Short answer: the Radiant Acoustics Clarity 6.2 for better sound quality, the Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2 for the lower price. The Radiant Acoustics Clarity 6.2 ranks #28 of 222 bookshelf speakers, rated 4.4/5, at $4,500. The Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2 ranks #114, rated 3.8/5, at $468, $4,032 cheaper.
The case for the Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2: On-axis response is impressively flat from about 100Hz to 2kHz, staying within roughly ±1dB, with a clean, gradual bass rolloff below that. The tradeoff: A narrow dip in the on-axis and listening-window response appears in the 3-5kHz range (down to about -2.7dB), mirrored by a matching dip in the directivity index at the same frequencies: likely a brief widening of dispersion right at the tweeter/woofer crossover.
The Radiant Acoustics Clarity 6.2 is the better-sounding, deeper-bass option. Custom AMT (Air Motion Transformer) tweeter paired with a 6.5” Purifi Eikona midrange and dual Purifi passive radiators in a passive-radiator enclosure, crossed over at 2.4kHz. Its bass reaches about 55Hz before falling 3dB, against 70Hz for the Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2. The tradeoff: Needs a fairly specific setup to sound its best: about 15-20° of toe-out (per the manufacturer’s own recommendation) and roughly 2 feet from the rear wall; pointed straight on-axis, the treble reads as noticeably elevated.
Buy the Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2 when the price outweighs sound quality for you, and the Radiant Acoustics Clarity 6.2 when sound quality outweighs the price instead.
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On-axis response is impressively flat from about 100Hz to 2kHz, staying within roughly ±1dB, with a clean, gradual bass rolloff below that.
Ascend Acoustics $468 eBay
Custom AMT (Air Motion Transformer) tweeter paired with a 6.5” Purifi Eikona midrange and dual Purifi passive radiators in a passive-radiator enclosure, crossed over at 2.4kHz.
Radiant Acoustics $4500 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2 | Radiant Acoustics Clarity 6.2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $468 per pair | $4500 per pair |
| Ranked | #114 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #28 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 70Hz (measured, manufacturer spinorama data) | 55Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 50Hz (measured, manufacturer spinorama data) | 32Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 86.8dB (2.83V/1m, measured, manufacturer spinorama data; 87dB manufacturer specified) | 84.3dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 27mm custom SEAS soft dome tweeter, 6.5” proprietary composite polygel cone woofer | 6.5” PURIFI USHINDI woofer, Custom AMT (Air Motion Transformer) tweeter |
| Dimensions | 12H x 9W x 9.5D in | 14.3”H x 8.7”W x 10.5”D (363.2 x 221 x 266.7 mm) |
| Weight | 15 lbs (6.8 kg) each | 23.8 lbs (10.8 kg) each |
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms nominal (2.1 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Power Handling | 200W continuous, 400W peak | - |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | passive radiator |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.30 | 5.97 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.66 | 7.75 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
Frequency Response Compared
Both speakers’ spinorama measurements, overlaid. A flatter line is more neutral: peaks sound forward or harsh, dips sound recessed. Each curve is shifted so its average from 300 Hz to 3 kHz sits at 0 dB, so loudness differences between the two are removed and only the shape is compared. The two were measured by different sources, so small differences, especially in the bass, can come from the measurement setup rather than the speakers.
Measurement data: Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2 (measured by the manufacturer) and Radiant Acoustics Clarity 6.2 (measured by Erin’s Audio Corner), via spinorama.org.
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