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Sierra-2 Reference Ribbon Monitor
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Sierra-2 Reference Ribbon Monitor
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Product Description
Whether you’re watching an epic movie or jamming out to songs from your favorite artist, it’s important that your entertainment system delivers powerful, clear sound that you can really feel. Combining killer dynamics, realistic reproduction, and spacious presentation, the Sierra-2 Reference Ribbon Monitor features a state of the art RAAL true ribbon tweeter and a custom SEAS cone woofer that you can really rock out to Read More
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keyboard_arrow_downjjordan83
2
May 24, 2017
If massdrop brought some of the lower tier speakers from ascend they would sell better. Even the cbm-170se are special speakers for the price. I have a pair of the 170's and they are better than the Monitor Audio Silver 1s I had. So @Massdrop bring the 170's, 340's or even sierra 1's and more people should buy in.
AscendAc
41
May 26, 2017
>That makes sense. I have the cbm-170se's and they are remarkably good, I sold my monitor audio silvers after I bought the 170's on eBay. Thanks and keep up the excellent work over there!
Happy to hear that you have been enjoying our 170's!!! These are the speakers that put us on the map ;)
Happy to hear that you have been enjoying our 170's!!! These are the speakers that put us on the map ;)
AscendAc
41
May 26, 2017
>So let's get the towers with raal, please. I'd like to move my sierra 2 to surround duty.
We have an absurdly low profit margin on our towers (USA made bamboo cabinets, custom RAAL 70-20.. etc.) - and we run nearly a constant backorder on them. We have never even had a sale on them, and at the current retail price we offer - we simply can't, which also means we could never offer them to MD. Like any company, MD is interested in offering products where they can make a few bucks. In all honestly, the prices on our towers must be increased....
We have an absurdly low profit margin on our towers (USA made bamboo cabinets, custom RAAL 70-20.. etc.) - and we run nearly a constant backorder on them. We have never even had a sale on them, and at the current retail price we offer - we simply can't, which also means we could never offer them to MD. Like any company, MD is interested in offering products where they can make a few bucks. In all honestly, the prices on our towers must be increased....
Reckless95
3
Apr 18, 2018
The only way to test speakers is in your home, that’s why most direct companies allow you to audition them, such as SVS w/ 45 days.
CRSands
2
Apr 17, 2018
Can anyone confirm if these include the 30 day trial period from Ascend? Or is that only if purchased from them directly? Would love to audition them, but nervous that I wont be happy paired with my amp.
Also, has anyone used tube amps with these speakers? I run a Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum 2 (KT-120 power tubes, roughly 100 watts per channel output). I am curious if this would be a good pairing but haven’t been able to find anything online .
Also, has anyone used tube amps with these speakers? I run a Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum 2 (KT-120 power tubes, roughly 100 watts per channel output). I am curious if this would be a good pairing but haven’t been able to find anything online .
ElectronicVices
2937
Apr 19, 2018
Class A brings in a whole new bundle of improvements as well... given my somewhat inefficient speakers the lower powered amps are a bit outside of my use case right now. Wouldn't mind building some full range, high efficiency speakers in the future but I'm gonna need more space for that :)
amb3cog
90
Apr 19, 2018
ElectronicVicesI have a few full range I run open baffle. Highly recommended. Zenith 49cz852 is unreal. You'll think Etta James is in the room with you. The dynamics are unreal. And that's just with them laying on the bed with no baffle. For real! Coral Holey Baskets are great if you don't have much room. I own two pair I like them so much. Very efficient for small speakers, and they actually do a little bass. Can find a pair for $100, and build some small vented cabinets. I assure you. They don't need much power at all. They get loud on my low powered 6L6 SET/SEP (it's switchable) in an open baffle. So ported they should get really loud.
AudioLover
13
May 24, 2017
These audiophile/professional audio reference monitors, are extraordinary.
I've worked for 37 years in audio productions, 32 years both at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and Radio-Canada, plus 5 more years for ABC Radio and other major city private radio broadcasters/networks. Also, worked in some of the best of the best recording studios in North America. All that said, to say Sierra-2 Reference Monitor Speakers, are second to none, they are very special.
