***The Official Ascend Acoustics Sierra Thread*** - Page 91

The credit part makes sense, because then you would pay tax on the remainder, no matter if inside or outside the 30 day period.

Now if you were returning them and not upgrading, I would expect sales tax to be refunded as well.

Yep, with the credit applied sans sales tax the total price paid equals the price if I had only bought the SIerra-1s. I'm only out shipping.

Maybe Dina's answer to my sales tax question only applied to the upgrade not a return.

Thanks for helping me figure this out. Man my brain is fried from all this mulling over.

Now I have to figure out whether to go with a new pair in piano black or B-stock in gloss espresso. The espressos new are out of my reach. My only reservation about the piano black is whether or not the reflection will be distracting while watching TV.

No problem. From all your posts, I can tell your brain has been in high gear!

After seeing both finishes, I would bet that if reflections are an issue for one, it will be with the other as well in your setup.

I will say that with usual placements of speakers in relationship to the TV, the angles usually do not cause a reflection that is bothersome at the seating positions.

Get a hand mirror and try it out.

No doubt. There's definitely a hamster running a wheel inside there. I'm trying to get this all figured out so I can get the piano blacks before the sale ends. I've nearly saved up enough. Fortunately Dina said that I could place and order now at the sale price and then they would hold shipping them until I have the funds, which hopefully will be in a week or two. The more I think about the Sierra-1's the more excited I get.

I would GUESS for the average home the front of the speakers would be the only thing you would see When Viewing. Monitor screen reflections are the more common problem. Go on and take the plunge. You will love the Sierra's

My center sits below the tv on a stand a few inches below the lower edge of the tv (slightly angled upward, though) while originally had thought reflection might be an issue but have never had it cause any distraction (with the piano finish).

Mostly rock, jazz, classical, folk/bluegrass, pretty much anything but country/western (but some of that if it is actually good). I'm not going to delve into the various subgenres that have been invented over the last few years, either

For HT, I use a subwoofer. Really, this is mandatory. For music however, I often listen without the subwoofer on. I guess it depends on the music. If I'm listening to electronic or hip-hop it's better with the sub on.

I want to get a subwoofer at some point. I like so many genres of music, hip-hop being one of them, so I imagine I'd use it with that. I definitely want one for HT and games. I might have to wait a little longer to get one though, considering the price of the Sierra-1's. We'll see.

Speaking of subwoofers, what do you guys think should be the purchase order after the Sierra-1's - subwoofer then center or center then subwoofer?

My vote is for subwoofer then center.

postrokfan, in your sig it shows a CMT-340 SE center with the Sierra-1's. Why did you choose that over a Sierra-1 center? If you had the option would you still stick with 340 SE?

I see you changed your avatar to the Arsenal crest.

I actually purchased the Sierra-1s originally for a 2-channel only setup. At the time I had the CBM-170SEs as fronts in the HT setup with the HTM-200SEs as surrounds. I feel the CMT-340SE works well with the Sierras.

I thought you'd notice the crest. Your Liverpool crest inspired me.

How long did you have the CBM-170 SE's in your HT setup? What's your opinion on the Sierra-1's vs the 170 SE's for HT? Big step-up with the Sierra-1's?

EDIT: Is there a way to black out the white bars on the sides of the Liverpool crest? IMO it would look better.

The CBM-170SEs are more efficient so they get louder with less effort. However, the Sierra-1s are a couple notches above in SQ even though they require a bit more power. They really shine with music though. I had the CBM-170SEs in the HT setup for over a year before moving the Sierras in.

Thanks for the tips on the crest. I will work on it.

Ok, you guys are killing me. Man U=pants.

Man Utd! Dang you RVP. They are my second favorite team behind Arsenal, so them having RVP is bittersweet.

Thanks. Output was one of my concerns with the Sierra-1's when I first considered them. Even though I only have a modest AVR, the Denon 1712 (90 WPC), from what I've read and been told it should be more than enough power to drive them to loud levels in my small room.

Hmm...maybe you're walking alone then?

Curtis is correct, sales tax is not refunded on a trade-in return as you simply pay the sales tax on the remainder of the balance due. Which would work out to be the same amount of sales tax as if you purchased the Sierra-1 outright.

For return refunds, sales tax is always refunded in full.

I just setup my LCR Seirra-1s and I tested them out with a HK 254, I think it's rated 60wpc, I set them up in a pretty big room, I think it's about 25ft by 25ft and 16 ft ceilings and seating is about 20ft back from the center channel and they had no problem filling it, from what I read to fill that big of a space I'd need towers and a bigger center but the Sierra-1 didn't even break a sweat. I was also very impressed with the Seirra-1s ability to play at low volumes and not lose detail or did I have a hard time understanding the dialog. I have them in a smaller room now but I honestly think they shined better in bigger rooms, not that they lack in smaller rooms.

Now to get a new AVR that isn't buggy or a better sub with my tax return.

+1

@p3Orion,

What speaker setup do you have now? 2.0, 4.0 ...?

Ascend CBM-170 SE's in a 2.0 setup.

Personally I would definitely move 170 to surround, Sierra to main, get SW next then center. Good center is a very positive addition on movies but to me a decent SW is more important as long as the mains are not to far apart like each side of monitor. You could maybe get a less expensive center, under $100, for now and a good one later when the budget can handle it. There are those who will swear that it has to be a certain configuration with very specific models on all components. IMHO most of us have to work within a budget and make compromises that are subjective within that budget.

I appreciate your suggestions, but I'm only going with a 3.1 setup for various reasons - small room, placement issues, budget. I'm upgrading the 170 SE's to the Sierra-1's. I think I can get away with a center for longer due to close placement of my mains (5-6 ft apart) and the fact that I sit centered or just off center. It seems that a subwoofer would give me the biggest gain. I plan to eventually get a center. There are several subs I'm looking at - SVS SB-1000/PB1000, HSU VTF-1 MK2, Outlaw LFM-1 Plus, revamped Rythmik FV12. I'm saving up and also waiting for reviews of the SVS SB-1000/PB-1000 and soon-to-be released Rythmik FV12 revamp.

Can't speak to the others but again I had a Polk SW before which was ok but my new SVS SB 1000s have really impressed me especially at their size and price level.

Heard the FV12 and it sounded really good. Blended extremely well with the HT set up.