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Thread: Hello from another Oregonian!

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2017
    Location
    Oregon
    Posts
    47

    Default Hello from another Oregonian!

    Hey Guys,

    This is a combined "introduce yourself" and "setup question" post.

    I'm 80% there in my research to switching over to an Ascend system.

    Oregonian here (PDX area), married, youngish kids. Axiom Epic80-500 5.1 owner for last 10 years. I'd call myself an audiophile "wanna-be". I love words like neutral, transparent, imaging (3 dimensional!), effortless. I dislike words like forward, silver speaker cables, boomy, pain.

    I love my Axiom M80s, for about 20 minutes. Then I want to turn them off and to do something else. For the longest time I thought it was because I was too bored to just sit and listen to music for longer than that. But this past year I've realized I suffer from listener fatigue. From reading various forums I understand it’s not an uncommon problem with the Axiom line. Maybe its the twin tweeter design. Maybe it’s their obsession with blind testing (something will sound great for 15 minutes, but wear on your after 30, but do blind testers listen that long to one single source?). We also are SO done with the VP150 center channel. Turn up because can't hear. Turn down because its too bright and painful. Great company, great people, but upgrading is very expensive with them now, so I've looked elsewhere.

    I used to own Legacy Classics, and LOVED the detail from their ribbon tweeter, so I was excited to see Ascend using this technology in many of their speakers. However, I experienced fatigue with the Legacy's as well, but perhaps that was because they used two tweeters as well (one soft dome, one ribbon)?

    I long to sit in the sweet spot and sit back and listen to great music for longer periods of time. Enjoy the recording. Enjoy being able to pin point instruments/vocalists in a wide 3d soundstage.

    Towers w/ RAAL are calling my name. The Horizon is as well, as we're about 80% Home Theater/20% critical listening. Love the Ascend philosophy/approach. I don't want to listen to the speakers. I want them to get out of the way so I can just listen to the music.

    I do like the QS8 quad pole surrounds by Axiom, so if I switch I'll miss them a bit. Great dispersed sound. Going Ascend looks like Luna is the best bet? They do ok as surround? They'd be great in an Atmos system I bet. Worry a little about having to cross them over so high (80?). Anyone have experience here?
    Last edited by Brady; 01-04-2018 at 09:50 PM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2017
    Location
    Oregon
    Posts
    47

    Default Re: Hello from another Oregonian!

    I'll try attaching an image of what I'm looking at. They just don't make TV stands like this! Might have to custom build my own, unless anyone has ideas or knows a mfg that builds to these kinds of specs....

    TV Stand EDIT (102 of 1).JPG

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    NW Pennsylvania
    Posts
    696

    Default Re: Hello from another Oregonian!

    I think your proposed setup looks great! I think Sierra-2s would also meet your requirements of non-fatigue inducing speakers. I have the Luna's as surrounds and they work very well. You could try the QS8s and see if they match well enough for you.
    Nate

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Manhattan Beach, California
    Posts
    7,032

    Default Re: Hello from another Oregonian!

    Quote Originally Posted by Brady View Post
    I used to own Legacy Classics, and LOVED the detail from their ribbon tweeter, so I was excited to see Ascend using this technology in many of their speakers. However, I experienced fatigue with the Legacy's as well, but perhaps that was because they used two tweeters as well (one soft dome, one ribbon)?
    Just a point of clarification on the AMT and RAAL tweeters. They do not use the same technology. How they function is very different.

    Dave has an explanation in this post:
    http://forum.ascendacoustics.com/sho...tion#post44091
    Last edited by curtis; 01-06-2018 at 12:54 PM.
    -curtis

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2017
    Location
    Oregon
    Posts
    47

    Default Re: Hello from another Oregonian!

    Quote Originally Posted by curtis View Post
    Just a point of clarification on the AMT and RAAL tweeters. They do not use the same technology. How they function are very different.

    Dave has an explanation in this post:
    http://forum.ascendacoustics.com/sho...tion#post44091
    Thanks curtis! Oh man, MORE reading! Its been over ten years since my time with the Legacy's and I can't recall the type of ribbon, so thanks for this! I am very excited about the prospect of hearing these RAAL's in my house (ps...how does one properly prounounce? "rawl"? rahl?)

    Thanks nate - I am SUPER anal about how I place my front line, including TV height and center. I prefer to have the TV a couple of inches shorter so the center matches my viewing height of 38", but had need to accomodate that monster Horizon. Still trying to find a TV stand that will meet my requirements. But like I said, I'm pretty sure I'll be custom making something. Everything out there is either too tall or not enough room for an 11" center speaker.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Posts
    15

    Default Re: Hello from another Oregonian!

    Quote Originally Posted by Brady View Post
    I'll try attaching an image of what I'm looking at. They just don't make TV stands like this! Might have to custom build my own, unless anyone has ideas or knows a mfg that builds to these kinds of specs....

    TV Stand EDIT (102 of 1).JPG
    Brady,

    The #5 post for http://forum.ascendacoustics.com/sho...resso-speakers has a link to a business that they used to get a custom riser for a Horizon. This member also posted a picture on the #7 post.

    David

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2015
    Location
    Houston, Texas
    Posts
    1,390

    Default Re: Hello from another Oregonian!

    Brady,
    Syracuse risers - I purchased a riser from them in 2015 for use with my S2 center.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2017
    Location
    Oregon
    Posts
    47

    Default Re: Hello from another Oregonian!

    Quote Originally Posted by racrawford65 View Post
    Brady,
    Syracuse risers - I purchased a riser from them in 2015 for use with my S2 center.
    I've looked into that option- good idea there.

    I worry - enclosing/boxing up the Horizon seems less than optimal? My gut tells me to give that monster some breathing room? Maybe not have the box fully enclose the speaker, but just the rear 2/3 of it?

    I've drawn this up using the riser idea and it puts the TV a bit higher than ideal, but maybe it an accceptable trade off.

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

    Default Re: Hello from another Oregonian!

    Quote Originally Posted by Brady View Post
    I've looked into that option- good idea there.

    I worry - enclosing/boxing up the Horizon seems less than optimal? My gut tells me to give that monster some breathing room? Maybe not have the box fully enclose the speaker, but just the rear 2/3 of it?

    I've drawn this up using the riser idea and it puts the TV a bit higher than ideal, but maybe it an accceptable trade off.
    The horizon is front ported and placing it in a riser will not compromise performance. What you don't want to do is have the speaker positioned so that any part of the riser is extruding past the front baffle. Ideally, you would want the horizon to fit snug into the riser with no gaps and such that the front baffle of the horizon extends forward of the riser by at least an inch or two.

    Hope this makes sense!
    .
    .
    .
    Good Sound To You!

    David Fabrikant
    www.ascendacoustics.com

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2017
    Location
    Oregon
    Posts
    47

    Default Re: Hello from another Oregonian!

    Good news- talked wife into flush mounting the TV to the wall, so can dial in the perfect center channel placement with a stand.

    I ran into Philharmonic Audio over the weekend and it made me curious. Lots of similarities with the Ascend line (and large divergences as well...like those monster "3s"!). Can anyone compare/contrast with Ascend?

    Also, anyone in the Portland,OR area with Sierra-2s or Towers that wouldn't mind showing them off to a fellow enthusiast?

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