Soundstage / High End 2008 / Germany
Standout Room / Best Sound Of Show / Bester Klang der Messe

Another year, another Standout Demo for Ascendo and Behold. We can't remember how many times we've honored these companies, but it's been a few -- more than any others at High End......
This year, Behold and Ascendo were showing two systems (System MS, C8 Renaissance) in the same room -- and both were outstanding......
The second system coupled the Behold Gentle G 192 integrated amplifier with the smaller Ascendo C8 loudspeakers. As for the digital front-end, there was the same transport that was used in the big system, but the DAC and room correction were in the Gentle.
What the systems had in common (besides the digital front-end) was digital room correction that's a collaborative effort between Ascendo and Behold. Ascendo designed it and in years past had a standalone product, but now the company has integrated it with Behold's electronics.
Both systems exhibited great clarity and detail, but what was most impressive was that the bass in both systems was strong, tight, tuneful, and extended, and it displayed virtually none of the room artifacts that we heard in plenty of other displays (bass was more extended with the System M, of course). It sounded in many ways like it was coming from a well-set-up system in a home, which is not the way it usually is with show displays.....
In any case, another year, another Standout Demo for Behold and Ascendo.

http://www.soundstage2.com/avtour2008/he_stand_behold_ascendo.htm

Hifi Review, Hong Kong

ASCENDO C7
Speaker Of The Year 2007

Stereotimes.com / USA / International CES 2008 / C8 Renaissance

Importer Laufer Teknik Inc. of New York City, introduced the new and smaller version of the Ascendo loudspeaker Model C8 Renaissance . Sporting a coaxial driver -composed of a neodymium fabric dome tweeter - located in the center of an 8" Kevlar cone midrange driver. This super-glossed and fabulously finished in a variety of woods is rated at 88 dB efficiency.

Theoretically, a single driver, point-source transducer is purported to have the most accurate in-room phase response due to none of multi-driver, time alignment and crossover bugaboos that even the most minimalist designs are often plagued by. Driven by Behold amplification and electronics (another Laufer Teknik import), including the new and very impressive looking Nova Physics Memory Player (photo above), the sound was impressively natural and unforced, giving the music a more sophisticated feel than usual

Moving right along, I happened to come across another room with what I considered killer sound. ……. Wow, what a wonderful speaker. …… with matching stands, not only were they very nice to look at – their sound was right on target.

……. During my time in the room, I listened to a variety of music – all the way from Hugh Masakela's "Stimila" to Mary Stallings “Manhattan Moos, You Go To My Head.” These recordings were rendered in a very lifelike, expressive and clear manner. Along with her superb voice, the C8s portrayed piano, harmonica and flute very accurately and held my attention for a long, long time. Only reason I left was to make sure I got to other exhibits. These are simply lovely speakers – visually as well as sonically.

Bester Klang der Messe / Best Sound Of Show
 
2. Platz

Die C5 MKII ist ein von Profis für Profis sowie Musikliebhaber gebauter erstklassig verarbeiteter Monitor. Daran hat sich im vergleich zu seinem Vorgänger nichts geändert. Dieser Monitor spielt genau so unbestechlich, ehrlich und dabei wunderbar räumlich wie je zuvor. Er legt jedoch mehr Details offen, die Wiedergabe ist genauer, zudem entspannter und fließender. Und das führt wohl dazu, dass meine freundschaftlichen Gefühle für diesen Monitor noch stärker werden.

If looks could kill. I loved the look of this setup before the first song was served. The new Ascendo C8 performed way beyond what I expected at its asking price. The sound of my reference CDs were extended both in terms of soundstage depth and width that caught me off guard (compliments of that rear ambience driver no doubt). I simply couldn't believe how accurate a image the C8s threw using their coax driver assembly.

From the look of this setup, one could easily see the good company Ascendo keeps with other great products. Thanks certainly have to go out to Ken Stevens' all-tube CAT amplification (photo left), Audio Aero's digital front-end, and John McDonald's Audience Au24 cabling (photo far right) along with his Adept Response AC conditioner.

The tonal sound balance is very pure and precise from the deepest low to the highest high notes. The deep low of the bass by Doug Wimbush from the Strange Parcels (Disconnection)  is warm and dark, but at the same time very precise and controlled. The perfect control is off course possible by the great qualities of the behold set that is in a price range over that of the Ascendo C7 loudspeaker. For the price of a behold pre- and poweramp most mortals will buy a nice car. But it does mean that with this equipment as a source the maximum is possible and it shows that the deeper layers and possibilites of the C7 go very far. The C7 is not at all of less quality than the behold and it tells us a lot about the qualities of this loudspeaker.

