I Officially Joined the Family

[Audiator]

My beautiful satin dark cherry Sierra Towers arrived yesterday evening. I had them up and running within 45 minutes. It didn't take long for me to form the opinion that they were keepers. I only ran the towers solo without the sub, and will continue to do so until the weekend. The towers were spaced almost 6 ft. apart, 2.5 feet from the side walls, and 1 ft from the wall in back of them with a very slight toe-in. My ears were 7 feet from the speakers. I was a little disillusioned for the first few minutes, as the sound quality was a little underwhelming. Then I realized that they were running in multi-channel mode. When I changed to Stereo DSD Direct, the magic started, and my frown turned into a smile.

I've been reading owner's posts for the last 3 months that describe them as smooth, clear, accurate, and natural. I wholeheartedly concur that all of the terms apply to these marvelous speakers. I ordered the Dire Straits "Brothers in Arms" SACD and Hans Zimmer "Live in Prague" just so that I could play them for my innaguaral session with them. I reclined back in my chair with my feet elevated, closed my eyes, and experienced the fabled "phantom center". I unexpectedly heard sounds that caused me to instinctively open my eyes, and I discovered that something special had entered my spatial, material, and emotional realm. Yes, the music was that good, in a small untreated room with no calibration or subwoofer. I will post again over the weekend with new revelations. I'm tired, and am ready for bed. I'll be baaaack!

Thank you Dave, Dina, and the entire crew of Ascend!

[RPM]

Congrats! Your distance setting is the same as mine and I love it. You will only
Be happier as you get more time with them. When I added the F12 sub to the towers it was the final
Icing on the cake. Enjoy!!

[Audiator]

Thanks RPM. I just added my SVS PC4000 sub this morning, and yes, it is the icing on the cake. But, on the other hand, I have 2 HTM 200se's coming next week, and a Horizon with RAAL coming next month. I don't know how much better the music can get. The extra speakers will definitely enhance the HT experience though.

I'm just listening to music here all day. I don't want to leave this room! I'll play a movie tonight. My wife understands my obsession, and is ok with it for the time being, although she has asked that I hold off on any additional AV purchases for a few months! There are still a few things that I "need" such as an SPL meter, Dirac Calibration, and acoustic panel wall treatments.

Attached is a photo of what I have so far. 1819

Don

[whitey019]

Welcome

[Jack1949]

Don,

Glad to hear that you're enjoying your new towers. I hope they give you many years of pleasure.

Jack

[Audiator]

Thanks Whitey and Jack!

Don.

[Audiator]

I just received my new HTM 200 se speakers today. I intend to use them as side surrounds, but today, just for kicks, I set them up as mains. I just put a cloth on the top of each of my sierra Towers, set the 200's on them, and plugged the Tower speaker cables into the 200's. They didn't sound great in the 2.0 configuration, but when I included my SVS PC4000 sub crossed over at 100hz they sounded like completely different speakers! I'm floored by the musical sound quality emitted from these little gems.

I need to get some advice from Dave or the knowldgable members. I don't have speaker stands for the "side surround" HTM 200se's yet. In fact, because of the small room size (11x13x8), I would rather mount on the walls. However, there is no available free space to wall mount on the sides. They would have to be mounted on the back 11 ft. wall, 4 feet behind my listening position. In addition, they would have to be mounted about 1 ft. from the ceiling. This position would entail pointing the speakers down at a sharp angle to my listening position, wouldn't it? Is this mounting position feasable for great sound?

I have the Audysey xt32 for calibration. I already have the Omni Mounts, but I decided that I better ask before I mount them.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Don

[davef]

My beautiful satin dark cherry Sierra Towers arrived yesterday evening. I had them up and running within 45 minutes. It didn't take long for me to form the opinion that they were keepers. I only ran the towers solo without the sub, and will continue to do so until the weekend. The towers were spaced almost 6 ft. apart, 2.5 feet from the side walls, and 1 ft from the wall in back of them with a very slight toe-in. My ears were 7 feet from the speakers. I was a little disillusioned for the first few minutes, as the sound quality was a little underwhelming. Then I realized that they were running in multi-channel mode. When I changed to Stereo DSD Direct, the magic started, and my frown turned into a smile.

I've been reading owner's posts for the last 3 months that describe them as smooth, clear, accurate, and natural. I wholeheartedly concur that all of the terms apply to these marvelous speakers. I ordered the Dire Straits "Brothers in Arms" SACD and Hans Zimmer "Live in Prague" just so that I could play them for my innaguaral session with them. I reclined back in my chair with my feet elevated, closed my eyes, and experienced the fabled "phantom center". I unexpectedly heard sounds that caused me to instinctively open my eyes, and I discovered that something special had entered my spatial, material, and emotional realm. Yes, the music was that good, in a small untreated room with no calibration or subwoofer. I will post again over the weekend with new revelations. I'm tired, and am ready for bed. I'll be baaaack!

Thank you Dave, Dina, and the entire crew of Ascend!

Excellent - very happy that you are enjoying the towers and thanks so much for putting your confidence in us!

[natetg57]

I need to get some advice from Dave or the knowldgable members. I don't have speaker stands for the "side surround" HTM 200se's yet. In fact, because of the small room size (11x13x8), I would rather mount on the walls. However, there is no available free space to wall mount on the sides. They would have to be mounted on the back 11 ft. wall, 4 feet behind my listening position. In addition, they would have to be mounted about 1 ft. from the ceiling. This position would entail pointing the speakers down at a sharp angle to my listening position, wouldn't it? Is this mounting position feasable for great sound?

I have the Audysey xt32 for calibration. I already have the Omni Mounts, but I decided that I better ask before I mount them.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Don

If I understand correctly, this will be a 4 channel system? Left, Right, and two surrounds? I heard a setup similar to this in a speaker store and it sounded good to me. You'll get effective 'surround' effects for movies. If you're listening to music in surround then there will be big gap when sounds pan from the front to the back. If that's the best you can do for now, then I would recommend going for it. If you're eventually adding more speakers to the mix, then the speakers behind you could become 'back surrounds' and you could add another set of HTM-200s or Luna's to the sides.

[Audiator]

Thanks Nate. I have a subwoofer, and a Horizon will be coming soon, so I will have a 5.1 system. Your advice seems sound and correlates to my thoughts. It seems best to get the stands, and have side surrounds, because, actually, I will probably be listening more to music than using HT. Your thinking is similar to mine, as I was thinking that the Lunas would be nice for side surrounds, and to move the 200's to wall mount rear surrounds. How'd you know that I might like the Lunas's? Brilliant minds think alike! Actually, although the 200's are very nice, I kinda wish that I had ordered the Lunas instead. Am I normal?

Everything that I have listed below has been purchased this year. It's no big deal to add another pair of small speakers to the list.... right? Please explain that to my wife!

Dave- thanks for the response.

Don

[natetg57]

I have Sierra-2s across the front (soon to be EX's!) and Luna's on the side. I love the way it all blends for multi-channel music. I'm using HTM-200s in a similar position that you described, at the top of the back wall, about 5 ft behind my listening position. They are set up as 'rear ceiling' speakers for Atmos. (the front ceiling speakers are cheap Polks but that's just because they were easy to ceiling mount in an apartment)

I think getting Luna's for side surrounds makes sense. the HTM-200s would be fine imo as back surrounds. I think our backwards hearing is a little lesser discerning than to the front or side..

[racrawford65]

I used the HTMs as side surrounds for some time whilst using S2's across the front. I thought sound was exceptional and blended very well. Moved the S2's to surround when I bought the Towers w/ RAAL for LR and Luna Duo for center. HTM's wall mounted near ceiling on front and rear walls for ATMOS heights. Quite pleased.

[Audiator]

Nate- thanks for sharing so much of your personal experience with these speakers. I also congratulate you on your future upgrade with the EX's! I would love to have a pair of them, but they would be impractical as side surrounds in this small room. Who knows? Maybe another time...another place! I'm going to have to wait a few months before I pick up the phone again to talk to Dina about ordering the Luna's. It's my wife's turn to have a few more improvements made to the house. She doesn't really care what I do with my newfound hobby as long as her needs and desires are met.

racrawford65- thanks for the affirmation from your experience. I'm going to have to order a pair of speaker stands for the HTM 200se's. Anybody have suggestions?

Don

[racrawford65]

You're welcome, Don.

As for stands, I was using Sanus (Euro series adjustable as I recall) for a while with the HTM200's in surround. However, the always seemed a bit wobbly/flimsy although never fell or lost adjustment. I had the S2's on Sanus Steel Foundations (26") when in the FL & FR position. These were more solid, IMO. With the S2s now in surround position, I have them wall mounted. I used Halter mounts from Amazon (not available any longer but there are others similar).

Happy Holidays,
Robert

[jimb]

... the EX's! I would love to have a pair of them, but they would be impractical as side surrounds in this small room. ...
racrawford65- thanks for the affirmation from your experience. I'm going to have to order a pair of speaker stands for the HTM 200se's. Anybody have suggestions?
Don
I believe Dave has recommended Luna as side surrounds over S2 (-EX?) IF you will be using a sub crossed-over at 80Hz (or higher).

[Audiator]

Thanks jimbo. Yeah the Luna has extra wide dispersion, and is front ported. It’s very conducive to tucking in close to the side walls. It’s also a more cost effective solution for side surrounds.

[jimb]

Thanks jumbo. ...
You're welcome! (But, I'm really not that big. ;))

[Audiator]

Jimb- Sorry about that! It was not intentional. I guess that I better check more carefully before I post!

Don

[jimb]

... I guess that I better check more carefully before I post!

Don
No worries. It seems like the kind of thing an auto spell check would do, too - often amusing...

[Audiator]

It's been 8 months since my last post in December last year! Onlookers would have expected a report upon my reception of the Horizon Center that was to ship in January, 2020. Well, due to a major struggle with Lyme Disease, I had to cancel my order and devote my financial resources to regaining my health. The mission has been mostly accomplished, so the order was reinstated, and I am now enjoying the addition of this marvelous speaker to my AV coral.

There is so much that could be said at this time, but that will come later. Suffice it to say that I am very impressed, and that both HT and Music has been enhanced with this new addition to my AV system. The clarity of vocals and dialog has improved even more over the stellar clarity that the Towers provide.

I want to publicly thank, Dave, Dina, and Ascend for working with me to get me to this point with the order cancelation and then the later reorder. Thanks so much, and I'm REALLY enjoying Ascend speakers!!!

[racrawford65]

Audiator - glad that you are doing better healthwise.

[Audiator]

racrawford65 - thanks!!!