Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Horizon vs Ascend Acoustics Sierra Horizon V2

Short answer: the Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Horizon. It ranks #2 of 98 center channel speakers by sound quality, rated 4.6/5, at $3,098. The Ascend Acoustics Sierra Horizon V2 ranks #10, rated 4.3/5, at $1,998, $1,100 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.

Why pick the Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Horizon: A RAAL true ribbon tweeter and a 6” SEAS Curv midrange in its own sealed chamber sit between two 6” long-throw SEAS woofers in a laminated bamboo cabinet. The tradeoff: The measurements come from Ascend itself, not an independent reviewer.

Why pick the Ascend Acoustics Sierra Horizon V2: The revised Sierra Horizon center with a custom RAAL true ribbon tweeter, an underhung mineral-filled polypropylene midrange and two long-throw woofers on cast aluminum frames, in a laminated bamboo cabinet. Watch for: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared directly with measured centers; the rating is estimated from its predecessor’s measurements.

Buy the Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Horizon. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $1,100 you would save on the Ascend Acoustics Sierra Horizon V2 does not close the gap.

Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.

Specifications Side By Side

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• Ascend Acoustics Sierra Horizon V2 vs Ascend Acoustics Sierra Horizon
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Prices on this page were last checked October 5, 2026 at 10:21 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

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The Two Speakers In Full

Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Horizon: $3,098 each Ascend Acoustics eBay

Pros: A RAAL true ribbon tweeter and a 6” SEAS Curv midrange in its own sealed chamber sit between two 6” long-throw SEAS woofers in a laminated bamboo cabinet. Ascend’s Klippel near-field measurements show the lowest on-axis deviation of any center channel ranked here (0.15) and a listening window within 1.9dB from 300Hz to 5kHz, and its preference score of 6.17 without a subwoofer is second only to Perlisten’s S7c. Bass is among the deepest of any center here, reaching 51.3Hz (-3dB) and about 30Hz (-10dB), so it can play full range in most rooms. Dispersion is wide horizontally (about ±60 degrees), which keeps dialogue consistent for off-center seats.

Cons: The measurements come from Ascend itself, not an independent reviewer. The ribbon’s vertical dispersion is narrow (about ±25 degrees), so aim the tweeter at ear height rather than tilting it from far above or below the screen. It is sold only direct from Ascend, and at 584mm wide and 52 lb it needs a deep, sturdy shelf.

Full Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Horizon review and specifications →

Bass Extension (-10dB)	about 29.8Hz (measured, manufacturer data via spinorama.org)
Bass Extension (-3dB)	51.3Hz (measured, manufacturer data via spinorama.org)
DIY Kit	No
Dimensions	11”H x 23”W x 12.5”D (279 x 584 x 318 mm)
Drivers	RAAL 70-20xram ribbon tweeter, 6” SEAS Curv cone midrange (sealed chamber), 2x 6” aluminum cone woofers
Frequency Response	36Hz-27kHz ±3dB anechoic (manufacturer specified)
Impedance	8 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified)
Sensitivity	88dB anechoic, 91dB in-room (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified)
Spinorama Preference Score	6.17
Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub	7.83
Weight	52 lbs (23.6 kg)
Woofer Cabinet	ported (dual front slots)

• Links
  • Official Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Horizon Website
• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
  • Manufacturer Measurements (spinorama.org)
• Head-to-Head Comparisons
  • Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Horizon vs Perlisten R5c
  • Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Horizon vs KEF Reference 2 Meta

Ascend Acoustics Sierra Horizon V2: $1,998 each Estimated Ascend Acoustics eBay

Older model: the Ascend Acoustics Sierra Horizon (ranked lower, rated 4.2/5).

Pros: The revised Sierra Horizon center with a custom RAAL true ribbon tweeter, an underhung mineral-filled polypropylene midrange and two long-throw woofers on cast aluminum frames, in a laminated bamboo cabinet. Ascend rates it from Klippel near-field measurements at 60Hz to 27kHz (±3dB) anechoic and 48Hz at -6dB, with 88dB anechoic sensitivity.

Cons: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared directly with measured centers; the rating is estimated from its predecessor’s measurements. Ascend publishes Klippel-based specifications but not the full Spinorama data. It is sold only direct from Ascend.

Full Ascend Acoustics Sierra Horizon V2 review and specifications →

Dimensions	11”H x 23”W x 12.5”D (279 x 584 x 318 mm)
Drivers	RAAL true ribbon tweeter, mineral-filled polypropylene midrange, 2x mineral-filled polypropylene woofers
Frequency Response	60Hz-27kHz ±3dB anechoic, -6dB at 48Hz (manufacturer specified)
Impedance	8 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified)
Sensitivity	88dB anechoic, 91dB in-room (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified)
Weight	41.9 lbs (19 kg)

• Links
  • Official Ascend Acoustics Sierra Horizon V2 Website
• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
  • No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
• Head-to-Head Comparisons
  • Ascend Acoustics Sierra Horizon V2 vs Ascend Acoustics Sierra Horizon