Summary

The Ascendo C7 is a true audio -discovery. In combination with the behold equipment sound images become possible that make you want to lick your fingers. The behold source does make it possible what the C7 loudspeaker is capable of. And that is truly on a very high level. The dynamic qualities and the tonal balance is truly amazing. Also the spacial placement is very beautiful. In combination with a good source a lot is possible. This is also what the C7 asks for and this loudspeaker is too good to be paired with just any amplifier. The qualities of this Ascendo loudspeaker are too high to leave this model unnoticed at any time.

High End 2007 /  Soundstage / USA  / High End München

ASCENDO C8 Renaissance

Standout Demo / Bester Klang der Messe

If death and taxes are sure things, not far behind is great show sound from Ascendo speakers and the company's German distributor, Berliner High End Vertrieb.
 
The system used this year included the new Ascendo C8 speakers , which saw their world debut at this show, a CAT JL-2 Signature amplifier, a CAT Legend preamplifier and an Audio Aero Capitole Classic CD player. We found the music rich and room-filling, with solid, deep bass and, most of all, coherent and rather effortless sound.
  
Hi-fi shows are hit and miss in terms of sound quality. Exhibitors aren't always to blame; they're at the mercy of the rooms and overall show conditions. But the presentation from this group has been impressively consistent and, no doubt, has convinced a lot of showgoers of the potential of the products.  

http://www.soundstage2.com/avtour2007/mun_standout_ascendo_bhev.htm  

Die C7 ist ein eleganter 30 kg schwerer Schallwandler mit separatem Sockel, der viel Liebe zum Detail und reichlich Materialeinsatz erkennen lässt.

… Vorteil dieser Bauform ist neben einer sehr ausgedehnten Basswiedergabe eine tieffrequente Anbindung des Mitteltöners; beides wäre bei einer Bassreflexbox vergleichbaren Volumens nur mit Mühe erzielbar.
 Beschaltet ist die C7 mit hochwertigsten Bauteilen, bei deren Abstimmung die Vermeidung von Zeitfehlern eine gleichmäßige Abstrahlung in einem breiten Winkelbereich an vordersten Stellen standen.
Der ASCENDO war eine ausgesprochen gediegene, nie vordergründige Spielweise zu eigen, die vor allem bei längerem Einsatz zur Geltung kam.

… die fulminante Bassautorität der C7, der obendrein eine herrliche dreidimensionale räumliche Abbildung gelang.
Die ASCENDO mimte den Gentlemen und spielte fast schon ein wenig zu zart und geschmeidig, wobei sie in sich wunderbar geschlossen wirkte.
Wie keine andere Box im Feld brachte sie Details im Tiefbass zum Vorschein, auch ihre räumliche Abbildung war prachtvoll dreidimensional und lebensecht.

Hörerlebnis Heft 50 (Test Monitor C5)

Zwergenliebe
Mit dem Modell C5 setzt der renommierte Lautsprecherhersteller Ascendo seine Theorie von der Einpunktschallquelle konsequent in die Praxis um.
Das exzellent verarbeitete Gehäuse in schwarzem Klavierlack fällt mit 22 cm in der Breite, 33 cm in der Höhe und 28,5 cm in der Tiefe recht handlich aus.
Wer ein losgelöstes, feines und sehr räumliches Klangbild mag, wird sofort von diesem Monitor begeistert sein. Vor dem Hörer baut sich ein Panorama mit präziser Ortung auf, das sich in alle Dimensionen erstreckt…..
Über den gesamten Frequenzbereich klingt der C5 äußerst differenziert und fein. Er kennt keine Verfärbungen, spielt dynamisch und lebendig, was zudem mit einer sehr homogenen Abbildung verbunden ist. Diese anspringende Lebendigkeit – insbesondere in Bezug auf die Stimme – führe ich auf das gute Impulsverhalten zurück. Selbst bei höherer Lautstärke komprimiert der C5 nicht an beiden Frequenzenden. Die Wiedergabe bleibt stets leicht, offen und sehr durchsichtig……
Der im direkten Verhältnis zur Membrangröße stehende Bass ist konturiert, präzise und recht kräftig. Selbst bei heftigen Tritten in die Chassisschwingspule kommt er nicht aus der Ruhe. Die tonale Balance des C5 bezeichne ich daher als extrem ausgewogen.
Fazit:
Der C5 ist ein von Profis für Profis gebauter und erstklassig verarbeiteter Monitor. Er spielt unbestechlich, ehrlich, dabei wunderbar räumlich. Und obwohl er im Vergleich zu ausgewachsenen Standboxen bezüglich des Volumens eher zwergenhaft wirkt, spielt er in vielen Disziplinen doch wie ein Großer. Deshalb wird der C5 Liebhaber sowohl im High-End-Lager wie auch in Studios finden.