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New Klippel NFS optimized version!
With the success and overwhelming feedback from our Luna mini-monitor, it was time to take that same formula and apply it to a speaker designed specifically for use as both a main and center.
Featuring a custom RAAL true ribbon tweeter and 2 of our exclusive 4.5" SEAS Curv™ woofers all combined in our remarkable low resonance layered bamboo cabinet.
Our new V2 version has been fully optimized using advanced 360-degree Klippel NFS measurements. These optimizations provide significant overall performance improvements, specifically in the area of reducing/eliminating port resonance, enhancing and improving overall directivity, and providing more accurate tonality.
For many years now, as space for audio systems has decreased, our customers have continually requested a high performance yet compact center speaker that can fit almost anywhere. Building on the feedback from our Luna mini-monitor, we took that successful design and added a second Luna woofer, thus increasing efficiency, reducing distortion, and increasing overall output. We then tuned the response a bit more like our Horizon slightly favoring midbass over bass extension to give the Duo a dynamic and punchy sound.
We were so impressed with the final result that labeling the speaker as a center would limit the Duo's overall usage as these speakers make stunning left/right mains when combined with a subwoofer. They easily keep up with speakers significantly larger, providing dynamics, punch, and a soundstage that truly belies their small size.
It was an easy decision to use the same custom RAAL ribbon tweeter used in our Sierra-2, Sierra-2EX and Luna - this tweeter is simply remarkable and has well earned its reputation for being one of the best available.
But the woofer is just as important and taking full advantage of our relationship with SEAS of Norway, they nailed the design for us. We went through more prototypes for this woofer than we have for any other transducer we have ever had made for us.
Combined with an advanced crossover and all housed into a stunningly beautiful FEA and advanced 3d CAD designed Made-In-The-USA layered bamboo cabinet, these speakers beg to be both heard and seen!
The Duo has exceptionally wide and linear horizontal dispersion thus it presents a shockingly large and enveloping soundstage, even in large rooms. Its performance belies its small size in such a way that in our many public auditions of the Duo’s, listeners continually throw out comments stating “these speakers sound so much bigger than they are”.
Hand assembled, tested and packaged in the USA, we are so confident of the component and build quality of the Duo that we are backing it by a comprehensive 7 year parts & labor warranty. Left / right pairs are matched by hand to within ± 1dB and we are including a printout of the actual production line response measurement of each speaker.
We dare say it, but you simply cannot find this type of quality control, care and pride from products that are fully assembled and tested in overseas manufacturing facilities.
We must warn you though, once you have heard what these RAAL true ribbon tweeters are capable of, there simply is no turning back...
We thank you for your interest!
Cabinet:
Woofer:
Tweeter:
Crossover:
Typical In-Room Frequency Response | 60Hz - 27kHz |
Typical In-Room Sensitivity | 90dB @ 2.83v / 1 meter |
Nominal Impedance | 8 ohms |
Max Continuous Power* | 150 watts |
Max Short Term Peak Power* | 250 watts |
Cabinet Detail | Exclusive V-LAM™ construction featuring 20mm thick vertically laminated bamboo, internally braced. Bass reflex via dual flared front slot ports with our exclusive slot port damping system. Fully magnetic speaker grille with no visible mounting parts |
Tweeter | Custom made RAAL true ribbon tweeter featuring a 10mm wide pure aluminum ribbon with a total moving mass of less than 1/100th of a gram |
Woofer | (2) Proprietary 4.5” long-throw dual compliant Curv™ woofers, non-resonant cast frame, SEAS SpiderRing® technology, vented pole-piece and vented spider. Custom manufactured for us by SEAS of Norway and exclusive to Ascend Acoustics |
Connections | (2) gold plated all metal 5 way binding posts |
Inserts | (2) 1/4-20 threaded inserts for simple mounting to wall mount brackets |
Bass Extension (-6dB) | 67Hz |
Anechoic Frequency Response | 80Hz - 27kHz +/- 3dB |
Anechoic Sensitivity | 87dB @ 2.83v / 1 meter |
Dimensions H x W x D** | Vertical orientation: 16.25" x 5.75" x 6" Horizontal orientation: 5.75" x 16.25" x 6" |
Speaker Weight (each) | 14 pounds |
Shipping Weight (pair) | 30 pounds |
Minimum Recommended Amplifier Power Rating for Speaker Distance to Listening Position | |
3 Feet or Less | 2 watts minimum |
9 Feet or Less | 16 watts minimum |
15 Feet or Less | 46 watts minimum |
21 Feet or More | 91 watts minimum |
*Unclipped peaks | **Grille On |
* The below anechoic measurements are high-resolution full-range 360-degree scans taken with our Klippel Near Field Scanner. A minimum of 800 individual measurements are taken to generate these advanced measurements, typically requiring a minimum of 6 hours. These are unsmoothed and fully conform to CEA/CTA-2034 standards.
These measurements are as accurate as is currently technically possible.
Due to the costs, space requirements and complexity, very few manufacturers own or have access to a Klippel NFS, nor would they ever publish such detailed data on their products. Ascend Acoustics is and always has dared to be different.
For information regarding the CTA-2034 standard, please click here: CTA-2034
For information regarding the Klippel NFS, please click here: Klippel NFS Video and Technical Data
*Note: Our exclusive Off-Axis Estimated In-Room Response measurement is a critical performance metric. It is an accurate comparison of the differences a listener should expect to hear sitting at different off-axis angles from the speaker; on-axis, +/- 10 degrees horizontally, +/- 20 degrees horizontally and +/- 30 degrees horizontally.
This is a modern and more accurate prediction of in-room speaker performance at different listening angles compared to a simple off-axis measurement graph. This measurement graph accounts for both direct sound and indirect sound and requires thousands of individual off-axis measurements that are then processed through complex algorithms to derive the results. In comparison, an off-axis measurement is just a single response measurement that does not account for the actual directivity of the speaker and is not representative of what we actually hear.
This measurement clearly shows the remarkable off-axis response of the Duo. There is less than 1/4dB of deviation between the different off-axis positions and this is based on accepted science determining what the listener will hear from this speaker in a typical listening environment.
Perhaps our most versatile speaker yet, the Duo punches way above its small stature. It is an ideal horizontal center for any of our ribbon speakers. When placed vertically as a main these speakers will fill even a large room when combined with a sub and provide incredibly wide dispersion. Their compact size, stunning good looks, easy wall mounting, and minimal depth make them an ideal on-wall speaker.
The Duo combines extraordinary dynamics, realism, spaciousness, transparency and detail while doing so with such finesse and refinement that there is never a hint of harshness. Although bass is limited, it is impressive for a speaker this size and there are no issues running them full range. Music and home theater simply sound more realistic, providing a more satisfying emotional connection. We must warn you though, once you have heard what these true ribbon tweeters are capable of, there simply is no turning back…