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Thread: Sierra-1 NRT vs Towers. No comparison??? A friend got me thinking.

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
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    Default Sierra-1 NRT vs Towers. No comparison??? A friend got me thinking.

    As times goes on, I am more and more happy with my new Sierra-1 NRT L/C/R speakers. My apologies to Dave for poo pooing the sound initially as now I notice how bad other speakers sound when I compare them to Sierras-1.

    I have yet to replace my SUB and surrounds. Planning on that update this week possibly.

    A friend came by last week, looked at my speakers, was impressed, BUT said that if I put those Sierra-1 as surrounds and get the Sierra Towers for the front, THAT will be the ultimate set up.

    My question is .... in terms of quality of sound, volume, depth, etc .... is the sound from the Sierra Towers (with RAAL) in a different ballpark when compared to Sierra-1 NRT?

    My room is just 13x18 with 8.5 ceiling and I do have neighbors so I'd never blast my music or movies. I do 60% music and 40% movies. I sit about 7-10ft away from speakers. Center channel is about 6-7 feet away from me ... pretty close. That's why I am thinking that in this situation Towers may be an overkill.

  2. #2
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    Mar 2005
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    Milwaukee, WI
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    Default Re: Sierra-1 NRT vs Towers. No comparison??? A friend got me thinking.

    My opinion, YES the Towers especially with the RAAL tweeter will be a definite step up all around over and above the sierra-1 NrT's. You gain the dedicated midrange driver and better tweeter of course. Plus, the towers offer more bass

    again, someone else may not believe the added investment is worth the improvement. If you can, try and demo a RAAL Tower.

    Quote Originally Posted by Pianist718 View Post
    As times goes on, I am more and more happy with my new Sierra-1 NRT L/C/R speakers. My apologies to Dave for poo pooing the sound initially as now I notice how bad other speakers sound when I compare them to Sierras-1.

    I have yet to replace my SUB and surrounds. Planning on that update this week possibly.

    A friend came by last week, looked at my speakers, was impressed, BUT said that if I put those Sierra-1 as surrounds and get the Sierra Towers for the front, THAT will be the ultimate set up.

    My question is .... in terms of quality of sound, volume, depth, etc .... is the sound from the Sierra Towers (with RAAL) in a different ballpark when compared to Sierra-1 NRT?

    My room is just 13x18 with 8.5 ceiling and I do have neighbors so I'd never blast my music or movies. I do 60% music and 40% movies. I sit about 7-10ft away from speakers. Center channel is about 6-7 feet away from me ... pretty close. That's why I am thinking that in this situation Towers may be an overkill.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Manhattan Beach, California
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    7,032

    Default Re: Sierra-1 NRT vs Towers. No comparison??? A friend got me thinking.

    Quote Originally Posted by Pianist718 View Post
    My question is .... in terms of quality of sound, volume, depth, etc .... is the sound from the Sierra Towers (with RAAL) in a different ballpark when compared to Sierra-1 NRT?
    IMO...yes.

    The Tower simply has better midrange detail to begin with...due to the dedicated and purpose designed/built midrange driver.

    I like the RAAL tweeter over the NrT tweeter. It offers more detail over the NrT, and is smoother. Others will like the NrT for it's more forward nature.

    And the Tower does player lower and can play louder.

    For your sized room, and seating distances, I think the Towers would work fine, but of course, consult Ascend.

    edit: I see merrymaid beat me to it...
    -curtis

  4. #4
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    Aug 2012
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    Default Re: Sierra-1 NRT vs Towers. No comparison??? A friend got me thinking.

    so future upgrade would be to ...... spend $4,000 on towers and center speaker and place Sierras-1 NRT (L/R) as surrounds. And sell Sierra-1 NRT center channel speaker.

    result .... dream set up?

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
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    291

    Default Re: Sierra-1 NRT vs Towers. No comparison??? A friend got me thinking.

    Quote Originally Posted by Pianist718 View Post
    so future upgrade would be to ...... spend $4,000 on towers and center speaker and place Sierras-1 NRT (L/R) as surrounds. And sell Sierra-1 NRT center channel speaker.

    result .... dream set up?
    I dont think the tower is going to be overkill.
    The tower should through out a more realitic and consistant sound base on the raal review and the polar response. The vertical coverage should be larger as well.

  6. #6
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    Default Re: Sierra-1 NRT vs Towers. No comparison??? A friend got me thinking.

    Another option would be to wait and see what uber-upgrade Dave is cooking up for the Sierra-1 & NrT. Should be much cheaper than buying the towers. We don't know what this is truly going to be, but it may offer another viable alternative. If it is worhwhile, you could upgrade your L/R Sierra's, replace the Sierra-NrT center with the Tower center, then just pick up some CBM-170's or HTM-200's for surrounds(maybe even the 340's!).

    I'd estimate the upgrade will be available around Spring, but what do I know!
    Ed

    * Sierra-2EX's W/V2 crossover upgrade
    * (2) Rythmik F12's
    * Parasound Halo P6
    * Audio by Van Alstine DVA-M225 Monoblock Amps
    * MiniDSP 2x4HD For Sub calibration
    *World's Best Cables Canare 4S11 speaker cables

  7. #7
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    Aug 2012
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    111

    Default Re: Sierra-1 NRT vs Towers. No comparison??? A friend got me thinking.

    Quote Originally Posted by Mag_Neato View Post
    Another option would be to wait and see what uber-upgrade Dave is cooking up for the Sierra-1 & NrT. Should be much cheaper than buying the towers. We don't know what this is truly going to be, but it may offer another viable alternative. If it is worhwhile, you could upgrade your L/R Sierra's, replace the Sierra-NrT center with the Tower center, then just pick up some CBM-170's or HTM-200's for surrounds(maybe even the 340's!).

    I'd estimate the upgrade will be available around Spring, but what do I know!
    You think it could be an additional section making the speaker look like a tower? I doubt it.

  8. #8
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    Mar 2004
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    Default Re: Sierra-1 NRT vs Towers. No comparison??? A friend got me thinking.

    Quote Originally Posted by Pianist718 View Post
    You think it could be an additional section making the speaker look like a tower? I doubt it.
    I don't know whether or not it will convert the Sierra-1 to a tower, but I'd doubt that as well. If you are set on a tower speaker, then the Sierra Tower is the only offering from Ascend.

    It may be possible that this upgrade will bring the Sierra-1/NrT(Which Dave mentioned would become the Sierra-2) That much closer to the Towers' performance. We will just have to wait and see.
    Ed

    * Sierra-2EX's W/V2 crossover upgrade
    * (2) Rythmik F12's
    * Parasound Halo P6
    * Audio by Van Alstine DVA-M225 Monoblock Amps
    * MiniDSP 2x4HD For Sub calibration
    *World's Best Cables Canare 4S11 speaker cables

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Posts
    248

    Default Re: Sierra-1 NRT vs Towers. No comparison??? A friend got me thinking.

    Quote Originally Posted by Pianist718 View Post
    You think it could be an additional section making the speaker look like a tower? I doubt it.
    You never know :-) I'm thinking an additional sphere shaped enclosure to place on top of sierra for dedicated midrange.. That would be an uber upgrade :-)

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
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    Space Coast, FL
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    578

    Default Re: Sierra-1 NRT vs Towers. No comparison??? A friend got me thinking.

    Quote Originally Posted by Sam1000 View Post
    You never know :-) I'm thinking an additional sphere shaped enclosure to place on top of sierra for dedicated midrange.. That would be an uber upgrade :-)
    That would make me a very happy guy.

    I guess we'll see, eh?
    -Jacob

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