SVS or ASCEND

[STRONGBADF1]

I actually just got the sts-01 package, sub (pb12) has yet to arrive, so currently have the center, sts-01 towers and sbs-01 surrounds. I'm a novice, but really like them. Originally bought them for our living room, but the wife didn't love the towers, so now they're in my office (perhaps i knew this would happen subconsciously when i ordered them). My office is about 15'x20', weird shape.

As long as you have a place to enjoy them.

 

[JWF]

Yeah, it's an office/man space, decent set up, spend a solid 8-9hrs/day in there, so they'll get plenty of use. They sound really good to me, but what do i know?!

 

[fredk]

To me, the Ascends don't do anything wrong, but they aren't the most lively speakers. They are flat to the point that they could easily be used for mixing in a studio IMO, and that is not a bad thing (and I know there are people who do use them for this).

Well, thats a clear endorsement for the Ascends. Personally, I like to pick up well recorded music that properly captures the sounds of instruments and voices. I want my speakers to play exactly what is on the recording. That way, the sound of the cello in my living room is exactly the same as that of the original instrument. That is the ultimate goal of high fidelity audio equipment.

I agree with what STRONGBADF1 wrote in his first post. Get the two pairs of fronts in your house and pick the ones that you think sound best. There is nothing wrong with picking based on opinions here, but you will then end up with the speakers some of us think are best.

 

[j_garcia]

Well, thats a clear endorsement for the Ascends. Personally, I like to pick up well recorded music that properly captures the sounds of instruments and voices. I want my speakers to play exactly what is on the recording. That way, the sound of the cello in my living room is exactly the same as that of the original instrument. That is the ultimate goal of high fidelity audio equipment.

I agree with what STRONGBADF1 wrote in his first post. Get the two pairs of fronts in your house and pick the ones that you think sound best. There is nothing wrong with picking based on opinions here, but you will then end up with the speakers some of us think are best.

fred, he did listen to both and went with the SVS It was a win-win decision in his case

 

[Ares]

I stepped away for a while, I took the advice of STRONGBADF1 before he gave it and to the extreme I got the complete sets of the SVS's and the Ascends but just one sub,you know that saying great minds think alike. Now I had to take into consideration the following,
1.What my uses are.
2.The room in which they will be located.
Now I stated that my uses are Movies/Music 50/50 so by that logic I need speakers that would preform well for both. This is why I choose the SVS set not because the Ascends where bad but because the SVS set met my needs at the moment. If my sole use was for music Ascends would have been my choice because they are neutral sounding speakers and unforgiving on badly recorded music and movies. This is great for music not so much for movies, when I watch a movie I want to lose myself with in the story,not sit there and pick apart a movie because I could hear every flaw. The SVS set has a slight warmth to them which makes them great for movies and not so much for music. I'm a metal head so I like my music harsh & loud. Playing Metal through the SVS set gave it a warmer sound then I'm use to, but I could live that. So this is why the SVS won out,not because someone didn't give the Ascends a glowing endorsement. This was based on what I need and what I could live with. As for me I say both are great speakers and I would recommend them to anyone but first know your needs and what you can live with or without, And if you can audition any speakers that you are interested in my advice do so,Thank you.

 

[Patrick_Wolf]

Now I stated that my uses are Movies/Music 50/50 so by that logic I need speakers that would preform well for both. This is why I choose the SVS set not because the Ascends where bad but because the SVS set met my needs at the moment. If my sole use was for music Ascends would have been my choice because they are neutral sounding speakers and unforgiving on badly recorded music and movies. This is great for music not so much for movies, when I watch a movie I want to lose myself with in the story, not sit there and pick apart a movie because I could hear every flaw.

You've really got this backwards. If you think the Ascends are better for music, then they will also be the best choice for movies.

The millions of dollars that go into a modern film isn't just for fancy effects and overpayed actors. Believe or not, a large portion of the budget is spent on the audio department, in spite of the junk most people listen to when watching them at home. And guess what they use to mix with? Yup. Studio monitors; that reveal flaws for them to remove. The Ascends will not deter from the enjoyment of movies, it will only enhance it.

I've auditioned the SBS-01 and CBM-170 SE in my home. While not exactly the same as your comparison, I feel it's similar enough. The 170 was a pretty easy choice after a couple days of listening.

 

[Ares]

First congrats on your choice, next up your choice will not be same as my choice that is why there is so many speakers on the market I made my choice by what I heard and what works for me.Now you quote a quarter of what I said and at no time did I say this is SVS vs Ascends. And according to your post you audition the SBS-01's and the CBM-170's and not the SCS-01's so not really the same comparison. Now you state that the Ascends should be the best for movies that may be for you, but not for me. that is why I advised to audition speakers for yourself because this was my opinion and only my opinion. I was stating an opinion not suggesting it as fact so I can't have it backwards.