Ascend SE Owner's Thread - Page 100

Need advice for a "slim" flat panel center channel to sadly replace my 340 center. Unfortunately, the only way for me to get a true 5.1 configuration is to modify the mantle/hearth of my fireplace and custom install a center channel. My 340 center is just way too big for it.

Any advice on what might pair well with my 340 CMTs (with 170 surrounds)? Def Tech Mythos 10, Monitor Radius 250 or Paradigm Millenia 30? Any other suggestions? I'm using a Marantz SR7002.

Was gonna post a new thread but figured to ask in an Ascend thread. I hate to see my 340 center go but don't have much choice. Thanks.

HTM-200 SE vs CBM-170 SE for surrounds paired with CMT-340 SE L/C/R?

For movies, I think the 200SE's are fine. If you move more toward multi-channel music, you may want to lean toward the 170SE's.

Also, because the 200SE is sealed, you can mount them right up against the wall. The 170SE's would need a few inches for port clearance.

I have 340's for my fronts and 4 HTM-200's for my surrounds. My surrounds are inside "columns" to hide them and they were perfect because they could go against the wall.

I absolutely love my set up WRT audio. Although I'm sure more money buys you something, I can't image it sounding any better.

I should note that I use my set up for 99.999% movies.

Thanks to both

I recommend HTM-200 SE for surround sound duty. film and DD 5.1 television sound great. I also listen to a lot of surround music and the HTM-200's cope very well. Of course, I set the speakers to "small" and bass management routes the sub 80 Hz sounds to my subwoofer. This is the case across all of my Ascend (HTM-200 and CBM-170) speakers.

I have ascend 340 LCR's. When I turn up the volume, I notice the distortion from ascends in higher frequencies. It almost sounds like it runs out of steam and blows air out (yeah, it does make the sound like that).

Any ideas? I am driving it with Onkyo 605 receiver. TIA.

How loud? All sources?

Blows out air? From the port?

Does the distortion you hear sound like static / crackling sound? If you are hearing this distortion from all (3) 340's -- more than likely you are clipping your receiver (running out of power). The 340's are efficient speakers so if you are clipping your amp, you are playing these very loudly... In addition, the 340's are capable of handling considerably more power than the 605 is capable of producing.

That being said, if you are hearing this distortion from only one of the speakers, you might have a problem with one of the speakers.

Did you purchase these speakers from us or on the used market? If used, do you know if they are the classic models or the newer "SE" models?

Curtis: Running the speakers around ~70 db (checked using RS audio meter) No, not blowing the air through the port. But it sound like you hold a piece of paper and blow across it, except the sound is not through the port. And it definitely happens at higher frequency. It does that when I play certain movies. The recent one is the Iron Man 2 racing scene.

Dave: I just checked. The speakers are classic. Those were bought used.
It happens with Left and Right, both. Haven't heard from the center. But that could be because the source material did not had anything on center channel.

It could very well be the amp, any way to check it easily?

Have you had the speakers a while and this distortion has just started to occur or have they sounded like this since you received them from the seller? I am always somewhat concerned about purchasing used speakers from unknown sellers.

That being said, it very well could be damaged tweeters. I believe you are local to us? If so, bring them over to the office and I would be happy to fully evaluate them for you.

A few quick tests...

The speakers are bi-wireable. Disconnect the bi-wire straps and send your signal to the woofer section only. Do you hear any disortion? Do the same for the tweeter. After you isolate the culprit (tweeter or woofer), compare to the center channel.

Let me know what you find.

Dave,

I am not sure when this happened. I rarely run those on higher volume. I used to notice it sometime, but never paid much attention. I had these speakers for 2 years now, so its been a while. I just thought of asking here on the forum.

I will try taking out the bi-amp straps and isolate the problem. Yes, I am local to you (West Garden Grove), so can bring the speakers over to test. I can also bring the TCA sub if you decide to compare against Rythmik.

