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Thread: Sierra RAAL Tower Vs Aperion Verus II Grand

  1. #11
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
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    8

    Default Re: Sierra RAAL Tower Vs Aperion Verus II Grand

    I have contacted Ascend through email and will wait to see the costs involved.

  2. #12
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
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    455

    Default Re: Sierra RAAL Tower Vs Aperion Verus II Grand

    Quote Originally Posted by MaxTemp View Post
    Thanks for your thoughts.
    I cannot trial them since Im in Australia, so just researching based on specs/reviews/opinions.
    Sorry. I did read your original post, but forgot about you living in Australia by the time that I replied. In that case I will say that I thought beforehand that the Sierra 2s would be better than the Aperion Verus Grand Towers and the SVS Ultra Bookshelf speakers before I listened to them. This was mainly because it seemed that the Aperion speakers were putting more money into the drivers and cabinet construction and I could tell that Dave was very good at designing speakers. Also, it was hard to hear anyone that had bad things to say about Ascend. In fact, most things people had to say were very positive. I wanted to listen to all of them, so that I was sure that spending the extra money would be worth it for me. After all, I am planning to expand to a 7.2.4 setup in the future. After listening to all three I had no doubt in my mind that spending the extra money was worth it. Again, I thought that the Sierra 2s were worth the extra price when the Aperion Verus Grand towers were less money.

    I do mostly use the Ascend speakers for movies. But, I will say that when I listen to music through them I am still floored at how good they sound, especially with great recordings. With those you really can close your eyes and imagine that they are playing in your room.

  3. #13
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Loveland, Colorado
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    54

    Default Re: Sierra RAAL Tower Vs Aperion Verus II Grand

    Quote Originally Posted by N Boros View Post
    ...

    I do mostly use the Ascend speakers for movies... But, I will say that when I listen to music through them I am still floored at how good they sound, especially with great recordings. With those you really can close your eyes and imagine that they are playing in your room.
    I mostly use my Ascends for music, and I agree wholeheartedly with this statement!

    Jack

  4. #14
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    USA
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    5,538

    Default Re: Sierra RAAL Tower Vs Aperion Verus II Grand

    Quote Originally Posted by MaxTemp View Post
    Im looking to purchase a 5.1 system for mostly home theater with separate subs crossed at 80Hz.
    Anyone have any experience or insight between the main channels and center speaker?
    Im in Australia, so cant test the systems before buying.
    If I was to get Ascend, it would have to be with RAAL upgrade.
    Does Ascend do any specials for Black Friday or any other sales?
    Aperion has 30% off, so getting Verus II Grand Towers, Center and 2 Bookshelf (in Gloss Cherry) ends up being $2,769.
    RAAL towers, Horizon RAAL center and 2 Lunas (in Satin Espresso) ends up being $5,248.
    Is it worth almost double the price?
    I wasnt even considering Aperion, but the sale seems quite attractive.
    I need to add shipping as well (hopefully domestic shipping is part of the price and can be deducted).
    All opinions appreciated.
    Hi MaxTemp,

    As you can probably already figure out - our prices on the products you are considering are already priced as low as is possible. We are trying to sell a considerably higher priced product (what they cost us to build) in a market typically reserved for China-made products. Our profit margin on these products is absurdly low (almost laughable) and at our current prices, we will never have a sale on these.

    I would be willing to bet that the cost of just 2 of the custom 70-20XRam ribbons we are using is similar in component costs to the fully completed pair of the 2 towers you are considering from our competitor. In other words, it is nearly impossible to compare prices.

    That being said, at that sale pricing - the Aperion system is certainly attractive and there is really no way to determine which you would actually prefer without auditioning them. It really comes down to what you are looking for in your speakers. The RAAL in our tower and horizon is considered by myself and by many other professionals to simply be the best tweeter in the world and we aim to compete with speakers costing 10x + the price of ours. Add to that our phenomenal custom midrange and true made-in-the-USA bamboo tower and horizon cabinets, combined with assembly, testing and packaging here in the USA - and you can quickly see what type of performance and quality we are offering for the price...

    Regrettably, we will likely be raising our tower and horizon prices in the 1st quarter of 2018.

    I'll look for your email and try to get back to you this evening or tomorrow
    .
    .
    .
    Good Sound To You!

    David Fabrikant
    www.ascendacoustics.com

  5. #15
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Atlanta, GA
    Posts
    16

    Default Re: Sierra RAAL Tower Vs Aperion Verus II Grand

    Quote Originally Posted by Jack1949 View Post
    Here's a thread that started out comparing center speakers and journeyed to comparing the Sierra and Aperion towers. It may help you decide. The link should take you to the section where the Sierra towers arrive at his house.

    http://www.avsforum.com/forum/89-spe...l#post36249562

    Personally I've never heard the Aperions but I do own the RAAL Sierra towers and Horizon and love them. So I can't say whether the Sierras are worth twice the price. I know for me that would be a tough pill to swallow without being able to hear both before purchasing.

    Good luck with your decision.
    Jack
    It always makes me smile when that thread helps someone trying to make the same decision I was. I still have zero regrets about my Sierra tower/horizon purchase.. I even added some Sierra 2 surrounds for good measure!

    Last night was another reminder of how much I enjoy these speakers. I had just added a couple of PB13 subs to the media room and decided to redo the front stage completely. I ended up with the towers sitting 11 ft. apart with some mild toe-in and the main chair is around 7 ft. away.

    I was concerned about them being so far apart while sitting so close (difficult room) and decided to sit and listen to a few songs in 2.1. A few songs turned into a few more and 3 hours later I noticed the time.. yikes!

    Even with the speakers so far apart.. a center image just snapped into place. I heard sounds overhead, sounds off to the sides.. it was great!

    Did I mention how much I like these speakers?

    For anyone still on the fence about Ascend.. do yourself a favor and try them!

    I bet you won't regret it.

  6. #16
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Posts
    38

    Default Re: Sierra RAAL Tower Vs Aperion Verus II Grand

    Just out of curiosity, I know running Luna's in surround is nice, but completely overkill unless you're listening to multi-channel audio. I believe Dave uses the HTM-200's as surrounds in his listening room. In movies, surround sound is only used for ambient sounds, and special effects. As long as the speakers are voice matched, which all the Ascend speakers are, then you'll have the same immersive experience. Also, again for primarily HT use, you'll be fine with the Sierra-2 vs the Sierra Towers w RAAL unless you need more db's or want a little more quality in the midrange. Stereo music is where you'll notice the bigger difference between the Sierra 2's vs the towers. As for me, for my HT, I went with Sierra-1 NrT's for my mains, Horizon RAAL for my center (this is where the bulk of the work is done, dialog), Rythmik FVHP15 sub, and some paradigm bi-polars in the rear. I couldn't waste the Luna's and have them in my office, and my Sierra-2 are in my dedicated 2.1 stereo system in the bedroom. I'm planning on upgrading the Sierra-2 to Sierra Towers and now that I know that Dave is raising is prices... now is that time

  7. #17
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Stouffville,Ont..
    Posts
    538

    Default Re: Sierra RAAL Tower Vs Aperion Verus II Grand

    Quote Originally Posted by GunmetalR56 View Post
    It always makes me smile when that thread helps someone trying to make the same decision I was. I still have zero regrets about my Sierra tower/horizon purchase.. I even added some Sierra 2 surrounds for good measure!

    Last night was another reminder of how much I enjoy these speakers. I had just added a couple of PB13 subs to the media room and decided to redo the front stage completely. I ended up with the towers sitting 11 ft. apart with some mild toe-in and the main chair is around 7 ft. away.

    I was concerned about them being so far apart while sitting so close (difficult room) and decided to sit and listen to a few songs in 2.1. A few songs turned into a few more and 3 hours later I noticed the time.. yikes!

