Short answer: the Radiant Acoustics Clarity 66 for better sound quality, the Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Tower for the lower price. The Radiant Acoustics Clarity 66 ranks #5 of 59 floorstanding speakers at $7998. The Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Tower ranks #6 at $5698, $2300 cheaper.
The case for the Radiant Acoustics Clarity 66: Amir called the measured distortion “unheard of,” noting the distortion graph “hugs the near zero line, even in deep bass” at 86dB SPL and remains “civil” even at 96dB SPL, with bass distortion staying under 1% even at 91dB SPL. The catch: Vertical directivity is pinched with a narrow lobing pattern, and horizontal directivity is somewhat uneven with possible room dependency.
What the Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Tower offers: A RAAL 70-20xram ribbon tweeter and dual SEAS Excel aluminum woofers in a 3-way, 4-driver bamboo tower measure a genuine 38.7Hz extension point with a nearly flat on axis slope of 0.05dB per octave, among the best measured towers in this batch. Watch for: Listening window smoothness measures a moderate 0.40 and on axis deviation runs 0.286dB average, both trailing the tighter figures posted by some of the passive AsciLab and Ascend bookshelf models in this same batch.
Buy the Radiant Acoustics Clarity 66 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Tower if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| Radiant Acoustics Clarity 66 | Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Tower | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $7,998 | $5,698/pair |
| Ranked | #5 of 59 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #6 of 59 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 32.2Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 38.7Hz (measured, spinorama.org vendor data) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 24.4Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 28.5Hz (measured, spinorama.org vendor data) |
| Sensitivity | 85.9dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review; 86dB manufacturer specified) | 87.5dB @ 2.83V/1m anechoic (manufacturer) |
| Drivers | Custom waveguide-loaded tweeter with beam-expansion fins, 2x 6.5" Purifi USHINDI aluminum-cone woofers | RAAL 70-20xram ribbon tweeter, 6" SEAS Excel Curv midrange (sealed sub-chamber), 2x 6" SEAS Excel aluminum woofers |
| Dimensions | 40.4"H x 8.7"W x 14"D (1025 x 222 x 355 mm) | 43"H x 7.5"W x 10.5"D (1092 x 190 x 267 mm) (43 x 7.5 x 10.5 in) |
| Weight | 101.4 lbs / 46 kg each | 56 lbs / 25.4 kg (56 lbs) each |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal | 8 ohms nominal |
| Crossover Frequency | 2.4kHz | - |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, large rear port | - |
| Enclosure | - | ported |
| Power Output (Watts) | - | 400W continuous, 600W peak |
| Frequency Response | - | 36-27,000Hz +/-3dB anechoic (manufacturer) |
| Warranty | - | 7 years parts and labor |
| Country | - | United States |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Radiant Acoustics Clarity 66: $7,998 Radiant Acoustics
Pros: Amir called the measured distortion “unheard of,” noting the distortion graph “hugs the near zero line, even in deep bass” at 86dB SPL and remains “civil” even at 96dB SPL, with bass distortion staying under 1% even at 91dB SPL. Dual 6.5” Purifi USHINDI aluminum-cone woofers deliver genuinely deep, clean sub-bass that the reviewer found surprising for the cabinet size, aided by an exceptionally large, well-controlled bass-reflex port. The custom waveguide tweeter with beam-expansion fins is paired with robust Danish build quality. Amir’s verdict: “The Clarity 66 brings true innovation and outside of the box thinking to speaker design,” praising it as a “full range speaker with unheard of distortion levels” and recommending it despite the high price.
Cons: Vertical directivity is pinched with a narrow lobing pattern, and horizontal directivity is somewhat uneven with possible room dependency. The tweeter shows pronounced resonances and rolls off before 20kHz, and the beam-expansion fins create a complex soundfield the reviewer didn’t consider fully resolved. There’s a slight upward tilt across the band and minor waterfall resonances around 300-500Hz on-axis, which Amir partly attributed to room mode activation rather than the speaker itself. Distortion becomes audible during sweeps at 101dB SPL, a performance cliff after otherwise stellar behavior. Very expensive at nearly $8,000/pair, and heavy at 46kg (101 lbs) per speaker.
Full Radiant Acoustics Clarity 66 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 24.4Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 32.2Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Crossover Frequency | 2.4kHz |
| Dimensions | 40.4"H x 8.7"W x 14"D (1025 x 222 x 355 mm) |
| Drivers | Custom waveguide-loaded tweeter with beam-expansion fins, 2x 6.5" Purifi USHINDI aluminum-cone woofers |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal |
| Sensitivity | 85.9dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review; 86dB manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 101.4 lbs / 46 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, large rear port |
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Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Tower: $5,698/pair Ascend Acoustics
Pros: A RAAL 70-20xram ribbon tweeter and dual SEAS Excel aluminum woofers in a 3-way, 4-driver bamboo tower measure a genuine 38.7Hz extension point with a nearly flat on axis slope of 0.05dB per octave, among the best measured towers in this batch. The bass alignment Q of 0.62 keeps the low end well damped rather than peaky. Backed by a 7 year parts and labor warranty and hand assembled in Orange County, California, with each pair matched within +/-1.5dB.
Cons: Listening window smoothness measures a moderate 0.40 and on axis deviation runs 0.286dB average, both trailing the tighter figures posted by some of the passive AsciLab and Ascend bookshelf models in this same batch. At $5,698/pair it is Ascend’s most expensive tower, well above the Titan dome tweeter version of the same cabinet. The manufacturer’s own claimed sensitivity (87.5dB) runs nearly 1.5dB higher than the independently measured average (86.1dB), worth accounting for when matching an amplifier.
Full Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Tower review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 28.5Hz (measured, spinorama.org vendor data) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 38.7Hz (measured, spinorama.org vendor data) |
| Country | United States |
| Dimensions | 43"H x 7.5"W x 10.5"D (1092 x 190 x 267 mm) (43 x 7.5 x 10.5 in) |
| Drivers | RAAL 70-20xram ribbon tweeter, 6" SEAS Excel Curv midrange (sealed sub-chamber), 2x 6" SEAS Excel aluminum woofers |
| Enclosure | ported |
| Frequency Response | 36-27,000Hz +/-3dB anechoic (manufacturer) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal |
| Power Output (Watts) | 400W continuous, 600W peak |
| Sensitivity | 87.5dB @ 2.83V/1m anechoic (manufacturer) |
| Warranty | 7 years parts and labor |
| Weight | 56 lbs / 25.4 kg (56 lbs) each |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons