Good morning everyone.
It is too bad Mark's CMT-340's didn't arrive before the session.
Here are some of my opinions on the CMT-340:
More forward than the CBM-170, more detail in the highs, better bottom end. Plays louder easily as well. Simply a more dynamic speaker. I think whatever critcism (I use that word lightly) that was given to the CBM-170, Ascend addressed it in the CMT-340.
In listening to the 340 and M22 side by side briefly at spiffnme's place last week, I detect more differences in midrange area between the two, than the highs. Since we had been listening mostly to the M60 and the Veritas 2.2, my mind seemed to match the mids of the 340 with that of the M60, and the M22 with the 2.2's. Would love to do more comparisons....but they are time consuming, and setup can be a pain.
I am going to try and A/B the CMT-340 with the M60 next week. No promises though, my room just does not lend itself well to floorstanders.
One thing for sure......they are all nice speakers, and will give the traditional brands great cost/performance competition. I love the internet direct model.
curtis
