Originally Posted by
N Boros
Both are very good speakers, but the Sierra with the Raal ribbon tweeter is a step above. A few years ago I compared the Sierra 2 and the Verus Grand I towers in my room. Aperion was running a heck of a deal at the time, where the towers were less than the Sierra 2s in price. Anyways, both have good uniform dispersion where you don't have to worry hardly at all about toeing them in, though the Sierra 2s are a step above the Aperion's if you were to measure them. Both are detailed and could delineate instruments quite well (rather than smearing of them together like with lesser speakers). The Sierra 2's were surprising in the depth (into the room) of the soundstage and the width and height were also good. But, the Verus Grand's soundstage was much wider and taller though. I don't think that they are as accurate in this regard as the Sierra 2s, from what Dave has said. He has mentioned how it is not difficult to make a huge soundstage, but he is going for an accurate sized one.
It is hard to describe, but while I could hear similar detail and delineation from either the Verus Grands or the Sierra 2s, the Sierra 2s had this extra level of clarity that the Verus Grands were missing. It has to be related to the superior transient response in the Sierra 2s. They can just start and stop, quicker and you don't get this subtle yet unmistakable lack of additional stuff being played from them. Even though I was going to spend a little bit more money on a bookshelf speaker over a tower speaker, I had no doubt in my mind that the Sierra 2s were the better choice for me. So the Verus Grands went back.
I urge you to do the comparison yourself if you can take advantage of the free shipping Aperion gives both ways. I'm fairly certain that you would be sending them back and keeping the Ascend speakers.