Yup, things have changed since the summer. Prices have gone up. Some products have been discontinued. Things change in a hurry! But I'm glad this thread has still been helpful to a few folks
The
Atlantic Technology 2200SR bi/di-pole surrounds that ImcLoud linked to on Amazon, what a terrific find! Those will serve as an excellent alternative to the sadly discontinued Emotiva bi-pole surround speakers.
The Atlantics are a nice, neutral speaker that should match very nicely with the Ascend front speakers. Phenominal price on those older 2200 series models. I'm sure there aren't many in stock, and they'll be gone before too long, also
While I've not heard the Fluance bi-pole surrounds first hand, I'm leary of their low end extension, just based on their own specs as stated on the Fluance website. a -3dB point of 130Hz is very high. Too high to get a good blend with the subwoofer without either making the subwoofer sound localizable, or leaving a "hole" in the frequency response - a "gap" where the subwoofer and the surround speakers cross over. It's not as critical as in the front speakers, but it's still something to be avoided.
This thread got very long, so I'm sure newer readers might have skipped a lot of the posts in the middle.
I just want to stress that I recommended the HTM-200SE - 3 of them across the front - because of their versatility and flexibility in terms of placement. But that doesn't necessarily mean they'll be the very best choice for everyone.
If you have a larger room and sit more than 12 feet away, the compact HTM-200SE aren't meant for that. They are smaller speakers, meant for a smaller room and a shorter listening distance.
So, HamptonHall, in your particular case, you might want to consider one of the larger Ascend speaker models. It all depends. Both the CBM-170SE and CMT-340SE are meant to be placed on stands, with air all around them. If you want to wall mount your speakers or put them in some sort of shelf or entertainment unit, the HTM-200SE will still be a better choice. It's all about matching the choice of speakers to where they will be placed and to the size of your room and seating distance.
With well over 3000 cubic feet of air volume to contend with, the HSU STF-2 subwoofer will not have adequate output for hitting full Reference Volume. But depending on your taste for loudness and tactile bass, it might play loud enough. It's tough to say, because it's partially a matter of taste. Reference Volume is VERY loud. Think an IMAX theater or THX Certified theater. Very few people listen at that volume level at home. Most people are AT LEAST 10dB quieter. Most folks are actually more like 20 or 30 dB quieter at home.
If you're more in that 20 or 30dB below Reference Level group, then the STF-2 might be just fine. But for that room size, I would personally advise a subwoofer capable of higher output. The $550 HSU VTF-2 MK4 would be a better choice. It still might not hit full Reference Volume, actually. But considering price, size and output, it's likely your best choice. It won't struggle like the STF-2 might. And getting even more output would mean a significant increase in price. All things considered, I'd say the VTF-2 MK4 is very likely going to be your best candidate for a subwoofer.
I hope that's of some help!
