Ascends 340SE impressions

[jinjuku]

If you have any ability to DIY get the Natalie P MTM's.

Hell, I'll even build the x-over for you. Just supply the parts.

You can do this in a typical 1cu ft enclosure tuned at 32hz or go for a larger enclosure tuned to 28hz. Word has it that they play in the $1-2k space commercially.

 

[speakerman39]

Thanks Phil, That is exactly why I started this thread, to get unbiased opinioins of the 340SE's from folks like yourself, I have not seen a negative owner's review yet, I rely heavely on reviews of actual owners, audio mag reviews I take with a grain of salt, the only credence with them are the measurements and frequency response graphs, but as Dave says these can be smoothed over. And yes Dave is a wonderful honest and down to earth fellow which makes buying the Ascends a no nbrainer, at least for me. Dave even is giving me a discount price on the three 340's which was not even adsvertized, good man, great product. Thanks again for your reply.
Jeff

Hey, sounds like a plan to me. Now order the 340's and get down to some serious listening my friend. Just be sure to post some pics. Make Dave proud!!! He is awesome to deal with as I learned that first hand myself. In fact, in the near future I plan on buying from him again. That should tell you something about his business antics!



Cheers,

Phil

 

[ahblaza]

I've had Studio 40s in my setup and I felt they were honestly a better speaker than the 340SEs. However the 340SEs give you about 85% of what the studios give you for less than half the price, and that is quite significant. Soundwise, I actually do sort of prefer the Ascends as I felt they were more even handed than the Studios Meaning long term, I get some listening fatigue from the Studios and I doubt that I would from the 340s. I never tested the 340s in my setup; I have only heard them at other people's homes, but at one point I did take my surround pair over to a guys house and did a back to back with the 340SEs. My speakers are also about 2x the price of the 340s, but less than a pair of Studio40s. The Ascends have always been a serious bang for the buck.

John, you know how much I respect your opinions, I'm glad you chimed in, when I approached you concerning the Epik subs, I took your advice with the Legend and never looked back, you were right on with placement and calibration, I am really amazed how good a properly setup sub could make such a marked improvement in overall sound quality. I really want to get the 340's and integrate them into my setup, so I think I will. I'll keep you posted my friend.
Jeff

 

[ahblaza]

Hey, sounds like a plan to me. Now order the 340's and get down to some serious listening my friend. Just be sure to post some pics. Make Dave proud!!! He is awesome to deal with as I learned that first hand myself. In fact, in the near future I plan on buying from him again. That should tell you something about his business antics!



Cheers,

Phil

Thanks Phil, I will do just that. I can not stop thinking about these speakers, I guess the best way as you say is just buy them and enjoy and make Dave proud with a user review. Likewise, thanks to you my friend. Great quote from proverbs 12:18, I would like to add, the tongue can also cut like a double edged sword.
Best to you, Jeff

 

[ahblaza]

If you have any ability to DIY get the Natalie P MTM's.

Hell, I'll even build the x-over for you. Just supply the parts.

You can do this in a typical 1cu ft enclosure tuned at 32hz or go for a larger enclosure tuned to 28hz. Word has it that they play in the $1-2k space commercially.

jin, have no DIY skills, why don't you just build them for me. What do you think?
Jeff

 

[jinjuku]

jin, have no DIY skills, why don't you just build them for me. What do you think?
Jeff

I don't have enough time to get MY DIY done Wish I could, I would

A cross over I can do quickly. Getting a cuts list, dado setup, finishing.... Just no time.

You may want to see what a local cabinet builder would charge to knock a few cabinets together. With the $$ you are talking about you have a possible shot at a speaker that took on some Paradigm Studio 40's (~$1100 street) and came out ahead.

 

[jinjuku]

Not to throw any more into the mix (actually yes I am) you should look at some used Polk LSi 9's.

I have seen them go for $550 shipped (about the same price as your Ascends).

 

[j_garcia]

The LSis hare good speakers for sure, but they lack the kind of midrange I expect from a speaker at thier MSRP price point. They have one of my favorite tweeters, and some of the best built, most neutral, "big company" cabinets I've come across, but I think you can do better sound wise. I sold my 7s to my brother. 9s aren't tough to find, but a matching LSiC can be tougher.

 

[BWG707]

I thought I would add my $0.02. I'm using 340's as my mains in a 7.1 HT. and they sound great. When I listen to music using just the 340's and my sub I am amazed at the imaging coming from speakers at this price point. This is a very respectable speaker coming from a very respectable company.

 

[jinjuku]

The LSis hare good speakers for sure, but they lack the kind of midrange I expect from a speaker at thier MSRP price point. They have one of my favorite tweeters, and some of the best built, most neutral, "big company" cabinets I've come across, but I think you can do better sound wise. I sold my 7s to my brother. 9s aren't tough to find, but a matching LSiC can be tougher.

Mazersteven had ears on the 340's and the LSi 9's and liked the 9's better. YMMV just wanted to throw that out there as an option.

 

[jostenmeat]

I personally was disappointed with the bigger Lsi towers. I heard them in the same room with some Focals and JBLs at the very least. However, I know they are supposed to be very difficult to drive, and they were only powered by receivers. I was simply disappointed with the lack of midrange detail, I would call them quite um . . . masked. I would much prefer a pair of Ascend bookshelves, with a lot of money in the pocket too. I don't know how much better the Lsi bookshelves might sound to me though, over the towers. So, as the saying goes, to each their own!

 

[jinjuku]

I personally was disappointed with the bigger Lsi towers. I heard them in the same room with some Focals and JBLs at the very least. However, I know they are supposed to be very difficult to drive, and they were only powered by receivers. I was simply disappointed with the lack of midrange detail, I would call them quite um . . . masked. I would much prefer a pair of Ascend bookshelves, with a lot of money in the pocket too. I don't know how much better the Lsi bookshelves might sound to me though, over the towers. So, as the saying goes, to each their own!

The 9/15/25 (basic same MTM on all three) really require an external amp to open them up.

Just want the OP to make decisions with all available information. If he could pull off the Natalie P's MTM I'm positive that comparatively speaking to any other speaker mentioned in this thread it would blow his mind.

 

[j_garcia]

The 9/15/25 (basic same MTM on all three) really require an external amp to open them up.

Yes, they do like quite a bit of power. They are 4 Ohm and 88dB sensitivity, vs 90dB and 8 Ohm.

 

[jostenmeat]

The 9/15/25 (basic same MTM on all three) really require an external amp to open them up.

Just want the OP to make decisions with all available information. If he could pull off the Natalie P's MTM I'm positive that comparatively speaking to any other speaker mentioned in this thread it would blow his mind.

Yes, they do like quite a bit of power. They are 4 Ohm and 88dB sensitivity, vs 90dB and 8 Ohm.

Yes. I think I read that it was some very nasty phase/current angle that made 'em so difficult. Whatever the reason , all I know is my useless subjective opinion, and that was of serious disappointment. I had high expectations at the time as a true noob, because an AV CI pro (that I've long since surpassed in terms of AV knowledge, but still he's a friend) said great things about Polk, and since these were the flagships . . .

 

[j_garcia]

Yes. I think I read that it was some very nasty phase/current angle that made 'em so difficult. Whatever the reason , all I know is my useless subjective opinion, and that was of serious disappointment. I had high expectations at the time as a true noob, because an AV CI pro (that I've long since surpassed in terms of AV knowledge, but still he's a friend) said great things about Polk, and since these were the flagships . . .

I have to be honest too though, and as I already mentioned, it is the midrange that I feel isn't quite as good as it should be, so I am in agreement with what you're hearing. The way they sounded was kind of like they added a nice tweeter to the same midrange as the lower RTi/RTiA line. The fine detail just didn't seem to be as clean as I expected, giving them an almost overly warm sound.

 

[Gov]

Have you ordered them yet? If not, do it already!

BTW, the Phoenix is an absolute beast and I love her!

 

[jinjuku]

There is a pair of Acsend 340's on AVSForum for $389

 

[speakerman39]

There is a pair of Acsend 340's on AVSForum for $389

Wow, that is a great price! If I were in the market for new speakers I certainly would be all over that. Great find. Shipping should be reasonable. Go for it I always say.



Cheers,

Phil

 

[ahblaza]

I haven't heard them, but if and when you get them, please experiment thoroughly with placement. If I had to guess on a particular concept, it would be that many do not experiment enough with placement from front wall. Sometimes that extra foot makes it sound like a completely different speaker.

My personal preference is wider spread, with greater toe in. You can find a compromise by playing with both mch and stereo (if you listen to much stereo). Greater spread for a more massive/wider soundstage, but not too wide where you created a "hole" in the middle with stereo. However, since Ascends are supposed to have good offaxis response, I bet you can go wide indeed.

Where exactly do you intend to put the center, below or above display? Angled at all if the display is centered at eye level?

Jost, could you please explain what you mean by wider spread with greater toe in, how far apart from tweeter to tweeter would you recommend me placing the speakers, you say this will create a massive sound stage. Please help.
Jeff

 

[jostenmeat]

Jost, could you please explain what you mean by wider spread with greater toe in, how far apart from tweeter to tweeter would you recommend me placing the speakers, you say this will create a massive sound stage. Please help.
Jeff

Well, I'm not promising anything, ok? Try to form an equilateral triangle between your two speakers and your head. Then toe in so that the tweeters are firing at your head; someone who I greatly respect would say have them toed-in to the point where the axes would cross just in front of your face.

This is not the final position though, it is the starting point. You start tweaking to personal preference. If you think one spot is really good, but want to keep experimenting, just put a piece of tape on the floor to mark that spot so you can easily go back to it. When I move my speakers around for whatever reason, I usually use tape.

However, room interaction with the speakers doesn't always mean that the above will sound best. If for instance to form something close to an equilateral triangle means that the speakers are right up against the sidewalls, well, no that's not ideal at all. Ideally, you'd have significant space from all boundaries to speakers.

In a nutshell, like I said earlier, experiment. If the equilateral triangle for some reason seems to sound like it has a hole in the middle with stereo, obviously I don't think you will like it. There is no magic dimension/angle, because some speakers act so differently, as do rooms.