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Ascend Sierra 1 Reference vs. Era D5

Anybody familiar with these monitors who can compare their sound? Both are extremely well reviewed and similarly priced. I have a smallish listening room, about 15 x 13 with an 8 foot ceiling. I have good amplification: a Manley Shrimp tube pre, feeding a Bel Canto S300 (150 w/channel into 8 ohms).

I value detail, neutrality, soundstage and imaging. I don't listen to music incredibly loud. Steely Dan, James Taylor, Joe Jackson, Paul Simon, some orchestral stuff and jazz, a little rock. I have a pair of Ohm Walsh 100's that I'm quite happy with, but I've got the itch to hear what a pair of good monitors would sound like in my room.

Thanks for any insights.
rebbi

Showing 3 responses by paulsax

paulsax
275 posts
 
hey loomis no squall at all. I merely was surprised at the tinny and such comments as that is maybe the first time I've heard that particular comment associated. Now as I am not tied to my speakers and am a big boy I take criticism of them as it is given and considering the factors involved one mans treasure is another's garbage. I was just puzzled, thats all. Other that that I could not agree more with the listen to everything ethos, especially while removing all the variables that it is possible to remove.
paulsax
275 posts
 
rebbi the thing is that you asked for a comparo. I have the D5's and think highly of them. I'm baffled by LoomisJohnsons experience but you can take about any speaker and make it sound bad if you try. Clearly his experience and my own differ and I can think of dozens of reasons why that may be so. Given this I've never heard the Accends at all so I really had nothing to say! I really like the D5's myself and auditioned something like 20 speakers before getting them. BUT ultimately LoomisJohnson is correct IMO that you try and listen to everything you can.
paulsax
275 posts
 
rebbi what i like about the d5's is that they deliver IMO better controlled and thicker base than any bookshelf I've heard (of that size, price, etc) the veneers (mine is rosewood) are great and the size is manageable. I find they are fairly neutral in character (like the era family) and can punch up when given the power. That is sort of why the boxy, tinny thoughts that Loomisjohnston noted surprised me. Unfortunately some folks sort of hang their ego on their stuff. I'm not one of them but given that I did have a budget and am not made of money. I could have done better but I believe that I would have had to spend much more money. I suspect that LJ is either more experienced than me, is more particular, heard a bad system, or something like that. Let us know if you get something and your thouhts if you audition stuff. Also I 2nd the totem thoughts that someone already mentioned. I liked them as well. I thought the paradigms were OK but prefered the D5s.
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