Moving from K-Horns to Ascend Acoustics or Other?

After 20 years of ownership, I think I'm finally ready to give up on my Klipschorns. I've finally come to the realization that no matter what I do, corner loaded speakers just will not work in my living room. These speakers really need a dedicated space to shine, and that's just not happening for me in the foreseeable future. My major issues with the K-Horns are imaging and bass response, my room's just not the right shape/size for them to work correctly. And while I'm at it, I might as well replace my 20 year old Klipsch center too.

So, after perusing the threads here, I've been eyeballing the Ascend Acoustics Horizons pretty hard - replacing FL/FR/Center. They're in my price range, and from the reviews sound pretty darn good.

Any thoughts on K-Horn vs. Ascend? Will I be utterly disappointed, blown away, or just satisfied?? Any other recommendations for new speakers?

90% movies/10% music

Here's my current setup:

First I'm hearing of the Aperion line, looks interesting and I'll check them out more for sure. I can't seem to find anywhere to actually buy the Sonus speakers though.


While I like the sound of the K-Horns, I've never experienced anything else (in my room) and thought that trying direct radiators would be at least some sort of confirmation - either "I've been waiting 20 years for this!" or "the K-Horns were the right speakers for me all along" - something like that.

The LaScala may be a good solution for FR/FL (although, a bit outa my budget unless I find a good used pair), but won't help me with my center - I can't put a split LaScala there, wouldn't meet with current WAF. I really really want all matching FL/FR/Center, something I've been missing for too long and I'm tired of the timbre dif with panning sounds....

There's the rub - mine are most likely NOT nicely set up and can never be (in my room).

Long wall wasn't much better sound-wise, and aesthetically displeasing. I've tried flipping the phase on one of the speakers, didn't seem to make any difference but I'll try it again with both and see what happens.

Heresy or LaScala center ain't happenin' - this is a living room after all.

I'm this close to pulling the trigger on the Verus Grand Towers + Center....very close.

Arny,

Please, please do answer Arny! I highly value your opinion from reading many of your posts here on AVS and would love for you to tell me what you think. Am I making a big mistake here?? Should I put my money into upgrading the K-Horns instead?

Like I've said, these Klipschs are pretty much the only high-end speakers I've owned and y'know, "the grass is always greener" and all that, I just thought that maybe I would like some sort of direct radiator better. My major issue with the K-Horns in my room is the bass response (and to a lesser extent, imaging), it seems no matter what I do the bass is just anemic. I did try flipping the phase on one, then both, then the other one last night and I *think* maybe with the right one flipped there was slightly more bass response, but it wasn't anything major.

Maybe I'm over valuing the bass response - I do have 3 subs that cover the low end quite well, it just seems I should have better mid-bass. Of course, that could be down to my room and it's need of treatment (which I'm working up to - learning REW currently).

Thanks to you and everybody for all the great advice!

Alan

Thanks Mike - treatment won't be a big issue as long as it doesn't go too far. The wife has seen the options from GIK and doesn't mind the look.

I'm currently waiting on my calibrated USB mic (can't trust my SPL meter as a mic), but after it arrives I will be up to my elbows in REW, believe me!