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Thread: Another new Sierra owner

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    114

    Default Another new Sierra owner

    Sierra-1 first (and second) impressions

    I’ve been really happy with my 340SEs. But my wife is facing some back surgery next year, and our subwoofer blocks her easy access to our couch in the living room. So I suggested we move it to the basement, or sell it, and go with Sierras for their better sound/additional bass (vs. the 340s).

    She wished me a happy birthday and said “go for it!”

    They arrived Wednesday evening, about 8 pm, and I promptly set them up. First impressions: tiny little things but solid and heavy, for the size. They look small after the 340s! The bamboo is lovely and matches our hardwood floors (although they sit on top of our entertainment units).
    My system consists of an Oppo DVD/CD player and an HK 3480 stereo receiver (120 w/ch).

    First musical impressions: we put on Rajaton’s Boundless, since we’ve heard that album over 100 times (they are a Finnish acappella group). My wife noticed a second voice backing up on one piece (I couldn’t really hear it) and said she’d never heard that before. The clarity was better than the 340s. The bass was also amazing. These little boxes pack quite a punch! We played some with the volume, going from very soft to very loud, and my wife even said, “I like it better loud, and I bet you never thought you’d hear me say that”. Walking back through the house, down the hall, the sound was just as clear, and only in the back bedroom did it get a bit softer. Better than the 340s on that score as well.
    The impression with the 340s was always that we were in the very back of a large club, listening to Rajaton. The Sierras make it sound like we’re either in the first row, or watching them in our house. There is a presence and forwardness there, an “oomph”.

    Then I tried a Bach organ piece (Toccata & Fugue in D Minor, of course), and didn’t really feel I was losing any bass without a subwoofer. Amazing really. I love the heavy organness of the Toccata.

    We realize we’ll lose some thump in videos (the T Rex in Jurassic Park, for instance), but are willing to forego that for a better music listening experience. (After watching a video on Day 2, we can say we really did not notice any difference in sound—except it was clearer.)

    Day 2: After getting home from work, I started up with The Real Group. Another acappella group, this time Swedish. Once more we heard voices that we hadn’t heard before, even with the 340SEs. There was a clarity and separation of voices that was amazing. My wife used the words “clarity” and “nuance” to describe the sound. Finally, though, the “big test” had to arrive. I had to see what the Sierras could do for piano. I grew up listening to live piano: my mother owned a Steinway baby grand, a “model A”. The 340s + subwoofer always sounded like the piano was on a recording, coming out of the speakers. A good sound, mind you, but “compacted” into these speaker boxes. So I put on Cziffra’s Paraphrases & Transcriptions, starting with Mendelssohn’s Wedding March (in a ‘paraphrasing’ unlike you’ve ever heard it played). Amazing. I have never heard a speaker sound so realistic, as if the piano were in the same room with me (in a large room, to be sure, and at the other end of it). I never expected to hear piano sound “live” but it did. There was no sense that the sound was coming from speakers, just that it was coming from the front of the room, as if we had a piano there. We had the volume high (once more, my wife said “it has to be this loud”), and it sounded like piano, not like speakers with piano. Dave, you have worked a miracle—to do this at an affordable price!
    The one problem, however, occurred with my next selection, piano with Simon Barere, a recording from 1934-36 period. There was a great deal of static, and so this CD sounded like a speaker, not like a live piano, since live pianos do not have static. This was more pronounced, and disturbing, than the 340s were, because the contrast was so much more. I guess I’ll just have to live with it.

    So, anyone want to buy a Hsu subwoofer and/or a pair of 340SEs?

    Pegleg

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    114

    Default Re: Another new Sierra owner

    This is an addendum to my message above. Now that my wife and I have watched some videos, we have no concerns about "lack of subwoofer"!

    We have had more "jump in our seat" moments with the Sierras than we've ever had before. One telephone ringing had us reaching for the mute button and getting up to answer...before we realized it was in the movie. The clarity in loud episodes is what is so realistic.

    Perhaps placing the Sierras on top of our entertainment units has added bass, but it is so tight, and real, we have no complaints.

    And, as good as vocals are (and they are really good), piano is still even more phenomenal. Thank you, Dave!

    Pegleg

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Manhattan Beach, California
    Posts
    7,034

    Default Re: Another new Sierra owner

    Good stuff Pegleg!

    At their price points, I don't think Ascends can be beat for that low level detail or micro dynamics....you can hear everything. I think it is something that is often missed because people are not looking for it....because they usually have not heard it before.
    -curtis

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    5,538

    Default Re: Another new Sierra owner

    Thanks for the wonderful review Peg!

    I am VERY pleased that you are enjoying the system and that it was a worthwhile upgrade from the 340.

    Enjoy!!!!
    .
    .
    .
    Good Sound To You!

    David Fabrikant
    www.ascendacoustics.com

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Juliette, GA
    Posts
    403

    Default Re: Another new Sierra owner

    Great review pegleg! Thanks for taking the time to share your impressions. You're not helping matters for me, though!

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Posts
    32

    Default Re: Another new Sierra owner

    Good review Pegleg. I actually had new hardwood flooring installed in my living room to match my bamboo Sierra's. That's how much I love them.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Posts
    3

    Default Re: Another new Sierra owner

    Great review, definitely taught me a lot as a newb!!

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