Short answer: the Ascend Acoustics Sierra 1 v2. It ranks #3 of 178 bookshelf speakers by sound quality (rated 4.7/5) at $1,000 and is still sold new; the Boston Acoustics A25 ranks #59 (rated 3.6/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used.
The Ascend Acoustics Sierra 1 v2 is the more accurate, deeper-bass pick. 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. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 6.65 against 3.53 for the Boston Acoustics A25. Its bass reaches about 55Hz before falling 3dB, against 90Hz for the Boston Acoustics A25. 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 Boston Acoustics A25 does well: CEA2034 spinorama is decent once you ignore a peak around 900Hz and a dip around 3kHz: directivity is good enough that the response can be EQed and won’t be too room-dependent. The tradeoff: A crazy port resonance and a tweeter with a steeper rolloff than the woofer both show up in the near-field driver measurements, creating the 900Hz peak and the crossover-region dip.
Buy the Ascend Acoustics Sierra 1 v2. It is rated higher for sound quality; the Boston Acoustics A25 is no longer sold new.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
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.
Ascend Acoustics $1000 eBay
CEA2034 spinorama is decent once you ignore a peak around 900Hz and a dip around 3kHz: directivity is good enough that the response can be EQed and won’t be too room-dependent.
eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 17, 2026 at 6:04 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Specifications Side By Side
| Ascend Acoustics Sierra 1 v2 | Boston Acoustics A25 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1000 per pair | $299.98 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #3 of 178 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #59 of 178 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 55Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 55Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 90Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 14.2”H x 7.5”W x 10.5”D (361.9 x 190.5 x 266.7 mm) | 10.7H x 7.25W x 8.9D in |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 7 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms nominal |
| Sensitivity | 81.5dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 85dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Drivers | 5.25” proprietary mineral-filled polypropylene cone with cast aluminum frame woofer, 26mm aluminum/magnesium alloy dome tweeter with titanium former (SEAS Titan) | 1” Kortec soft dome tweeter, 5.25” ceramic/glass-fiber polymer mid/woofer |
| Weight | 18.5 lbs (8.4 kg) each | 10.1 lbs (4.58 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.65 | 3.53 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.61 | 6.19 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 55Hz - 25kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Power Handling | - | 10-150W recommended |
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 Sierra 1 v2 (measured by the manufacturer) and Boston Acoustics A25 (measured by Audio Science Review), via spinorama.org.
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Ascend Acoustics Sierra 1 v2: