Short answer: the Philharmonic Ceramic Mini. It ranks #2 of 34 bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $900; the Tekton Troubadour ranks #13 and costs $1000, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Philharmonic Ceramic Mini offers: Gorgeous looks and finish options for the price. Watch for: Somewhat limited output capability for its size - audible woofer compression (“flopping”) around 95dB at 3 meters for a stereo pair, so keep to moderate levels or pair with a subwoofer for home theater use.
What the Tekton Troubadour offers: Offset in-phase array of 2x 5.25” mid-woofers and 3x 1” dome tweeters gives good on-axis linearity (within about ±2.5 dB) and a wide vertical listening window (about ±20°), so seating height isn’t fussy. Watch for: Forward, elevated upper-midrange presentation from increased off-axis energy in the 2-8 kHz range, centered around 4 kHz, that can read as hot or aggressive depending on the room and listener; a couple bands of EQ can tame it.
Buy the Philharmonic Ceramic Mini. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Tekton Troubadour and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Philharmonic Ceramic Mini | Tekton Troubadour | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $900 | $1,000 |
| Ranked | #2 of 34 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #13 of 34 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 51Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 51Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 36Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 12" x 8.5" x 11.3" (305 x 216 x 286 mm) | 21"H x 13.5"W x 9"D (533 x 343 x 229mm) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (3.2 ohms min, 15 ohms max) (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal, 3.6 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 5.25" ceramic woofer, 1" ceramic dome tweeter | 2x 5.25" mid-woofers, 3x 1" dome tweeters (offset in-phase array) |
| Sensitivity | 82dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 88dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 17 lbs / 7.7 kg | 32 lbs (32 lbs / 14.5 kg) each |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 20kHz (+1.5/-3dB, Manufacturer specified, ported) | - |
| Crossover Frequency | 2kHz (Linkwitz-Riley 4th order) | - |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | - |
| Country of Origin | USA (Vienna, Virginia) | USA |
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- Ascend Sierra 1 v2 vs Philharmonic Ceramic Mini
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The Two Speakers In Full
Philharmonic Ceramic Mini: $900 Philharmonic Audio
Pros: Gorgeous looks and finish options for the price. Very low midrange distortion for the size, well under 1% above about 400-500Hz. Excellent on-axis linearity. Mild, pleasant bass bump around 100Hz that adds welcome warmth without being excessive. Wide soundstage and dispersion (~70-80 degrees horizontally). Clean cabinet and port with no measured resonances. A great value combination of looks and performance at this price.
Cons: Somewhat limited output capability for its size - audible woofer compression (“flopping”) around 95dB at 3 meters for a stereo pair, so keep to moderate levels or pair with a subwoofer for home theater use. A mild diffraction-related dip around 4-6kHz can cause occasional sibilance on some vocal tracks. Measured sensitivity (82.2dB average) runs a bit below the manufacturer’s claimed 84dB, so it needs more amp power than the spec alone suggests. Needs a subwoofer for real bass authority below about 40Hz.
Full Philharmonic Ceramic Mini review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 36Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 51Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Country of Origin | USA (Vienna, Virginia) |
| Crossover Frequency | 2kHz (Linkwitz-Riley 4th order) |
| Dimensions | 12" x 8.5" x 11.3" (305 x 216 x 286 mm) |
| Drivers | 5.25" ceramic woofer, 1" ceramic dome tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 20kHz (+1.5/-3dB, Manufacturer specified, ported) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (3.2 ohms min, 15 ohms max) (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 82dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 17 lbs / 7.7 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
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Tekton Troubadour: $1,000
Pros: Offset in-phase array of 2x 5.25” mid-woofers and 3x 1” dome tweeters gives good on-axis linearity (within about ±2.5 dB) and a wide vertical listening window (about ±20°), so seating height isn’t fussy. Bass extension is solid for a stand-mount this size: F3 around 51 Hz, F10 around 39 Hz, with distortion staying below 3% THD down to about 40 Hz at 96 dB. Made in the USA. Asymmetrical tweeter/mid-woofer placement broadens horizontal dispersion versus a conventional symmetric layout.
Cons: Forward, elevated upper-midrange presentation from increased off-axis energy in the 2-8 kHz range, centered around 4 kHz, that can read as hot or aggressive depending on the room and listener; a couple bands of EQ can tame it. Multitone distortion climbs to about 10% around 1 kHz at higher output, attributed to the 4-inch mid-range drivers. Because the driver layout is offset rather than mirror-imaged, left/right placement and toe-in matter more than with a standard symmetric bookshelf design.
Full Tekton Troubadour review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 51Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Country of Origin | USA |
| Dimensions | 21"H x 13.5"W x 9"D (533 x 343 x 229mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 5.25" mid-woofers, 3x 1" dome tweeters (offset in-phase array) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3.6 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 88dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 32 lbs (32 lbs / 14.5 kg) each |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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