The Official Salk Sound Owner's And Discussion Thread - Page 270

The sensitivity difference is a power-doubling. All else being equal (I've not seen impedance slopes on either and can only somewhat read them regardless) you lose 3db going with the M7: power source not withstanding.

You lose on the bottom end with the M7, but I assume you are crossing to a sub.

You gain a bipolar radiation pattern with the M7.
You gain the improved midrange from that ceramic mid.

If I were deciding between these two speakers it would depend on my room and my application. I think setting up a HT room full of mounted M7s would be awesome. Putting a pair of speakers in my living room? I like towers (though I'd have to seriously look at the mid performance)

Another vote for the SCST. I use a mid level AVR, Denon 3311ci and it has no trouble with the SCST in a 2.0 setting. I started to get an integrated, but like the feature set of a modern AVR so I left well enough alone.

BTW, the SCSTs sound fantastic.
Edited by glangford - 2/2/13 at 3:26am

Thanks all... you guys are whetting my appetite for SCSTs on up.

Anyone compared the standard STs and SCSTs side-by-side? Everyone seems to love the RAALs vs. dome, but frankly my hearing above 8K is pretty shot. Is the difference in the lower treble striking as well? Where is the treble crossover in the STs / SCSTs?

I've not gotten to compare them side-by-side.

The SCST's are smaller, go considerably lower, and have less maximum SPL (full range anyway) than the ST or ST-TL.

I personally own the SCST's and love them.

Good points. Size is a concern and the SCSTs are perfect in that regard, and while the M7s, although close in size to HT2-TLs (SS8s would be too big), the M7s would probably "look" smaller (less imposing) in my space and I'd be in SS sq territory. But the sensitivity might be the biggest negative. They go down to 40 Hz (not bad and similar to normal STs) but I might run with a sub.

Hmmm....

Cool. Do you run them 2.0?

Yep.

I intended to add a sub. I suppose I still intend to; but it's not been pressing because they do go surprisingly low and are doing music duty right now.

Kind of....
In my house right now I have SS8's, Ht2-tl's with raal, and song towers with the dome. I have not done a lot of AB testing. After you have spent the money you can drive your self crazy wondering if it was worth it. I've spent the most time with the HT2-tls and had those the most dialed in. I was having epic listening experiences constantly with them. Amazing highs and really full sound with out using a sub. When purchasing used song towers with the intention of using them for rear surrounds for about 5 minutes i could directly AB them with my amp and was surprised how similar they sounded. Also surprised how the lower end filled the room with all the talk of them lacking in bass. I quickly stopped because i didn't want to burden myself with buyers regret -- new ht2-tls being $4500 compared to used song towers 1500$. The RAAL is a must have in my opinion. On the other hand....the person i purchased my used SS8's from had some hearing issues in the high end department and i think he decided the the RAAL was not for him. I personally live for highs.
Also in my opinion: figure out your budget and then go a little higher, get the best you can afford, but expect if you are like most of us you will, no matter what, want something better.
good luck

Wow quite the set up with the full range of Salk's line. Keep in mind I'm coming from older Definitive Mythos (awesome form factor but zero music awe factor) and PSB monitors I had years ago. My first "disappearing speaker" experience was very recently at a B&W dealer with CM9s. I know they get ragged on, but I finally "got it" that speakers can have music materialize rather than make their presence known.

Do you have a Salk center? If so, impressions of SQ and timbre matching?

oh yeah I have the HT2-C i bought that to go with the HT2-tls, but now using it with the SS8. I only use it to watch movies and i think it's amazing. I was just re reading some of my old posts and for a while i used my old kef center channel with the HT2-tls and i remember liking it better than a phantom center. so maybe i'm not that critical for home theater use.
I never planned on having the Salk line up. It just happened. I had the HT2-TLs and LOVED them. then i wanted rear surround salks, and the song birds are like $899 plus shipping,plus mounting them on the wall. so i figured i could just get a used pair of song towers for close to the same price. Found a pair locally and got them. no regrets. ordered the center and it was delivered and system was complete!

but then! i saw a my favorite pair of SS8's go for sale on audiocircle and I HAD to have them! I was totally powerless. now 3 sets of speakers. the ht2-tls and for sale

Snap! What is the resale value of Salks in general, and in particular how much off full price did you get your used ones for? It seems people let them go for much less than paid.

