Short answer: the Ascend Sierra 1 v2 for better sound quality, the Totem Kin One for the lower price. The Ascend Sierra 1 v2 ranks #3 of 34 bookshelf speakers at $1000. The Totem Kin One ranks #20 at $600, $400 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 Totem Kin One offers: Compact two-way design with a 1” titanium-infused soft dome tweeter and 4” MHex cone woofer, available in distinctive colorways beyond the usual black/white. Watch for: Real-world sensitivity measured significantly below the manufacturer’s spec (about 83.4dB measured versus 89dB claimed).
Buy the Ascend Sierra 1 v2 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Totem Kin One if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| Ascend Sierra 1 v2 | Totem Kin One | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1000 | $600 |
| Ranked | #3 of 34 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #20 of 34 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 59Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 55Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 91Hz (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) | 9.5"H x 5"W x 6.3"D (241 x 127 x 159 mm) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 7 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 6 ohms nominal, 4.4 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 81.5dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 83.4dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner; 89dB manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | 5.25" proprietary mineral-filled polypropylene cone with cast aluminum frame woofer, 26mm aluminum/magnesium alloy dome tweeter with titanium former (SEAS Titan) | 4" MHEX cone woofer, 1" titanium infused soft dome tweeter |
| Weight | 18.5 lbs / 8.4 kg each | 6.2 lbs / 2.83 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | ported, rear |
| Power Handling | - | 20-100W RMS |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- ELAC BS U5 vs Acoustic Energy AE100 Mk2
- Philharmonic Ceramic Mini vs Tekton Troubadour
- ELAC BS U5 vs JBL L52 Classic
- Ascend Sierra 1 v2 vs Wharfedale Diamond 12.1
- Ascend Sierra 1 v2 vs Acoustic Energy AE100 Mk2
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
Totem Kin One: $600 Skybygramophone
Pros: Compact two-way design with a 1” titanium-infused soft dome tweeter and 4” MHex cone woofer, available in distinctive colorways beyond the usual black/white. Surprisingly spacious, wide sound for its tiny size - horizontal dispersion of about ±75° through the midrange gives real envelopment and soundstage width. Reasonably good overall directivity, meaning it takes well to EQ correction. Pairs well with an EQ-capable streaming amp (the reviewer specifically suggests something like a WiiM Amp), which can smooth out its main tonal issues with just a few bands of correction. Crossing over to a subwoofer around 80Hz measurably reduces midrange distortion and improves resolution. For a 4” woofer, distortion performance up to about 88dB is reasonable and shouldn’t be judged against larger-driver speakers.
Cons: Real-world sensitivity measured significantly below the manufacturer’s spec (about 83.4dB measured versus 89dB claimed). Treble rolls off sharply above about 8kHz, an unusually attenuated top end that the reviewer wasn’t sure was even an intentional design choice. A dip around 600Hz-1kHz paired with a nearby resonance (likely port-related) gives a combination of hollow and forward character depending on the exact frequency. Bass rolls off around 80-90Hz (F3 91Hz, F10 59Hz), typical for a compact 4” woofer, so a subwoofer is essential for any real bass. Vertical placement has a real sweet spot - going too far above or especially below the tweeter axis noticeably changes the tonal balance. Distortion rises substantially at 96dB and the port/woofer begin struggling at extreme low frequencies and volumes. Best aimed directly at the listener given how quickly the treble rolls off; toeing it out requires EQ compensation to avoid sounding dull.
Full Totem Kin One review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 59Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 91Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 9.5"H x 5"W x 6.3"D (241 x 127 x 159 mm) |
| Drivers | 4" MHEX cone woofer, 1" titanium infused soft dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 4.4 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Power Handling | 20-100W RMS |
| Sensitivity | 83.4dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner; 89dB manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 6.2 lbs / 2.83 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons