Best Speaker for Wides with RAAL Tower?

[SteveR]

I am planning on using the Towers and Horizon with RAAL for my from LCR. My side and rear surrounds will be 170se speakers.

My concern it trying to get a speaker for the frond Wide locations that is timber matched to the other front speakers but is not too large to wall mount.

Any suggestions?
Steve

[Dread Pirate Robert]

Have you considered the Sierra-1 NrT or maybe the upcoming Sierra-2? Those could be mounted on the wall with the Pinpoint AM-40 (http://www.pinpointmounts.com/am40.html). For that matter, this mount may even be able to handle the Horizon oriented vertically. :)

[choirbass]

As far as timbre matching, every one of Ascends speakers are timbre matched to one another. Given that, a typically ideal surround as you're wanting would be the HTM-200 SE. It's small enough and sealed, so wall mounting isn't an issue, and again, similar enough to where it won't just stand out acoustically.

[SteveR]

As far as timbre matching, every one of Ascends speakers are timbre matched to one another. Given that, a typically ideal surround as you're wanting would be the HTM-200 SE. It's small enough and sealed, so wall mounting isn't an issue, and again, similar enough to where it won't just stand out acoustically.


I was considering the 170s for the side and rear surrounds due to their better frequency response as I intend to use SACDs for this setup so better speakers for surrounds would seem to be prudent. Nothing against the 200s but I believe (have not heard any of these) the 170s would be my best bang for the buck.

The front wides don't have to be as good as the towers since they are essentially surround speakers but in the front. I have considered the Sierras but they don't come in matte black. If they did, I would most likely do them for the wides.

[davef]

As far as timbre matching, every one of Ascends speakers are timbre matched to one another. Given that, a typically ideal surround as you're wanting would be the HTM-200 SE. It's small enough and sealed, so wall mounting isn't an issue, and again, similar enough to where it won't just stand out acoustically.

I agree 100%... HTM's would be highly recommended.

[SteveR]

OK, color me confused....

The 170s also have a wall mount female thread so I assumed they could be wall mounted. How far out from the wall do they need to go to allow the port to "breathe"?

I am still wondering why everyone is suggesting the 200s instead of the 170s for multichannel audio and HT use. I would think the better speakers should be used as surround with the modern surround effects today as well as SACD full surround music.

Thank you all for your replies.

[Dread Pirate Robert]

The 170s also have a wall mount female thread so I assumed they could be wall mounted.

They certainly can be, but their size and weight put a lot of stress on most mounts that screw into the threaded inserts. For instance, the OmniMount 20.0, though supposedly rated for 20 lbs, can just barely hold the 170SE up if you CRANK down until the metal parts literally bite into the plastic ball (some people need tools with more leverage to do this); otherwise, it may sag over time. To mount my 170SEs on the wall, I use the aforementioned Pinpoint AM-40 instead, which holds them easily and puts less stress on the wall; the AM-40 can also handle even much larger and heavier speakers. Its main drawback is that it is large and doesn't essentially disappear like the OmniMount 20.0 and some other mounts do.


How far out from the wall do they need to go to allow the port to "breathe"?

About 3-4 inches is all that is necessary, especially since they will (I presume) be crossed over at 80 Hz. That's not a problem for either of the above mounts.


I am still wondering why everyone is suggesting the 200s instead of the 170s for multichannel audio and HT use.

That's the usual suggestion because they're much smaller, which makes them easier to mount and integrate into one's decor, and they're capable enough to handle surround duties for just about everybody. In fact, I've found that the current SE version can be used as front speakers even in fairly sizable rooms without sacrificing much performance, which is ideal for those who prefer to use the smallest possible speakers even up front.


I would think the better speakers should be used as surround with the modern surround effects today as well as SACD full surround music.

That's why I use the 170SE for my surrounds. ;) But based on my experience and testing, I think I'd be pretty happy with the 200SE about 99% of the time. If it had been available at the time, I might have gone with the 200SE for surrounds, but I can't say that I regret going with the 170SE at all (and as a bonus, the latter is more efficient, which helps my poor AVR cope with my demands).

[SteveR]

My current thinking is go with the 200SEs for the side and rear surrounds. They will work better in my room due to have double doors at the rear of the room and the smaller speakers will be more out of the way of the doors and people movement.

I am still dwelling on the front wides...I think I am going to go with either a 170SE or a 340SE instead of the Sierra-1. I don't think there will be enough detailed information in that channel to warrant that good of a speaker at that location so I am looking for a smaller and less expensive alternative but one that will match the RAAL front at some level...again this is a front firing Wide channel so I am unsure what to expect from the content in that since I have never heard a system with them.

Thanks again for your replies.

[Dekpm19]

What is the best way to mount the 200se or which wall mount to use with the 200se's? i would want them as close to the wall as I can get them.
Thanks
Allen

[choirbass]

The closest you could get them I would think is to install them in wall, but that may also be unrealistic to do. A less demanding option is to install or use shelves to place them on, that way they can be flush against a wall.

[curtis]

I recall someone using the mounting screws on the 200SE in conjunction with some sort of the keyhole or wire picture hanger type mount on a wall.

I found pictures!!

http://changpics.smugmug.com/Other/Audio/i-xfqgDPm/0/M/200_bracket-M.jpg
http://changpics.smugmug.com/Other/Audio/i-5PRL2rP/0/M/200_on_wall-M.jpg

Old pics...look at the address in the top pic.

[curtis]

Here are how mine are mounted. I found an inexpensive mount at Home Depot that did exactly what I wanted:

http://changpics.smugmug.com/Other/Ascend-Acoustics-pictures/i-hr2H52J/0/M/photo2-M.jpg

http://changpics.smugmug.com/Other/Ascend-Acoustics-pictures/i-f6ZW3jx/0/M/photo3-M.jpg

[billy p]

I ordered the 200's for surround...I'm using the Axiom metal bracket for my Q's at this time. I hope they'll work with the 200's but the Axiom bracket only has a sigle bolt fastener...those keyhole or picture style thingys look interesting, if I'm in a pinch....I just don't know if I'm comfortable putting holes in my brand new speakers with a custom finish or worst...effect the warranty?

[curtis]

I ordered the 200's for surround...I'm using the Axiom metal bracket for my Q's at this time. I hope they'll work with the 200's but the Axiom bracket only has a sigle bolt fastener...those keyhole or picture style thingys look interesting, if I'm in a pinch....I just don't know if I'm comfortable putting holes in my brand new speakers with a custom finish or worst...effect the warranty?
I don't have a better picture, so I don't know exactly how keyhole thing was done.

I would also think that fastening a wire between two mounting bolts, and then hanging them like a picture would work.

[davef]

What is the best way to mount the 200se or which wall mount to use with the 200se's? i would want them as close to the wall as I can get them.
Thanks
Allen

For flush mounting the 200's, I recommend using these: http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=31559&site=ROCKLER

You will need to screw them into the cabinet, but they work great.

[avsnoob10]

Do HTM cabinets have threaded holes for flush mount?

[Dekpm19]

Thanks for the thoughts on how to mount them. I also thought about cutting the sheet rock and putting them into the wall so they wouldn't stick out so far. Then I would make black frames around them like the picture frames my wife buys for pictures. This system is more for 2 channel so the surrounds are not that imporyant to me as far as being able to aiming the speakers.
Thanks
Allen

[davef]

Do HTM cabinets have threaded holes for flush mount?

The 200's have dual 1/4-20 threaded inserts on the rear baffle of the speaker. These can be used for mounting the speakers but I am not sure how well they would work for flush mounting.

[SteveR]

As an update to the tread I started...I decided on the Sierra-1s for wide and the 200SEs for side and rear surrounds.

Thanks for the mounting ideas...I am looking at some Pinpoint or B-tech mounts as possibilities.