any ascend owners in the (se) CT area

[rollin]

Hello all, Just wondering if there's any owners in my area that would be willing to let me listen to their setup. Thanks.

[sensibull]

I'm in Bloomfield (just outside Hartford), but my system is kind of in flux at the moment. My receiver (HK 635) is currently being replaced, so right now I'm just running my 340s in stereo off an older Denon (still sound great tho).

I should be back in business in a couple weeks. Let me know if you want to set something up. Timing might be kind of weird, as I have young twins and cranking music after hours is not possible. Would have be more of a daytime thing. FWIW, I also have a 340 center, and a pair of 170s that I'm using in another room.

[rollin]

sensibull, Thanks for the reply. Yea that would be great, I just bought a HK 630 and was thinking of pairing a set of 340's with it. So this would be a perfect oppurtunity to really get a feal for what they can do. I live in Windham so the drive would not be a big deal. BTW i have three little ones myself (youngest is 3 months) so i know all about loud music in the wee hours of the night. Cool... really looking forward to it.

[sensibull]

Sounds good. I'll post back when I'm all set up again. If you don't hear from me in, say, three weeks, post again to remind me.

"sensibull"
(a.k.a. Mike - mgbaughan@comcast.net)

[sensibull]

Just a quick update Rollin. The service center dragged its feet in returning my HK 635, so it looks like HK won't be getting it 'til the 16th, at which point they'll send out my replacement. Unfortunately, that means I won't be able to host the audition until after Thanksgiving.

Hope the delay isn't fouling you up.

[rollin]

It shouldnt be a problem at all, Would you mind at all if i brought a couple of polk rt25i along with me? I realize the Ascends will probably blow these completly out of the water but i'd just like to get a feel for what I've been missing.

[curtis]

The RT25i has a single 5.25" mid/woofer...right? You should be able to dicern the differences right away without even hooking them up....just bring music you are familiar with. Then again, A/Bing is always fun.

[sensibull]

Well, if you really want to A/B, the old Denon ProLogic receiver (AVR900) I'm using in the interim has a true A/B switch and according to this (http://202.186.86.35/audio/story.asp?file=/1996/7/11shah) old review essentially operates like a dedicated stereo amp (the front two channels are discrete/not bridged with the others) when in stereo mode. Only 60W per channel, and it won't be as accurate an assessment of what you'd get with your HK 630, though...

Up to you...

[rollin]

Yea just a single 5.25. I'd rather get the more accurate assesment, So I'lll just go off of memory. Which shouldn't be very hard since I've been using these for what seems like forever. But can't complain, they've been really good to me, Thats probably why I'm having such a hard time putting them up on ebay.
Have a couple of Q's for ya

In your opinion what sounds the best sounding music genre?

My living room is 17x14x8(with large opening to the kitchen), Is this too small a room for the 340's? overkill?

and sensibull, Are you running a sub in your system?

[bikeman]

My living room is 17x14x8(with large opening to the kitchen), Is this too small a room for the 340's? overkill?
I can answer this one. Definitely not overkill. These are bookshelf speakers. A room your size is going to work just fine.

David

[sensibull]

I'd rather get the more accurate assesment, So I'lll just go off of memory.

You're welcome to still bring the Polks when we do it with the HK. It will just require a bit of a delay to switch.



In your opinion what['s] .... the best sounding music genre?

Yikes, that's a tall order. I assume you mean on the Ascends? It's almost universally agreed that they shine the most on acoustic guitar, followed closely by female vocals. But, really, anything that's mastered well will sound great with them. Conversely, anything that's mastered/recorded poorly will not be able to hide its flaws. If there's any downside to Ascends, it's that they're like wearing a superhuman hearing aid.


and sensibull, Are you running a sub in your system?

Typically, yes. I have a Dayton 10" (also known as the Tiny Mighty). Fine for HT, not so refined for music. I was in the middle of trying to tame it (i.e. flatten its frequency response) with a combination of the HK's EQ and a Behringer Feedback Destroyer when the volume encoder on the HK went on the fritz. My Denon has a sub pre-out, but no crossover control, so I'm just running 340s in stereo at the moment. When I get the replacement 635, I might take the BFD out of the loop though, to make my life a bit easier ;-)

oh, and I agree with David (Bikeman). 340s will not be overkill for your room, though they do greatly benefit by having some room behind them.

[rollin]

ohhhhh....acoustics and female voices, a couple of my favorite artists are Norah jones and Kaki King. I simply cannot wait to hear these. (sorry sensibull...No pressure intended)


If there's any downside to Ascends, it's that they're like wearing a superhuman hearing aid.

Funny you sholuld say this... as My wife stands behind me, She says "well maybe we could strap these to the side of your head." Gosh I love her.

[sensibull]

a couple of my favorite artists are Norah jones and Kaki King. I simply cannot wait to hear these. (sorry sensibull...No pressure intended)

I'll have to dig up a beauty of a live recording I have of Norah sitting in with Charlie Hunter, before she hit it big. She does killer renditions of Nick Drake's "Day is Done," "More Than This" by Bryan Ferry/Roxy Music, "Turn Me On" (Nina Simone, I think), and the "Tennesse Waltz."

Kaki King I've heard wonderful things about...


Funny you sholuld say this... as My wife stands behind me, She says "well maybe we could strap these to the side of your head." Gosh I love her.

Don't tell her I said so, but they're liable to have the opposite effect to the one she implies ("What's that honey? I didn't hear you. I was off in a musical reverie again...")

[sensibull]

I just sent you an email, but I'm back in business if you still want an audition. Let me know...