Transcript
"The fact that the superior configuration, excellent workmanship and outstanding sound quality is available for just € 600 must be a joke."
Ascada 2.0
Lise-Meitner-Str. 9 · 50259 Pulheim · Germany · www.heco-audio.de
i-fidelity.net 11 | 2014
Ascada 2.0 Lise-Meitner-Str. 9 · 50259 Pulheim · Germany · www.heco-audio.de
A good joke... Heco's Ascada 2.0 is a compact active speaker that can be used for a wide variety of applications. At i-fidelity.net we have found more than one perfect use for it. The new active compact Ascada 2.0 speaker was presented at the IFA in Berlin and, costing € 600 per pair, it seems very reasonably priced. Flawless workmanship and an attractive design are typical of Heco products. Both aspects are unquestionably fulfilled by the Ascada 2.0. The baffle is inclined for mechanical runtime correction between the 12.5 cm bass-midrange driver and the 25 mm dome tweeter. This makes sense physically and also looks attractive. The pair consists of an active and passive speaker. The active speaker incorporates the amplifiers for both bass reflex drivers. The passive speaker, which in this case is the left channel speaker, is connected using a normal speaker cable. The Ascada 2.0 is designed for flexible use, which demands the appropriate connection options. Heco has really splashed out in this regard. Digital signals can be delivered via USB, optical fibre or coaxial cable. A pair of RCA jacks are provided for connecting analogue sources such as a preamplifier or for connecting a CD player directly. If that's not enough, you can also transfer music to the Ascada 2.0 via Bluetooth. And that's not all: There's a corresponding output for connecting a subwoofer when using the speakers in large rooms, as well as a USB port that is provided as a pure battery charging socket. What is most pleasing in comparison to its numerous competitors, however, is the technical expenditure afforded to the Ascada 2.0 by Heco's developers. This starts with the six screws on the front of the woofer chassis, which is an element that is not normally perceived by the average consumer. Most manufacturers normally only use four screws here, but this is often reflected in a lack of precision during playback. The rear of the cleanly embedded active module would normally also be secured in place by four or six screw connections – but there are ten here (!). This is quality The power amplifier isn't just any off-the-rack construction either. Its basis is formed by a properly dimensioned toroidal transformer, which is supplied with energy by the power transistors that are mounted on a solid heat sink. All circuit boards are manufactured in SMD technology and, in the case of the digital input board, are even divided into two levels. Even if a heavy load is produced over a prolonged period, the rear of the speaker only gets moderately warm.
In most cases the Ascada 2.0 will be operated via the supplied remote control. This, in addition to its switch-on, switch-off, mute and input selection functions, also enables skip and play/ pause functions, even when playing a track from a Bluetooth source. On the outer right-hand side of the unit there are also three knobs for adjusting the volume, bass and treble levels. We initially placed the Ascada 2.0 next to the monitor we use for our computer, which is equipped with iTunes and Audirvana. In addition, we also have another programme called "Decibel" for playing high-resolution tracks. Pink Floyd's album "The Endless River" is all the rage these days and is available on vinyl, CD and Blu-ray, as well as a digital download from HighResAudio. It's amazing how well Heco's active unit brings the audio nuances to light. The 24/96 FLAC file of "Ansina" really moved us as the saxophone is reproduced in an extremely bright and energetic manner. In contrast, the ripped CD sounds a bit tired and washed out. But the real surprise is the amazing sound quality generated by the Ascada 2.0. While it is equipped with an output for an external subwoofer, this would probably only prove beneficial in very few cases. That's because the fundamental bass power generated by this sound transducer is more than sufficient. It's simply astounding what the compact active speaker is capable of in terms of its bass range. The track "Heute" from the album "Rekord" by 'Die Fantastischen Vier' results in a deep bass orgy that would even put a number of car audio systems to shame. The small gap of just 1.2 metres between each transducer naturally contributes to this listening pleasure.
Signals are transferred flawlessly at a distance of up to ten metres with a free line of sight. In terms of sound there's nothing to complain about, as long as you refrain from comparing it to the direct signal input via USB, as this offers more liveliness, more dynamics and clearer contours. This is wonderfully demonstrated by John Illsley's "Railway Tracks", which starts with a punchy percussive sound and by the time the vocals kick in the difference reproduced by the USB connection is abundantly clear. Finally, we revert to our stereo system. Positioned on 70 cm stands, the Ascada 2.0 speakers managed to reproduce a reasonable sound stage. Thanks to its sound controls the bass range can be boosted in a freely arranged setup. However, this only comes into its own if the room isn't too big. Conclusion: Heco has created a versatile set of speakers with its Ascada 2.0 series. Whether it's used to enhance a computer system or TV, or simply as an extension to a smartphone, it ensures musical enjoyment in every scenario. We managed to produce optimum audio perfection with high-definition tracks that we played from our computer via our "Decibel" programme. The fact that the superior configuration, excellent workmanship and outstanding sound quality is available for just € 600 must be a joke. But a reasonably priced joke that's worth repeating.
PRICE TIP Sound quality:
Outstanding
Configuration:
Outstanding
Turning boys into men
Workmanship:
Very good
Away from the computer we now turn our attention to our flat-screen TV, which is equipped with an optical digital output and can be connected to the Ascada 2.0 via a fibre optic cable. Compared to a soundbar, the spatial stereo image produced by these speakers is clearly superior. This is of particular benefit to action-packed scenes.
Overall rating:
Outstanding
Even the presenter of "heute journal", Claus Kleber, benefits from this active sound reproduction, as he now sounds more like a man than a "Mainzelmann" (a cartoon leprechaun in Germany). Without question, Heco's speakers are also suitable for use on the left and right-hand side of the TV. Anyone with a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone, tablet or laptop will also be able to use these to control the Ascada 2.0.
