Short answer: the Ascend Acoustics Luna V2 Mini-Monitor Titan. It ranks #9 of 63 bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $898; the Moondrop M4P MTM ranks #10 and costs $920, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Ascend Acoustics Luna V2 Mini-Monitor Titan offers: A Klippel NFS optimized crossover and proprietary 4.5 inch long throw glass fiber woofer give this compact mini-monitor a large soundstage for its size, at Ascend’s most accessible price point. The catch: On axis deviation measures 0.599dB average, the roughest figure of any speaker added to this catalog from spinorama.org’s current measurement set, so a listener sitting dead center is more likely to notice unevenness than with the RAAL ribbon version of this same cabinet.
What the Moondrop M4P MTM gets right: MTM (mid-tweeter-mid) two-way layout with dual 4” carbon-cone woofers flanking a 1” aluminum-magnesium dome tweeter, crossed over at 1.8kHz. Set against that: Vertical placement is very fussy: staying within about ±20° of the tweeter axis is essential, because the two woofers cancel each other through the crossover region (classic MTM lobing) - sit above or below that window and the upper midrange loses clarity and detail.
Buy the Ascend Acoustics Luna V2 Mini-Monitor Titan. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Moondrop M4P MTM and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Ascend Acoustics Luna V2 Mini-Monitor Titan | Moondrop M4P MTM | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $898/pair | $920 |
| Ranked | #9 of 63 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #10 of 63 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | ported | - |
| Drivers | SEAS Titan 26mm aluminum/magnesium dome tweeter, 4.5" long throw glass fiber cone woofer | 2x 4" (87mm) carbon cone woofer, 1" (25mm) aluminum/magnesium dome tweeter |
| Dimensions | 10.6"H x 5.7"W x 6"D (270 x 146 x 152 mm) (10.625 x 5.75 x 6.0 in) | 15"H x 6.1"W x 7.3"D (380 x 155 x 185 mm) |
| Weight | 8.3 lbs / 3.75 kg (8.25 lbs) each | 13.7 lbs / 6.2 kg each |
| Sensitivity | 82dB @ 2.83V/1m anechoic (manufacturer) | 85dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal | 4 ohms nominal, 3.7 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Power Output (Watts) | 100W continuous, 150W peak | - |
| Frequency Response | 75-27,000Hz +/-3dB anechoic (manufacturer) | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 74.7Hz (measured, spinorama.org vendor data) | 69Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 45.7Hz (measured, spinorama.org vendor data) | 46Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Warranty | 7 years parts and labor | - |
| Country | United States | - |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 1800Hz |
| Power Handling | - | 75W rated / 150W max |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported |
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- Revel M105 vs ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2
- Revel M105 vs Boston Acoustics A25
- Revel M105 vs KEF Q150
- Ascend Sierra 1 v2 vs Moondrop M4P MTM
- Arendal 1961 Monitor vs Moondrop M4P MTM
The Two Speakers In Full
Ascend Acoustics Luna V2 Mini-Monitor Titan: $898/pair Ascend Acoustics
Pros: A Klippel NFS optimized crossover and proprietary 4.5 inch long throw glass fiber woofer give this compact mini-monitor a large soundstage for its size, at Ascend’s most accessible price point. Backed by the same 7 year parts and labor warranty and hand matched pairs as Ascend’s larger models, with each unit shipped with its own production line frequency response printout.
Cons: On axis deviation measures 0.599dB average, the roughest figure of any speaker added to this catalog from spinorama.org’s current measurement set, so a listener sitting dead center is more likely to notice unevenness than with the RAAL ribbon version of this same cabinet. Bass extension is limited by the small 4.5 inch woofer to a measured 74.7Hz at -3dB, so it needs a subwoofer for full range listening. Ascend sells direct only, with no dealer network for an in person audition.
Full Ascend Acoustics Luna V2 Mini-Monitor Titan review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 45.7Hz (measured, spinorama.org vendor data) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 74.7Hz (measured, spinorama.org vendor data) |
| Country | United States |
| Dimensions | 10.6"H x 5.7"W x 6"D (270 x 146 x 152 mm) (10.625 x 5.75 x 6.0 in) |
| Drivers | SEAS Titan 26mm aluminum/magnesium dome tweeter, 4.5" long throw glass fiber cone woofer |
| Enclosure | ported |
| Frequency Response | 75-27,000Hz +/-3dB anechoic (manufacturer) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal |
| Power Output (Watts) | 100W continuous, 150W peak |
| Sensitivity | 82dB @ 2.83V/1m anechoic (manufacturer) |
| Warranty | 7 years parts and labor |
| Weight | 8.3 lbs / 3.75 kg (8.25 lbs) each |
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Moondrop M4P MTM: $920 Shenzhenaudio
Pros: MTM (mid-tweeter-mid) two-way layout with dual 4” carbon-cone woofers flanking a 1” aluminum-magnesium dome tweeter, crossed over at 1.8kHz. Wide horizontal radiation of about ±60° through the midrange and still around ±50° near the tweeter, giving an expansive, enveloping soundstage on well-recorded stereo material. Noticeable mid-bass “thump” around 100-160Hz that adds a sense of punch and kick-drum impact, more pronounced than the reviewer’s Audiofirst Fidelia reference. Rolled-off, laid-back treble (roughly 1-2dB below linear) rather than the 2-5dB high-frequency boost common on speakers marketed as “detailed” - a plus for listeners who find brighter speakers fatiguing. Tonal balance stays consistent whether pointed straight on or toed out about 30°, so side-to-side seating position doesn’t change the sound much. At $920/pair in a compact monitor cabinet (13-14 lbs), reasonably priced for the format.
Cons: Vertical placement is very fussy: staying within about ±20° of the tweeter axis is essential, because the two woofers cancel each other through the crossover region (classic MTM lobing) - sit above or below that window and the upper midrange loses clarity and detail. SPL-limited: noticeable compression showed up both subjectively (thinner-sounding transients at 80-85dB/10 feet) and in measurements, with roughly 1.5dB of dynamic-range loss and about 3dB of added distortion under instantaneous compression testing. Harmonic distortion jumps substantially at 96dB versus 86dB (mostly second-order, so less audible than it looks on paper), and multitone distortion rides right at the reviewer’s 3% threshold at full output. Low impedance (3.7-ohm minimum, 1.7-ohm minimum EPDR) means a Class AB amp may run hot over longer sessions; a Class D amp is recommended for better thermal headroom. Designed primarily for nearfield use (about 1 meter); farfield listening is more of a gamble since dynamic range drops off noticeably at distance. Slight sibilance and a mild upper-midrange dip give a touch of a recessed, warm character alongside the bass emphasis. Bass reaches only about 50-60Hz in-room, and not with much volume before running into the SPL limits noted above.
Full Moondrop M4P MTM review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 46Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 69Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 1800Hz |
| Dimensions | 15"H x 6.1"W x 7.3"D (380 x 155 x 185 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 4" (87mm) carbon cone woofer, 1" (25mm) aluminum/magnesium dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3.7 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Power Handling | 75W rated / 150W max |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 13.7 lbs / 6.2 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons