Ascend SE Owner's Thread - Page 101

So I am going with the 170's.

I have already purchased the HSU VTF-1 and Denon 1911. Going to go with 170's up front and center. Do 170's in the rear make sense or should I just go with the lower priced 200's?

I'd go with the 200's.

I just recently changed my surrounds from 170SE's to 200SE's for because they are easier to mount. Very happy withe results.

mziegler and I swapped my 170SE's for his 200SE's. He now has a killer 170SE and Hsu VTF-3.2 setup in his classroom.

Sounds good...any bracket recommendation for ceiling mount on the 200's?

For the ceiling? Not sure.

I found some inexpensive brackets for wall mounting at Home Depot. I think they can accommodate ceiling mounting, but I am not sure, and I threw away the packaging already.

Due to space requirements, I am thinking about buying the HTM-200's for my front L/R as opposed to the CBM-170's. I see that most people use them as surrounds and I'm curious about their functionality as fronts.

My listening preference is probably split 50/50 music/movies.
My setup
Onkyo HT-R670
CS20 center
Onkyo HTIB stock speakers and sub

Thanks for your help!

I think they do extremely well. Several months ago I sent in my L/C/R Sierra-1's for the tweeter upgrade and temporarily moved my 200's that were surrounds into the L/C/R positions. I was surprised at how well they did. Made me wonder if I needed anything more than them in my 2000+ cu ft room.

And some people advocate using identical speakers for all 5 or 7 satellite locations, and choose the 200's.

I know I am beating a dead horse but I need to pop a quick question for any CMT-340 SE owners out here.

I am considering purchasing a pair of these with matching center for my dedicated theater. I want to know if these speakers are enough to fill my room which is 13' x 24'. I am powering them with an Emotiva XPA-3 so they need to be able to handle constant 200w/channel. And this will be 80% movies, 10% gaming and 10% music.

I have that exact set up, do it

Please a little more detail

I have 3 CMT-340's and 2 CBM-170s in a 24' x 40' x 23' (tall) room and they have absolutely no problem filling it. I'm driving them with a Denon 3806.

Fill that room with ease The 340's are capable of very high output levels, we have industry professionals using them in media rooms twice that size.

Please feel free to contact me directly if I can be of any assistance.

^^Sent you a PM with my email address as requested. Please contact me when you get a minute

Can anyone tell me the difference between the CMT-340s and the CMT-340SEs?

http://forum.ascendacoustics.com/showthread.php?t=1585

I finally placed an order for the Ascend 170SE's along with the 340SE center and 200SE's to build out a 5.0 setup. I'm eager to hear how they sound. I was so tempted to buy the Sierra-1's, but that was my whole HT budget for speakers. On the other hand, I might just have to sell some other stuff to grab the Sierra towers to replace my KEF QX5's in the front room.

Amp wise, does anyone have any experience with the Ascend speakers and various amps? I'm curious to see which amp(s) pair nicely with them. For example, NAD, Adcom, Sherbourn, Parasound, etc.

Hello to all, my room is 14' X 26' X 8', my setup is along the long wall which opens up into another room, it is carpeted with heavy drapes and furniture, and there is no left wall. Seating is approximately ten feet from mains, could be more or less. I'm considering three 340SE's for front stage crossed over to an Epik Legend sub. I do 50 % music and HT. I have good source components, nice vintage Sota table, PS3 slim and stand alone Panny BD player and Rotel CD player, Onkyo older receiver (soon to updated to 809) and EMO UPA-2 amp. My question (I don't know why I mentioned my whole system) are the 340's too much for this space. I am sincere with this inquiry and would appreciate all replies.
Thanks, Jeff

I think you will be pleased with that setup. I have had the same speakers but in a 7.1 setup for the past 3 years. I have always found all of my Ascend speakers to be very neutral and rock solid at high volumes. I powered them with Emotiva amps, an XPA-3 powering the left and right 170SE's and an XPA-5 powering the 340SE center and four 200SE surrounds. I have found the Emo amps to be a great bang for the buck and provide tons of clean power to these speakers. Sadly, I'm dismantling my whole system and going with inwall speakers for a CIH setup with acoustically transparent screen. I will miss the Ascend speakers but I don't have the space to give up by placing them behind a screen.

Hey guys,

Thinking of upgrading speakers. Right now Im thinking of the CMT-340s vs the Pioneer S-31 towers. They end up being the same price. Which way would you guys go?

I have heard the Pioneer bookshelf speaker with the 6.5" woofer, but not the tower. If that is any indication, the 340SE's should sound much cleaner throughout than the Pioneer. Pioneer might have deeper extension, but I doubt it will be very clean.

