$2,000-3,000 Tower speaker comparison: Need help picking the contenders for a shootout - Page 7

What--no golden retriever in the mix? Not much of a family unit.

An interesting balance of power. But "Bitterwaste"? Does she know you call her that?

Congrats on your decision, NHTB. You went about making it in a way that few would. We're proud of you.

Just as I predict - 50/50.

I bet they sound a lot more similar than they differ IMO. We're not exactly comparing to Bose or generic speakers from Walmart.

Most people would be happy with either SVS or Phil.

If you enjoyed the speakers and bought them before knowing the FR graphs, then a year later found out the speakers did NOT measure smoothly with a FR of +/-4dB, would you be upset?

I think Mike made it pretty clear that they had distinct differences, and would appeal to different people.

^ This.

HEY!!!!! bad Mudslide, BAD!!!

Hahaaaa...I didn't know there was indeed a 'bitterwaste' here on AVS. I'm glad my wife isn't on here to monit ... uh ... join in the hobby. Yeah, that's it. Join in the hobby. (I'd be in such trouble.) Well...at least I ASSUME you are his wife...or her husband...or something...

EDIT: Okay... I just figured out that you're a neighbor. Oh well, there is no excuse for stupidity...unless it's my ancient age...or NHTB's syntax.
Edited by Mudslide - 2/14/13 at 9:44am

hahah I'm none of that, I was the person that brought over the EMP tek speakers to his house, he said me (bitterwaste), his wife, and his dad liked the ultra speakers, not bitterwaste my wife. lol I had posted a ton of things in this thread about my speakers and impressions of what I thought in our GTG with Vic.

Yeah both speakers had major differences in sound but one could do certain sounds better than the others based solely on what you find more appealing, one thing is 100% right I would be happy with either speaker to call my own. It’s really the difference between someone like a blonde over a brunette or red head. At the end of the day you would be happy to have any of them but you prefer one over the other.

Sounds like you are hard up buddy! Gentleman prefer ..REDHEADS!

Exactly. The differences were noticeable for sure. I think both bitterwaste and NHTB preferred the slightly "warmer" sound, and I preferred the more "neutral" sound with the crisper high end. But all of us at the GTG would definitely be happy with either sound. My wife laughs when she tells people that I used to prefer brunettes until I met her. To each his own.

Guess I better start following screen names. Hey, I have limited brain cells left after almost 7 decades of rock and roll. TMB = CRS!

And interpreted either way, lol, there should be a comma after "bitterwaste, my wife". )

CRS I have way to much working with bands all the time, I think it rubs off on you because musicians are helpless and lost some times. I was working on sound for Foghat and the bass player came over to me at least 6 times in one night to ask me where his room is at! WHAT I’m THE SOUND GUY not your assistant! (#*_)$*@# so after years of doing this its rubbing off. Lol Maybe it goes through speakers as well.

Ha, mine would have ChiefExecutiveOfficer, or CEO somewhere in her screen name. (Pssst: If you see either of those here on AVS, please give me the heads-up...pronto.)

awesome NHTB! it is sad to see the phil's go but you picked the one you enjoyed the most.
Edited by bitterwaste - 2/17/13 at 6:31pm

They are going to a good home

Before you shut off your brain, may be you should check with Dave at Ascend one last time to see if the RAAL tweeters are back in stock.

Why? I thought the OP preferred the SVS's aluminum dome over the RAAL (Phil2)?

Ohh sorry, I didn't read the whole thread, but remember earlier in the thread that OP couldn't get Ascend RAAL towers due to availability or did I get threads mixed up?

I'm getting very cornfused. First off, who's "OP"? Is that tweet talk or something? The person who started this is NewHTBuyer, and he couldn't get the Ascends to audition because there were no RAAL teeters available. I'm in the same position right now--I can't get any until the end of the month. Second, NHTB's preference for the SVS was based on its voicing and extension in the bass range. I think just about everyone found the Phil's more neutral, open and transparent in the upper mids and highs.

OP stands for original poster i believe. References NewHTBuyer since he started the thread.

Depending on context it is "original poster" (which it is in this case) or "original post".

NHTB: I am sure you looked for Ascend Sierra Towers owner in your neighborhood but if not for Towers, try to audition Sierra-1s for bass response and that should give you some basic idea even though Towers have slightly modified woofers and actually has two of them, Sierra-1's one of the best qualities is it's low end response. I run my towers without sub for music and I would say I dont miss sub for anything except the lowest pushing content.

I don't quite understand why people are still insisting the OP audition more speakers, He is clearly happy with the SVS and although I thoroughly read and understood this entire post, I still don't know what I want to do LOL!!!

I am trying to unload my B&W CM5's and Centre and this whole time I was thinking about the Sierra towers (with RAAL) until I read more about the Phils, but I only make my 1 year old listen to classical music because I am raising him to be the next Ian Anderson. I personally really only listen to Rock (prog, alt, metal, etc) but I love fusion jazz and salsa or most latin jazz so that really screws me in deciding between a phil or SVS, Ascend, Salk or even Aperion Versus Grand although I do use that room for home theater but more and more I find myself listening to more 2 channel music 75% and 25% HT


I love a great sound stage and get a serious audio boner when the speakers magically disappear, I mean who doesent??? I have a sub as well so getting the deep lows isn't an issue and my set up isnt close to side walls but distancing them up to two feet would be an issue since I do have an open walk way next to the left channel.. I really wonder if the Phil's can't blow me away with heavier music??

I don't think people are actively suggesting that the OP audition additional speakers (aside from the last post in this thread, which is nearly two months old). You would likely be happy with either of the speakers you listed, but try to audition as many as you can before buying. In addition, please note that there was a clarification: the Phils, which I have and love, do not, I repeat, do not need to be two feet from the wall. This erroneous statement made by me prior to buying the Phils was corrected by Dennis and others in this thread.
Edited by VicTorious1 - 4/6/13 at 7:57am