What speakers were on your final list,

[ChrisC]

and why did you end up with Ascends?

[BradJudy]

Hmmm...the short list.

Ascend Acoustics (obviously)
KEF Q series (liked them more than Paradigm in a A/B in a local store - almost bought them, but sales guy was a jerk)
Onix Rocket (demoed at Sean Parque's house - more expensive - prior to release of ELT series)
Dynaudio Audience line (really liked them, but too expensive - liked them more than B&W 600 series in A/B in local store)

I didn't particularly like any of the items I listened to at Soundtrack (Ultimate Electroincs in other states). They carry Infinity, Klipsch, Boston Acoustics, Def Tech, etc. The Def Techs were probably my fav out of those, but expensive and I liked others more.

I thought about Axiom, but was turned off by all of the mention of them being brighter sounding. I considered Aperion, but didn't try them. I later heard them and didn't like them as much as anything on my short list.

[donkelly]

I didn't really do much research or make much of a list - just kept reading and got one name in my mind.

That name was Scott speakers at first. (1986)

12 years later my speakers started falling apart. The next name I came up with was Paradigm Titans. (1998).

6 years later I upgraded the cd player and realized the speakers were also part of the problem and the name was then Axiom - M3s and then M22s.

One year later I found some used Ascends. Even the people on the Axiom board think Ascends are equal to the M22s (from what I have read there) so I had to try them - given the resale value ($288 on ebay tonight).

I think they are great! About equal to the Axioms, maybe slightly better. Definitely a little less "harsh" or "detailed" depending on your perspective. But VERY NICE. Flatter and more lifelike I think than Axiom M22s - by a bit.

[Kris]

Still havent ordered my Ascends yet

Im going to be oprdering a pair of cbm-170's + CMT-340c as well as a pair of Monitor Audio Silver RS1's and Silver RS LCR and keeping the ones I like. The MA's are my favorites that I have heard from all the speakers I have listened to at my local shops

[ChrisC]

Thats an interesting comparison Kris
keep us posted!

[Eddie]

I picked my 340s over:

Paradigm Monitor 5s
Athena AS-F2s
Triangle Titus
Ascend 170s

I had already listened to many other speakers but those 4 were on my short list.

Decided the Triangle and 170s were too small for my cavernous space, felt that the Athenas while great in their price range at the time were a bit too clunky (WAF) and sometimes too bright, and that the Paradigms which cost about the same as the 340s locally didn't have the same quality mids.

[MikeQ]

My short list include:

Paradigm Monitor 5's
Polk LXi or is it LSi?
Paradigm Mini Monitor's

Ultimately I went for value and ended up pretty happy.

[macebanyon]

My short list was;

Axiom M22
Axiom M3
Athena AS-B2

Bought the Axioms and Athenas, and thank GOD, wound up with the 170's.

[battlefrog]

I did a lot of research before I purchased my HT setup. For me and my price range, solid quality kept coming back to the Ascend Acoustics speakers. Once I had made my decision, I started looking at the package deals, tweaking it here and there to come up with my perfect set. I ended up like this:

CBM-170s Front/Left
CMT-340 Center
HTM-200s Back surround and Center
HTF-2 Sub
-Total: $1298

What an awesome system. I have a lot to learn to make this system work perfectly in my den, but when you start off with a gem like this, you can't go wrong.

Battlefrog

[jeffinsalida]

My short list is:
Ascend 340's all around
Rocket 550"s
Swan 5.1's

Wish I could get off the fence and stop reading until midnight every night (and with wireless) change my bathroom reading material. I promise by Nov I will be able to contribute worthless opinions on why I love my choice.