Okay, here is the update. Did remove the bi-amp clamping and tested woofer and tweeter. Its the tweeter and its happens with all the three speakers.
That does take out the tweeter being bad. It has to be the receiver. Or may be if I can replace the tweeters and put the SE tweeters on it. Is it doable?

If you are clipping your receiver, the SE tweeters will not make any difference - might even sound worse as they are a bit more revealing. I would like to personally evaluate these speakers just to make sure that the tweeters are functioning properly. Would it be possible to drop them off here for a few hours?

Sure. When do you want me to bring these over?

You can drop them off any time. Just give us a call and let us know what day/time works best for you.

Thanks, PM sent. I will give you guys a call.

Just want to post an update:
I dropped the speakers at Ascend. Dave inspected them and found the woofers little loose, although they were still in specs. One option was to replace the woofers on all of those (6 in total) but that would not be cost effective. So Dave put a special polymer on the suspension system to tighten it up. He did this free of charge.

I haven't had a chance to listen to the speakers yet, it was quite late when I got home yesterday. But still wanted to post here this update. Shows how ascend cares about their customers, even though I did not buy direct from them and these speakers were very old. Thanks David (Ascend) for the assistance.

I finally got a real subwoofer to pair with my Ascend system... an Epik Empire! (Dual sealed 15" in a single box with a 600W RMS amp)

I've currently got
Ascend Acoustic 340 SE L R crossover at 100Hz
Ascend Acoustic 340 Classic Center crossover at 100Hz
Ascend Acoustic 170 Classic SR L R crossover at 120Hz
Epik Empire crossover at 120Hz
Denon 789 AVR w/ Audessey

I'd say 75% of my material is 5ch stereo music and 25% movies/tv shows on BluRay. This sub just sounds so good, it really brings the rest of the system to life!

Check out this article and video.

If you can, zoom in on the speaker.....

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/201...lums_name.html

It was our pleasure and I hope everything worked out well.

Appear to be 170's. Any idea what lead to them using those in particular?

Yes - they are our CBM-170's

The 170's enjoy an exceptionally good reputation for accuracy amongst many professionals. They are used in quite a few college research and music labs. I believe Princeton U. has several pairs being used for various projects. I also believe Dr. Choueiri is using a pair of GedLee Summa's, due to their exceptional directivity

I am particularly interested in what Dr. Choueiri is working on and I hope to have a listen for myself next time I am in the area.

If that's so, David, then you'll be able to say to everyone that you went to Princeton!

Wise guy, eh?

Stunning campus - been there several times, somewhat unavoidable when you spend 16 years living in NJ

Been to some outrageous frat parties at MIT as well when I was living in Boston so I suppose I can say that I also went to Princeton and MIT (and can add CalTech and USC) to that list as well

Also hope to visit my cousins at Berkeley this Thanksgiving... One of them is working towards his PHD in Physics. He assisted with our small anechoic chamber (anechoic down to about 250Hz) at our old location. That was many years ago though and I am afraid that the days of paying him $6/hour are now long gone...

Too bad USC took your Heisman away.

It would be tough to justify such a high salary in today's economy!

To continue the Princeton discussion...

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/...nds-like/8377/

Looking to get an Ascend setup in a 19x18 room that serves as dining, kitchen and living. The living portion has a single couch (forego the middle?) about 8ft from the wall/screen so space is limited. Music is listened to much more then movies; however movies will be watched via Bluray on occasion.

Initially thinking the 170 all around; however if it would be wiser to move up to the 340 up front let me know. Planning on mounting the fronts/center to the wall and the rears to the ceiling.

Want to couple this with a Denon 1911...sub is still outstanding...was going for ~1500 - ~1700 for the system.

The 340's and 170's are rear ported, so be sure not to mount them flush against the wall; check on what the minimum recommended clearance is.

Clearance is 3 inches.

Still having difficulty convincing myself on the proper setup...sigh...

340's up front (wall; not flushed) and 200's in the rear (ceiling) or 170's all the way around; this is going to a Denon 1911 tentatively...music is priority...