Ascend 340se's with alternate stands

[lifelong]

In case anyone wanted to know how they look before buying w/ alternate stands, here is a pic of mine (yes, I know I have some wire cleanup to do in the back). This is a Wood Technology MU-24 stand. I liked the monitor look better than the pseudo-floor stander look.

edit: also, the mu-24's are fillable and have a concealed wire path in one of the rear posts. they come with rubber feet and spikes.

[MikeS]

Here's my stands, Sanus SF30b, they are fillable.

http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/7613/subs9xb.th.jpg (http://img66.imageshack.us/my.php?image=subs9xb.jpg)

[steveklein]

Hey guys. My first post, been lurking for a long time now and decided on going with Ascend over a few other brands based on word of mouth. Seriously, I've tried to get audiophiles say something bad about this product but I have been unsuccessful... they must be dynamite.

Anyways... my proposed 5.1 setup:

Ascend 340SE's L/C/R
Ascend HTM-200 rears
SVS PB-12 NSD sub (May still go with a Hsu sub from Ascend... but I've heard great, great things about the SVS subs)

Anyways, I was going to use CBM-170SE's for my fronts and just the 340 for the center channel... but I think I'm just going to splurge and get 340s across the whole front (who am I kidding... I was splurging with the 170s!)

The problem is the weight. At 26 pounds apiece, it seems I don't have many options when it comes to speaker stands. While I think I will love the Ascend speakers, I can't say the same about their 340 speaker stand. I want something a little more modern looking (monitor/bookshelf look). I was going to go with the OmniMount Cosmic 31

http://www.zalmar.com/images/cosmic-31.jpg

...but rated at 20 pounds, I fear it wouldn't hold the 26 pound 340s. I'd love to know what my options are for this type of look. Building my own stands... not really an option either. Any ideas?

[curtis]

have you checked out what is available at www.racksandstands.com?

[steveklein]

have you checked out what is available at www.racksandstands.com?


i have, but none of the stands i've found indicate how much weight they are able to support... and that's really what is in question here.

[lifelong]

i have, but none of the stands i've found indicate how much weight they are able to support... and that's really what is in question here.

Mine are Wood Technology MU-24's (http://www.wood-tech.com/product.php?cat=ss&series=mu) and they haven't broken or warped yet. They have 3 metal pillars and the base is MDF, so I'm assuming they'll be fine. But if something happens to them, I'll post another reply to this thread. Another thing you should check is the size of the top plate. The size of my stands' top plate is 6.5" square, which seems to work fine with the 7"x9" 340se.

[jermy4]

If you are concerned about the weight of the speakers on the stands I would recommend getting a set of stands that are fillable and fill them up with sand. Seems like the stands that are fillable are more sturdy and the setup won't be as top heavy when filled with sand.

[steveklein]

If you are concerned about the weight of the speakers on the stands I would recommend getting a set of stands that are fillable and fill them up with sand. Seems like the stands that are fillable are more sturdy and the setup won't be as top heavy when filled with sand.



do you think a stand rated at 20 pounds that is filled with sand will support the 26 pound 340s?

[jermy4]

do you think a stand rated at 20 pounds that is filled with sand will support the 26 pound 340s?
Not sure. The ones I have a very heavy metal. With the sand in them, they are very stable. Of course I'm talking about my 170s which I'm sure are quite a bit lighter than your 340s.

[Eddie]

...but rated at 20 pounds, I fear it wouldn't hold the 26 pound 340s. I'd love to know what my options are for this type of look. Building my own stands... not really an option either. Any ideas?

Get the MU-24s in the first post. Amazon.com has the best price btw. I've had mine also with the 340s for over a year, not a problem...they could probably support speakers weighing twice as much, extremely sturdy and best of all very easy to assemble.

Instead of sand, I would use lead shot if I were filling them again.

[JHZR2]

what is the matter with the ascend stands... other than if you desire a monitor look, which those doent provide...

Any other reasopn NOT to buy the ascend stands???

Thanks,

JMH

[Eddie]

Any other reasopn NOT to buy the ascend stands???

Nope. They can hold tons of sand or lead shot, great if you have kids or pets that might knock over lighter stands.

[Jonnyozero3]

Oooh I like these:

http://www.audio-video-furniture.com/Lovan-AF2-2400-Affiniti-24--Steel-Speaker-Stands.htm

In piano black...

[killwiggles]

Does anyone have any other stand suggestions for the 340? Something metal perhaps?

[JockItch]

I purchased these, 30" in Rosewood (http://www.studiotech.com/products/speaker_stands/ultra_series/index.html), for my 340SE's. I've already filled them up with 50lbs of lead shot a piece so they're nice and sturdy now. Now all I'm waiting on are the 340SE's to finally ship :p

[RJW]

Oooh I like these:

http://www.audio-video-furniture.com/Lovan-AF2-2400-Affiniti-24--Steel-Speaker-Stands.htm

In piano black...

man, those are nice stands! I may get those when my 340's come in.

[JHZR2]

OK, I need to add to this thread now...

Ive bought my setup, two 340SE's and the small Hsu sub... good for listening to music, and watching movides augmented with two-channel real speaker power, not just the TV speakers.

My package from Ascend should come to my doorstep tomorrow...

Since the ascend stands were backordered and the fiancee preferred the wood technology stands (MU-24) as shows in the picture in the first post, I got them, and put them together tonight.

My one question is this: Given that the top plate for the MU-24 stands are 6.5"x6.5", i.e. smaller than the footprint of the CMT-340SE speakers, and given that there is no securing plate on these stands to firmly attach the speakers, how do you best attach the speakers to the stands to ensure that they do not fall off, in the case of a cat or child being around????

Thanks!

JMH

[Jonnyozero3]

I think some guys use "blu-tack" or double-sided sticky stuff.

I just banish all cats and children from my home :)

[JHZR2]

hmmm... I sure hope there is a more mechanical solution... Though going by the looks of these stands now that Ive put them together, Im not so sure.

Thanks!

JMH