SVS or ASCEND

[Ares]

Hello to all, I need some help in deciding which of the following would be a great set of speakers to buy.

Set #1 Ascend
Fronts: CBM-170 SE
Center: CMT-340 SE C
Surrounds:CBM-170 SE
Sub: SVS PC12-NSD

or

Set#2 SVS
Fronts:SCS-01M
Center:SCS-01
Surrounds:SBS-01
Sub: PC12-NSD

any advice that you guys can give would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Estephens13]

I can't give any advice on the Ascends, But I am very happy with my SVS SBS-01's.

 

[j_garcia]

IMO, the Ascends are a bit more neutral, meaning flatter and brighter. They are also higher sensitivity and larger so they will yeild noticeably more output vs the SCS-01s. The Ascend setup is going to be a very nice one. There's nothing wrong with the SVSs at all, but in this case, I do feel the Ascends would nudge them out in my book.

 

[KASR]

Always hear greatness about SVS

 

[STRONGBADF1]

Hello to all, I need some help in deciding which of the following would be a great set of speakers to buy.

Set #1 Ascend
Fronts: CBM-170 SE
Center: CMT-340 SE C
Surrounds:CBM-170 SE
Sub: SVS PC12-NSD

or

Set#2 SVS
Fronts:SCS-01M
Center:SCS-01
Surrounds:SBS-01
Sub: PC12-NSD

any advice that you guys can give would be greatly appreciated.

Hard to go wrong here. (I like with the Ascends)

Order the 170's and the SCS's (just the fronts) and return the loser. All you lose is a little bit of shipping charges and you remove the doubt.
Plus it would be fun.

 

[Ares]

Thanks guys it looks like a 50/50 split between the 2. If anyone else out there has an opinion please chime in.

 

[j_garcia]

These are two very different sounding speakers. I think auditioning them would be a good idea, as that will likely decide it for you.

 

[jostenmeat]

Thanks guys it looks like a 50/50 split between the 2. If anyone else out there has an opinion please chime in.

The only opinion that has any weight is the following, because it's the only poster here so far that has heard both. There are obviously many fans of both, but if you won't follow the best advice, which is that of STRONGBADF1, in deciding for yourself, and want to depend on others' opinions, try to only listen to those who have heard both. For instance, I have only heard the Ascend, and you cannot go wrong, and I would think it is extremely likely that you would do worse elsewhere for the same money, perhaps save studio monitors, depending. But, just ignore that.

IMO, the Ascends are a bit more neutral, meaning flatter and brighter. They are also higher sensitivity and larger so they will yeild noticeably more output vs the SCS-01s. The Ascend setup is going to be a very nice one. There's nothing wrong with the SVSs at all, but in this case, I do feel the Ascends would nudge them out in my book.

 

[Ares]

I might have not been clear when I first posted I have heard both already my bad for not saying that in the beginning. The thing is when I auditioned both of them they both sounded really good and it was a little to close to call. this why I am asking the community for advice.

 

[lsiberian]

I'd say the Ascends based on my research. The speakers do need about 3db boost in the lower range. This can be helped by moving them closer to a wall.

 

[njedpx3]

Vote for SVS

IMO, the Ascends are a bit more neutral, meaning flatter and brighter. They are also higher sensitivity and larger so they will yeild noticeably more output vs the SCS-01s. The Ascend setup is going to be a very nice one. There's nothing wrong with the SVSs at all, but in this case, I do feel the Ascends would nudge them out in my book.

I respect J_garcia's recommendation and have not heard the Ascends, but I do have a SVS subwoofer: PB12-Plus and the sub and the SVS quality and customer service is excellent. I don't think you could go worng either way but I would go for SVS.

Good Luck!

Forest Man

 

[shadyJ]

Remember that the Ascends are rear ported, which means you can't mount them right on the wall, they need a bit of space in the back. The SVS don't have that limitation. That being said, personally, from what I have read about both speakers, I think I would go with the ascends. Not that the SVS speakers would be bad at all, I think either will make terrific speakers. I have the Hsu speakers myself, which are in the same class, but need some space around them to truly shine. The dynamic response on the Hsu's are amazing, a well-recorded gunshot is a scary thing on these speakers. Another speaker in that same price range which you might consider is the Elemental Designs A6 6T6, although they are a bit larger. They are front ported though, so you could mount them against the wall directly.

 

[STRONGBADF1]

If you like both...the SVS's would be less expensive unless you are getting a sale or b-stock deal. The looks are similar but like j garcia said the Ascends are more efficient.


