Hey Im Chris!

[Mag_Neato]

Welcome to the forum, Chris!

As I only have a pair of 170's as my main L/R speakers, I can only comment on these. Like your Axioms, my old B&W's had "Ear-bleeding" highs at higher volumes(they were bright at low volumes too, just not as bad). The Ascends removed the harsh highs and smoothed them out. I gained better midrange as well, though the Axioms are known for their mids as well. As far as soundstage...that may have more to do with room layout and/or speaker placement. I only have one location I can have my speakers and they image pretty good. I know if I moved them closer together they would get better, but I don't have that option right now. Curtis and others here could comment better on the center and surround speakers from Ascend. If they are better than the 170's you won't be disappointed!

Ed

[curtis]

Chris, welcome to the forum.

I believe, on Audio Asylum, somebody posted something about the Ascends CBM-170 compared to a Triangle Titus....I never read it, but it was mentioned in another forum.

I have also read unfavorable remarks about the Axioms centers...have you tried the VP150?

If you hear a pair of Ascends, let us know what you think. I could swear there was an Ascend owner in the Boston area, but I do not see one listed in our demo list.

-curtis

[ChrisC]

I ran through home theater forum and didnt see any type or ascend vs. triangle review.
I havent heard the VP 150.
Its funny some people on the forums say they find very similar to the VP100, and othes say the VP150 is much better. I guess you really need to hear it for yourself.
I found the soundstage from the M22s to be very nice. With the Vp100, all of the vocals and music running through it sounded very small. I tried adjusting everything I could, and it still sounded like it was coming from a small box. I also understand that this was just my room and my experience
-I have read that the CBM170's are very transparent and disappear. Thats exactly what I am looking for

[Eddie Horton]

I have the CMT-340 mains, a CMT-340 center, and CBM-170's for surround duty. The soundstage for the front 3 is seamless from left to right. When playing DVD-Audio or SACD through my Ascends, the music is enveloping and doesn't seem to come from "boxes". I've had several friends comment on how good the sound was, and even the wife, who doesn't give a rip about my hobby, loves them. Yesterday I spent some time in a local high end audio/video store. I listened to several selections from Martin Logan, Monitor Audio, and Jamo. I must say that I did hear a set of speakers that sounded better than my Ascends. However, this particular pair cost a whopping SIX times what my CMT-340's cost per pair, and did not sound six times as good. Not even close. My Ascends are hands down the best decision I've made in my HT purchases. The center channel is detailed and never boxy. The mains rock and the CBM-170's do a wonderful job with surround and hi-res multichannel music. Nuff said.

[metalaaron]

Chris,
the last thing you want to do is be unhappy. that's true in all aspects of life. :)

i tried the ascends and they were just what i was looking for in terms of sound reproduction, price, and selection. so many other speakers had such a large difference when panning across the soundstage with their various speakers.

try the 170s. shipping is cheap. you and your wife will be the ultimate judge of the sound. whatever makes you guys happy. :)

[curtis]

Chris,

What are you using for a subwoofer?

-curtis

[ChrisC]

Im using the HSU Stf-2
but....that new SVS is making me think.

[bikeman]

I'm considering the SVS-10 as well but if I already had the STF-2, I'd be updating my center and surrounds first. The SVS will go lower but I'm concerned it may not be up to the Hsu for music reproduction. I'm still on the fence.
Should have my 340's in a couple weeks. Still waiting on the stands. Thank goodness the weather's perfect. I don't spend much time listening to music when it's this nice outside.

David

[curtis]

David and Chris, there is a difference in the sound in the SVS subs I have heard compared to my VTF-3. I am not sure if it is a preference thing, but I thought my VTF-3 sounded better.

So it is possible you will get deeper, but also different. Just like speakers.

-curtis

[ChrisC]

I am all set for know with my Stf-2, I think its fantastic
I am really looking forward to hearing some more speakers
Ascend 170's
JM Lab Chorus 706's
KEF Q1's

[macebanyon]

Hello Chris,
I also have the M22's and started with the M3's. I listen to music 100% of the time and was looking for something "accurate". Enter the M3"s. These are a great musical speaker, but always seemed to be lacking in the mids, so I figured, after reading the reviews, that the 22's were what I needed. Now don't get me wrong, I think the 22's are a great speaker, but are more suited for HT than music. After about 1 hour of listening I would get "listener fatigue". When I finally made the decision to purchase ANOTHER set of speakers, I was ready to jump up to the $1500. range, but for every thing I listened to, I just couldn't justify. So I finally decided to take the chance on Ascend (just 325.) Am I glad I did. Once again I can listen to HOURS of music, and feel like I didn't get enough when I'm thru. I am by no means a reviewer, so I will make no attempts at comparisons, I just know what my ears like, and they LOVE the 170's
P.S. If worried about the looks (some are) I recently finished my DIY sub, veneered in Teak wood (see thread in Other Speakers and Subs)and added some Teak veneered panels to the sides of my 170's, and these not only sound first-class, but look it too.

Good luck :)

[ChrisC]

macebanyon-
Thats exactly how I feel. I would never say the M22's are bad speakers. I think they are a very good speaker. But after a while, it just becomes too much, I hate the word bright, but I just cant listen anymore. I dont listen to them at reference levels either.
Any yes, I did have them calibrated properly.

I would really like to know what you folks think about the CMT340 center. Has anyone heard the VP100 and the CMT?

[curtis]

got any pictures of those teaked out 170's?

-curtis

[JohnnyCasaba]

ChrisC,

I have heard the M22's and Vp150 a couple of times, and to my ears, they both could be to bright for my tastes. Do a search at the Axiom board under my name, you will find my posts on the listening sessions we had between the Axioms and Ascends. I did like the Axiom's extra detail on some recordings but overall find the Ascends to give a lot of that detail without being harsh or tiring. There is a recent thread on the Axiom board about how some can't listen to their Led Zep discs because they are to harsh, I don't have that problem with the 170's. Good luck finding the right sound for you.

[macebanyon]

Hello Curtis, here are those pics...
http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrowse.asp?selected=996731

[Mag_Neato]

Sweeeeeeet! Those radiuses would be a bitch to try and veneer, huh?

I think they look great! How are they finished? How are they attached...Liquid-Nails?

Ed

[curtis]

It makes them look like ACI's!

http://www.audioc.com/speakers/Emerald/Emerald%20LE1.html



-curtis

[Eddie Horton]

Sweet!!!!!!! How'd you do it? Do tell.

[macebanyon]

Here is the process-
I used 1/8” solid oak. Lowes only sold 8” wide stock so I bought 4 pieces of the 1/8x6x24
and glued 2 of them together.
I then was able to cut 2 pieces, 11 ¼”x8 4/16” from 1 piece. Then came the inevitable sand,sand,sand.
After all 4 pieces were sanded SMOOTH, I applied my veneer.
Then I used a chamfer bit to trim about a 1/16” off of the edge. You can also use a round-over bit or just sand off the sharp edge if you prefer.
Once again you will have to sand the edges, getting them smooth as possible. I used a Walnut stain to match the Teak as close as possible. After allowing the stain to dry about 12 hours, I again lightly sanded the whole panel, key word is lightly, because the veneer isn’t real thick and you don’t want to sand thru. You can skip the veneer process and just stain the whole panel to your preference.
I then shot the panels with 5 light coats of lacquer, and then shot 1 heavy coat, allowing about 1 hour dry time between coats.
After 3 days of curing, I lightly buffed with a 0000 steel wool.
I then taped of the edges of the speaker, leaving an exposed part of the speaker vinyl about 11”x 8 2/16”. Then lightly scuff with a 220-grit sandpaper. The tape will protect the part of the vinyl that will show after applying the panels. Re-tape if necessary. Then tape off the underside of the panels, about 1/8” around all edges. Apply contact cement to both sides, let set 30 min. then remove tape. VERY CAREFULLY line up one panel at a time and set into place. Anyone having used contact cement before knows that once you let the 2 cemented sides touch, there is no going back. BE VERY PATIENT!
Once all panels are in place, lay the speaker on its side and use some heavy weight to “clamp” for about 4 hours. You can use wax paper to protect your finished panels from being scratched.
That’s it.
Good luck to anyone giving it a try.

[Derek]

Very nice!

Derek

[curtis]

so....are you taking orders? [:D]

-curtis

[bikeman]

I couldn't afford to hire Mace. That is some serious labor intensive work. Great job, Mace. Could I borrow some of your patience? [:D]

David

[Mag_Neato]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Arial, Verdana, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by curtis

It makes them look like ACI's!

http://www.audioc.com/speakers/Emerald/Emerald%20LE1.html



-curtis

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

But do they SOUND like ACI's?

Ed

[curtis]

I have read where between the two someone prefered the ACI Emerald and someone prefered the CBM-170.

-curtis

[Ben_Wood]

As others have already said, "VERY nice"!

[curtis]

I think you should start a production line and make maybe a bunch of panels....I bet they would sell.

-curtis

[Mag_Neato]

Yeah...maybe you could work out a deal with David and he could offer them through the Ascend website as a finish option! You could have them for the 340's as well. If you offered them as a DIY add-on, include instructions on how to attach them to the speakers.

Extra money for more HT toys!!!

Ed

[Eddie Horton]

Hell, I'd buy.

[macebanyon]

And where would I find time to listen to music???

Thanks guys

[Mag_Neato]

While you are cranking out those panels [;)]

Ed

[Mag_Neato]

You guys wanna see something REALLY SICK?!!

http://ubb.outlawaudio.com/ubb/Forum6/HTML/000505.html

DIY to the extreme!

Ed