Ascend 170's or 340's

[jerrymb]

I can't decide which to get. These will be used for music only at fairly moderate levels in a fairly small listening area. Would the 340's be overkill? Thanks.

[curtis]

What kind of music?

The 340's will play louder and deeper, and you might not need a subwoofer.

With the 170's you will likely need a sub more than with 340's.

Personally, in a small room, I would do the 170's with a nice subwoofer.

[jerrymb]

What kind of music?

The 340's will play louder and deeper, and you might not need a subwoofer.

With the 170's you will likely need a sub more than with 340's.

Personally, in a small room, I would do the 170's with a nice subwoofer.

Softer classic rock. I don't like subwoofers. I don't like too much bass either.

[curtis]

You can adjust the volume of the subwoofer to your liking...it really helps flush out the bottom end.

That said, try a pair of 170's and see if they are to your liking.

[jerrymb]

I just returned a pair of Axiom M3 bookshelf speakers. Too bright even though Axiom swears they aren't bright at all! I think I'll go with the 340's.

[curtis]

IMO...the 340's can compete with the M60's.

One thing the M3's have is a bump in the bass around 100hz making a perception of having deeper bass response. You won't find this exaggeration in an Ascend speaker.

Enjoy...let us know what you think.

[jerrymb]

Are the tweeters on the 340's smoother than the aluminum tweeters on the Axiom's? No one on the Axiom forum could understand when I told them that the tweeters on the M3's were harsh to my hears. I was hearing sibilance where I never heard it before with the Axioms.

[curtis]

Absolutely.

BTW... sibilance starts with the recording/source, and can get accentuated by the speaker.

What speakers are you coming from (besides the M3)?

[DougMac]

Softer classic rock. I don't like subwoofers. I don't like too much bass either.

Why don't you like subwoofers? I'm guessing you've never heard a "musical" sub set up properly in a two channel system. Done right, you don't even notice there's a sub until you turn it off. Then you miss "weight" in the electric or string bass and a certain authority of the kick bass drum.

If you don't want to use a sub, the obvious choice (disregarding economics) would be Sierra's. They go deeper than either the 170 or 340. Short of that, either the 170 or 340 would do fine, I'd give a nod to the 340's on stands.

I think the Axiom rep was playing dumb. Tweeter harshness in Axioms is a common complaint. I don't think it has so much to do with the use of a metal tweeter as it does with its inelequent application; other speaker companies use metal tweeters and the don't sound harsh. Axiom's were on my short list, but I kept bumping into concerns about them being brittle.

Tweeter harshness won't be a problem with any of the Ascend's. They are very articulate without sounding overly bright.

I hope you get Ascends. If you do, let us know what you get and what you think.

[jerrymb]

Thanks. I can't afford the Sierras. It'll be either the 170 or 340.