the general description of the Tower tweeter wrong.

Tower has the NrT tweeter, this is the description on the Tower spec page: 26mm high-definition soft dome tweeter w/integrated elastomer wave guide. Axially magnetized neodymium ring magnet with large damping chamber and fully underhung voice coil, wide surround and low-viscosity magnetic fluid cooling. Fully manufactured by SEAS of Norway .

And while the woofers have the same general description, they are different with different parameters.

 

[cschang]

Also, I think it's less of a major issue when you're buying within the same brand like with the Ascend speakers mentioned.

Yes...It really depends on how close of a match you want, and the difference you are willing to tolerate.

After having a matching center in two different setups, not having a seamless pan across the front would be hard for me to accept.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Center fetish?

You're starting to sound like ADTG. :O

You know what they say - what goes around comes around.

It's like we start out as babies and we end up like "babies".

I started out as an "anti-audiophile", became an "pro-audiophile", and now I'm beginning to revert back to being an "anti-audiophile". I am beginning to make fun of myself in this hobby. Way, way too much audio voodoo and religion.

Tweeters need to be like this and that for timbre matching because so-and-so says so. I need a vacation away from all this - maybe pull an "Adam" and take a hiatus and maybe come back a pro-audiophile again.

 

[fuzz092888]

Center fetish?

You're starting to sound like ADTG. :O

Center number 6 is already being worked out . Should be the last for awhile.

Yes...It really depends on how close of a match you want, and the difference you are willing to tolerate.

After having a matching center in two different setups, not having a seamless pan across the front would be hard for me to accept.

I'm actually circling back around to timbre matching my fronts, albeit timbre matching to the other pair this time. I did find that I missed a completely matching front sound stage.

 

[zieglj01]

I'm actually circling back around to timbre matching my fronts, albeit timbre matching to the other pair this time. I did find that I missed a completely matching front sound stage.

I see that you are starting to change - he who has a good ear, can pick up a difference in timbre.

 

[zieglj01]

I used my BS-22 as a center for my Philharmonic 2s and it was less than pleasant. I quickly switched back to phantom center. The BS-22 as rears, however, are perfectly fine. They aren't the epitome of accuracy, but I never notice that the content from the rears sounds less realistic than the content from the fronts. It's a nonissue.

Maybe you can get a spare AAL (BS-22) from Dennis one day.

 

[JohnnieB]

Ok so rear matching isn't important as far as timbre goes, but what about power handling or load. I plan to use an xpa-3 to run my center and rears. I've seen many speaker packages where L/R mains, center, rears were all different load, the amp is probably ok with this. But you throw in different power handling, now it seems you would be "unbalanced" having to compensate more in your processor settings to accomodate. Does this make sense or am I not looking at this right? BTW I will prolly go with RAAL upgrades across the front.