Ascendo C8 Renaissance: any opinions?


I'm considering a pair of Acsendo C8R's but beyond a few paid reviews, I haven't been able to learn much about these seemingly fine speakers. ( I should have studied German instead of Spanish) . I'm wondering how they perform in general as I realize everyone's system is different. I was ready to pull the trigger on a pair of Harbeths (shl5) when I stumbled on these.

Any opinions would be appreciated.
yakbob

Showing 1 response by jugi63

I've had the Ascendo C8R now for some three years - and have been very happy with them.

What's been writen in the reviews by Fair Audio (english at 6moons) and Stereo Times and even The Absolute Sound is very correct. Always musical and with good recordings you can get lost in the soundstage. They go really suprisingly low with power the bass IS great - a perfect blend of tightness without getting dry and technical.

The fact that it's a coax design is something I hadn't thought about that much before I bought them, but now I'm thinking it may really be the best way to get that coherence, soundstaging and wide listning area that the C8R gives. Also I listen much more now from around the living room (doing other stuff) as the music is enjoyable almost anywhere in the room.

A couple of cavets...

You do need some current to drive them. I have a class act KT88 tube amp with some 70 watts but my solid state DIY F6 (some 40watts, but plenty of current) drivers/controls the bass much better. There's actually not much difference to my Hypex NC400 (200W /8 ohm).

Also the speakers are not at their best with very low volumes - but still very enjoyable in the evenings with reasonable volume. But give them power and there just dosen't seem to be any end to how hard they can be driven - and you are in heaven! =)