1-2-3-4-I-declare-a-thumb-war...
1. Yes, I think so: You can use the "Dual 1/4 x 20 threaded inserts for trouble-free and secure mounting to popular wall mount brackets." I think you'd have to make something up yourself to connect some sort of L bracket from the speaker to the stand, but I doubt it would be too much trouble considering the crash n smash issue ;)
http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages...170featrs.html
2. The frequencey response of the CBM-170s and the 340s are very very linear. From what I've heard from my own ears and from what others say, I doubt they'd be bad for any kind of music as long as you have a sub like you say. They are very unforgiving though - they are so accurate that they don't hide bad recordings. Some of my cds don't sound as good anymore because...frankly...they were crap to begin with but I never knew until now :D
3. See #2 - I believe studio monitors need to be extremely accurate and true to the source, reproducing sound in a faithful manner to the original. The Ascends fit this discription very well.
See:
http://www.soundstagemagazine.com/me...ascend_cbm170/
4. I used to do the same in my truck with my 4-way 6.5" Pioneers, but I find now after listening to the ascends for just about a week that I am already becoming sensitive to overdriven freqencies. It sounds better and more natural to me when the sound is "correct" and balanced. I know it makes you think "flat" but don't think of that in a negative way. Either way, the Ascends will play however you want them to since you have an EQ. I say if you get some, try it both ways and see what you end up liking. At $328 they're a steal....
5. They seem strong to me, but I haven't had them at extremely high volumes. I have heard they can play very loud without distortion. Check the link in #3 above - they actually tested the CBM-170 at a higher level because it did so well (loud with little distortion) they had to push it further. I also think that site has measurements of other speakers to compare against. I think those CBM-170s are amazing for the money - just look at that freq response!
Anyhow, I delibrated over many different brands for a long time: Aperion, Axiom, Rocket, PSB, Paradigm, etc etc and settled with Ascend. I am very happy & definately say you should give them a listen.
Where do you live? If you're near another Ascend owner from the forum I'm sure they'd let you come over for a listening session (I would if you're near Omaha, NE).
mmmmmmmmmm...greasy...(homer drool)...
Quote:
IMO, eq'ing the Ascends would be like putting half a bottle of ketchup on a $200 steak (and conversely, since I'm speaking in metaphors here, the Kenwoods I have would be like a cheap greasy hamburger - in other words, the more ketchup, onions, mushroom, bacon, and cheese, the better).
...dang it...maybe I should skip breakfast and get a burger. Or maybe a cheap steak.....
Anyhow, what about EQ'ing to flatten out the in-room response? Like using Harman Kardon's EzSet/EQ or a BFD (toward the upper range of the lower stuff)...that probably is a good idea right?