Short answer: the Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Tower. It ranks #12 of 228 floorstanding speakers by sound quality, rated 4.6/5, at $5,698. The Klipsch Heresy IV ranks #222, rated 2.3/5, at $3,599.98, $2,098.02 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
The Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Tower is the more accurate, deeper-bass pick. Highly accurate three way bamboo towers with a ribbon tweeter, deep tight bass and a long warranty. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 6.97 against 2.27 for the Klipsch Heresy IV. Its bass reaches about 38.7Hz before falling 3dB, against 77Hz for the Klipsch Heresy IV. The catch: Listening window smoothness measures a moderate 0.40 and on axis deviation runs 0.286dB average, both trailing the tighter figures posted by some smaller passive AsciLab and Ascend bookshelf models.
Why pick the Klipsch Heresy IV: A compact horn loaded speaker with a 12 inch woofer and very high sensitivity, giving lively dynamics from modest amplifiers. The tradeoff: Erin measured a 77Hz F3 and response rolling away near 100Hz in-room, so a subwoofer is required for modern full-range reproduction.
Buy the Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Tower. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $2,098.02 with the Klipsch Heresy IV does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Highly accurate three way bamboo towers with a ribbon tweeter, deep tight bass and a long warranty.
A compact horn loaded speaker with a 12 inch woofer and very high sensitivity, giving lively dynamics from modest amplifiers.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Tower | Klipsch Heresy IV | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5,698 per pair | $3,599.98 per pair |
| Ranked | #12 of 228 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #222 of 228 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Enclosure | ported | - |
| Drivers | RAAL 70-20xram ribbon tweeter, 6” SEAS Excel Curv midrange (sealed sub-chamber), 2x 6” SEAS Excel aluminum woofers | 1” horn-loaded tweeter; 1.75” horn-loaded midrange; 12” woofer |
| Dimensions | 43”H x 7.5”W x 10.5”D (1092 x 190 x 267 mm) | 24.8”H x 15.6”W x 13.3”D |
| Weight | 56 lbs (25.4 kg) each | 45 lbs (20.4 kg) each |
| Sensitivity | 87.5dB @ 2.83V/1m anechoic (manufacturer) | 94.5dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal | Approximately 4 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Power Handling | 400W continuous, 600W peak | - |
| Frequency Response | 36-27,000Hz +/-3dB anechoic (manufacturer) | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 38.7Hz (measured, spinorama.org vendor data) | 77Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 28.5Hz (measured, spinorama.org vendor data) | 50.0Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Warranty | 7 years parts and labor | - |
| Country | United States | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.97 | 2.27 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.42 | 5.02 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported, rear |
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