AA Sierra-2EX Monitor Review

[jimlucci]

Nice review Ted! I debated between upgrading my existing Sierra1's, buying a fresh set of Sierra2ex's and the Towers - I ended up choosing the Towers only because my listening area is pretty large. I will say that I am extremely happy that I got the RAAL upgrade - those tweeters are magical. Your system looks great - love the pics....Jim

[davef]

Wonderful review and thank you! So pleased that you are enjoying the Sierra-2EX!!

[theophile]

Wonderful review and thank you! So pleased that you are enjoying the Sierra-2EX!!

Thank You, Dave, for offering audiophiles a monitor that has such precision in recorded medium playback as to allow music to effortlessly flow to the heart...Bravo!!!

Ted

[theophile]

Nice review Ted! I debated between upgrading my existing Sierra1's, buying a fresh set of Sierra2ex's and the Towers - I ended up choosing the Towers only because my listening area is pretty large. I will say that I am extremely happy that I got the RAAL upgrade - those tweeters are magical. Your system looks great - love the pics....Jim

Hi Jim,

Your review of the RAAL-Towers was wonderful. Believe for your 3200cf listening room, you made a perfect choice! I've no doubt Dave's Towers would be extremely competitive with Any in the marketplace today, at Any price!

For my 990cf listening room, can't imagine Any 1cf Monitor made that would sound better!!!

IMHO, Ascend Acoustics=Best speaker value on the Planet!

Ted

[racrawford65]

Ha!

LOL!
Audio purchases are on hold until my GF and I settle on and buy a house.

That said, I’m very interested in the new Anthems. I really enjoy my AVM 60. For the new Anthems I’m interested in how Roon will be implemented.

I'm interested in the new Anthems, as well. Perhaps the AVM70 to go fully separate or move to the MRX740. Don't need 15 channels. Not as concerned about music since I am picking up a separate preamp for 2 channel. Using the 740, I can power my center, two surrounds, and 4 ATMOS heights and eliminate one amp (currently using the 720 to power center and 2 surrounds and a separate 4 channel for ATMOS). Really like the looks of the new Anthems. But not pulling the trigger anytime soon - upgrading my tonearm first and then will wait until Anthem works out the bugs with Genesis and adds the new HDMI board before considering this upgrade.

[elan120]

FWIW (imagine I'm sounding like a broken record...heck, I am a Stereo Audiophile ), but Hearing is Believing! I received the Morrow Audio SP4 speaker cables on 7/26 and have had them cooking with music 24/7 since (now over 400 hours of break-in). They Are the Keepers...sent back the Canares! The Morrows (to Me) are worth 5X the price (50%-sale) of the Canare S411 cables!!!

They take all of the positive sonic qualities of my previous cable usages (30 Yr 10Ga Monster Pros, 12 Ga OFC KnuKoncepts, Blue Jeans 11Ga Canare 4S11) and Step-Up the LIVE music reproduction presentation with Improvements in:

1. Soundstage depth (recording dependent) 10 to 20 feet deeper than any of the above speaker cables.
2. Soundstage Pinpoint focus, with much greater air and separation of vocals, instrumentals, strings, keyboard and small ensembles.
3. Venue accuracy, ambiance and spaciousness with tremendous width, depth and height.
4. Balance of an extremely natural, open and live 3D Holographic presentation.
5. Excellence in micro/macro dynamics.
6. Extremely accurate timbres/tonalities/resolutions.
7. Superb attack/sustained/decay articulations.
8. Full Bandwidth precision and balance-Nothing is missing.
9. Make my Highly-Resolving 2EX Sing with Very Musical, Realistic and Live-You-Are-There Presentations.
10. Relaxed and Smooth Aura of Sound that allows for Hours of continuous non-fatiguing listening sessions.
11. More Naturally Allows the music to become an effortless, immersive and engaging experience.
12. Ease of system/speakers disappearing with only the Music to Enjoy!

Overall, I find myself toe-tapping and listening to every bar of music on each CD as I hear and feel what the musicians intended to impart in their creative art of music! Often, my mind is Blown, because What I See (my room and my components) versus What I Hear (Live Venue Performances) are in such stark contrast, the goose bumps, breath catching and sometimes tears just flow!!