I believe sources for the Pioneer have good return policies, and so does Ascend...so compare and let us know what you think.

Hi Farenheit85,

These are very different loudspeakers with completely different design goals. I suggest sending us an email or giving us a call to discuss the differences.

Thanks in advance!

A quick update on my Ascends, the only part of my HT that never inspires upgraditis.... and if you know me, that's VERY powerful statement!
In 2004, I got a pair of HTM-200 Classics, compared them against similarly priced Polks, JBLs, Klipsh, etc.... they easily bested that crowd.
Eventually, I was able to build a listening/Home Theater room, and set up a full 7.1 HTM-200 Classic setup.
Unfortunately, my need to listen to AC/DC in concert at above-reference levels, and my receivers inability to provide the power, blew a couple of 200s. Fortunately, Dave was quick to upgrade me to 340SE's across the front, and their ability to create loud volumes with little power were just what I needed!
My theater AMAZES everyone who hears it, and I've been very satisfied with the Ascends the past few years.
However, new technologies on the receiver front required an upgrade. So the Denon 4311ci with it's 11.2 channel ability replaced my 2004-era Pioneer 1014TX.
I can confirm what others have stated, Audyssey EQ really does a great job of correcting phase issues and making all your speakers work together as a whole.... I will be purchasing 4 more HTM-200SE's for height's and wides (ELEVEN Ascends in the room!!! You can never have too many!) and I'm sure they will perform well, as the HTM-200 Classics that I had in the rear-surround positions are now being used as wides, and they sound great.


I think it really depends on your volume level. The Onkyo is not a powerful reciever, and the 200s require a lot more power than the 170s to get loud. However, if you don't listen loundly, you will be fine.


I've had really good luck with Pinpoint (formally B-Tech) mounts. AM-15 for sideways mounting of a 340SE center, AM-25 for ceiling mount of HTM-200s, AM-30 for wall mounts of HTM-200s, and AM-40s for wall mounts of my CMT-340SEs. No sagging, most importantly.


I just couldn't part with my Ascends, so when I put up my new AT screen, I moved it 1.5ft out from the wall so I could place my 340se vertically behind it. Looks and sounds great. I had to turn off the EXBAC circuit in the SE center speaker to have it match the mains. See the Ascend forums for details, it wasn't a big deal.

In summary, Ascend's rock. I don't see myself ever upgrading, except to upgrade my HTM-200 Classics to SE.

Thanks for your HT thoughts! Sounds like your room is a great place to catch a flick. I also love my 200SE's for my bedroom setup and even in the garage, great little speaker! I use 170SE;s all around (except a sierra center) in my dedicated HT room. I think next time around when I build again, I may just use 200SE's instead.....maybe sierras across the front

When is UPS going to deliver my speakers (CMT-340SE front three)? They are 'out for delivery' and I'm really ready to get them. I've got the sand to fill the stands and some blue tack to keep them attached. I've got the TV stand extender build to raise the TV so that the new center fits. I've got the AVR manual out to readjust the system. All I need now is for the UPS truck to show up!

The CMT-340SEs arrived just before 5PM. I've got the center setup and working and am now taking a break from adding sand to the stands fir tge L and R.

I've mounted HTM-200s on three occasions for home theater jobs for use as rears. I used Omnimounts model 30.0 CA-MP. You can use the 20 to save money but when I buy mounts I always buy the highest load/weight rating. Actually I used the 20.0 C on one job because the back wall was open to a pool table room and I had ceiling casings dividing the rooms/spaces put in by the carpenter (also used to hide wiring). Worked PERFECTLY.

<-- works PERFECTLY for HTM-200 ceiling mount rears!

I'm a little confused about wall mounting rear-ported speakers. Don't they need at least a foot between the port and the wall? I'm thinking of getting 5 CBM-170 SEs since right now they are the same price as the HTM-200s.

They both seem like great speakers, but are they suited for surrounds? I guess I have a general question for the Ascend people here. What is your design philosophy for rear surrounds? Why don't you have any dipole or bipole surround speakers?

I'm doing five 170's too, and from what i've read, the surround speakers aren't a concern for the rear port, as they are not moving alot of air through it...Just, don't put the speaker flush against the wall, like you might a HTM-200

On the CMT-340SE's how do you know if they are "SE" or just the CMT-340 classic/originals?

It will say "Signature Edition" on the back of the speakers.

Wow it's been some time this thread has gotten some action!

Can anyone tell me the measurement of the 340 boxes


Thanks

Djoel