First new system since Onkyo HTiB

[avid]

First post after being a long time lurker just want to say thanks to all the great discussions I have come across. I am finally getting ready to upgrade the Onkyo HT5100 I have had since college. I have been researching on and off like a fiend for the last few months.

Background info:
My room is 11'x15'x7.5' with the couch/TV on the 15' walls and loveseat along an 11' wall.
I am going to start off with a 5.1 system.
The system will be used for 70% HT and 30% music.

I am fairly certain I have narrowed down my choices to:
AVR: Denon 1712
L/R/C: Ascend 340c + Ascend HTM-200s(B-stock)
Surrounds: NXG 4.1
Sub: HSU STF-2
Total cost is $1313 shipped.

Would like to stay under $1500-$1600 and would like to go for the best bang-for-buck and shop smart (shop S-mart) not necessarily just buy to max the budget out. That being said, I do have a few alternate builds that I have questions about.

Right now the Ascend CBM-170s are on sale for the same price as the HTM-200s(new, not B-stock) and I can definitely switch to them, but I'm not sure I'd notice a large difference given my smallish room size...so for the folks who have heard both and/or know more than I, is this a worthwhile SQ upgrade given my usecase and room size?
I also see the Rythmik LV12R through Ascend would add ~$170, but again, not sure if that is a worthwhile upgrade given my small room size / noob ears. I have also never owned a 'good' sub and I'm pretty sure the STF-2 will be a massive upgrade over the one I currently have. Thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[shadyJ]

I would definitely go for the CBM170s over the HTM200s, they will be more powerful and a better tonal match with a CMT340 center since they are using the same drivers. The Rythmik LV12 is definitely a worthwhile upgrade over the STF2, I have used them both and the Rythmik is on another level. You don't need golden ears to hear the difference there.

 

[avid]

Thanks shadyJ. I sort of figured the CBM170s were the better choice given the similar price point. I know I would be mounting them close to the wall (not on the wall) I will probably have them about 4" off the wall, which should be enough room, I think. I guess that was the last concern I had over the HTM200s since they are sealed and I can place them more or less wherever. This setup is probably overkill for my room, but better safe than sorry!