The Official Salk Sound Owner's And Discussion Thread - Page 151

warchant... Okinawa is certainly beautiful. I've been tying to get there with my wife for years... Good luck with the move, and congrats on your order. I hope you are pleased when you get to sit down and hear them.
Cheers

Thanks, Okinawa was a great duty station but I'm ready to get back to the states. Been dreaming about these speakers for two years, I'm sure they will be a great as all you guys say.

Is there anyone around or near the Richmond, Virginia area available for an audition humble, but obvious Salk speaker lover for an audition???

There are some wonderful creative people and writers here who have articulately described this the Salk product line of speakers that it would be hard not to pursue them with great fervor. For people like me who are somewhat ignorant of all the stats, graphs, wattage and ohms you guys have guided us along the journey with incredible knowledge only the web based forums can offer. Congratulations!! (Group hug)!!!!

Again...many thanks!!!!

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Rob

I was just up in Richmond today audition a pair of Revel F32s and Usher Mini Dancer 2s. Like you, I am also looking to audtion the Salks (SongTowers and HT2/HT2-TLs). Looks like I may have to go to Maryland to do that.

As far as stats and graphs, I'm finding that they cannot tell you how the speaker will sound and if you will like the speaker or not. Even speakers that seem to measure the same sound different. Also, personal preference cannot be underestimated.

If you do find a Salk owner in the Richmond area or Hampton Roads area could you give me a heads up?

I will certainly do that. 'Like you' I pursued auditioning the Revels, but in a surround set-up I found they were a tad bit over budget. I am use to Infinities, so the STs will be interesting.

Thanks,
Rob

Thanks. Yes, I had posted there as well. Actually, I found that Salk forum before I found the one here.

Just wanted to inform everyone who is currently pursuing the STs. I had a couple of questions for Jim S. and I just received an email this am and he informed me that the STs will be increasing in price in June possibly this weekend. If you guys are contemplating, then now is the time to decide before the increase. I am just sorry for those, including myself, that we had not had a chance to audition them soon enough. I really don't think I need to, but I intend to keep these for a long time! Someday!!! I guess we just have to throw a few more dollars in the bank!! Right!!? What is a few more dollars for great quality! I may just have to give Dennis (DMurphy) a call take a hike to DC! Just love that traffic!

Also might add that I have been in business for a very long time and traveled up and down the eastern seaboard and created unique pieces of art and I for one know expenses...expenses....expenses!!! So, I understand Jim

"The pulchritude of sound quality and design far outweighs the sting of the sacrifice made". (May need your critique on this one Brandon)!

Thanks,
Rob W.

So about where are you located, Rob? You're welcome to make the trek most anytime. (forgive me if we've already communicated--I've been getting lots of emails on Salk auditions.) Cheers, dennis

Dennis,

Yes, we have communicated in the 'Audition Lists'. Even though you are 2 hours plus from me, I may have to take you up on the offer. Can't remember if you have the STs or not. I am located south of Richmond.

Thanks,
Rob

If Dennis Murphy has a few moments I think it would be fun to hear the answers to the following:

* What crossover design are you most proud of and why?

* What's the most remarkable crossover design you've seen by somebody else?

* What's the worst crossover design you've come across in a cheap speaker?

* What's the worst crossover design you've come across in an expensive speaker?

Ok, buddy, I will 'mark your words'!!! Will contact Dennis next week, if I haven't heard anything from Richmond owners.

Sorry to see the price increase, but there is no way I will be prepared to make a decision by then. Hopefully the increase won't be too much. If the STs turn out to be THE speaker to replace my ADSs, then I'll just have to cough up the extra dough.

Hey Saturn94...are you coming to Richmond in the next week or so? I am thinking of going to see Dennis in DC. I need to hear the STs, before I buy them. My wife just wouldn't understand.

If Dennis Murphy has a few moments I think it would be fun to hear the answers to the following:

* What crossover design are you most proud of and why?

I'm going to say the the SoundScape, because Jim would get really ticked if I didn't. But in truth I put the same amount of time and effort into every crossover, so the results depend more on the inherent quality of the drivers than anything else.


* What's the most remarkable crossover design you've seen by somebody else?

Probably the new Vandy 7, although I would have to have a pair in my living room to make sure. In Denver it sounded absolutely neutral and cohesive, and that's really hard to pull off when you're using first order acoustic slopes. Probably the most innovative was the Dalquist DQ10 from around 1970. It was the first to try and achieve time alignment and phase coherence. Some of the drivers had problems, however, and I actually preferred the KLH 5 and 12 (identical except for cabinet). They didn't have any computers and didn't know much about baffle step compensation, but somehow they got the two mids, tweet, and woof to work together with no colorations or other funny stuff.


* What's the worst crossover design you've come across in a cheap speaker?

Probably a white van job that the neighbor kid traded in his golf clubs for. I redid it for him, but I think he preferred the original. Boom, squawk, sizzle.

* What's the worst crossover design you've come across in an expensive speaker?

I don't think they make these anymore, so I guess they're fair game. That would be the Norh 9.0 Marble. They went to the trouble to hollow out a solid piece of marble to produce an inert cabinet, used the best Scan Speak drivers available, and then threw in a crossover that produced a dip the size of cleveland. http://murphyblaster.com/content.php?f=marble.html

Thanks for the interesting reply Dennis.

BTW, it appears the Norh 9.0 is still being made.

According to Norh:

"The nOrh 9.0 is often called the world's best two way book shelf loudspeaker....We use only the finest crossover components. The result is a loudspeaker that never disappoints. I never understand why so many people are willing to pay so much money for loudspeakers that can not match the sonic performance or the stunning beauty of the nOrh 9.0s.-- particularly given the fact that respected reviewers have confirmed that the nOrh 9.0s are truly world class."

http://www.norh.com/Norh_Loudspeaker/Norh_9.html

Maybe they changed the crossover based on your feedback

Ruh Roh. I really didn't mean to trash a current speaker. It's been years since I dealt with these. And maybe they have improved the crossover.

It was very interesting to read your page, seeing how you would improve other speakers crossovers. I have a question for you if you dont mind. What kind of standards do you go by when you desing crossover and when you mod other speakers crossover? DO you always go by flatenning the frequency?
Is great to read your post, there is always something to learn in that perspective.

Thanks

I'm not sure when I'll be in Richmond again.

I'm waiting for Dennis to get a pair of HT2-TLs then we'll set up a time for me to come up for an audition of the STs and HT2-TLs. I will also bring my ADS speakers for comparison. I think Dennis said he would like to hear these and do some measurements.

After I audition the Salks, I would still like to audition the Von Schweikert VR-33s. However, I've not found an owner yet that can offer an audition. I did contact Albert Von Schweikert and he said he may be able to find an owner within a reasonable distance from my place. Hopefully he can find someone for me.

The only "speaker" I've ever bought without auditioning first was my subwoofer (SVS 16-46PC+). Between all the positive feedback and the fantastic service SVS offers, I decided to take a chance and order one. Needless to say I was not disappointed and love my SVS sub.

That said, I would never purchase a "regular" speaker without hearing it first, especially when we're talking about spending four figures. I would also want some kind of recourse should I not like the speaker in my own room/setup. Perhaps I'm asking alot, but I simply cannot afford to spend that much money on something I'm not happy with.

Thanks for the nice words. Over the years, I've had literally dozens of people send me or bring me commercial speakers that they were unhappy with or just thought might be improved. I've always begun by setting them up and giving them a good listen. If I liked what I heard, I usually just sent them back, because there are always risks when you start tearing speakers apart. But usually I hear something missing in the crossover region or a voicing problem in the tweeter. If my measurements then show something that could explain it, and if it looks like I can fix it, I start over from scratch with raw measurements and a fresh design for the crossover. The exact topology I use depends on how robust the drivers are and the orientation of the front baffle--vertical or sloped back. I generally do try to target flat response, but the sound will also depend very much on where I cross the drivers. Some commercial companies (like B&W) cross from the mid-woof to the tweeter at what I consider to be an inappropriately high frequency. (That's onlly true of their cheaper bookshelf speakers--not the flagship models that are done with a different market and sound in mind.) If I think a flat response is too bright, I voice the tweeter down a bit. There's no real science to that. But I don't deliberately target a "scooped out" response like you'll find in a number of British speakers. I've always found a basically flat response (on-axis as well as off-axis) to sound best over the long haul.

Hey, I thought I understood that Dennis had HT2-TLs. Maybe I misunderstood.

I will be contacting Dennis next week, hopefully we can get together soon.

I think only one speaker

Well, if "soon" is earlier this afternoon, then I've got it. I have one standard HT2, and now I have the cabinet for the HT2 TL. I hope to get the drivers installed with the crossover before next weekend, but I dunno. Jim is bringing the SS10's down to the D.C. Audiofest on Thursday, and I'll be helping out. We were late to the game and ended up with the most beautiful room in the mansion, but it has 14 ft ceilings and a marble floor. Was that an echo I heard? But if nothing else, it will make for some beautiful photo ops. http://www.rockvillemd.gov/tours/man...nservatory.htm

general Murphy, in the Conservatory, with the SoundScapes!

you guys might want to see about renting a big shag rug for that room!

Anyone Here in the Oklahoma City Area have any Salk Speakers ? I would like to get a chance to hear them.
Thanks

You think? Do you know of any carpet chains that sell by the acre? We're running out of time here.