Ascend SE Owner's Thread - Page 110

And I'm usually thinking that you gotta grab the b-stock soonest!

I didn't ask how many were in stock, but it probably was too small of an amount to warrant updating their website. When in doubt always call. Anyway my trio of CMT-340's should arrive early next week. I'll post some pictures and my impressions once they are set up.

I had a pair AS-B1's and an AS-C1 center. Here is a link where I go into more detail. Post #43.
http://forum.ascendacoustics.com/showthread.php?4919-Hello-from-Indy&p=40901#post40901

I'm looking for opinions, advice, suggestions on a proposed 2.1/3.1 setup. I will not go beyond 3.1. Intended use will be for movies, games, music. I'm trying to decide on one of the following options.

Options

- L/R CMT-340 SEs + 340 SE center + sub
- L/R Sierra 1s + sub (sub purchase will have to be delayed longer)
- L/R CMT-340 SEs + sub
- L/R CBM-170 SEs + 340 SE center + sub
- L/R CBM-170 SEs + 170 SE center + sub (three 170 SEs mounted on stands vertically across front)

Setup would be powered by Denon AVR-1712

11'x11'x'8 Room Layout



X's mark proposed speaker locations


With my room layout would a center really be desired? I do watch a lot of sci-fi and action movies. I have to factor in space constraints, room size, and seating location, but would most likely go with a center if it offered improvement. I've read that given my room size and seating distance that center might make things sound worse.

Would the bass be noticeably lacking, especially in movies, with L/R Sierra 1s and no sub? There's a chance that if I got the Sierra 1s that I wouldn't buy a sub. If I did purchase would be delayed

I came across this thread in my research. Of particular interest are the comments about Ascend speakers by shadyj and cschang (posts #6, #13, #27, #45)
http://www.avsforum.com/t/1429503/starting-with-first-3-1-system-1000-1500-suggestions
Edited by p3Orion - 1/2/13 at 11:47pm

For movies, you defiintely want a sub. With the front speakers being so close together I'd say you can skip the center channel. The center channel never hurts, but if the choice is center channel or sub, go with sub.

Thanks for your thoughts, but one thing im noticing is that a lot reviews reflect opinions based off music, but am i to assume that they would be great with movies as well?

Yes, they work great with movies too. I watched ET last night, haven't seen it in ages, and John Williams' score sounded fantastic. When watching Super 8, there is a scene where the main characters friend is at home talking to him on the phone. His mother calls out in another room, the sound coming from the left channel and I turned my head left looking outside my apartment patio door. Watching the LOTR Extended Editions was a real treat. Hearing both Ian Mckellan's and Christopher Lee's deep baritone voices sounded amazing coming from the 340 Center, having real depth in the tone. They work great for both music and movies in my opinion.

Awesome, thanks!

Does anyone have or recommend alternate speaker stands for the CMT340SE mains?

The Ascend supplied TP24 are back-ordered right now and won't be in until the end of my eval period. So I need to find an alternative in a hurry, as the speakers will be shipping to me soon. I don't really want to jury rig something since they'll be setup for at least a month in my family room. I'd like to stay within the comparable price range as the TP24s, $140-160 or less.

The best thing I've found so far are the VTI VSP24 stands ($165/pair). They look pretty solid, sand fillable, have a wire channel, and have a slightly larger top plate than most (6.5 X 8 inches). I can probably fashion some kind of bracket to connect between the CMT threaded mounting screw and someplace on the stand to provide some more stability from tipping.

I'd appreciate any alternative suggestions to consider.

You might want to look at the metal Sanus SF-26 stands. They are $99 new, but I bought an open box return from Vanns for $65. They are fairly sturdy assembled out of box, but you can fill them with sand for extra weight and to eliminate resonance. Add some blu-tack to the top plate, and your speakers won't budge.


Edited by cyde01 - 1/6/13 at 4:41pm

Thanks,

I looked at the Sanus, but the 26 " height is a problem; that series comes in 22 (too short) and 26 (too hight) for my setup. Probably good for the 170s as shown, but the 340s are too tall with the 26 inch stand, in my situation.

I believe they are 26" with the spikes. Mine measure 25" with the rubber caps for hard floors. On carpet they would probably settle a half inch with the weight of sand, metal, and a 26lb speaker.

This adjustable height stand holds larger speakers well, but it's only marginally living-room friendly.
http://www.amazon.com/OnStage-SMS6000-Adjustable-Studio-Monitor/dp/B000CD3QYM/ref=pd_cp_MI_0

I'm currently using this model adjustable stand while I'm auditioning speakers (when I settle on a speaker I may replace the stand) - Vantage Point SSB-30BB. Amazon is currently out but other places sell it. Note - the pictures make it look more modern/hi-tek than it really is - in room it's more conservative and kind of disappears (like a stand should).

I'm expecting delivery of my CMB-170 SEs today, but have yet to purchase stands. I don't want to spend hundreds on a pair of stands, but I don't want a cheap pair either. Is there a price point to stay above to avoid going cheap? I've seen the Sanus SF series recommended quite often. They would be the most I would be willing to pay for stands. Is metal better than wood? Stands will be placed on carpet.

Would these be something temporary, just to test the speakers, or permanent?

The main thing is you want the stand to be sturdy, non-resonant, and place the speaker at the proper height for your listening.

Something like these are pretty nice and not too expensive:
http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=SABF&variation=31BLK

^I ordered that stand from Amazon for my 170's it was a b stock item with some blemishes, but it arrived pretty beat up the mdf was cracking and peeling, so i don't think it is of the same quality as the stand Ascend sells for the CMT 340's. I returned it and ordered the Sanus SF34B1 for just under 130 bucks and am very happy. But as far as a cheap speaker stand goes it's about as cheap as you'll find, as far as price, I'm sure many people have had better luck than I.

These will be permanent stands. I'll use what I can find around the house in the meantime to test the speakers when I get them. $125-150 is my max, but if I can get a quality pair for $75-100 that's good. I don't know how much of a difference there is in the quality of a pair of $75-100 vs $120-150 stands.

As far as proper height I know that the tweeter should be at ear level. My seating height does vary a little depending on if I'm sitting upright or laying back, so I will get the height that allow the tweeter to line up properly when in my most frequent position. Is it worse to have the tweeter a little below or a little above ear level?

It really doesn't matter.

When you have the speakers temporarily setup, move your head up and down, and the speakers too(if you can) and see if you notice any difference in sound. If you are within 15 degrees or so(maybe more), you probably won't.

I feel silly posting these pictures, but before opening the CBM-170 SEs that I received today I wanted to make sure that the damage on the box isn't a concern and that I'm good to go.





All of the punctures are to the outer box only

They are fine. That is very light shipping damage in my experience.

You should b fine. the speakers are suspended in foam blocks if I remember correctly. Open them puppies up!

Thanks. I figured as much. I've opened boxes with worse damage and the contents were fine. I was being extra precautious.

Sucks that I don't have the parts to make my speaker cables yet. I won't receive them until Friday hopefully, but possibly not until next Monday. All I can do is open them up and stare at them, maybe hold them, like I did when I was a kid with my Jordan's after I first purchased them, lol. Them's the breaks.

I know you're building some cables with techflex, but do you not have any bare wire lying around? If it were me I would buy some cheap stuff from the local hardware store to tide me over so I can listen to the new speakers.

That does suck. Luckily the place I ordered all my wire and sub wires from is about 15 miles from my house and on my way to and from work so I just stopped in and picked up my stuff on the way home. They r pretty much like monoprice.
Good luck waiting.

Did you take exception with the carrier for the damage? Or did they just drop it at your doorstep and mark down a clean receipt for you, you know, helping you out with that....

Fortunately they're well packed and if there is damage then report it to the carrier and shipper.

At least use some insulated wire....bare wire is dangerous

They dropped it at my doorstep. I was home and actually heard the UPS driver pull up, but he was busy with something so didn't get out of the truck for 5+ minutes. I was working out so I kept checking in between sets. When he finally placed the package on the doorstep he rang the doorbell, but I was doing a set so didn't bother. I saw him get in his truck and leave and a few minutes later I got the package. I'm not to concerned and I hope that if anything turns out to be damaged that Ascend would take care of me.

ZAP ZAP!!! Oh noes!!!

aah, just make sure you're wearing rubber-soled shoes and not standing in water .