Ascends matched with Emotiva?

[theophile]

Newbie here at Ascend and was inquiring about what I have and what I'm looking at!

Well, after looking at Axioms, AV123, Hsu, Era and Dana for L-C-R and surrounds, I'm strongly leaning toward a complete Ascend setup consisting of the CMT-340-SEM's fronts, CMT-340 SEC center and the HTM 200's for the side surrounds.

My HT room is 4800cf great room (20x22x11), is lively (wooden floors) and filled with decor for entertainment & acoustics (in that order)! I'll be pushing this setup with the Emotiva LMC-1 pre-pro and the LPA-1 amp. I watch\listen to about 90% HD movies and 10% music. I already have an Axiom EP500 sub so I'm well covered there.

I lean toward classical, jazz, R&B and vocals for music but am a little concerned that the Ascends could be too bright in my room with either movies or music? Would their treble balance side more with say, Axioms (forward & bright), or more towards AV123's (laid back & warm)???

Has anyone had a similar setup (speakers-electronics) in a similar room? I'll cross over the mains and center at 60hz. We (SHMBO & I) enjoy our audio levels at reference movie theater amplitutdes and wonder if this speaker setup can play cleanly to 85db av. w\100+db on peaks and stay smooth, unstrained and extended without compression?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

Ted

[Gov]

I have the same speaker set up with the LPA-1. It is a great combination, you will be very happy!

[audibleconnoisseur]

It is plenty of sound and has plenty of ability. I have run it to 112 dB @ 1m and can say it plays clean and clear and there is no way you can continue to stand in that room for long without truly doing damage to your senses and ears. I have coupled it with the HSU VTF2.3 and the combination is simply outstanding, loud, precise, clear and can fill my 2400sqft home nicely. If you have any wooden floors, it will sound louder! You should be satisfied quite nicely

[HTMAN]

It is plenty of sound and has plenty of ability. I have run it to 112 dB @ 1m and can say it plays clean and clear and there is no way you can continue to stand in that room for long without truly doing damage to your senses and ears. I have coupled it with the HSU VTF2.3 and the combination is simply outstanding, loud, precise, clear and can fill my 2400sqft home nicely. If you have any wooden floors, it will sound louder! You should be satisfied quite nicely

Nice info. guys! I currently own the Emotiva UT combo and am seriously considering the 340's up front with 170's in the rear. It's nice to hear they will match up well. Of course, I've heard that they both have a very neutral sound so maybe it makes sense to pair them up.

[theophile]

For the responses!

I'm sure the 340's\200's will work well in my room setup, outputing plenty of accurate and articulate audio!

Curious though, has anyone experienced "lobing" with the m-t-m design, as in off-axis frequency response nulls\peaks?

Ted

[curtis]

Curious though, has anyone experienced "lobing" with the m-t-m design, as in off-axis frequency response nulls\peaks?

I have not, and you likely wound not experience any lobing until you are 15-20 degrees off axis.

[theophile]

I'm trying to get ahead on the install (wiring\shelving) of a new 5.1 SS system, in particular the fronts L-C-R, and am curious what you might suggest!

After 9 months of searching, I finally found an Entertainment Center that fits my big 67" DLP. Actually, I had to shim the left\right piers 1\8" on either side to get it to squeeze in, but it really does fit the display...Like a Glove!

Here's a pic with the new home entertainment center in place along the 20' wall. With the double doorways, there's 2' on either side for corner placement of the mains. As the center speaker will be mounted on top the EC, shelving in the corners (to be installed at the same height 7') to support the mains could help project the sound-stage above the room decor (couch)!?

However, I wonder how the L-C-R fronts would sound-stage with all 3 set on top the entertainment center for a total spread between the mains of about 9'? This would be simple and easy, but do you think the idea of corner room shelf placements for the mains would work\sound better for this room? My listening\viewing position is about 18' away. Neither scenario will be a great solution for music, but should work well for movies (95%).

Anyway, the rest of the room can be viewed by clicking on the posted image!



Any comments or suggestion would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Ted

p.s. Please, no "cube" flaming...they just came with the house...ready to upgrade my audio-In a Big Way!

[Blake1214]

Hi Ted,

I'm using the Emotivas UT combo with the Sierras. I do not find them bright at all. I have procelain tiles all around and my rugs have not arrived yet so things do tend to get bit loud (echos) when the volume is turned up. They are very natural when it comes to music reproduction. I'm sure you'll be very satisfied with them.

[drewface]

Reviving an old thread since it is in line with my question...

Emotiva has some upgrades/additions to their product line coming out soon, and I am considering replacing my yammy with their new XPA-5 amp (200Wx5) paired with the LMC-2 pre/pro which is coming in April.

I noticed that the 170SEs have a max power rating of 200W, and the 340SEs not much higher at 240W, so would this amp be pushing it a little too much, or would I be OK? I know it's overkill for what these speakers need, I just want to make sure it won't be too much for the speakers to handle.

thanks!

[merrymaid520]

drewface,

From my understanding, the more power you send to the speaker, the smaller chance one has of the amp clipping and blowing the speaker. I dont think you can damage a speaker with a powerful amp unless of course you crank the volume to insane levels. People always say less power is more dangerous to a speaker than too much

I am no expert, but thats what I have heard through the years.

Later,

Brandon