The Ascend CBM-170 SE ranks #97 out of 100 total Large Size Bookshelf Speakers for sound quality. See Top Recommended Speakers By Attribute for all the top speaker suggestions.
#97 Ascend CBM-170 SE: $384 discontinued, superseded by CBM-170SE2
Pros: US-manufactured 2-way with a custom SEAS silk dome tweeter and low harmonic distortion. Solid cabinet construction for the price class.
Cons: On-axis response starts peaking above 1kHz and keeps rising, which Amir predicted would create a bright, potentially fatiguing tonal balance - a character he says “can become grating” over time. The small tweeter paired with a larger woofer lacking a waveguide causes significant off-axis coloration, contradicting the manufacturer’s accuracy claims. Impedance dips below 4 ohms in the bass, and cabinet flex was noted, comparable to cheaper competitors. Amir suggests “looking elsewhere for a better design.”
How it compares: Just above it: Tannoy System 600 - $16 more, 7Hz lower bass extension (-3dB). Just below it: Zu Audio Method - $316 more.
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | approx. 50Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | approx. 80Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 12H x 9W x 10D in |
| Drivers | 6.5" proprietary composite polygel cone woofer, 27mm custom SEAS soft dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 8 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 91dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified, in-room) |
| Weight | 14 lbs / 6.35 kg each |
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