340SE vs HTD3 Tower

[RoadWarrior]

Kind of twisting a bit here trying to decide between the two. Anyone here ever own/listen to HTD3 Tower speakers? How do they compare against 340SE? I plan to use 80/20 home theater/music. Will pick up a HSU Sub. Use 340SE Center and 170's for surrounds.
Any input or general opinions would be greatly appreciated. Need to pull the trigger soon due to driving myself nutz doing research. I plan to use a Emotiva LPA-1 Amp.

Thanks
RoadWarrior

[drewface]

i've never heard the HTD3s, but if you're gonna have Ascends for the rest of your setup, i'd go with the 340SEs. sort of a personal pet peeve of sorts, but i think i'd go insane if i had one brand of speakers for center and surround duty and something completely different for the mains.

[bikeman]

i've never heard the HTD3s, but if you're gonna have Ascends for the rest of your setup, i'd go with the 340SEs. sort of a personal pet peeve of sorts, but i think i'd go insane if i had one brand of speakers for center and surround duty and something completely different for the mains.
Been there, done that and yes, mixing speakers is a real crap shoot with insanity not out of the question. ;)

David

[audibleconnoisseur]

It is a matter of a few tings but the top two I can think of are timbre matching and Acoustics. Example is I had JM Labs here tesing with some other speakers a couple of weeks ago. I could never get the JM's to blend as well with the others and even with the sub. I would keep it simple and keep with all the same brand. I now have my Ascends installed and are breaking in and they are great! Also, if you get them online via their "package systems," you will get a better deal than if you buy separates. Just some thoughts :cool:

[curtis]

I have the bookshelf version of the Level 3 right now to check out. It doesn't use the midrange dome the tower does.

As the bookshelf, IMO it does not hold a candle to the 170SE......and I do not think it is even a matter of taste.

[Jonnyozero3]

I have the bookshelf version of the Level 3 right now to check out. It doesn't use the midrange dome the tower does.

As the bookshelf, IMO it does not hold a candle to the 170SE......and I do not think it is even a matter of taste.

Wow, that's a strong assessment. Very interesting.

[RoadWarrior]

Apologies everyone....

I think I confused everybody. I hadn't planned on mixing speakers.

I was planning on buying either this speaker system:

http://www.htd.com/Level-THREE-Tower-Speakers_3?sc=7&category=9

or

http://www.ascendacoustics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=S33-2000&Category_Code=HTS-5

Just curious if anyone has demo'd the HTD Level 3 Towers. Are the Kapton Ribbon Tweeters any good? I did notice on the AVSForum that a Luis Gerena (??) who seems to be an amateur reviewer thinks these speakers are the greatest thing since sliced bread. His write-ups seem pretty decent.


Thanks again
Cheers
RoadWarrior

[Jonnyozero3]

FWIW, I would be inclined to give a lot of thought to curtis's assessment...just my $0.02.

[RoadWarrior]

Yes, I am leaning towards 340SE. I always get concerned when you don't see professional reviews about products such as HDT3. I've read nothing but excellent comments about 340SE's EVERYWHERE both professional and customers. I almost fell out of my chair when I read the owner, Mark Schifter of av123 praise the Ascends; essentially his competition!!! I did find some of Curtis comments on avsforum about HTD3 Bookshelf. As he stated, he was not that impressed.

Will pull the trigger soon. Can't wait. I've been at this for months now. Burned out. :D

You guys like the Emotiva LPA-1 Amp for Ascends?

Thanks
RoadWarrior

[curtis]

Just curious if anyone has demo'd the HTD Level 3 Towers. Are the Kapton Ribbon Tweeters any good? I did notice on the AVSForum that a Luis Gerena (??) who seems to be an amateur reviewer thinks these speakers are the greatest thing since sliced bread. His write-ups seem pretty decent.

Luis has posted on AVS that he is editing his review.

[Quinn]

Luis has very limited exposure to what high end is really capable of.

The Kapton tweeter is okay. I don't think it can go very low for the x-over. So you're asking that woofer to go too high which it can't really do well and in the process degrading what it is capable of. Stick to a design that has a mid-driver with that tweeter.

[curtis]

The Kapton tweeter is okay.
It supposedly has something like 22% distortion...not sure of the exact parameters...but you can hear it.

[Quinn]

It supposedly has something like 22% distortion...not sure of the exact parameters...but you can hear it.

That isn't okay. That is bad.

[curtis]

I am trying to find where I read that. Because of the distortion some perceive it as smoother.

[Jonnyozero3]

I've read something like that number as well, I think it was quoted from some specs/measurements on AVS. No idea where it was though...

[shaolin95]

Luis has posted on AVS that he is editing his review.
Yes I am. After been exposed to higher end gear and been able to run the
speakers at higher volume levels I noticed various problems.
My main issue is a "raspy" sound from cymbals and the likes and a too laid back sound. The problem is not as evident with the tower which should indicate that its partially fixed by the extra mid driver not requiring the tweeter to play as low and the woofer to play as high.
The centers are actually on their way back to HTD as a matter of fact.
The speakers are not aweful but anyone used to clean sound will notice the issue.

Regards