I also found no negative responses to Ascend. That was a factor when I first bought the 170s (now in the basement, with 340s in the LR).
I queried google groups, because it is easy to find negatives there. No such luck (hehheh).
A couple of reviewers at one board even had **** 901s, my case exactly, and they were more pleased, as I am, with the Ascends.
So, unheard, I bought the 170s, and they have only been diminished (if that is the right word) by the 340s.
Pegleg