Years of research have produced by fine engineering the combination of RAAL tweeter & Seas driver, supported by the very best quality crossover electronics, within a pure bamboo cabinet which is drop dead gorgeous plus so important, rock solid. All these factors allow for a clarity in sound details, harmonics, octaves, producing a truth in music or musicality that is just stunning.
As bookshelves come and go in my decades of audio recording, mixing and mastering, then sitting at home as an audiophile, I have heard pretty much everything in loudspeakers, priced from a few hundred dollars to much more than a hundred thousand dollars. This is a lifetime ongoing audio adventure/quest.
Anything quality manufactured is pricey when compared to ordinary quality. Quality audio is expensive, derived from extensive engineering research add the engineers accumulated months even years of research or paid time, then high-end materials for parts, plus parts manufacturing, add a factory, employees. These factors are individually very expensive, then add up the cost. Consequently audiophile/professional speakers costs far more than others.
Audiophile/professional grade, expect to pay more.
Nonetheless, many manufacturers loudspeakers are ridiculously overpriced, seriously. This is not the case with Ascend Acoustics products, or the Sierra-2 loudspeakers, on Massdrop it is the real-deal, at the best possible price.
Sierra-2 Loudspeaker Reference Monitors, that quality, if it were offered just like other manufacturers with distribution to several national warehouses, to some international warehouses, then from the warehouses shipped to middleman distributors, then shipped to retail stores, now add another profit margin. Add all of the profit margins, then the price would be anywhere between 3,000 to 6,000 per pair for Sierra-2 Reference Monitors, due to that style of manufacturing/distribution/marketing/advertising.
Ascend Acoustics, the creators of Sierra-2, manufactures then sells factory-direct to the client or to a Massdrop. The savings are an amazing financial opportunity, of course still a lot of money for most 9 to 5 persons so to speak, but consider these loudspeakers an investment in quality, for the long-run, for the real deal.
If you can afford to do so, now is the time to upgrade.
I've worked for 37 years in audio productions, 32 years both at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and Radio-Canada, plus 5 more years for ABC Radio and other major city private radio broadcasters/networks. Also, worked in some of the best of the best recording studios in North America. All that said, to say Sierra-2 Reference Monitor Speakers, are second to none, they are very special.
Years of research have produced by fine engineering the combination of RAAL tweeter & Seas driver, supported by the very best quality crossover electronics, within a pure bamboo cabinet which is drop dead gorgeous plus so important, rock solid. All these factors allow for a clarity in sound details, harmonics, octaves, producing a truth in music or musicality that is just stunning.
As bookshelves come and go in my decades of audio recording, mixing and mastering, then sitting at home as an audiophile, I have heard pretty much everything in loudspeakers, priced from a few hundred dollars to much more than a hundred thousand dollars. This is a lifetime ongoing audio adventure/quest.
Anything quality manufactured is pricey when compared to ordinary quality. Quality audio is expensive, derived from extensive engineering research add the engineers accumulated months even years of research or paid time, then high-end materials for parts, plus parts manufacturing, add a factory, employees. These factors are individually very expensive, then add up the cost. Consequently audiophile/professional speakers costs far more than others.
Audiophile/professional grade, expect to pay more.
Nonetheless, many manufacturers loudspeakers are ridiculously overpriced, seriously. This is not the case with Ascend Acoustics products, or the Sierra-2 loudspeakers, on Massdrop it is the real-deal, at the best possible price.
Sierra-2 Loudspeaker Reference Monitors, that quality, if it were offered just like other manufacturers with distribution to several national warehouses, to some international warehouses, then from the warehouses shipped to middleman distributors, then shipped to retail stores, now add another profit margin. Add all of the profit margins, then the price would be anywhere between 3,000 to 6,000 per pair for Sierra-2 Reference Monitors, due to that style of manufacturing/distribution/marketing/advertising.
