Gorgeous!
Dave, what about the standard & NrT dome versions? Any experimentation with those yet?
These are really going to cause some commotion in the A/V world!
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Gorgeous!
Dave, what about the standard & NrT dome versions? Any experimentation with those yet?
These are really going to cause some commotion in the A/V world!
Dave,
Thanks for the update. Although I doubt I'll get these (I have the Sierra-2), it's so interesting to follow along as you discuss the process of developing new speakers.
--Pegleg
I'm just hoping the price won't be much over $1k. I'd like to buy them soon and my budget is running thin, plus I'd like to add a second set in the future for surround heights. Here's hoping for a promo/introductory price :D
In a small to medium size room with a good but small subwoofer... this could be the perfect setup.
Have the Sierra 2's as the front stage in a 5.1 system and love them, they are magical. So I'm excited about the SSR sat for a 2.1 channel setup. The icing on the cake would be a magnetic grille. Possible?
This was discussed at length with the regular Sierra line. The problem is the V-lam bamboo construction. In most magnetic grill applications which usually have a veneer-over-MDF/plywood construction it is rather simple. Just bore a hole in the baffle face prior to applying the veneer which the magnet drops into. The veneer is then applied over this and you have hidden magnets within the baffle. Since there is no veneer on the Sierras, but rather the bamboo grain you see is the actual solid bamboo with finish applied, you do not have a veneer to hide the magnets. If you don't mind seeing those magnets when the grills are removed then no big deal, but the advantage of magnetic grills is that you have a clean looking baffle when the grill is off.
Maybe a stupid question, but cant the holes be drilled from the back side of the baffle and stopped before going through the face add a magnet and fill the holes flush with epoxy or something? Another option would be going no grill, cause I do like that sleek look with no extra holes. Either way looks like a great little speaker once again from Ascend. Cheers Dave and crew!!;)
I would think that going from the inside would create surface that would no longer be flat, so it would reflect sound differently inside the cabinet. I also think this would compromise cabinet rigidity as holes drilled from the inside might lower the overall cabinet stiffness.
I nearly asked for speakers without grilles and holes, but I thought it would be better to keep them around for when I need to move the speakers and if I end up getting a bigger dog one day. Always better to have the protection than to not have it.
I had the same exact idea and actually sent Dave a drawing of that. I don't remember his exact response but what it boils down to is: Design for Manufacturability. The design must meet the capabilities of the fabricator and material. Material variations are another factor. Since Bamboo is a natural product it will have variations within its grain. In order to have sufficient magnetic gauss would likely require a pretty thin wall between magnet & baffle face. The possibility of voids in the bamboo may lead to some breakout or thinner than desired spots. I'm sure Dave is still looking into an effective way to do a magnetic grill as he sure enjoys a good challenge.
Waiting for release date. Consider the first pair in Satin Espresso sold! Congrats to you Dave and everyone on the team at Ascend.
I'm new to the Ascend forum. I came across this thread this morning. I've been searching for new surround speakers to go with my Yamaha 3000. My Aperion 6Ts (top of line when purchased, but 3 versions back now) with a 6C center channel will remain for the time being, but I want surrounds that will be timbre compatible when I upgrade the 6Ts.
I have a new Emotiva XPA 5 ordered to add 4 new speakers for presence speakers (Yamaha configuration) to my 7.2 system. I want to timber match the new speakers (purchase now) with a new set of towers and center channel (budget only now) and the Sierra Towers look like they would fit the bill. The 6Ts would eventually become rear speakers or go to another room depending on timbre.
I've also been looking at Salk speakers, and Aperion, but Aperion isn't offering an RAAL tweeter. When I say look, it only means looking at forums and reading between the lines.
Next year the Yamaha will be replaced with a new AV for Dolby Atmos and DTS (maybe Auro?) and a final config of 7.2.4. The .2 is a new set of HSU VTF-3MK5s which I'm breaking in now.
These satellites with RAAL tweeters and the ability to timbre match the Sierra Towers and Horizon Center sounds like the way to go.
So pricing and ETA would be helpful with a new amp to show up around May 1st.
