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**Need Help** Newbie Needs Assistance with Speaker Options

post #1 of 14
11/27/12 at 11:26pm
Thread Starter 
Folks,

I am a newbie, do not understand acoustics principles much, and hence this post requesting you experts to help out. I am looking to start building a HT system (with a starting budget of $1500), and slowly add on. My living room is 16X21X8 ft and backs up to a dining area 12X12 ft through a 4 ft wide passage. Primary usage will be for movies and music. No gaming.
Based on what I have read across different forums, here are the options that I see for myself:
OPTION 1
- 2X Ascend CBM SE 170 (Fronts): $300
- Ascend CMT 340 SE (Center): $ 300
- No surrounds to start off with (plan to eventually get 2X340s for fronts and use the 170s that I buy now as surrounds)
- HSU VTF 2 MK4 Sub: $520
- Denon AVR 1712: $400
Total Cost: $1,520
OPTION 2
- 2X Infinity Primus p163 (Fronts): $170
- Infinity primus c351 (Center): $275
- 2X Infinity Primus p143 (Surrounds) = $120
- HSU VTF 2 MK4 Sub: $520
- Denon AVR 1712: $400
Total Cost: $1,485

OPTION 3
HSU Hybrid Package 2 ($1,260)
- 1 VTF-2 MK4 Subwoofer
- 4 HB-1 MK2 Horn Bookshelf Speakers
- 1 HC-1 MK2 Horn Center Channel speaker
- Denon AVR 1712: $400
Total Cost: $1,660

OPTION 4 (In case we go over the Fiscal Cliff )
- Energy Take Classic 5.1: $300
- Denon AVR 1712: $400
Total Cost: $700

I would request you folks to weigh in on these options and guide me through this purchase. I appreciate your comments in advance
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post #2 of 14
11/28/12 at 12:46am
I would suggest to buy the best 3.1 set up you can afford and AVR. I would go with HTD level 3 front towers, lever 3 center and lever 3 sub. Thereafter, whatever AVR you can afford.
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post #3 of 14
11/28/12 at 5:06am
Option one would give you a GREAT system (when complete)! Those Ascend 340s are a top shelf speaker for the money!
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post #4 of 14
11/28/12 at 1:20pm
fwiw, all the options are good ones including the htd level3 's you could not go wrong with any one of them but i would opt for the ascends route myself good luck
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post #5 of 14
11/28/12 at 4:54pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks guys!

Quick question – how credible is an arrangement to use the CBM 170 for both the fronts and surrounds? I would ideally like to mount the sorrounds on the wall and I read somewhere that 170s may not be the best choice as mounted speakers. I wanted to understand the options that I have.

Thanks again!
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post #6 of 14
11/28/12 at 5:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by pooriepoorie View Post

Thanks guys!
Quick question – how credible is an arrangement to use the CBM 170 for both the fronts and surrounds? I would ideally like to mount the sorrounds on the wall and I read somewhere that 170s may not be the best choice as mounted speakers. I wanted to understand the options that I have.
Thanks again!
The CBM 170 is a rear ported speaker, therefore you can not place them on a wall. They would need at least 6" clearance in back. The fact they say they are wall mountable, is laughable. Unless that port is plugged and then that changes everything the speaker is.
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post #7 of 14
11/28/12 at 6:25pm
fwiw, i think you should be fine mounting using them as surrounds with some pinpoint am 40 wall mounts these will let you tilt the speaker forward enough to give the port plenty of room.
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post #8 of 14
11/29/12 at 1:42pm
If you are lucky enough to be near a Best Buy with the 1712 still in stock, you can get it for $200 or less. I just bought an open box model (only missing the Audyssey mic) for less than $170. You may have to call or visit, because this particular store said it was out of stock on the website, but they actually had three.
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post #9 of 14
11/30/12 at 3:22pm
Thread Starter 
Update: I just ordered the CMT 340s for L/C/R. They are on backorder and may be delivered only in January. I may buy two HTM 200s for sorrounds in some time. Thanks all for your help!

I have a couple of more questions:

1. What should be the optimal size of the speaker stands that I should consider for the 340s? The TP 24 model available on the Ascend Acoustics website seems to be a little high for my setup and taste. I located some Sanus stands on Craigslist that are 13" tall, but I was not sure if that is enough. Any thoughts?

2. Any opinions on speaker wires? Would the RCA 16 gauge wires work well?
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post #10 of 14
11/30/12 at 3:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by pooriepoorie View Post

Update: I just ordered the CMT 340s for L/C/R. They are on backorder and may be delivered only in January. I may buy two HTM 200s for sorrounds in some time. Thanks all for your help!
I have a couple of more questions:
1. What should be the optimal size of the speaker stands that I should consider for the 340s? The TP 24 model available on the Ascend Acoustics website seems to be a little high for my setup and taste. I located some Sanus stands on Craigslist that are 13" tall, but I was not sure if that is enough. Any thoughts?
2. Any opinions on speaker wires? Would the RCA 16 gauge wires work well?
Optimally, for just about any speaker, the height of the tweeter should be the same height as the ears when listening.

16 gauge speaker wire should be fine unless it is a long run.
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post #11 of 14
11/30/12 at 4:05pm
Thread Starter 
Curtis

In a 340, how far up is a tweeter from its base?
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post #12 of 14
11/30/12 at 5:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by 4DHD View Post

The CBM 170 is a rear ported speaker, therefore you can not place them on a wall. They would need at least 6" clearance in back. The fact they say they are wall mountable, is laughable. Unless that port is plugged and then that changes everything the speaker is.

Sorry, but the information you are posting is false. The CBM-170's are not only easily wall mountable, but they sound fantastic in this type of setup. About 30% of our 170 customers wall mount the speakers and that translates to a very large number when considering how many 170's have been sold.

The 170's were not designed for deep bass and the small 1.25" diameter rear port is tuned to about 55 Hz and acts a bit more like an aperiodic vent than a Helmholtz resonator, thus contributing very little to the overall output of the speaker. At only 2" - 3" clearance from the wall, the air-flow of the port tube even at loud volumes is completely unrestricted. When used with an 80Hz high pass filter (typical when used with a subwoofer) 1/2" clearance is all that is needed.

I have a pair of 170’s that I am using full range and they are placed in an entertainment center cubby hole with about 3” clearance behind each speaker. I love the way the sound in this setup.
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post #13 of 14
11/30/12 at 5:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by pooriepoorie View Post

Curtis
In a 340, how far up is a tweeter from its base?

I am not Curtis -- but I believe it is exactly 10.5" biggrin.gif
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post #14 of 14
11/30/12 at 8:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ascend View Post

Sorry, but the information you are posting is false. The CBM-170's are not only easily wall mountable, but they sound fantastic in this type of setup. About 30% of our 170 customers wall mount the speakers and that translates to a very large number when considering how many 170's have been sold.
The 170's were not designed for deep bass and the small 1.25" diameter rear port is tuned to about 55 Hz and acts a bit more like an aperiodic vent than a Helmholtz resonator, thus contributing very little to the overall output of the speaker. At only 2" - 3" clearance from the wall, the air-flow of the port tube even at loud volumes is completely unrestricted. When used with an 80Hz high pass filter (typical when used with a subwoofer) 1/2" clearance is all that is needed.
I have a pair of 170’s that I am using full range and they are placed in an entertainment center cubby hole with about 3” clearance behind each speaker. I love the way the sound in this setup.

1.25" port! why bother. And you're telling me IF wall mounted they're 3" away from the wall? Glad you like 'em.
But I'll keep my high end JBLs, just the same.
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