Ascend Acoustics, the creators of Sierra-2, manufactures then sells factory-direct to the client or to a Massdrop. The savings are an amazing financial opportunity, of course still a lot of money for most 9 to 5 persons so to speak, but consider these loudspeakers an investment in quality, for the long-run, for the real deal.
If you can afford to do so, now is the time to upgrade.
whaletail
3
Apr 18, 2018
Not to seem trollish, but would these speakers sound 5x better than, e.g. the new Monoprice Monolith bookshelf speakers, or the new Emotiva equivalents? Both have a similar RAAL tweeter, smaller, but high quality midrange drivers, are well reviewed, sold direct to consumer, yet cost around $300/pair.
I'm not even sure there are significant build quality differences, either. The Monoprice cabinets, at least, are surprisingly well constructed, feature the nicest binding posts I've ever used, and to me at least, aren't aesthetically inferior when compared to the Sierras.
I'm certainly not golden-eared, and don't engage in any critical listening, but if the Sierra's can be expected to sound significantly better in a 5.1 home theater setup, I might try them.
Can anyone comment on their sound quality versus bookshelf speakers such as those I mentioned above?
I'm not even sure there are significant build quality differences, either. The Monoprice cabinets, at least, are surprisingly well constructed, feature the nicest binding posts I've ever used, and to me at least, aren't aesthetically inferior when compared to the Sierras.
I'm certainly not golden-eared, and don't engage in any critical listening, but if the Sierra's can be expected to sound significantly better in a 5.1 home theater setup, I might try them.
Can anyone comment on their sound quality versus bookshelf speakers such as those I mentioned above?
blahhh
130
May 24, 2017
Other than being expensive, maybe the reason people aren't participating in the drop for these excellent speakers is because they are currently about $20 cheaper, with a full 7 year warranty, directly from the manufacturers website.
PiePieNinja
9
Dec 13, 2015
With the success and overwhelmingly positive customer feedback of our Sierra Ribbon Towers, we set our sights on bringing that type of performance to a more mainstream audience by offering it in a bookshelf speaker and bringing the cost down to a point that we felt most could afford. Of course, this was no simple task and in typical Ascend fashion, simply using existing components would just not cut it.
Over the past 3 years, having become RAAL's highest volume customer, through thorough evaluation and experience - we became experts in what makes these tweeters so special. We came to the conclusion that in many ways, the ribbon tweeter we use in the Sierra Tower is a bit overkill for a bookshelf speaker. We felt we could capture the same extraordinary performance in a new custom designed, lower cost unit fully optimized for our application. Together with RAAL’s owner, we set out on a challenging journey.
2 years and dozens of prototypes later, our goal was met and we had our new RAAL ribbon tweeter. Our new tweeter has a total moving mass of less than 1/100th of a gram, significantly less moving mass than nearly all other tweeters. Relieving the radiating diaphragm of excess weight allows for near perfect transient reproduction combined with the lowest levels of stored energy for extremely detailed, airy highs with no edginess or fatigue.
During the tweeter design process we were able to design a specific set of parameters and performance characteristics for our new woofer, with the primary goal being to achieve an ideal synergy with the ribbon tweeter. This was quite the challenge as we were presented with several difficult hurdles.
Our new ribbon would require a higher crossover point than we typically used for our woofers. To maintain good high frequency performance, the woofer cone must be quite stiff. The problem with stiff cones is that they tend to suffer from harsher cone breakup modes that need to be compensated for in the crossover. This goes against our original Sierra philosophy of “less is more” so thus began a search for a cone material that was exceptionally stiff but also extremely well damped. The polypropylene we use in the Sierra-1 woofer, while it has good self-damping, is just not stiff enough to provide the upper midrange response required for a proper crossover to our new ribbon tweeter.
Taking full advantage of our nearly 15 year relationship with SEAS of Norway, we confronted their director with the challenge. After much discussion he recommended we try something new; something he said might be the future of cone woofer materials. Curv™ is a woven polypropylene that takes all the great qualities of pp, but makes significant improvements. Stiffness to mass can be precisely controlled and the material is very lightweight yet extremely stiff, but its best quality is that internal damping is simply stunning. In fact, we did not measure any cone breakup or resonance modes within our needed bandwidth which meant we could cross this woofer at higher frequencies without trapping out breakup modes in the crossover.
The other significant problem we faced was how to at least come close to producing the phenomenal bass response of the Sierra-1 while using a woofer cone that has significantly lower mass, while also maintaining reasonable sensitivity. We simply can’t defy the laws of physics, meaning it would not be possible for the same size cone area.
The solution to this problem presented itself in an interesting manner – a bit of luck combined with some clever tooling. It turns out that this new Curv cone is equivalent to a 6” woofer and provides just a bit over 29% more radiating surface area than the 5 ¼” woofer we use in the Sierra-1. Because of this, we are able to maintain efficiency and bass response, while also using a lower mass cone which reduces inertia and better matches the amazing transient accuracy of the RAAL ribbon. We managed to fit a custom 6” woofer into the 5 ¼” woofer cutout of the Sierra-1 cabinet, with the cone having considerably less mass yet maintaining excellent bass with significant improvements to transient reproduction and midrange performance.
The Sierra-2 woofer features: long-throw design for high power handling and extended bass radially reinforced surround reduces surround resonances at higher excursions and provides for better overall damping SEAS’s exclusive SpiderRing® technology improves suspension alignment for higher long term reliability, improved power handling and improved mechanical linearity custom cast magnesium frame for a stiffer and lighter basket frame allowing for less material behind the woofer cone reducing back-wave reflections for enhanced detail, better airflow and less cavity resonance vented pole-piece and open spider for enhanced air-flow and cooling, minimizing compression artifacts We then optimized and tooled all of these new components so that they would drop right into our renowned Sierra-1 layered bamboo cabinets for the ultimate in resonance control and stiffness. This also allows all Sierra-1 speakers to be user upgradeable to Sierra-2.
The result of this true engineering feat? A bookshelf speaker that simply might be the very best at any price point, offering performance that is truly shocking.
Hand assembled, tested and packaged in the USA, we are so confident of the component and build quality of the Sierra-2 that we are backing it by a comprehensive 7 year parts & labor warranty. Left / right pairs are matched by hand to within ± 1dB and we are including a printout of the actual production line response measurements of each speaker. We dare say it, but you simply can not find this type of quality control, care and pride from products that are fully assembled and tested in overseas manufacturing facilities.
Over the past 3 years, having become RAAL's highest volume customer, through thorough evaluation and experience - we became experts in what makes these tweeters so special. We came to the conclusion that in many ways, the ribbon tweeter we use in the Sierra Tower is a bit overkill for a bookshelf speaker. We felt we could capture the same extraordinary performance in a new custom designed, lower cost unit fully optimized for our application. Together with RAAL’s owner, we set out on a challenging journey.
2 years and dozens of prototypes later, our goal was met and we had our new RAAL ribbon tweeter. Our new tweeter has a total moving mass of less than 1/100th of a gram, significantly less moving mass than nearly all other tweeters. Relieving the radiating diaphragm of excess weight allows for near perfect transient reproduction combined with the lowest levels of stored energy for extremely detailed, airy highs with no edginess or fatigue.
During the tweeter design process we were able to design a specific set of parameters and performance characteristics for our new woofer, with the primary goal being to achieve an ideal synergy with the ribbon tweeter. This was quite the challenge as we were presented with several difficult hurdles.
Our new ribbon would require a higher crossover point than we typically used for our woofers. To maintain good high frequency performance, the woofer cone must be quite stiff. The problem with stiff cones is that they tend to suffer from harsher cone breakup modes that need to be compensated for in the crossover. This goes against our original Sierra philosophy of “less is more” so thus began a search for a cone material that was exceptionally stiff but also extremely well damped. The polypropylene we use in the Sierra-1 woofer, while it has good self-damping, is just not stiff enough to provide the upper midrange response required for a proper crossover to our new ribbon tweeter.
Taking full advantage of our nearly 15 year relationship with SEAS of Norway, we confronted their director with the challenge. After much discussion he recommended we try something new; something he said might be the future of cone woofer materials. Curv™ is a woven polypropylene that takes all the great qualities of pp, but makes significant improvements. Stiffness to mass can be precisely controlled and the material is very lightweight yet extremely stiff, but its best quality is that internal damping is simply stunning. In fact, we did not measure any cone breakup or resonance modes within our needed bandwidth which meant we could cross this woofer at higher frequencies without trapping out breakup modes in the crossover.
The other significant problem we faced was how to at least come close to producing the phenomenal bass response of the Sierra-1 while using a woofer cone that has significantly lower mass, while also maintaining reasonable sensitivity. We simply can’t defy the laws of physics, meaning it would not be possible for the same size cone area.
The solution to this problem presented itself in an interesting manner – a bit of luck combined with some clever tooling. It turns out that this new Curv cone is equivalent to a 6” woofer and provides just a bit over 29% more radiating surface area than the 5 ¼” woofer we use in the Sierra-1. Because of this, we are able to maintain efficiency and bass response, while also using a lower mass cone which reduces inertia and better matches the amazing transient accuracy of the RAAL ribbon. We managed to fit a custom 6” woofer into the 5 ¼” woofer cutout of the Sierra-1 cabinet, with the cone having considerably less mass yet maintaining excellent bass with significant improvements to transient reproduction and midrange performance.
The Sierra-2 woofer features: long-throw design for high power handling and extended bass radially reinforced surround reduces surround resonances at higher excursions and provides for better overall damping SEAS’s exclusive SpiderRing® technology improves suspension alignment for higher long term reliability, improved power handling and improved mechanical linearity custom cast magnesium frame for a stiffer and lighter basket frame allowing for less material behind the woofer cone reducing back-wave reflections for enhanced detail, better airflow and less cavity resonance vented pole-piece and open spider for enhanced air-flow and cooling, minimizing compression artifacts We then optimized and tooled all of these new components so that they would drop right into our renowned Sierra-1 layered bamboo cabinets for the ultimate in resonance control and stiffness. This also allows all Sierra-1 speakers to be user upgradeable to Sierra-2.
The result of this true engineering feat? A bookshelf speaker that simply might be the very best at any price point, offering performance that is truly shocking.
Hand assembled, tested and packaged in the USA, we are so confident of the component and build quality of the Sierra-2 that we are backing it by a comprehensive 7 year parts & labor warranty. Left / right pairs are matched by hand to within ± 1dB and we are including a printout of the actual production line response measurements of each speaker. We dare say it, but you simply can not find this type of quality control, care and pride from products that are fully assembled and tested in overseas manufacturing facilities.
MikeTRON
6
Apr 16, 2018
I own these speakers and they are amazing. I compared to a few others including the the KEF LS50 and strongly preferred these Ascend Acoustics Sierra-2 speakers.
Audionut22
8
Apr 17, 2018
MikeTRONI am using the LS50's in super nearfield on my large desktop with good results with the concentric tweeter array. Did you ever try the Sierra's in nearfield like that?
MikeTRON
6
Apr 17, 2018
Audionut22I have not, but even still I generally prefer to buy from smaller companies that are privately owned and operated. I believe someone on AVSforum compared about 10 different bookshelves for nearfield and ended up with the S2s.
I do think the white kefs are pretty with the blue drivers.
I do think the white kefs are pretty with the blue drivers.
Jodet
67
Apr 16, 2018
I've been using Sierra Luna's (RAAL driver, smaller cabinet than the 2's) since they came out. Love them to death, they sound great with a $500 SVS sub. I don't know why Ascend has not updated their webpage to show them..... are they still even available?
AscendAc
41
Apr 16, 2018
JodetHappy to hear that you have been enjoying the Lunas! A shortage of bamboo from our West Cost source forced us to choose between either building our Sierra Towers or the Luna's and we decided to build the towers from our last shipment of bamboo. Good news is that more bamboo is now available and Luna's will be on our site by the end of this week... We currently have Luna's in stock but small numbers of each finish.
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