NHT, Ascend, Paradigm, can't decide

[elitelight]

Hi,

I can't make a decision on which speakers I should get for my HT system. My listening habit is 30% music and 70% movies. So far my choice has come down to

Ascend: CMT340 for main and center, CBM170 surround, and HSU VTF-2 sub

NHT: ST4 main, SC2 center, and SB2/3 sorround, no sub decision yet

Paradigm: Monitor 7 main, CC-370 and ADP370 sorround and HSU VTF-2

I auditioned both paradigm, and NHT, and felt NHT is so much better in music performance. I have not heard of Ascend, but have seen so many good reviews about them.

Can anyone comment on the music performance of Ascend?

Does anyone have recommendations on one over another?

thanks for the help.

 

[Tex-amp]

The Ascend 340s with a sub match up with Paradigm's Studio 100s IMO. The Ascend 170s compare very well to Studio 20s outside of bottom end extension again IMO. The Ascend line is very good with music. It is very neutral and will not color anything. Try the Ascend forum to see if someone in your area will let you listen to theirs.

I haven't heard the ST4s.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

Hi,

I can't make a decision on which speakers I should get for my HT system. My listening habit is 30% music and 70% movies. So far my choice has come down to

Ascend: CMT340 for main and center, CBM170 surround, and HSU VTF-2 sub

NHT: ST4 main, SC2 center, and SB2/3 sorround, no sub decision yet

Paradigm: Monitor 7 main, CC-370 and ADP370 sorround and HSU VTF-2

I auditioned both paradigm, and NHT, and felt NHT is so much better in music performance. I have not heard of Ascend, but have seen so many good reviews about them.

Can anyone comment on the music performance of Ascend?

Does anyone have recommendations on one over another?

thanks for the help.

Have you decided on a receiver/amp yet?

 

[j_garcia]

IMO, I'd rank them in that order. The 'digms are a bit out of their league, coming from a former owner. I'd opt for the Ascends.

 

[Tomorrow]

IMO, I'd rank them in that order. The 'digms are a bit out of their league, coming from a former owner. I'd opt for the Ascends.

JGarcia,

How do your M.Shorts compare to your old Paradigms? What digms did you have? Thanks.

 

[elitelight]

The receiver I decided to get will be either yamaha rxv2500 or denon avr 3805.

I was worried about the base performance on ascend, NHT is 3 way, and frequency is from 30Hz to 20Khz. I think ascend is 55hz to 20khz. How would low base music sound on acsend?

Do people use sub to listen to music? I didnt think using a sub for music is ideal.

thanks

 

[Tex-amp]

Here is a great chart from PSB of what the range of various things are. http://psbspeakers.com/Gfx/fChart.gif There are only 3 or 4 instrument that go below the Ascend 340s 50hz.

Of the three speakers you list the NHTs are the only full range speakers.

 

[nibhaz]

I beleve this link is what Tex-amp was trying to provide. Ohh contrabassoon I just like saying it!

 

[furrycute]

I would go with a floorstander, even if you have to dish a little extra dough for it. There is just something about the full rich sound you get from floorstanders that you simply cannot get from a pair of bookshelfs.

Even a satellite/sub combo wont provide with the same full bodied sound you can get from a floorstander. The sub might go deeper than a floorstander. But you'll have a hell of a time trying to integrate the satellites with the sub. You'll always end up with missing midbass.

 

[silversurfer]

on the otherhand, bookshelves usually have the upper hand in imaging because of less baffle area.

You'll always end up with missing midbass.

I disagree. I am willing to bet that more times than not, a well integrated subwoofer/bookshelf system has a better FR curve at the listening position than pair of floorstanders of equal value.

 

[j_garcia]

How do your M.Shorts compare to your old Paradigms? What digms did you have? Thanks.

I've used just about every bookshelf Paradigm has put out in the last 10 or so years. Atoms & Titans v1, v2, v3; Mini Monitors, Montor 5s, Studio 20s v2 and 40s v2 and v3. The 902s are great speakers, but don't quite have the oomph for a larger room. I prefer them to the Minis, and sonically to the Monitor 5s, though they don't have the output or bass of the 5s. When you get to the 20s, the 902s can't keep up. The 20s are more dynamic and involving and can take higher power levels with ease and they can handle a decent sized room comparatively. The highs on the Studios are too bright for my taste though. I am very impressed with the Mordaunts in that the aluminum tweeters are so well crossed over that they almost don't sound like metal tweeters. There is a bit of metalic sound in the aluminum midbass, but they're still extremely neutral overall. Decent bass for a bookshelf.

The ST4 is not a full range speaker. A full range speaker would be defined as one that does 20Hz to 20kHz. The ST4 is good to 31Hz, which is quite good, but still lacks half of the bottom octave and I'd still be likely to run a sub with them. The SB3 is rated to 39Hz, but if you've ever listened to them you will find that the fact that they are sealed makes them a bit flatter with their bass, so they don't sound quite as low as they actually go.

I listen to abuot 75% music with bookshelf speakers and a sub. A well tuned system can integrate a sub very well. Towers tend to give you more bass, but a good bookshelf with the proper x-over for those speaker's response and a decent sub shouldn't sound much different.

 

[furrycute]

I disagree. I am willing to bet that more times than not, a well integrated subwoofer/bookshelf system has a better FR curve at the listening position than pair of floorstanders of equal value.

Now that's the key, a WELL integrated satellite/sub combo. Finding that combo isn't nearly as easy as it sounds.

 

[silversurfer]

Now that's the key, a WELL integrated satellite/sub combo. Finding that combo isn't nearly as easy as it sounds.

Well, one of the original poster's choices is an excellent start, and will take little work to integrate.

 

[elitelight]

Is there any instuction how to integrate the subs with the main speakers for music listening? is it somthing you'll just have to play with til you find the best setting?

thanks

 

[j_garcia]

Is there any instuction how to integrate the subs with the main speakers for music listening? is it somthing you'll just have to play with til you find the best setting?

Yes. It usually takes me about a week to dial everything in the way I like it.