Seems now, I can just enjoy and relish the emotional art my full musical library genre presents without any thought or interference from my “Stereo Setup” (With Thanks to Ascend Acoustics)!!!

Ted

Outstanding review, Ted,

I may have to try these when my speakers are delivered. The improments outlined in your review are attributes I also would like to get in my system.

Thanks for the link. Bookmarked.

Regards,
Kevin

[natetg57]

Outstanding review, Ted,

I may have to try these when my speakers are delivered. The improments outlined in your review are attributes I also would like to get in my system.

Thanks for the link. Bookmarked.

Regards,
Kevin

Beware that it is quite easy to 'hear' improvements when those improvements are expected. Try to do any listening tests blind. Have someone else switch them out and see if you can hear a difference.

[theophile]

Beware that it is quite easy to 'hear' improvements when those improvements are expected. Try to do any listening tests blind. Have someone else switch them out and see if you can hear a difference.

Nate,

Great point!

These past 2 months, my eldest son and I spent 3 weeks switching out 5 pairs of speaker cables (Monster Cable Pro- Monoprice Access - Knu Koncepts KL3 OFC - BJC Canare 4S11 Sonic Welded and Morrow Audio SP4). Using very familiar and specific genre cuts, we started out performing blind listening test and after many listening sessions, started comparing comments. We were within 90% agreement on audible changes, descriptions, positives and negatives. It was an arduous long task, but we always kept coming back to the Morrow Audio SP4 cables for their ease, precision, depth, focus and realism of holographic venue presentation and bandwidth timbre/resolution accuracy!!

Break-in timing (for cable sets to settle out and reach their best performances) were:

Monster - (about 35 years!-smooth, balanced but diffused soundstage)
Mono - (100 hrs-Strident and flat presentation from the onset)
Knu K - (300 Hrs-slowly improved, but would never open up soundstage depth-harsh highs and not dynamic)
BJC C - (100 Hrs-for $$$, Very Good, but w/300+ hrs, would not yield a soundstage as deep as the Morrows)
Morrow - (275 Hrs total-arrived with 10-days of burn-in from Morrrow=highs-mids-soundstage Came Superb...Bass took 24 hrs, then came in with the Thunder of Thor!)

Ted

[racrawford65]

Outstanding review, Ted,

I may have to try these when my speakers are delivered. The improments outlined in your review are attributes I also would like to get in my system.

Thanks for the link. Bookmarked.

Regards,
Kevin

Agree, as well. I've also bookmarked the Morrow page. May have to give them a try sometime.

[elan120]

Nate,

Great point!

These past 2 months, my eldest son and I spent 3 weeks switching out 5 pairs of speaker cables (Monster Cable Pro- Monoprice Access - Knu Koncepts KL3 OFC - BJC Canare 4S11 Sonic Welded and Morrow Audio SP4). Using very familiar and specific genre cuts, we started out performing blind listening test and after many listening sessions, started comparing comments. We were within 90% agreement on audible changes, descriptions, positives and negatives. It was an arduous long task, but we always kept coming back to the Morrow Audio SP4 cables for their ease, precision, depth, focus and realism of holographic venue presentation and bandwidth timbre/resolution accuracy!!

Break-in timing (for cable sets to settle out and reach their best performances) were:

Monster - (about 35 years!-smooth, balanced but diffused soundstage)
Mono - (100 hrs-Strident and flat presentation from the onset)
Knu K - (300 Hrs-slowly improved, but would never open up soundstage depth-harsh highs and not dynamic)
BJC C - (100 Hrs-for $$$, Very Good, but w/300+ hrs, would not yield a soundstage as deep as the Morrows)
Morrow - (275 Hrs total-arrived with 10-days of burn-in from Morrrow=highs-mids-soundstage Came Superb...Bass took 24 hrs, then came in with the Thunder of Thor!)

Ted

Good description, Ted,

Just curious, did you switch off the sub or kept it on during listening test?

Regards,
Kevin