Take it for what it's worth, I have a few friends who have studio time under their belt and they really like the sound of the towers.
Rhythmik, which are also sold through Ascend as well as direct, SVS and HSU, I would say, are the big three most often recommended subs on this forum. I decided to give DIY a try and build my own subs, the Boston is a temp until I get them built this winter. There are some very knowledgeable people on this forum, much more learned than I, who could guide you through a DIY project as well.
I demo'd a pair of Revel F208's before I pulled the trigger on these Ascends. Absolutely loved them but they were a bit out of my budget. Quite a bit bigger too. I find the Ascends to be a good size for my room. Another speaker that looks very close to the Ascends on paper are the Salk Song Towers. They are a transmission line design and have a plethora of custom finish options. They get great reviews and a lot of recommendations as well.
http://www.salksound.com/home.htm
They are in the same range budget wise.
Glad you like the Macs.
Enjoy the forum.
