Ascend SE Owner's Thread - Page 103

Originally Posted by lovinthehd

FWIW I bought some ceiling and wall mount 20.0s from Amazon, they all came with the plate and hardware for using both inserts on the HTM200.

Originally Posted by YOTR

I was also looking at the Sierras and really like those but they are quite a bit more than the 340's. I doubt I would get the NRT upgrade because it simply is to expensive at this time (maybe down the road but I have a feeling I would be more than satisified with the stock Sierras). I could swing the Sierras but the 340's are quite a bit cheaper. The Sierras look way nicer but I am used to black box speakers so I could live with the 340 style (plus I would buy the pedestals to put them on).

Any opinions? I don't want to have to buy an external amp to help power either one of these (just the denon/yamaha receiver). I have gone back and forth between them so many times and can't seem to come to a decision.

Originally Posted by Azanon

IMO, the "value" cutoff with Ascend speakers stops with the 340s. I personally own Sierra-1 for L/R, and I did notice a slight improvement in warmth vs. Sierras but, (smiling), to tell that difference, I naturally turned the sub off for the comparison. With the VTF 3.3 on, basically say goodbye to the "improvement" unless you are a very trained listener.

Said another way, there is typically diminishing returns as you go up in price on speakers. From 200s to 170s to 340s, I notice a pretty big jump, for a relatively small price increase. Going from 340 to Sierra you pay a LOT more and get a "modest" improvement in sound. And that's about as strong a word as I'd dare to use. Again, if your setup is going to include a sub, you're mostly just paying for a shiny elegant looking, bamboo speaker that looks higher end.

To be clear, I mean my comment to be taken as a compliment to the 340, not as an insult to the Sierra-1.

What would I get? Well, obviously the Sierra-1's. But good fortune has smiled on me, and I have the money to blow. But even I have my limits. For me, that limit is - if even Ascend won't put a speaker into its standard selling lineup (reference Sierra NrT), then neither will I. I see it as me taking their unspoken advice. Besides, I'm not so good at construction, and I would dare send my babies through the hell treatment otherwise known as UPS.

Originally Posted by Ascend

Happy to hear that, however, it probably depends on which reseller is fulfilling the order as I don't believe Amazon stocks these directly. We have had many customers call and ask us to send them the plates after purchasing the mounts at various other places. We don't stock the mounting plates and I am not sure if Omnimount will send them out on their own.

Originally Posted by Azanon

IMO, the "value" cutoff with Ascend speakers stops with the 340s. I personally own Sierra-1 for L/R, and I did notice a slight improvement in warmth vs. Sierras but, (smiling), to tell that difference, I naturally turned the sub off for the comparison. With the VTF 3.3 on, basically say goodbye to the "improvement" unless you are a very trained listener.

Said another way, there is typically diminishing returns as you go up in price on speakers. From 200s to 170s to 340s, I notice a pretty big jump, for a relatively small price increase. Going from 340 to Sierra you pay a LOT more and get a "modest" improvement in sound. And that's about as strong a word as I'd dare to use. Again, if your setup is going to include a sub, you're mostly just paying for a shiny elegant looking, bamboo speaker that looks higher end.

To be clear, I mean my comment to be taken as a compliment to the 340, not as an insult to the Sierra-1.

What would I get? Well, obviously the Sierra-1's. But good fortune has smiled on me, and I have the money to blow. But even I have my limits. For me, that limit is - if even Ascend won't put a speaker into its standard selling lineup (reference Sierra NrT), then neither will I. I see it as me taking their unspoken advice. Besides, I'm not so good at construction, and I would dare send my babies through the hell treatment otherwise known as UPS.

Originally Posted by lovinthehd

FWIW I bought some ceiling and wall mount 20.0s from Amazon, they all came with the plate and hardware for using both inserts on the HTM200.

Originally Posted by Ascend

I am not so sure they are the same. Omnimount offers a lesser expensive retail packaged bracket that does not come with the UMP (universal mounting plate) This plate is needed to attach the brackets to the speaker and in our experience, it is often not included. I would call to confirm before ordering.

Originally Posted by Ascend

Happy to hear that, however, it probably depends on which reseller is fulfilling the order as I don't believe Amazon stocks these directly. We have had many customers call and ask us to send them the plates after purchasing the mounts at various other places. We don't stock the mounting plates and I am not sure if Omnimount will send them out on their own.

Originally Posted by darkpoet25

Hi everyone, I'm new here. I'm a regular over at blu-ray.com, and was going through the various speaker threads there. The one for Ascend was nowhere near the size of the one here. I currently have an Athena set up consisting of AS-B1's(2 pairs) and an AS-C1 along with a Velodyne VX-11. I'm using an Yamaha RX-A700 as my AVR. Originally I was considering the Axiom's, but after lurking around the threads here, I decided to give the Ascend's a try. I love my Athena's but it's been going on 8 years of ownership and I felt it was time to upgrade them, and the Ascend's seem right up my alley. The fact they are natural and accurate sounding is what drew me to them. I have a 700sq. ft. apartment, and was planning on going with a pair of CBM-170's for the front channels, the CMT-340 for the center and either the CBM-170's or HTM-200's for surround use.(I may go with the HTM-200's depending on the size of the CBM-170's) Okay now for my question, I know that I can get a set of CBM-170's B-Stock for around $41 less than a new pair. Has anyone here ordered a pair B-Stock 170's before, and if so, were the cosmetic blemishes that noticable? I know they would still carry the full 5 year warranty and 30 day in home tiral. I was just curious as to anyone's experience with buying B-Stock speakers, and what they thought about them. If I can save some money over new, why not right? Look forward to being a new member here and being a part of the forums.

