Video Asylum

Posted by NewToHT on April 19, 2004 at 12:45:48

In Reply to: Re: Help me complete my HT setup... posted by rico on April 17, 2004 at 06:44:43:

They essentially offer 3 models: 1) The CBM-170, their "shining star", which can be used for mains or surrounds. 2) A more economical speaker, the HTM-200, also for both purposes. And, 3) a dedicated center.

All are direct radiating from what I can tell, which is why I didn't purchase surrounds from them (not yet anyway). I've always heard the best sound from surrounds coming from dipoles. But then again, all of the HTs I've experienced have been 5.1.

My question is really being driven by Cambridge Soundworks' description of their S300 surrounds:

"...the S300's Multi-Mode implementation offers three dispersion patterns for optimum performance with any surround sound program material. The Dipole mode provides a diffuse dispersion pattern that seems to be coming "from all directions." Diffuse dispersion is favored for Dolby Surround® recordings. The Bipole mode retains the broad dispersion of the Dipole mode, but adds a center focus ideal for synthesized surround applications (e.g. DSP "hall" or "stadium" modes) and many Dolby Digital® recordings. Direct (monopole) mode employs a front panel-mounted two-way system of superb fidelity for precise rear speaker imaging on programs featuring a larger amount of complex rear channel sound (like many DTS or Dolby Digital® concert recordings and soon-to-be-available DVD-Audio recordings)."

I really like the ability to have that flexibility, but Ascend Acoustics doesn't seem to offer it, so do I compromise matching timbre, etc. and go with the different surrounds from CS? Or, do I stick with speakers from the same mfr and live with one mode?

If I went with everything from Ascend Acoustics, I would buy/have the system in the link that johnvb provided.

Thanks!