HK 635 need 5.1 speakers+sub on $1,500 budget

[SackoHammers]

Finally decided on a Receiver and placed the order last night. I am very excited.
Now, I need speakers.

I have heard loose arguments both ways on floor standers vs bookshelf. Some say floorstanders rob money from the speakers because of an expensive cabinet. Others praise them for larger or more speakers inside. I can disregard aesthetics for now. I have some good friends that are expert carpenters and I can make some speaker stands. Or if I went with something like Ascend Accoustics, I could get their custom stands down the road.

A few days I was recommended this:
2 pairs CBM-170SE bookshelf speakers, 1 CMT-340center, 1 Hsu STF-2 sub = $1373 shipped from ascendacoustics.com

I have also heard people talk about Athena, Paradigm, and maybe a few others.

I would love to hear a few people chime in with recommendations.

Also curious about Ascend's CBM-170. I read a write-up talking about all the effort that went into their custom, double-chambered tweeters, yet they don't seem to offer this custom tweeter in their CMT-340 speakers (at least they don't advertise it in the specs).

Anyway, love to hear what you guys have to say. Thanks a lot.

 

[Tex-amp]

I was going to recommend the Ascends too at your price point. The 340SE is using the SEAS tweeter too. Ascend is an authorized HK dealer they may have a good package deal on the receiver..

 

[jcPanny]

Speaker options

You should also consider Axiom Audio speakers in your price range. Pair them with a 10" or 12" sub from SVS or HSU. The Paradigm monitor series should be in your budget or possibly used studio series. Check it out at a local dealer.
On the ascends, consider upgrading to 340's fronts unless you have a small room.

 

[Tex-amp]

You should also consider Axiom Audio speakers in your price range. Pair them with a 10" or 12" sub from SVS or HSU. The Paradigm monitor series should be in your budget or possibly used studio series. Check it out at a local dealer.
On the ascends, consider upgrading to 340's fronts unless you have a small room.

Just be aware many when comparing price many consider the 170 better than the Axiom M22 and competitive with the Paradigm Studio 20.

 

[SackoHammers]

Ok, been looking over the Ascends and considering upping my budget. hahaha
Nothing like getting "feature-creep" on a home project.

I'm having dreams about 340 centers and fronts with 170 rears and an STF-3 sub. Complete with their custom stands for the fronts and the omni-mounts for the rears. Going to have to be careful mounting those rears in drywall with anchors.

I see you're a Longhorn fan. Anychance you have these speakers and live in/near Austin? If you do... I promise I'm potty trained and I don't bite. I'd love to have a listen.

 

[Tex-amp]

I'm in Houston but there are 2 or 3 Ascend owners in Austin. Look at the Frapper map on the Ascend site. http://www.frappr.com/ascendacousticsowners

 

[Tex-amp]

Also curious about Ascend's CBM-170. I read a write-up talking about all the effort that went into their custom, double-chambered tweeters, yet they don't seem to offer this custom tweeter in their CMT-340 speakers (at least they don't advertise it in the specs).

I found this while searching for something else-

"The CMT-340SE uses a new high-performance 27mm chambered tweeter, also built by SEAS of Norway. This new tweeter offers all the same performance improvements as the new 170 tweeter and is perfectly timbre matched with the 170 SE tweeter. In fact, it uses the exact same 27mm dome as the new neo tweeter. The only real difference between the two is that this tweeter uses a larger faceplate and a much larger ferrite magnet (compared to the much smaller neodymium tweeter)." http://forum.ascendacoustics.com/showthread.php?t=1456&highlight=340SE+tweeter