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What's a decent step up from Ascend acoustics Sierra 1?

post #1 of 20
10/30/12 at 8:47pm
Thread Starter 
I'm not REALLY considering it but just for fun I was wondering what I'd have to spend to get a worth while improvement in a bookshelf. Floorstanders aren't out of the question but I have a sub for lows.
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post #2 of 20
10/30/12 at 9:09pm
There's an upgrade in the works for the Sierra-1. Check out the forum at Ascend Acoustics. Also, the Sierra towers, duh! wink.gif
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post #3 of 20
10/30/12 at 10:35pm
Thread Starter 
Oh man I didn't know. I guess nobody knows what the sierra upgrade is yet but I'm curious. It looks like it may be a ribbon tweeter with a new crossover but it's all guesses. I can't really name anything in particular about the sierras I want to be better but I'm sure it's possible. I just don't know what better sounds like yet because I haven't heard it.
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post #4 of 20
10/31/12 at 9:25am
Well, some people like ribbons, and some people don't. Some can't tell the difference. So you'll have to audition and find out for yourself.

Personally, I don't think ribbons sound differently than dome tweeters, but everyone thinks differently. biggrin.gif

And as far as "step up" from Ascend, there may be many "step up" in prices, but I'm not so sure the quality follows because of the diminishing returns. biggrin.gif
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post #5 of 20
10/31/12 at 10:30am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by AcuDefTechGuy View Post

Well, some people like ribbons, and some people don't. Some can't tell the difference. So you'll have to audition and find out for yourself.
Personally, I don't think ribbons sound differently than dome tweeters, but everyone thinks differently. biggrin.gif
And as far as "step up" from Ascend, there may be many "step up" in prices, but I'm not so sure the quality follows because of the diminishing returns. biggrin.gif

I think it's supposed to be some kind of custom super high end raal tweeter made to fit into the existing tweeter hole on the sierra that's way better than other ribbons. People seem to like them a lot but I don't know if it'll be the same as the one from the sierra tower that everyone loves so much.
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post #6 of 20
10/31/12 at 9:40pm
It certainly sounds intriguing. I love my standard Sierra-1s but I'll be curious to see what the upgrade brings to the table.
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post #7 of 20
11/1/12 at 9:24am
Thread Starter 
I might try it if the cost isn't astronomical. Hopefully I can audition since ascend is about 40 minutes away from me in san diego.
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post #8 of 20
11/1/12 at 9:28am
I really hope they are coming out with some sort of RAAL upgrade for the Sierra-1's! I have been considering purchasing the Nrt upgrade for mine, but since Dave announced the plans for a new upgrade, I am holding off on the Nrt upgrade. Right now I am loving my Sierra-1's and in my opinion, you would have to spend over $3,000 to great a real upgrade in sound quality.
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post #9 of 20
11/1/12 at 9:49am
Dave made a post last night about the work on the Sierra-2:

http://forum.ascendacoustics.com/showpost.php?p=42046&postcount=150
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post #10 of 20
11/1/12 at 9:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Martycool007 View Post

I really hope they are coming out with some sort of RAAL upgrade for the Sierra-1's! I have been considering purchasing the Nrt upgrade for mine, but since Dave announced the plans for a new upgrade, I am holding off on the Nrt upgrade. Right now I am loving my Sierra-1's and in my opinion, you would have to spend over $3,000 to great a real upgrade in sound quality.
I've been wanting Sierra Towers with the RAAL....but in trying to justify it all, especially with a Horizon, for my room, has been a losing proposition. A Sierra-2 would should be easier for me.

