Not making a judgement on Ascend, but of course people are almost always happy with their newest purchase. Their ego is vested in validating their newest expense.

The best speakers depend so much on the usage, the space and on what you personally like. I like rich enveloping surround sound where the audio engineer's work is as valued as the cinematographer's. I'm not big into appreciating "stereo" music; it doesn't exist in real life and I seldom take an hour to focus solely on the music in a sweet spot.

I do have a rather purist friend, purist in many ways. Makes him excellent on projects when a team is built with his skills in mind, but often rather hard to integrate into one. His audio preference really is to sit in his sweet spot recliner, nobody talking, and just "listen". He needs a different system.

I have Def Tech bipolars all around. Powered LCR (integrated subs.) Additional rear subs. All sonically matched. They sound amazing, the result is a near-sweet-spot through out a huge space. Properly mixed music - I have a bunch of DTS - is astonishingly good, as are movies - no matter where you are, you know about where the sound was meant to come from.

But it's chaotic to my friend. I suspect it's not orderly enough for his preferences. Bipolars aren't what he wants. For that kind of noise, he'd prefer to go to a theatre, where I suspect his mindset allows it to be okay.

Of course Def Tech makes a wide variety of sound systems. I don't like the Mythos line at all, but I also don't like Bose or B&O. My point after all this rambling and detail is, sometimes the type of speakers matter more than the brand of speakers, to match your needs.

TCat: I don't pretend to be a Saloon moderator and I really don't get into tit-for-tat discussions on forums, but geez, it seems all your posts are thread craps. How folks spend their money is their business and none of mine or yours. If someone invites Saloon member's opinions on a product that is different. J.H. was really just asking whether to wait for the 976 or buy new speakers. So the first two sentences of your post frustrated me. Now if J.H. did get new Ascend speakers he may now read your post and doubt his purchase because you stated "...ego is vested in validating their newest expense." You leave no room for the possibility his new speakers really are better than what he had before. I also don't think the rest of your post added to the discussion Cadboy64 and J.H were having. IMO when someone shells out their hard-earned money It is better to be supportive or say nothing. Lecture over.

I wasn't dissing the Ascend speakers, nor any purchase of them. And, as he hasn't purchased them, your final sentence (your "attitude:, quoted above) doesn't apply. Rather it precisely validates my statement, although perhaps merely because nobody will speak up otherwise... especially you, who would prefer to impose your own self-censorship on others including me.

If you don't allow for differences of opinions between people who have bought different things, what are you doing to the flow of information?

Well thanks for the posts. I think I'm gonna hold off on speakers and get the 976, and the Oppo 203 to set myself up for eventually moving to 4K. My Def Techs really do sound great despite the reputation DT has in inflating specs. I think this is the right path. I really do want the 976. Lets see the buy button now on the website, lets get some reviews.

I 2nd that.
Get the pre-order page up already!!!!!

I'm doing much the same staying with my M&Ks but I can't help but look at OLED TVs, new remotes and Apple TV to go along with the Oppo UDP-203 and 976. I would really like to do a complete system upgrade given the age and technology of my current system.

Yeah I really had my heart set on the 976 for long time now so I will stick with that. So the 976 and the Oppo is a good start on my way to 4K. The speakers I have are really good.

Not trying to steer this thread off course, but....
I agree, people need to validate their purchases. Some will do so despite feeling they made the wrong choice but don't want to bruise their egos by admitting to it. I have played the upgrade game as long as I've been in this hobby dating back to 1984. I've had a number of speakers including models from Design Acoustics, Infinity, Vandersteen, B&W, and cureently Ascend acoustics. I will not hold on to a speaker if I am not satisfied with it. I took a chance on Ascend Acoustics back when their only model was the CBM-170 2-way monitor. It surprised me and replaced a pair of B&W 602's. When the first Sierra-1 was introduced I jumped onboard and sold the 170's. I was thrilled with the Sierra-1's. After a few years I felt more detail in the tweeter would be nice, and upgraded my pair with the NrT upgrade kits. That was a nice, noticeable change in the highs. Lots of detail and impact with the mids pulled more forward. These things rocked! Then, Ascend just HAD TO develop the RAAL Ribbon tweeter in the new tower. That led to them developing a custom RAAL for the Sierra-2 along with a new woofer designed specifically to mesh with it. They announced the upgrade kits for the Sierra-2 and I did not hesitate to purchase a pair of kits. I have upgraded the Sierra's twice rather than feel the need to seek out another brand, or even feel the urge to change them. Like I said, the only upgrade I would consider would be moving to the RAAL towers. The Sierra-2's paired to my Rythmik sub never make me feel like changing them out.

Ok, enough of this "rant"! Bottom line: Listen to as many speakers as possible IN YOUR HOME and keep the ones that make you smile!

Aye. I was just reading this article (and a couple others like it) so it seems that 2.1 is pretty much here. The first 2.1 cables are already being sold and have been doing so for about a month now. AVR's are expected to start shipping with 2.1 within the next few months, possibly even this year.

I doubt very much that Outlaw would be delaying the 976 for the inclusion of HDMI 2.1, but there's the chance that they're taking advantage of the delay and adding it. I can't imagine they'd be unhappy to be one of the first to market with 2.1.

I loved my 950, I love my 990, and I'm sure I'll love the 976. My optimism was dwindling as time passed after the death of the 978 (or was it the 997? 998? I can't remember), but now, finally, it's almost here. My 990 is still serving me well, but the thought of connecting all my devices without using the funky connections I have now has got me a little woozy with anticipation!