German high-end loudspeaker specialists Ascendo recently entered the custom home-cinema market with Ascendo Immersive Audio (AIA), which specializes in the "development and sales of uncompromising active, DSP controlled and digitally networked speaker systems." After launching in Europe and Asia, the company will make its US debut at CEDIA 2016, and I'll be there to catch a demo.


An Ascendo Immersive Audio demo system.
The AIA demo will use a core system containing three front speakers (L/C/R), six surround speakers, four ceiling speakers, and six subs (four up front, two in the rear). Every speaker and every subwoofer gets 1000 watts of class-D amplification, for a total of 19 kW of power. The speakers are coaxial systems, and each transducer has its own 500-watt amp. The company will feature some additional loudspeakers at the show, for special demos, bringing the total power contained in the room up to 24 kW.

The speakers in the system include three CCRM12 12-inch 2-way coaxial speakers (45 Hz - 20 kHz, 125 dB continuous output), ten CCRM6 6-inch coaxial speakers (55 Hz - 20 kHz, 115 dB continuous output), and six SMSG 15 15-inch subwoofers (18 Hz - 100 Hz, 119 dB continuous output). All prices were converted from euros, so they may vary depending on the exchange rate. I expect the company will have a US price list by the time CEDIA rolls around.

Ascendo's CCRM12 actively-powered two-way coaxial speaker.
This system is 100% actively powered and dispenses with the ubiquitous racks of amps that are a high-end home-cinema staple. Instead it relies on a surround processor and Ethernet AVB (Audio Video Bridging), which only requires an Ethernet switch and CAT cables to implement. Of course, you still have to run AC power to each of the speakers.

Dolby Atmos, Auro3D, and DTS: X are all supported by the system, which relies on Trinnov surround processing for the 9.6.4 speaker configuration. Seymour Screen Excellence and Vivitek gear will handle the visuals for this demo. According to Ascendo, "Experts paid special attention to dynamics and speech intelligibility." I sure hope so, because without those two qualities you can't have a great-sounding immersive audio system. I wish the company luck in its US debut and look forward to my first Ascendo Immersive Audio experience.