Recommendations Needed: Surround Speakers

[wilkenboy]

I'm looking for some surrounds for my system. Key Criteria:

1) Tonally consistant with Ascends (www.ascendacoustics.com)
2) Dipole or direct radiating would be considered, although direct radiating would be my preference unless there is a good reason otherwise
3) Mount to wall, minimizing protrusion from wall is preferred.
4) Would like to keep under $300-350 a pair.
5) Black.

My application is home theater 80%, multi-channel audio 20%.

Here's a link to my home theater thread, room layout can be found on the first post.

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12147

Thanks, based the feedback I'll go do the listening.

~Josh

 

[B5I8]

If you already have the Ascend 340c and 170's, why not get their 170's for surrounds?

 

[AVRat]

Yes Josh, the 170s seem to make the most sense. You can plug the rear port without much detriment since you're probably crossing over at 80 Hz anyway. You could try this on your current 170s to be sure your satisfied.

 

[Matt34]

I'd go with the HTM-200, won't protrude as much as the 170's and are easy to wall mount.

 

[wilkenboy]

Matt34, AVRat, B5I8

Thanks for the input -

Obviously I like the 170s, just in this case (surround duty) they are pretty big, at 10" speaker depth + another inch or two for mounting = 12". That's probably the absolute max I would consider. That was part of my original upgrade plan, to move the 170s that I have in L/R duty into the surrounds and replace them with 340s. Another problem with that is, to get the 170s I have into surround duty I effectively have to buy a pair of 340s, which comes to almost $600 shipped. I'm cool with that as I get an upgrade to the fronts and some great (but large) surrounds, so they'll go on the list.

I like the idea of the Ascend HTM-200. At $300 a pair shipped they fit the bill... and a 6 3/8" deep sealed design makes wall mouting them a more viable option. Added to the list!

Any others?

~Josh