Originally Posted by xmtlkidx

Their B-stock is excellent stuff. Most times you'd never notice unless you really look. performance wise, they will be perfect.

Originally Posted by darkpoet25


Thanks for the response. I will most likely go this route for the front mains.

Originally Posted by MikeBiker

I've just received a pair of HTM-200SEs and I'm getting ready to wall mount them for side surrounds. The speaker is unsymmetrical with the tweeter off center. Is there a recommenced direction that the tweeter side should be on. Is it better for the tweeter side to be nearer the listening position or away from it?

Originally Posted by MikeBiker

I've just received a pair of HTM-200SEs and I'm getting ready to wall mount them for side surrounds. The speaker is unsymmetrical with the tweeter off center. Is there a recommenced direction that the tweeter side should be on. Is it better for the tweeter side to be nearer the listening position or away from it?

Originally Posted by chas_w

Page 3 of the owner's manual has some suggestions:
http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages...ers_Manual.pdf

Originally Posted by darkpoet25

After getting my tax return I purchased a pair of B-Stock 170 SE's. I can't wait for them to get here so I can compare the sound vs. the Athena's in my current set-up.

Now I hear the fuss over these speakers, the image they create is amazing for their size although I don't think they're as detailed in the highs as I expected (but still in the beginning of running various material through them). I got a L/R stand set so am trying that, although I think I need to get them off the floor (one would need to sit smack center in front of a real fireplace), but maybe I can live without my usual pyro needs Also a bit of acoustics, aesthetics, too. I don't want to drill into 'em for a good ceiling/wall mount as much as I thought I wanted to either.

Originally Posted by postrokfan

I think that's why some decide to upgrade to the NrT tweeter. Apparently, the highs are a little more defined and less laid back. I actually enjoy the somewhat laid-back character of the stock Sierra tweeter. I think you can order the parts from Ascend and do it yourself if so inclined.

Originally Posted by lovinthehd

The center already has the upgrade. So far it seems to have been my source material so far being exposed somewhat for what it is. The better the material the better it's sounding.

Didn't know you could do the upgrade to nrt yourself.

Originally Posted by chas_w

They have instructions (with video) on the Ascend forum:
http://forum.ascendacoustics.com/showthread.php?t=4526

Originally Posted by lovinthehd

Any idea of the pricing for the kits vs sending in?

Originally Posted by Pat Sexton

Just posted this on the bi/di/mono/omni sticky but wanted to get some feedback from SE owners...

Setting up a dedicated HT (12.5' x 20') with two rows of seating (100% movies and HD programming). I ran into the surround (mono, bi, di, omni) problem due to the two rows, and I was wondering if this could be a posibble solution.

Decided:
AVR - Denon AVR 33312CI
L/C/R (x3)= CMT 340 SE behind an AT screen/false wall.
subs (x2) = SVS PC12 NSD

Problem:
was considering linking two mono pairs of HTM 200SE for surround at each row, And then having a another pair of HTM 200SE for rears. Then there was a discussion about problems linking the surrounds, and the clutter of 6 speakers that close to the rear wall.

Solution?
I have seen a lot of great reviews of the Mirage OMD5 but not much discussion regarding the Mirage OMD-R. I love the look of the OMD-R and am wondering if this will work mounted between the first and second row, and then useing the HTM 200's for rear surrounds to finish the 7.2.

Is the OMD-R a good fit fwith the Ascend set up?

Here's a sketch of the room with the screen wall pulled back. Please let me know what you think or what might be a better option.

Thanks,
Pat

Originally Posted by Pat Sexton

Just posted this on the bi/di/mono/omni sticky but wanted to get some feedback from SE owners...

Setting up a dedicated HT (12.5' x 20') with two rows of seating (100% movies and HD programming). I ran into the surround (mono, bi, di, omni) problem due to the two rows, and I was wondering if this could be a posibble solution.

Decided:
AVR - Denon AVR 33312CI
L/C/R (x3)= CMT 340 SE behind an AT screen/false wall.
subs (x2) = SVS PC12 NSD

Problem:
was considering linking two mono pairs of HTM 200SE for surround at each row, And then having a another pair of HTM 200SE for rears. Then there was a discussion about problems linking the surrounds, and the clutter of 6 speakers that close to the rear wall.

Solution?
I have seen a lot of great reviews of the Mirage OMD5 but not much discussion regarding the Mirage OMD-R. I love the look of the OMD-R and am wondering if this will work mounted between the first and second row, and then useing the HTM 200's for rear surrounds to finish the 7.2.

Is the OMD-R a good fit fwith the Ascend set up?

Here's a sketch of the room with the screen wall pulled back. Please let me know what you think or what might be a better option.

Thanks,
Pat

I can't even begin to describe how much I am enjoying the 170SE's. Such a nice, clean, natural sound, with nice imaging and dynamics I was missing from the Athena's. Can't wait to get the 340CMT center and HTM-200SE's for surround use.