The SCSTs go low enough that I think you'd have to hear them in your room, with the kind of music you like, to decide if they'd need a sub. The bass is clear and strong to surprisingly low frequencies but, I could see people preferring to run them full range, full range + sub with low pass filter or crossed over to a sub at 60/80Hz. It really is a matter of room, music and preference.

I'd say the resale is about the best in the business. Also what you should focus on is not what they sell them for but what they buy when they sell them, ususally they are moving up the Salk lineup.

Unless you're guf and accidentally acquired the whole Salk lineup. Guf thanks for the feedback as well. I won't ask you to do an A/B/C of the three tower models, although it sounds like you could host a Salk GTG all by yourself. You could always sell the looser to me.

Truth be told, I ~could~ afford any of them, but right now size/placement is a big consideration. Plus I'm just stepping into audiophile-level speakers and psychologically I can rationalize $2k, but about twice that for the SCs (without hearing them--much less side-by-side in my space) is pushing my "reasonable price to pay for top end speakers" belief system--but I'm pondering...

But if I got the standard STs for a while, I'd hope I could sell them at 70-80% of the price and move on up the stairway to Salk Heaven.

I bought my less than year old ST's for 1450, my 3 month old SS8's for about 10% discount, my ht2-tl's for retail and getting low ball offer's 2500 -2700. I say low ball in a nice way.

I bought a pair of standard STs + a matching center for $1400 delivered

I would never bank on anything above 70% of new and even that is high

agree

Makes sense. I guess I'm used to musical equipment (guitars, amps, effects) which keeps a reasonable value in the used market (and part of the reason my hearing >10kHz is fried).

I auditioned a pair of st's yesterday with some nice people in Mass. I have to give Jim a call.

What were your impressions?

Were the ST's RAAL or basic?

They were the basic tweeter. I thought they sounded great, very detailed. I'm not sure if I should upgrade to the RAAL since I lost a lot of my upper frequency hearing. I'm also considering the STSC, but that is a big jump in price.

Checked today nothing moved , it sucks with no center But it will be worth it in the end because I love the towers

The ST have decent bass atleast I though so , the raal would also depend on what type of music you listed to .

Did they have a center for HT audition as well?

No strickly 2 chanel.

Exactly like me. I haven't heard either tweeter in Salk's line, but I'm not sure if RAAL vs. dome is notably better in low treble where I can hear.

In addition to the OW1 vs. RAAL question, does anyone have the WOW1 (or similar variants) or the Ellis 1801b? Any big negatives with a monitor + sub vs. ST/SCST for music? I was thinking I wanted a tower for music listening, but if I can get 95% there with a much smaller form factor, I might go that route.
Edited by yyz67 - 2/3/13 at 2:22pm

The WOW1s were designed for use in a 2.1 music system.

They have the OW1 in them because I wanted maximum vertical dispersion (i.e. great sound whether I was seated on the couch closest to the speakers about 45 degrees down, or standing up at about 30 degrees up).

Most people the RAAL is the best tweeter out there (i.e. absolutely freakin' amazing), but the OW1 is no slouch (i.e. still pretty amazing).

I wish I had the space for a Salk/Rythmik 12" to complement them, but i don't; so i make due with a smaller Velodyne.

If you have a reasonable size room, and you listen at reasonable volumes - then you would be very happy with a 2.1 based on the WOW1.

Good to hear. My room is 12' x 26' (8' ceilings), one side is open towards the front, and I sit about 10'-12' away. I don't listen *too* loud generally, but sometimes.

Where do you cross them over and what do you run them with? I have a 150W Yamaha AVR and the sensitivity is lower on the WOW1s. I'm also curious about the Ellis 1801b's which has the larger Seas W18.

Your room is actually smaller than mine, and I only have a 60 wpc amp (Adcom GFA-535). I use a Parasound 2100 as my pre-amp so they are crossed over at 80Hz.

If you have the space and the budget, consider HT1s - that's what I'm thinking of as an upgrade in my home theatre some day; that way you get RAALs too.

You need to see if someone with WOW1s is anywhere close to you. A bottle of wine might convince them to let you hear them in your space...