What are your feelings on the too. Why are you torn?

 

[j_garcia]

With the $100 discount on the CMT-340SEs right now, that is a really good deal IMO. To me, the Ascends don't do anything wrong, but they aren't the most lively speakers. They are flat to the point that they could easily be used for mixing in a studio IMO, and that is not a bad thing (and I know there are people who do use them for this). I have heard few speakers in their price range that are as clean and clear sounding. You would have to spend more to get something equally as good, IMO. The down side of highly detailed speakers like these is, bad recordings will become painfully obvious. Good recordings will be worth it though Detail and clarity, especially in the midrange, are the key points here.

The SVSs are lower in sensitivity and are a bit laid back. They are just short of neutral on the soft side, but have plenty of detail. Because of this, they seemed to do well in all areas; movies or music, they handled everything I threw at them. That laid back nature doesn't appeal to everyone, though I do tend to prefer a warmer sounding speaker like this. They aren't the most attractive speakers, but they feel really well built, just like everything from SVS. An even-handed handling of most material is the highlight here.

Just my opinions. How big is your room and what will you be powering them with? Is this more for movies or music? If music, I'd lean toward the Ascends.

 

[Ares]

If you like both...the SVS's would be less expensive unless you are getting a sale or b-stock deal. The looks are similar but like j garcia said the Ascends are more efficient.


What are your feelings on the too. Why are you torn?

The sound from both IMO were clean, I like the fact the Ascends are efficient but the port maybe a problem for my space, I like the fact the SVS's are sealed but they are not as efficient. That is problem I am having in making up my mind.

 

[Ares]

With the $100 discount on the CMT-340SEs right now, that is a really good deal IMO. To me, the Ascends don't do anything wrong, but they aren't the most lively speakers. They are flat to the point that they could easily be used for mixing in a studio IMO, and that is not a bad thing (and I know there are people who do use them for this). I have heard few speakers in their price range that are as clean and clear sounding. You would have to spend more to get something equally as good, IMO. The down side of highly detailed speakers like these is, bad recordings will become painfully obvious. Good recordings will be worth it though Detail and clarity, especially in the midrange, are the key points here.

The SVSs are lower in sensitivity and are a bit laid back. They are just short of neutral on the soft side, but have plenty of detail. Because of this, they seemed to do well in all areas; movies or music, they handled everything I threw at them. That laid back nature doesn't appeal to everyone, though I do tend to prefer a warmer sounding speaker like this. They aren't the most attractive speakers, but they feel really well built, just like everything from SVS. An even-handed handling of most material is the highlight here.

Just my opinions. How big is your room and what will you be powering them with? Is this more for movies or music? If music, I'd lean toward the Ascends.

The room is shaped weird looks like the letter I L14' W front&back 7'.2" middle 6'.1" H 9'. Movies&Music 50/50

 

[j_garcia]

That room is a bit on the small-medium size, so you'd be able to get away with the SCS-01s very easily. I heard the SBS-01s in a room that was 14x19x10 and they did fine in it, but I always say go with the SCS-01s up front if you can.

 

[STRONGBADF1]

The sound from both IMO were clean, I like the fact the Ascends are efficient but the port maybe a problem for my space, I like the fact the SVS's are sealed but they are not as efficient. That is problem I am having in making up my mind.

Ascend recommends a minimum of 3" of clearance for the port. The port is tuned to 50htz so setting your speakers to small in your receiver and crossing over with a subwoofer @ 80htz will decrease the port output to a point which it won't matter...the 3" will be plenty.

Here's the manual. http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages/support/Web_Owners_Manual.pdf

 

[Ares]

Well guys I have made my choice and after it was all said and done the SVS package won out had to go through some notes I took while listening to both sets and like j garcia said where even-handed for my uses thats not to say the Ascends where bad. If was just doing music the Ascends would have won hands down but because I needed both music and movies SVS won out. Just a thought maybe I could convince the wife into getting 2 receivers this way I could get both sets of speakers yea that could work. Well thanks to all of you for the advice and a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!! to all.

 

[JWF]

I actually just got the sts-01 package, sub (pb12) has yet to arrive, so currently have the center, sts-01 towers and sbs-01 surrounds. I'm a novice, but really like them. Originally bought them for our living room, but the wife didn't love the towers, so now they're in my office (perhaps i knew this would happen subconsciously when i ordered them). My office is about 15'x20', weird shape.