Напольная акустика — Ascendo System M5 ACTIVE

The System M5 Active is the fully active, network-capable version of the System M5 from Ascendo, a German maker based in Heilsbronn. Ascendo gave it a world premiere on 9 and 10 December 2016. The same page covers the M5 and M5.SE Active, each sold together with four DNA 1000.2 HE or HE.SE power amplifiers.

Key specs that matter

Ascendo describes the active M5 as a four-way loudspeaker combining its SASB bass principle with TOS. The complete set of four amplifiers is rated at 2 x 1,650 W sinus. At the 2016 launch the company quoted a bass section driven by 1,000 W sinus into new ETON woofers, with 2 x 500 W sinus for the midrange and treble drivers, and a time-correct response at the seat from 18 Hz to beyond 34 kHz. The passive M5 cabinet it is built from sits on a 40 x 11 x 45 cm base and stands 40 x 132.3 x 45 cm overall. Its drivers are a magnetostatic planar tweeter, a 21.5 cm outer bass unit with an HPC cone and phase plug, and a 28 cm inner unit with a Hexacone honeycomb cone.

Engineering and use context

SASB stands for a current-dynamically damped outer driver working with a semi-symmetric bandpass. Two separate DSP units per speaker split the signal, so the passive filter parts that normally sit between amplifier and driver are no longer needed. The driver units sit in a modular, resonance-decoupled mounting, and time alignment can be set for listening heights between 50 and 190 cm. The enclosure pairs low-magnetic V2A stainless steel with a mix of heavily damping bitumen and compressed fibreboard to cut structure-borne noise. Each DNA 1000.2 HE can run as a 2 x 500 W stereo amplifier, as double mono or as a 1,000 W mono block, weighs 16.3 kg and measures 360 x 155 x 255 mm depending on orientation. The DSP can be matched to listening levels, genres of music and personal preference, and all amplifiers are operated centrally from a web browser. Standard finishes are black and white high-gloss piano lacquer, with other colours on request.

Pairing

Since amplification is part of the package, the M5 Active needs only a source or preamplifier. The DNA 1000.2 HE turns incoming signals into an AVB stream and sends up to 8 channels without loss over CAT cable, so long runs between electronics and speakers are not a concern. Ascendo rates the model for spaces from 20 m2 to 200 m2.

Alternatives

The Ascendo System Z5 Active uses a narrower 27 cm wide cabinet with a 21 cm Kevlar inner bass driver.