As far as I can tell no manufacturer is doing a true 7.1 with proper surrounds using RAAL tweeters. I wouldn't mind being one of the first.
I'm about 75% video and 25% audio, with a 120 inch screen and an Epson 5030 player. I like being immersed in the sound, where I become part of the orchestra or band, so usually I listen to 7 channel sound when I listen to music.
I was also looking at Aperion before I purchased my Ascend towers and center. I went to hear the Aperion setup in their office and it was really great, but it was a little on the warm side and it certainly lacked the clarity that the Ascend setup provides. Those RAAL tweeters are so much more detailed and effortless sounding. Definitely worth the extra cost to me. The Bamboo cabinets are also much more sturdy and acoustically dead than the MDF Aperion cabinets.
I think you'll be thrilled with the Sierra Sats when they come out just as I will be.
Thanks for the reply. I live about 40 miles from Aperion headquarters. I listened to both the 6Ts and Grand Verus when they came out. I ended up with the 6Ts (WAF), even though the Grand Versus sounded a little better to me.
I have been given permission to upgrade (WAF again) if I can figure out how not go bankrupt doing it. The Grand Verus II are being released now, with an upgraded silk dome tweeter. But I'm trying to go a little farther in technology, and from what I can gather the RAAL tweeters do that. Maybe a little future proofing on my part.
In any case, I'm betting that the RAAL tweeters in an eventual 7.2.4 system are going to be very satisfying.
Dave - Will one have the option to special order Sierra Satellite's without grilles and holes?
Hi All,
I just joined this forum because of this speaker!
I have been wanting to upgrade my 13+ year old Axiom QS8's. Not bad mouthing Axiom at all, just the QS8's don't work for my big room, and I prefer direct sound to the reflected sound.
I was looking for a front ported speaker, so I can mount the speaker on the wall.
I have not heard any ascend speaker yet, but I have read great things for years.
The other speakers on my "short" list were KEF Q300, and HTD Level 3, and Chane and Dennis Murphy speakers. EPMTek and ELAC and the KEF LS50's are also on my list, but they did not have a front ported speaker.
These new speakers also look very NICE! I would be proud to have these mounted on my wall! The QS8's, while they do not work in my setting, look very nice!
The Q300 and HTD Level 3 are, of course, in a lower price bracket than these new Ascend speakers, and the LS50's were probably at the upper end of my price range, but it is funny, I did not have a specific price in mind, I was looking for the RIGHT speaker for my situation. I want this to be a (close to) a lifetime purchase.
I read all 22 pages, and if there was a discussion regarding hardware to mount the speakers on the wall, I missed it.
So, will there be any mounting hardware specific for this speaker?
I know there is generic hardware, but I would hate to go drilling screws in this beautiful speaker.
Thanks!
OH, PS, I should have added that I realize that this new custom designed Ascend speaker with the RAAL tweeter will be considered among the best possible sound I can possibly get, way above the other speakers I mentioned. That very much excites me, as I fell in love with B&W 801's in the 80's (of course that was billions of times more than my college budget would ever allow!), but have realized that I would never spend the kind of money (new speakers, or a new car, or multiple vehicle's!) on a speaker, even if I could afford it.
I apologize for the lack of updates for the past week. I know I have a lot of questions to answer here and I'll do my best to answer all of them in the next 48 hours.
I just had a meeting with Claus Futtrup from SEAS. We are making 2 changes to the custom SEAS woofer. One is a slight change to the surround compliance, the other is a slight change to the cone itself (slightly lower mass with an increase in stiffness by changing the weave)
This change will likely set us back a bit with regards to a release date, but like with every Ascend product - we are after maximum performance at all costs.
I have also made a slight change to the cabinet in the hopes of finding a solution on how to fit a fairly complex crossover into such a small cabinet. I will be picking up this new sample cabinet tomorrow. There is no change to the dimensions or tuning, just relocating the terminal cup cutout.
I also had the privilege of auditioning the best dome tweeter I have ever heard. It is ridiculously expensive and I can't believe I am saying this, but I honestly think the price is worth it... Ill discuss this in more detail in another thread.
