Short answer: the Ascend Acoustics Sierra-2EX V2. It ranks #41 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.3/5, at $1,748; the Perlisten A3m ranks #51, rated 4.2/5, and costs $3,000, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The Ascend Acoustics Sierra-2EX V2 is the more accurate, deeper-bass option. A ribbon tweeter bookshelf speaker with hand matched pairs, a frequency response printout for each unit, and a long seven year warranty. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 5.88 against 4.30 for the Perlisten A3m. Its bass reaches about 58.6Hz before falling 3dB, against 85.8Hz for the Perlisten A3m. Watch for: On-axis response is relatively uneven, with an average deviation of about 0.45dB, so a listener sitting dead center may notice more unevenness than with smoother AsciLab or Ascend towers.
The case for the Perlisten A3m: A sealed high output monitor with dual 8 inch woofers and a waveguide tweeter, a great match for a subwoofer in a home theater. The tradeoff: The low-quality vendor Spinorama data measures only 85.8Hz at -3dB, 74.1Hz at -6dB, and 55.7Hz at -12dB, conflicting with Perlisten’s much deeper in-room extension claim.
Buy the Ascend Acoustics Sierra-2EX V2. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Perlisten A3m and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
A ribbon tweeter bookshelf speaker with hand matched pairs, a frequency response printout for each unit, and a long seven year warranty.
A sealed high output monitor with dual 8 inch woofers and a waveguide tweeter, a great match for a subwoofer in a home theater.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Ascend Acoustics Sierra-2EX V2 | Perlisten A3m | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,748 per pair | $3,000 per pair |
| Ranked | #41 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #51 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | ported | Sealed |
| Drivers | RAAL 10mm true ribbon tweeter, 6” SEAS Excel Curv cone woofer | Two 8-inch carbon-fiber woofers; 35mm Teteron dome tweeter |
| Dimensions | 14.3”H x 7.5”W x 10.5”D (362 x 190 x 267 mm) | 26.6 x 11.0 x 13.8 in each |
| Weight | 20.1 lbs (9.1 kg) each | 63.9 lbs (29 kg) |
| Sensitivity | 85dB @ 2.83V/1m anechoic (manufacturer) | 87.4dB at 2.83V/1m |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal | 4 ohms nominal; 3 ohms minimum |
| Power Handling | 150W continuous, 300W peak | - |
| Frequency Response | 51-27,000Hz +/-3dB (manufacturer) | - |
| Bass Extension (-6dB) | 51.3Hz (measured, spinorama.org vendor data) | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 58.6Hz (measured, spinorama.org vendor data) | 85.8Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 42.4Hz (measured, spinorama.org vendor data) | approximately 61Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Warranty | 7 years parts and labor | - |
| Country | United States | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.88 | 4.30 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.95 | 7.34 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Maximum SPL | - | 111.4dB peak at 1m (manufacturer specified) |
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