Help Wanted: 340SE or 170SE vs. Paradigm and Positioning questions

[Cork33]

Hello Ascenders,
I'm a budget and quality concious newbie that is in the process of building a new HT system. I plan on using my sytem 50% for music and 50% for movies and television. I have an HK 340 AVR and I am currently shopping for speakers. I plan on spending $1500 at the most and purchasing my speakers in segments over a period of a year as follows (planned budget):

1st - Left Front & Right Front ($500)
2nd - Center ($350)
3rd - Sub ($300)
4th - Surround Left and Right ($350)

Of course like every other budget conscious consumer I want the most bang for my buck and in this particular case I am most concerned with the actual sound of the bang. I had all but settled on Paradigm in particular the new Titan v5 which are now part of the montor line but during the audition I had also listened to the new Studio 20's v4 and soon found myself wondering if I should blow my budget and timeline and step up to the Reference Series. That is when I began to research more and dig deeper and I found out about Ascend Acoustics.

After lots of additional research I'm almost ready to take the leap and order the Ascends for an in home audition but I still have a couple of questions and concerns.

1. I don't know if I should go with the 170SE or 340SE? Especially with music am I going to get all of the sound, and depth that I want with the 170SE or is that enough reason to step up to the 340SE? My current room is 12X20 and my set up is on the width if the room with a large window at one end and a bar/cutout that leads to the kitchen on the other end?

2. As far as the set up goes I would be buying the matching stands for whatever set I decide to purchase but I am most concerned with the rear porting and the distance that these speakers need to be placed from the wall because my set up is on the 12 ft width of my room I can't envision them floating 2 feet off the wall. What is a good distace? Next I have a door leading into a bedroom on the wall where my entertainment center cutout is so I can either position the speakers 6ft apart with little or no toe in to the listening position or 13ft apart with more toe in. Any suggestions, or concerns?

Thank you for taking the time to read my post. I look forward to getting you input and opinions.
"Cork33"

[curtis]

More music than HT....is that a fair assumption?

If you are staying strictly within the budget, I think you would do fine with 170SE all the way around (this option if you think you will get into multichannel music); or 170SE's for L/R, 340SEc for center, HTM-200's for surrounds(this option if you think your music listening will be mostly 2-channel).

In each case, I would add what is leftover to the subwoofer budget because your space, I think you will need a larger sub than what $300 can get you. Don't skimp on the sub, you need something to match the sound quality of the Ascends.

If crossing the speakers at 80hz, a foot from the wall for the speakers should be fine.

[Cork33]

Thank you for the input Curtis.

My budget of $1500 is not set in stone, plus or minus 25% will be fine and the amounts that I have allocated for each item were just estimates that will be adjusted as I learn more from folks like you who are willing to offer their advice and input.

Yes I will be using the system a bit more for music than movies but I really need an overall performer as I listen to all kinds of music from jazz and clasiccal to rock, metal and even top 40 rap and R&B.

Based on a plus 25% budget of $1875 how would you possibly allocate the monies to end up with a 5.1 system over the course of a year.

[curtis]

well....it puts you a bit over budget, but I think it is worth it.

You didn't ask about them....but I would do three Sierras up front, HTM-200's for surrounds, and a Hsu VTF-2MK3 subwoofer.

Or within budget:

Three CMT-340SE's up front, CBM-170SE's for surrounds(or HTM-200's to lower the costs further and easier mounting), and the VTF-2MK3.

[muzz]

I think the Sub is MUCH more important than the surround channels myself, so I'd allocate more to the sub as curtis suggested.

[bdfin]

I agree, I would put more $ to the sub. I have the VTF-2 MK3 sub and it would cover any of the other speaker combo's suggested above easily, with some probably left over. It's nice to have high quality or matching surrounds, but the money would be better spent on the sub and then decent surrounds.

[Cork33]

Thank you all for your advice. I just got off the phone with Dave and after getting his input I ordered the 340's. Looking forward to beginning the audition next week !!