Many have asked about a wall mounting solution for the Sat. I have been working on this and have found an interesting flush mount bracket that should work well. I have attached a pic. Basically, one piece would be attached to the top of speaker, and the other piece would be attached to the wall. The speaker would then slide down and secure into place. Far more secure and stable than a typical keyhole hanger.
Attachment 1296
'maximum performance at all costs'
- Words to live by.
Can't wait to hear more. The longer I wait, the more I just want to buy a pair of Sierra 2's for surrounds, but I know these will be worth the wait, especially if they give my wallet a tiny break compared to the Sierra 2.
Oh and ahem satin black finishes please ahem cough.
Hi, these look great! I'm upgrading my 340/170 SE system to have a Horizon center and Sierra 2 mains, and I think these would make perfect surround speakers.
I am thinking of upgrading to Atmos by the end of the year possibly, would these work in a ceiling-mounted setup?
If Sierra Sats would be pure overkill for overheads, what would people recommend for ceiling speakers/brands that would match well with a RAAL speaker setup?
I believe I have caught up with any pending questions so now for the big news on the Sat's... After much time spent with our local cabinet maker and various trial and error, I am happy to say that we have worked out a way to offer the Sat's with magnetic grilles.
It will be somewhat different than what most other magnetic speaker grille cabinets do, they typically use 4 magnets and 4 nail or screw heads that the magnets attach to. In our case, in order to get enough magnetic force to get through enough bamboo as to not compromise cabinet integrity - we will be using 4 extremely powerful neodymium magnets in the cabinet and also 4 in the grille.
This adds to the manufacturing costs (something I am already concerned with) but to compensate, we are thinking of offering the grilles as a separate $50 option. This way, someone who has no intention on ever using grilles, can save $50 on a pair and they can always purchase the grilles at later date if their usage changes.
Thoughts?
Awesome!!! If it doesn't raise the price of the Sierra Sat to equal or greater than that of the Sierra 2, then I am all for it, but since I am not space limited, I would buy the Sierra 2 instead if the Sat becomes close to the Sierra 2 in price. If I were space/mounting/position limited, this wouldn't be an option, so I would still say go for it, in order to offer people better placement flexibility and a smaller form factor than the Sierra 2, and offer the beauty that a magnetic grille gives the speaker (I don't know why those post holes bother me so, I'm weird).
As far as the $50 grille option, I think that is a good idea, but I don't mind paying for them just in case I end up forstering bigger dogs in the future. I think $50 is a very reasonable price to pay for that protection, if needed in the future. Now, If I end up buying 4 sats for Atmos speakers, then indeed I would never need grilles, and the $100 savings would be great! That's a few more movies right there!
Hey Dave, is there any chance these will be around 1k for the set? I don't think I'll be able to pull off Sats for all my surrounds including Atmos. That would be my end all/be all setup!
My wife requires grilles, so magnetic grilles do nothing for me and I'd rather avoid the extra $50 expense if possible. Would standard grilles still be an option or would all grilles be magnetic?
That's great Dave! I have no problem spending an extra $50 for the grilles even though I probably would not use them. I'll keep them for future use. It will definitely clean up the look of the speakers without the grille on. Nice to show off that sweet Raal and woofer combo. Nice work!:D
This is great news. Magnetic grills are a VERY popular thing these days. I think this will definitely increase sales.
I really enjoy my Sierra Towers with RAAL. Part of my fascination with the coming Sierra Sat is its freedom to skimp on lower frequencies (that the full range Sierra 2 must provide) so that its ribbon can be mated with a smaller midwoofer that can approach the low inertia performance of the midrange driver in the Tower. I want the Sierra Sat to sound in mid and high frequencies as close as possible to the Tower with RAAL. However, I understand that products are designed to cost. Is there a different, more expensive midwoofer/crossover arrangement that would make the Sierra Sat sound closer to the Tower with RAAL? If so, how much more would that midwoofer arrangement cost?
The Sierra 1, Sierra 2, Tower, and Horizon all offer driver upgrade choices to prospective buyers. For the Sierra Sat, if there is a more expensive midwoofer arrangement that would significantly reduce any sound difference in mid and upper frequencies between the Sierra Sat and the Tower with RAAL, suggest that buyers be given the opportunity to pay more to get the better sound match.