    Even with the speakers so far apart.. a center image just snapped into place. I heard sounds overhead, sounds off to the sides.. it was great!

    Did I mention how much I like these speakers?

    For anyone still on the fence about Ascend.. do yourself a favor and try them!

    I bet you won't regret it.

    Glad to hear you're still enjoying your Sierra set up. You know.... I followed your progression and fully agree the Sierras imaging is their highest attribute. I've often gone days or perhaps weeks without listening to single song but when I do....I ask why...lol.

    It's been several years...corny I know but I'm still in the honey moon phase with these speakers.....
    Last edited by billy p; 03-02-2018 at 06:14 PM.
    Speakers 5.1.2: TitanTowers v2 & STC(RAAL v2), MA CP-WT&CT260
    Sub: Funk Audio 18.0 SantosRW

    Source: Denon X3800H, Oppo BDP 103D, UBK-90 4K & LG B9 65"
    Office 2.0: Philharmonic True Mini(coming-soon), Fosi TB10D via Wiim mini.

  8. #18
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Manhattan Beach, California
    Posts
    7,032

    Default Re: Sierra RAAL Tower Vs Aperion Verus II Grand

    Quote Originally Posted by billy p View Post
    ...fully agree the Sierras imaging is their highest attribute. I've often gone days or perhaps weeks without listening to single song but when I do....I ask why...lol.
    While I think I at least partially understand how Dave gets such great imaging from his speakers, it's a hallmark of all Ascend speakers, I wish I really knew the "secret sauce", but then Dave would probably have to kill me.
    -curtis

  9. #19
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Stouffville,Ont..
    Posts
    538

    Default Re: Sierra RAAL Tower Vs Aperion Verus II Grand

    Quote Originally Posted by curtis View Post
    While I think I at least partially understand how Dave gets such great imaging from his speakers, it's a hallmark of all Ascend speakers, I wish I really knew the "secret sauce", but then Dave would probably have to kill me.
    Ha! Its better your kept in the dark...
    Speakers 5.1.2: TitanTowers v2 & STC(RAAL v2), MA CP-WT&CT260
    Sub: Funk Audio 18.0 SantosRW

    Source: Denon X3800H, Oppo BDP 103D, UBK-90 4K & LG B9 65"
    Office 2.0: Philharmonic True Mini(coming-soon), Fosi TB10D via Wiim mini.

  10. #20
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Posts
    455

    Default Re: Sierra RAAL Tower Vs Aperion Verus II Grand

    Quote Originally Posted by crazycuz2k View Post
    Just out of curiosity, I know running Luna's in surround is nice, but completely overkill unless you're listening to multi-channel audio. I believe Dave uses the HTM-200's as surrounds in his listening room. In movies, surround sound is only used for ambient sounds, and special effects. As long as the speakers are voice matched, which all the Ascend speakers are, then you'll have the same immersive experience. Also, again for primarily HT use, you'll be fine with the Sierra-2 vs the Sierra Towers w RAAL unless you need more db's or want a little more quality in the midrange. Stereo music is where you'll notice the bigger difference between the Sierra 2's vs the towers. As for me, for my HT, I went with Sierra-1 NrT's for my mains, Horizon RAAL for my center (this is where the bulk of the work is done, dialog), Rythmik FVHP15 sub, and some paradigm bi-polars in the rear. I couldn't waste the Luna's and have them in my office, and my Sierra-2 are in my dedicated 2.1 stereo system in the bedroom. I'm planning on upgrading the Sierra-2 to Sierra Towers and now that I know that Dave is raising is prices... now is that time
    If I’m understanding you correctly, you have tried the Sierra Luna’s as surround and found them to be overkill for your HT use, so you moved them to an office setup?

    I too use my Sierra 2s for a HT setup and I am debating the Lunas for surrounds. I’m pretty much convinced to use HTM 200s for surround backs.

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