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Thread: CBM-170SE Stereo Review

  1. #11
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
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    Manhattan Beach, California
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    7,032

    Default Re: CBM-170SE Stereo Review

    Congratulations on your graduation and employment!
    -curtis

  2. #12
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Posts
    74

    Default Re: CBM-170SE Stereo Review

    I am a bit late in finding this thread. Thanks for the great review and for the information on the loudness wars. I share your appreciation for Ascend speakers and concern about music production. Someday, if you get the chance, try to audition the Sierra's (even if they are outside the current budget). They are special and represent at least as good a value as the 170's.

    I share your irritation with the recent Springsteen CD's - great music that's hard to listen to - how can that be? I find the recent one more listenable than Magic.

    Welcome to the world of Ascend.

  3. #13
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
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    11

    Default Re: CBM-170SE Stereo Review

    Quote Originally Posted by curtis View Post
    Congratulations on your graduation and employment!
    Thank you sir. Now we just need ucla and florida back in the final four.


    Or actually, we've sucked so much the past 2 years, I'd take just MAKING the tourney. :lol:

  4. #14
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    11

    Default Re: CBM-170SE Stereo Review

    Quote Originally Posted by Galwin View Post
    I am a bit late in finding this thread. Thanks for the great review and for the information on the loudness wars. I share your appreciation for Ascend speakers and concern about music production. Someday, if you get the chance, try to audition the Sierra's (even if they are outside the current budget). They are special and represent at least as good a value as the 170's.
    Yes. I plan to go to the Sierra's at some point, and make the 170se's my rear speakers. However, right now I'm in an apartment...so having any more boom would most likely not be appreciated by my neighbors.

    Also - being the college football nut I am, my budget right now is actually a bit more focused on building a PA system for our tailgates...EV speakers + Crown Amp + Mackie Board is going to be fun.

    I share your irritation with the recent Springsteen CD's - great music that's hard to listen to - how can that be? I find the recent one more listenable than Magic.

    Welcome to the world of Ascend.
    Yup. It's rather disgusting. Albums with good music suck to listen to. The really depressing thing is that one can't trust the "NEWLY REMASTERED" albums for crap. I've resorted to finding old cd's (manufactured in the ~1985-1995 timeframe) at garage sales.

    As just another example, I found John Mellencamp's Scarecrow album the other day.

    http://i39.tinypic.com/121e7sy.jpg

    Which of those do you think is the original? Which is from the "remastered greatest hits" disc?

  5. #15
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    11

    Default Re: CBM-170SE Stereo Review

    Here's another -

    While Circuit City was going out of business, I noticed they had the 30th anniversary edition of Billy Joel's "The Stranger" for 70% off...so I picked it up.

    Now, let's compare how this "legacy edition" to the same songs on his greatest hits volume 1 cd from the early/mid 90's.

    Movin' Out

    http://i44.tinypic.com/255hqjc.jpg


    Scenes from an Italian Restaurant

    http://i41.tinypic.com/2hhq3dc.jpg


    Only the Good Die Young

    http://i41.tinypic.com/2iw4zeu.jpg


    Disgusting isn't it?

  6. #16
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Tennessee
    Posts
    50

    Default Re: CBM-170SE Stereo Review

    This issue (the Loudness Wars) really gets me fired up. Check out track one from REM's Accelerate. I love REM but had a very hard time listening to this album all the way through (and stupid me bought the "deluxe" version ).

    (click to enlarge)


    ..and Peter Buck is supposedly some kind of audiophile.

  7. #17
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Green Bay, WI
    Posts
    180

    Default Re: CBM-170SE Stereo Review

    Quote Originally Posted by ®Magic View Post
    Here's another -

    While Circuit City was going out of business, I noticed they had the 30th anniversary edition of Billy Joel's "The Stranger" for 70% off...so I picked it up.

    Now, let's compare how this "legacy edition" to the same songs on his greatest hits volume 1 cd from the early/mid 90's.

    Movin' Out

    http://i44.tinypic.com/255hqjc.jpg


    Scenes from an Italian Restaurant

    http://i41.tinypic.com/2hhq3dc.jpg


    Only the Good Die Young

    http://i41.tinypic.com/2iw4zeu.jpg


    Disgusting isn't it?
    Quite disturbing. Scenes from an Italian Restaurant is great for dynamic range. it has a lot of different insturments and the volume fluctuates quite a bit. Its a great song why tamper with it. This Loudness War pisses me off.
    Andrew
    -------------------------

    TV: Panasonic VIERA TC-P55ST30 55-Inch 1080p 3D Plasma
    Receiver: Onkyo TX-SR706, Emotiva XPA-5 Gen 2, Blu Ray: Sony BDP-N460
    Fronts/Center/Surrounds: Sierra Towers Nrt, Sierra-1, HTM-200
    Sub: HSU VTF-3 MK-4

  8. #18
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Manhattan Beach, California
    Posts
    7,032

    Default Re: CBM-170SE Stereo Review

    This should be interesting regarding this topic:
    http://www.digido.com/honor-roll.html
    -curtis

  9. #19
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    5,538

    Default Re: CBM-170SE Stereo Review

    Quote Originally Posted by ®Magic View Post
    Just wanted to drop a quick update; I have graduated, am now employed, and finally have more room in which to set the speakers up.

    Dave, they have truly been one of the best purchases I've ever made. Once again, thank you. I can't wait until I get out of the apartment and into a home so that I can actually go with sierras & sub.
    Congratuations on your graduation and employment -- and thanks so much for your nice comments. I am very pleased that your are enjoying our CBM-170SE. These speakers have a special place in my heart (and always will)
    .
    .
    .
    Good Sound To You!

    David Fabrikant
    www.ascendacoustics.com

  10. #20
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    11

    Default Re: CBM-170SE Stereo Review

    Sooooo...7 years later and I now live in Seattle...and despite still loving these speakers (and having to be mindful of neighbors as I'm in high density housing) I'm thinking it is time for an upgrade...



    Also...hi again everyone! :wave:

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