Short answer: the Ascend Sierra 1 v2 for better sound quality, the Acoustic Energy AE100 Mk2 for the lower price. The Ascend Sierra 1 v2 ranks #3 of 34 bookshelf speakers at $1000. The Acoustic Energy AE100 Mk2 ranks #23 at $500, $500 cheaper.
What the Ascend Sierra 1 v2 offers: Formaldehyde-free layered bamboo ply cabinet with a 1” dome tweeter over a 5.25” midwoofer, mated by a 4th-order acoustic crossover rather than a stock textbook design. Watch for: F3 of 55Hz and F10 of 39Hz mean in-room extension tops out in the mid-40s Hz; the reviewer still recommends a subwoofer for full-range material.
What the Acoustic Energy AE100 Mk2 offers: Good directivity linearity - on-axis and off-axis response track each other well despite an otherwise uneven overall response, which means the tonal problems can be EQ’d out with reasonably good success. Watch for: High-frequency level runs noticeably too hot regardless of placement - the reviewer tried four different setups (near/far from wall, on-axis, 30° off-axis) at two listening distances and couldn’t get it to sound right at any of…
Buy the Ascend Sierra 1 v2 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Acoustic Energy AE100 Mk2 if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| Ascend Sierra 1 v2 | Acoustic Energy AE100 Mk2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1000 | $500 |
| Ranked | #3 of 34 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #23 of 34 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 42Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 55Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 63Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 14.2"H x 7.5"W x 10.5"D (361.9 x 190.5 x 266.7 mm) | 11.4"H x 6.5"W x 9.8"D (290 x 165 x 250 mm) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 7 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 6 ohms nominal, 4.7 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 81.5dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 84dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 5.25" proprietary mineral-filled polypropylene cone with cast aluminum frame woofer, 26mm aluminum/magnesium alloy dome tweeter with titanium former (SEAS Titan) | 5.25" midwoofer, 1" soft fabric dome tweeter with waveguide |
| Weight | 18.5 lbs / 8.4 kg each | 20 lbs each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | ported, rear slot port |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 2.9kHz |
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- Philharmonic Ceramic Mini vs Tekton Troubadour
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- Ascend Sierra 1 v2 vs Klipsch RP-500M II
- Ascend Sierra 1 v2 vs Wharfedale Diamond 12.1
The Two Speakers In Full
Ascend Sierra 1 v2: $1000 Ascendacoustics
Pros: Formaldehyde-free layered bamboo ply cabinet with a 1” dome tweeter over a 5.25” midwoofer, mated by a 4th-order acoustic crossover rather than a stock textbook design. In-room response is extremely linear - the reviewer called it “textbook” - a clear step up from the earlier V1, which had boxiness around 700Hz-1kHz and sibilance around 4-6kHz. Preference score of 8.4 with a subwoofer (6.8 without), which the reviewer calls topnotch. Wide, even horizontal radiation of about ±70° up to 6kHz. Better vertical directivity than its tweeter-to-woofer spacing would suggest, thanks to the steep 4th-order crossover slopes. No mechanical noise, port chuffing, or woofer bottoming even driven to 96dB/1m. In a three-way comparison against the Dynaudio Emit 20 and a Revel bookshelf model (all around $1,000/pair), measured as the most linear of the three and was the reviewer’s personal pick over both, despite the Dynaudio’s deeper bass and higher output capability. Independent ASR Klippel measurements corroborate Erin’s findings: superb off-axis response with only slight on-axis variations, and an in-room response the reviewer called “incredibly smooth and accurate - amazing for a non-DSP speaker.” Distortion above 200Hz at 86dB/1m is very low for the class.
Cons: F3 of 55Hz and F10 of 39Hz mean in-room extension tops out in the mid-40s Hz; the reviewer still recommends a subwoofer for full-range material. Diffraction dips appear around 3kHz and 5-6kHz, and the 1” dome tweeter starts beaming above roughly 6.7kHz, narrowing the soundstage radiation in the top octave - a straightforward consequence of dome size rather than a design flaw. At 96dB/1m the 5.25” midwoofer shows increased distortion in the midrange, likely tied to motor topology; high-passing to a subwoofer around 80Hz largely clears it up. Moderate sensitivity (~81-82dB average) with a 7-ohm minimum impedance. ASR’s power-sweep testing found response holds steady up to 96dB SPL/1m, but pushing to 102dB causes midbass below 400Hz to sag with distortion “through the roof” - a harder output ceiling than the 96dB tests alone suggest. Vertical directivity also narrows above about 1kHz, so the reviewer recommends staying at tweeter-axis height for best results.
Full Ascend Sierra 1 v2 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 55Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 14.2"H x 7.5"W x 10.5"D (361.9 x 190.5 x 266.7 mm) |
| Drivers | 5.25" proprietary mineral-filled polypropylene cone with cast aluminum frame woofer, 26mm aluminum/magnesium alloy dome tweeter with titanium former (SEAS Titan) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 7 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 81.5dB (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 18.5 lbs / 8.4 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
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- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Erin’s Audio Corner: NEW! Ascend Acoustics Sierra-1 V2 Review
- Erin’s Audio Corner Website Ascend Sierra 1 v2
- Audio Science Review Ascend Sierra 1 v2
- Erin’s Audio Corner: 5 AWESOME SPEAKERS Under $1000 You Won’t Regret
- Erin’s Audio Corner: I Tested 250 Speakers So You Don’t Have To!
- Erin’s Audio Corner: My Top Picks of 2023: Must-Haves Under $3000
- Reddit Search for Ascend Sierra 1 v2 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Ascend Sierra 1 v2 vs KEF LS50 Meta
- Ascend Sierra 1 v2 vs Philharmonic Ceramic Mini
- Ascend Sierra 1 v2 vs Arendal 1961 Monitor
- Ascend Sierra 1 v2 vs Audiofirst Fidelia
- Ascend Sierra 1 v2 vs Moondrop M4P MTM
- Ascend Sierra 1 v2 vs Emotiva B1+
- Ascend Sierra 1 v2 vs Klipsch RP-500M II
- Ascend Sierra 1 v2 vs Wharfedale Super Denton
- See all 17 comparisons
Acoustic Energy AE100 Mk2: $500 Amazon
Pros: Good directivity linearity - on-axis and off-axis response track each other well despite an otherwise uneven overall response, which means the tonal problems can be EQ’d out with reasonably good success. Wide horizontal radiation, about ±50°. Nicely finished cabinet - the reviewer specifically called out the fit and finish as a genuine positive. Both units of the review pair measured closely matched to each other.
Cons: High-frequency level runs noticeably too hot regardless of placement - the reviewer tried four different setups (near/far from wall, on-axis, 30° off-axis) at two listening distances and couldn’t get it to sound right at any of them. A mid-range dip that the reviewer attributes to internal cabinet resonance rather than intentional baffle-step compensation, reinforced by an internal inspection showing no cross-bracing and a slot port that may itself be resonating when tapped. Small tweeter waveguide magnet suggests limited power handling headroom. At this price and radiation pattern, the reviewer would pick the ELAC DBR62 (more neutral, similar ±60° pattern) or, for less money, the ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 over this speaker; the KEF Q150 and SVS Prime Bookshelf are also called out as more linear alternatives nearby in price.
Full Acoustic Energy AE100 Mk2 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 42Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 63Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 2.9kHz |
| Dimensions | 11.4"H x 6.5"W x 9.8"D (290 x 165 x 250 mm) |
| Drivers | 5.25" midwoofer, 1" soft fabric dome tweeter with waveguide |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 4.7 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 84dB (measured average, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 20 lbs each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear slot port |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons