Transparent, smooth, neutral, not at all analytical.

Not quite sensitive enough for SET amp, but very smooth on my Krell integrated.

These are the best speakers I've heard for less than $10k other than the ATC SCM20's. They're not quite as warm and engaging as the ATC's but nothing else came close. I've tried the Triangle Titus, Spica TC-60, Red Rose Spirit, JMLab Cobalt 806, and Quad 11L's. The Ascends are fast, detailed, and image great even at loud volume.

Neutral, they don't color the music, just reproduce it beautifully.

Some caveats: their low end is not very deep so a subwoofer helps a lot. They are not pretty, but I actually like their look, they blend into the background pretty well.

I was going to write a long detailed review but I realized that most of what I've got to say has been said before by other reviewers. Bottom line: these are excellent speakers and a fantastic value. I'm using a pair for a 100% two-channel music room and am extremely satisfied. They sound amazing, great imaging, clarity, you name it. I am now saving up to replace my Acoustic Research 5.1 HT setup with Ascends and a Hsu subwoofer. What more can you say?

Similar Products Used:

paradigm, b&w, acoustic research, monitor, energy, polk, jbl, athena

Price, sound stage, depth, transparency,and just all around great sound. I find when listening to music I listen closer even on other people's systems.

?HUH?

GREAT SPEAKER GREAT PRICE!I never new what I was missing. I have always loved music but as a result of listening to the Ascends my music taste has started to broaden.They blow away anything I have heard in hifi stores sound rooms.I listened to a live verson of landslide and got teary eyed.I am not a audiophile due to the fact that I want a place to listen to my speakers but my buddy has a room built around his setup and he asked why my 2 Ascends sounds like surround.I have mine suspended on some custom ceiling mounts so they breath I think thats what gives them the surround effect. Sound stage baby all yea. Transparent Yes. I still have my old surround speakers but I would be ashamed to hook them up next to these. I would rather wait till I get the bucks to buy the rest of the set up and not skimp 200's. Vocals and insrumentals is where they shine. I can't wait to get the rest of the set up.No I am not from Ascend but I bet the $1000 plus speaker company's of the world wish I was. Thank you to all the folks who posted these reveiws, I work hard for my money and like to spend it wisely.

Similar Products Used:

None similar to Ascend's.

* Beautiful vocals * Flat, nothing over powering or artificial. * Smooth sound with a deep and open soundstage. Truly spectacular. Bottomline this is the best audio purchase of my life and certainly the best value I've ever come across.

No low-end bass or powerful punch. But then again you know that going into the purchase and pick out your sub. You may swallow a bug because you forget to close your mouth after your jaw drops. This happens often...be careful.

In a word...AWESOME! Want another word...BEAUTIFUL! I've had these guys for about 3 months now and everyday they just leave me in awe. I had a little speaker face-off between the Ascend Acoustic CBM-170's and the Axiom M-22's. They both had a 30 day return policy so I thought I'll just let them battle to the finish with the winner getting the prize of being my new speaker purchase. Well, while the M-22's are fine speakers, pretty to look at and a very good deal IMO...the "battle" didn't last long and the Axiom's were headed back to Canada. When listening to the M-22's I would think "good speaker, tight, nice highs, open, maybe a little bright but very enjoyable." Then I would hook up the CBM-170...speechless. Mouth open and shaking my head I would think "game over I've got to keep these." The vocals on the Ascend Acoustics are just beautiful. Guitar licks...wow. Stage...deep. You really feel as if you're hearing all the music (minus the low end of course as you need a good sub) just the way it was meant to be heard. I swear I've listened to Dire Straits Private Investigation thousands of times on numerous speakers and setups...but never like this. Granted if you play it loud and like hard rock, hip-hop or club music then these may not be your best pick. And if you crave powerful, deep bass and don't plan to get a good sub...well again look elsewhere. But if you appreciate great music and like to sit down and really listen to music...then pair these up with a good sub (I got the HSU Research VTF-3) and enjoy. * I highly recommend getting the new matching Ascend Acoustic CMT-340 center speaker and a good sub for surround sound and home theater. GREAT WORK ASCEND ACOUSTICS - TERRIFIC SPEAKER AND UNBELIEVABLE VALUE! Setup: Denon 3802 A/V Receiver Sony CDP-CX220 Toshibia SD 5700 HSU VTF-3 Subwoofer

Similar Products Used:

KEF, Mission, B&W, Infinity, Bose

Sound. Price. Costumer service. They great feeling that you got more than what you paid for!

None. Really NONE!

First off let me just tell you a little about myself. I am the consummers consummer. I investigate everything before I buy. I look through this sight all the time. I search the internet. I go pick peoples brain who are in the know. Cunsummer Reports shows up on my door step every month. I listen to Clark Howard. I vote with my dollar, meaning I boycot buisness that I get treated unfairly. I'm not afraid to spend money but I love to spend it on things that earned my money. I know there has been a lot of good things posted on this site, but I just had to add my praise. This is the best purchase I think I have ever made, point blank, ever! This speaker is worth much more than I paid. I really believe they could sell this speaker at $800 no problem. All they would need is a cheap wood vaneer and wham, these things would still punk the $800 croud out. After two years I am STILL astounded at their sound. I just keep telling my self I paid like $350 for both these speakers?!?! I really could keep rambeling on about how good these sound but every one has already done that for me. Let me just say I agree with them. Let me also say that this one of my favorite companies too. They are very knowlageable and they care about the consummer. (wow in today's market!) Bottom line this is and AMAZING product. Assend has the best costomer service you will probably ever work with and if you a looking into spending under a grand on speakers than please just try them out. I belive you will be amazed as well.

I think the Strengths of this speaker is their cost vs performance and unmatched customer service and warranty. As many people have mentioned, these speakers are extremely neutral, not adding anything that is not there meaning they are good at any type of application from classical to pop and probably movies (though I have limited experience with movies on these speakers). Good recordings will sound great, poor recordings will be reproduced accurately as well, meaning you will hear the imperfections in these recordings, however I do not believe this to be a weakness.

These speakers don't really have any weaknesses for their cost, however if cost is not an issue there are probably better speakers out there. Looks are a bit plain black, but far from flat out ugly. They charge tax in California.

I've had these speakers for 20+ months now and let me say their sound impresses me every time I have them on, ESPECIALLY after the amp has time to warm up. I mostly listen to pop and classical with a few tracks here and there from other genres, and these speakers reproduce music with very good neutrality and imaging. I actually have these as my computer speakers so they are hooked up to a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz soundcard and they are not ideally placed for imaging at all, but they still sound terrific and should sound even better placed on stands with a dedicated cd player. Downloaded mp3's of course do not sound as good as cds or self ripped mp3's but are still enjoyable from 128kbps and up. I use DIY FFRC cables and an audiosource amp2. On top of the speakers performance Ascend backs these with a 5 year warranty and the best customer service I've ever experienced. The guys at Ascend (David and Larry I believe I've spoken to) are both knowledgable and friendly, and extremely helpful. Never does it take them longer than 48 hours (and often within 24 hours) to respond to an email I send them for the occasional time I do have a question. Their dedication to customer satisfaction and 5 year warranty makes me feel very safe about owning these speakers knowing if anything goes wrong I'm fully covered and then some. They should be used with a sub for the best results, for the first ~18 months I used them without a sub but they definatly need a sub for good bass response. I built my own sealed 10inch sub recently and set it to 65hz crossover (as recommended by david at ascend) and together they sound very good. Take the grills off for better high end and more pure output. The cabinet is very acoustically dead which is nice to see, it must be braced very well inside.

Similar Products Used:

Paradigm Atoms, Auditioned a few dynaudio speakers in the contour/audience lines.

Size. Mid-range. Quality support from honest people... rare today.

Although I have not auditioned these without the sub, I would assume that they would lack in the bass department, but c'mon, they are small speakers.

I had recently sold my Klipsch Chorus II's since I was downsizing and moving. I know, there are many Klipsch haters out there... too bright, too in your face, not accurate and all that. I have thoroughly enjoyed them though. They seemed to have a good balance of highs and midrange with a nice bang for the buck base. Anyway, I knew that downsizing was going to be a challenge, being used to the big sound of the Klipsch. Enter the CBM-170s. The reviews intrigued me. The outstanding support I got from Ascend even before I purchased was unbelievable to me. I was VERY nervous about buying speakers online which I could not test first. Anyway, they offered me much assistance, and money back no questions asked if I didn't like them. What to lose? Ascend did suggest the packaged HSU VTF-2 Sub, since I was used to the 15" subs on my Klipsch. The speakers arrived, I quickly hooked them up to my Yamaha Integrated amp, and in minutes went from one cd to another. I wanted to make sure that I did not make a bad decision. All I can say is - AWESOME. I fiddled with the controls on the sub for a few minutes, then it was off to playing all of my favorite tracks. The first thing I noticed was the mids. Voices sound so clear, and I might add - there is a realism to the voices that I have not heard on any speaker. I have auditioned many in the past. The voice sounds very natural from these speakers. I too noticed details that I had previously not noticed. For instance, Sheryl Crow's "Weather Channel", you can hear her breathe in at the intro... you can hear the smack of her lips as she opens her mouth to sing the first line! I was amazed. The clarity and accurate reproduction is unbelievable. The CBMs also do justice to stringed instruments. Again, the sound is very natural. I know the sound of a live acoustic guitar, sometimes speakers have a way of skewing that sound, but not the CBMs. Mind you, I have only had these for (3) days, but we have gone through so much of our music, and along with the amazing HSU sub, I am totally happy with my purchase. My hat is off to the quality sound coming from these speakers. I purchased them solely for 2-channel audio listening. They have far exceeded my expectations.

Similar Products Used:

I auditioned many "bookshelf" speakers. Paradigm, Klipsch, AR, Bose, etc.

whats your price range? under a grand,check these out.1500.00 no problem? look at aci products. 2000.00? merlin monitors would do the trick.

N/A

we have had the 170's going every day for close to 2 months now, and the music is cleaner,clearer than ever before. our previous speakers were the klipsch SB-3 with their metal dome tweeters. they are effective at giving super highs But at the expense of the midrange,and the vocals in my type of music[acoustic and folk} is crucial.the 170's are way detailed and sooo smoooth, uncolored is a term some use to describe these. my new Q-10 cable from dh labs is certainly a factor. visitors usually have that bewilderd expression when hearing the sound coming from all around the front wall where frumpy looking 170s sit atop sandfilled metal stands. the hsu vtf-2 that sits in the corner fills in everything below 80hz adding nice "weight" in the low range.

Sound, and build quality is excellent! Customer support and service is the best I have ever experienced! These speakers put to shame units costing far far more.

Ascend is not a publicly traded company. If it was I'd was buy a pile of stock as these guy's have a killer product and do everything right!

Purchased a complete CBM-170, 5.1 system, including the HSU-VTF-2. I was able to audition som of the smaller HTM200's, while in Los Angeles, and was really blown away by the sound that came out of them. Made the purchase on the basis of reviews and that audition. I had been using Infinity's as my main's (older pair of top line RSB 3 way monitors, Infinity center and rear's). Hooked up the Ascend's and was absolutely blown away by how much mid-range the Infinity's WERE NOT delivering! The CBM 170's preform beautifully both with music and home theater (many speakers do one or the other but not both). They sound incredibly smooth throughout the frequency range and can pump out enourmous amounts of sound. Mine are driven by an Onkyo SR-600 receiver, High end Marantz CD player and a mid quality Toshiba DVD player. I used to be a partner in a recording studio, in L.A., for many years. Was able to hear some of the best equipment available as we specialized in audiophile recordings and, if I ever have another studio, I would set up the CBM-170's on the "desk" in a heartbeat! They are great. Note that these are 2 way bookshelf speakers so if you expect room shaking bass then you will be disapointed. In this small an enclosure, it just cant be done, simple laws of physics! Get the CBM's along with the HSU sub (the HSU sub, by the way, is one of the best subwoofers going). This combination will knock your socks off! Lays waste to speakers costing many times more! I just received a preorder invitation, from Ascend, to get one of the new center chanell speakers (cant recall the number) and ordered it on the spot. Looking forward to receiving it in the next day or so. Lastly, and perhaps most important, the service and reponsiveness of Ascend is beyond a doubt/absolutely/swear to god the best I have ever experienced!!! David, at Ascend, has always answered any question I've asked, gotten back to me incredibly fast and, in general, has demonstrated that these guys are dead serious about customer service and customer satisfaction! For the price of these speakers, I just cant see how one can possibly go wrong!

Similar Products Used:

Infinity, Klipsh, M&K, Polk, Magneplaner, Axiom's....numerous others

Crisp sound, smooth, wonderful for movie and music, 4ohms, divervse for use, true sound...these speakers are a real hidden gem...They have completed my thearter and I will buy more from them when i have the money.

Yeah right!

I saw these for bad boys for sale on Ubid.com for 199.00 and there was only a few minutes left on the bid. Once I read the specs I knew that they were something special. The speakers were mailed to me; however, one of them was broken and the person I bought it from dropped off the face of the Earth! Ascend Acoustics knew my situation and they still honored the warrinty...even though i purchased them used. i had a brand new speaker within days. It was the best service ever! I LOVE THESE SPEAKERS. I am currently using them as my rears.