Short answer: the Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2. It ranks #24 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.4/5, at $798; the Perlisten A3m ranks #51, rated 4.2/5, and costs $3,000, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
What the Perlisten A3m does well: 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 catch: 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.
The Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2 is the more accurate option. A dual woofer bookshelf speaker with accurate sound, high sensitivity, and lots of clean output, a superb partner for a subwoofer at a modest price. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 5.33 against 4.30 for the Perlisten A3m. Watch for: Bass rolls off early for the cabinet size, measuring 77.6Hz at -3dB, 64.5Hz at -6dB, and 48.3Hz at -12dB; the preference score without a subwoofer is only 5.33.
Buy the Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2. 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 sealed high output monitor with dual 8 inch woofers and a waveguide tweeter, a great match for a subwoofer in a home theater.
A dual woofer bookshelf speaker with accurate sound, high sensitivity, and lots of clean output, a superb partner for a subwoofer at a modest price.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Perlisten A3m | Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3,000 per pair | $798 per pair |
| Ranked | #51 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #24 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 85.8Hz (measured, spinorama.org) | 77.6Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | approximately 61Hz (measured, spinorama.org) | approximately 53Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Enclosure | Sealed | - |
| Drivers | Two 8-inch carbon-fiber woofers; 35mm Teteron dome tweeter | Two 6.5-inch woofers; 27mm soft-dome tweeter |
| Sensitivity | 87.4dB at 2.83V/1m | 92dB at 2.83V/1m anechoic |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal; 3 ohms minimum | 8 ohms nominal |
| Dimensions | 26.6 x 11.0 x 13.8 in each | 21 x 7.5 x 10.5 in each |
| Maximum SPL | 111.4dB peak at 1m (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.30 | 5.33 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.34 | 7.99 |
| Weight | 63.9 lbs (29 kg) | 29.1 lbs (13.2 kg) each |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Power Handling | - | 240W continuous; 400W short-term peak |
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