Did not pull the trigger, just placed my order

[EdMartin]

Hello, guys!

This is my first post. About three or four weeks ago I placed an order consisting of 340's (l/r/c), stands for l/r, and 170's for surround, all b-stock. Yesterday I emailed Davef asking for the shipping date. Last night I checked my email, and guess what? An email from Davef telling that my speakers were shipped. I am very excited!

Shipping charges to PR are not cheap. That's why I ordered b-stock (just to save some bucks). My new speakers will replace Paradigm Mini Monitors, CC-350, and Atoms. I am keeping my SVS 25-31 CS. My receiver is a HK 525.

As soon as my equipment is properly setup I will keep you informed about my findings.

Eduardo

[bikeman]

As soon as my equipment is properly setup I will keep you informed about my findings.
Eduardo

Welcome, Eduardo. Look forward to you posting your impressions.

David

[chas]

Congrats! Looking forward to your impressions vs the mini-monitors....and how the Ascends sound with your HK.

[curtis]

Welcome!

I used to drive my 340's and 170's with an HK525....great combo. In fact, I gave the 525 to my Parents also driving 340's and 170's.

[EdMartin]

At last! The speakers are here. The four boxes were delivered yesterday. My neighbor received them. This morning I assembled the stands and had to go out again. Maybe tonight I will get the speakers connected. I will keep you informed.

Eduardo

[EdMartin]

My first impressions:

I would like to start saying that I like my Paradigm setup very much. When I bought the Paradigm Mini Monitors I compared them with a higher price pair of B&W (don’t remember the model). I preferred the Minis. Now, after reading a lot about the Ascend speakers, I decided to give them a try.

Before taking away the Mini Monitors I listen in stereo mode to three CDs that I am very familiar with (Fleetwood Mac – Rumors, Fania All Star – Rhythm Machine, and Silvio Rodriguez – Causas y azares). After that, I replaced the MM with the 170s. WOW! I really like the Paradigms a lot and still think that they are great for the money. But with the 170's I heard sounds and instruments never heard before. I think that some instruments now sound different! I’m not saying better or worst. Just, slightly different. The sound now is more clear, clean, open, and sweet. My English language does not let me to express in the proper terminology (adjectives) what I heard. When the 170s were replaced with the 340s my room was filled with sound even more.

I did not understand when members of this and other forums rave about listening to music in stereo (two channels). I thought that Logic 7 or 5 channel stereo was better. Boy, I was wrong. With the Ascend 340s, the soundstage is so good that there is no need for more speakers. I had to place my ear near the center channel speaker to be sure it was not ON. I asked my wife to tell me from which speaker was coming out the voice. She seated in the sweet spot and said: “The voices are coming from the center”.

Now I will have to go through all my CDs again. That means more music and fewer movies. I’m a new adept of two channel music.

With all the speakers properly setup I listen to The Eagles HFO DVD. The guitars, the voices, the separation, the soundstage, all resulted in a new experience. My son came to visit me because he wanted to listen to my new toys. He was amazed. He told me that his supervisor has a pair of Infinity that impressed him for the clarity. They cost over $2K. He said: “Dad, they are not better than yours”. By the way, now my son owns the Paradigms.

Eduardo

[Lou-the-dog]

Wow! Great review Eduardo...and your description in English is just fine!

Randy

[curtis]

Eduardo,
Randy beat me to it, nice write up, and your english is just fine!

[bikeman]

Very good review, Eduardo. My initial impressions were very similar to your own. I have only recently gotten the 340C to go with my 340M's. I was amazed at how little the 340C added to the soundstage when listening to music. It wasn't due to any fault of the 340C. It was just the mains do such a great job all by themselves. Two channel is far from dead.

David

[EdMartin]

Two more things.

1. The bass produced by the 340s is very good. It really surprised me.

2. Center channel comparison:

a. The sound of the Paradigm CC-350 is a little congested, particularly in the dialogs. I would describe it as “boxy” (coming out of a box).

b. The 340 center is crystal clear.

Eduardo