That said, like you, I still love my Sierra-1's...the second set ever sold. smile.gif
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post #11 of 20
11/1/12 at 10:42am
Thread Starter 
I'm very curious about the benefits of the sierra 2 vs the regular towers at the same price (probably). I have a rythmik F15 sub so it looks like this upgrade is right up my alley but I have to wonder about the pros and cons of regular tower vs sierra 2 with ribbon. Can they work magic with a ribbon enough to take the place of a dedicated mid woofer? If not, what will sound better? Superior mids with good highs in the base tower, or superior highs and good mids from a sierra 2 with a ribbon tweeter? Here's a link to the thread on the ascend forum.
http://forum.ascendacoustics.com/showthread.php?p=42063&posted=1#post42063
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post #12 of 20
11/1/12 at 11:00am
Quote:
Originally Posted by brannigan View Post

I'm very curious about the benefits of the sierra 2 vs the regular towers at the same price (probably). I have a rythmik F15 sub so it looks like this upgrade is right up my alley but I have to wonder about the pros and cons of regular tower vs sierra 2 with ribbon. Can they work magic with a ribbon enough to take the place of a dedicated mid woofer? If not, what will sound better? Superior mids with good highs in the base tower, or superior highs and good mids from a sierra 2 with a ribbon tweeter? Here's a link to the thread on the ascend forum.
http://forum.ascendacoustics.com/showthread.php?p=42063&posted=1#post42063
I doubt the price of the Sierra-2 and standard Sierra Tower will be the same.

The midrange woofer is what makes the difference on the Tower.

The RAAL (or any tweeter) can't do the work of a midrange driver.
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post #13 of 20
11/1/12 at 11:04am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by cschang View Post

I doubt the price of the Sierra-2 and standard Sierra Tower will be the same.
The midrange woofer is what makes the difference on the Tower.
The RAAL (or any tweeter) can't do the work of a midrange driver.

Davef posted that the sierra 1 with the raal tweeter would be almost $1800 and was asking if there would be enough interest in it to be worth producing. Keep in mind this post came before the details were nailed down and it won't be using the same exact tweeter he's talking about in this post so the price may well be different. I think he may have had raal make a custom ribbon that fits in existing sierra 1's so it's not certain that it sounds or costs the same as the one in the tower.

http://forum.ascendacoustics.com/showpost.php?p=40201&postcount=8
Edited by brannigan - 11/1/12 at 11:14am
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post #14 of 20
11/1/12 at 11:09am
Quote:
Originally Posted by brannigan View Post

Davef posted that s sierra 1 with the raal tweeter would be almost $1800 and was asking if there would be enough interest in it to be worth producing.
So you are making an assumption that the same tweeter is being used? He also said that he would expect the price of the Towers to go up at some point as well.

I wouldn't make assumptions on components or costs. History has proven that Dave works to maximize "bang for the buck" for his customers, and Ascend's product line has pretty distinct price points.
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post #15 of 20
11/1/12 at 11:18am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by cschang View Post

So you are making an assumption that the same tweeter is being used? He also said that he would expect the price of the Towers to go up at some point as well.
I wouldn't make assumptions on components or costs. History has proven that Dave works to maximize "bang for the buck" for his customers, and Ascend's product line has pretty distinct price points.

My post has been edited for clarity. Sorry about that.
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post #16 of 20
11/1/12 at 12:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by cschang View Post

That said, like you, I still love my Sierra-1's...the second set ever sold. smile.gif

I think your Sierra-1's sounded great in your room.
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post #17 of 20
11/1/12 at 12:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by brannigan View Post

My post has been edited for clarity. Sorry about that.
No worries.

Dave has a lot of resources/capabilities that other ID companies don't. I think whatever he is cooking up is going to be a nice surprise.
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post #18 of 20
11/25/12 at 8:36am
Thread Starter 
I guess the sierra towers in piano black (my color) are $700 off right now and they're offering to give full credit within a year to those that want to upgrade from a lower model. I'm really eyeballing the towers with RAAL ribbon upgrade. My credit card is screaming no but my heart is saying yes. WHAT DO I DO!?!?!?! Worth it?
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post #19 of 20
11/26/12 at 6:34pm
Thread Starter 
I decided to let emotion trump logic and ordered RAAL towers. May god have mercy and not throw some random expense at me while I'm paying them off for the next year.
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post #20 of 20
11/26/12 at 8:02pm
Wow. Very jealous. Keep us posted. smile.gif
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