Hello All,
As the result of finally getting into home theater, we are finally looking to upgrade our speakers. We currently have one pair of CBM-170 Classics and a CMT-340 center Classic which have performed wonderfully. I have questions about how best to complete our speaker setup for home theater.
Our room is not dedicated to viewing / listening. Measurements are 16.5' x 16.5', the right side is fully open; the rear is a full run of large glass windows plus french doors. We have a 65" plasma TV with viewing distance of approx. 12.0 feet.
Our easiest option is to buy a pair of CBM-170SE's, put the 170 Classics to the rear, and finish with a Hsu VTF-2 sub. Or, we could do CMT-340 mains left and right with the 170's in the rear. My wife likes the look of the CBM-170's and is concerned the CMT-340's will make the room look heavy. I believe the CMT-340's will have a fuller sound in front but haven't seen many comparisons in the threads, nor professional reviews. (Note: the price tag on the Sierras is more than we'd like to spend, due to everything else we've purchased.)
Also, which is better for surrounds - CBM-170 or HTM-200? Since we're new to 5.1 and 7.1, I'm not sure which sounds get channeled to these other speakers.
Final question: we have two 24" basic Sanus stands. They work great for the CBM-170's, but would the CMT-340's be unstable? Would $140 + $38 shipping for the Ascend pedestals really make a difference?
Many thanks for your help,
--ScottO