The Speaker Company TST2 Floorstanding Speaker Review

[gliz]

2 questions:

what could be done about the stability issues?

next:

I have an HSU VTF2 MK3 would that be bass overkill (I do understand that I can adjust the crossover down from its current setting.

 

[Rickster71]

2 questions:

what could be done about the stability issues?

next:

I have an HSU VY2 MK3 would that be bass overkill (I do understand that I can adjust the crossover down from its current setting.

I didn't use the spikes, just used the outrigger feet.
Adding weight to the bottom would help too.

Since you already have the sub, as you mentioned;
just adjust the output. So that shouldn't be an issue.

 

[aarond]

There is no sharp dive. The response of the tweet out to 20kHz is quite normal, especially since it was taken in-room over 1 meter away. If you think thats bad, trying measuring a metal dome tweet with a phase plug on axis up to 20kHz

he is probably referring to under cons is listed
"Tweeter breaks up at higher volumes"

with no reference as to what power they break up at, we don't know if they work properly under manufacturer specs 150 watts or less. or if they are being driven at 350 watts since the reviewer is using 500 watt amps

 

[Tommytutor]

Hi Tommy,
I agree, in CD Direct mode the bass is pretty anemic.
I have mine set up in a spare room converted into a listening room.
There're powered with an Yamaha RXV1 and I turn up the bass knob a little and they sound great.

I used Steely Dan's Asia CD, the one engineered by Steve Hoffman in 1984, as an audition disk.
In the first ten minutes I wanted to return them. (for lack of bass) Though they really present a good sound stage.
I'm listening to them in stereo mode, and I'd swear my center channel is on.
I played around a little with bass and treble, and they sound very good now.
I have their woofers facing out and about 2-1/2 ft off the wall.

One fault I've noticed is the lower cabinet suffers from resonance. I have plans to brace them soon.
The upper portion is pretty solid, due to the mids and tweeter having their own box, within the cabinet.

Good luck, let us know how you make out.

Rick

Thanks for the reply Rick. I also noticed a oooooooohhh sound on certain material which I didn't know if it was resonance or port noise, almost like blowing into a pop bottle. I wonder if more dampening material would help with this? Let me know if the bracing helps. Tom

 

[nick51]

TST Towers, designers and packaging

Thanks to everyone who purchased the first round our our towers. The TST2 is now sold out! We expect more in April.

A couple of notes:

1. There is no famous designer who helped on this project. We employed some industry experts and available parts (some of which we tweaked) to help out on our T series line but no one involved with the Sapphire design. That said, I've heard the Sapphires and our speakers sound every bit as good.

2. Packaging... we thought we boxed these well enough including dobule boxing them, but the best laid plans... Round two of these speakers will sport thicker boxes, MUCH improved top and bottom trays and a snugger fit to keep the speakers safe no matter how rough UPS or FedEx treats them.

3. Customer service... as with any new business we're having some growing pains but thanks to all our great customers we are growing, and fast. If you read our fourms you know we take CS very seriously and resolve issues as quickly as possible. In the near future we'll be expanding our CS with the hopes of maintaining a "personal touch".

4. Round two... We are studying Audioholics review and are currently planning on how we can improve on what we think is already a great sounding "high value" design.

Again thanks to everyone that has helped make our first year in business a memorable one, we look forward to many more.

Nick

 

[jamie2112]

I just wondered how Rick found this? Just wondering... oh sorry I seem to have overlooked something in my last post ..hence this

 

[Rickster71]

#8
01-27-2009, 09:51 AM

Rickster71
Audioholic Field Marshall




I got the TST3's a few weeks ago.
I can tell you when I took them apart, the crossover had "Sapphire ST3" silk screened on the board.

I just wondered how Rick found this? Just wondering...

Hi Jamie,
I bought the TST3's and took one apart.
Nick is talking about TST"2"
I can only vouch for what I found in mine.

Rick

 

[jamie2112]

Thanks to everyone who purchased the first round our our towers. The TST2 is now sold out! We expect more in April.

A couple of notes:

1. There is no famous designer who helped on this project. We employed some industry experts and available parts (some of which we tweaked) to help out on our T series line but no one involved with the Sapphire design. That said, I've heard the Sapphires and our speakers sound every bit as good.

2. Packaging... we thought we boxed these well enough including dobule boxing them, but the best laid plans... Round two of these speakers will sport thicker boxes, MUCH improved top and bottom trays and a snugger fit to keep the speakers safe no matter how rough UPS or FedEx treats them.

3. Customer service... as with any new business we're having some growing pains but thanks to all our great customers we are growing, and fast. If you read our fourms you know we take CS very seriously and resolve issues as quickly as possible. In the near future we'll be expanding our CS with the hopes of maintaining a "personal touch".

4. Round two... We are studying Audioholics review and are currently planning on how we can improve on what we think is already a great sounding "high value" design.

Again thanks to everyone that has helped make our first year in business a memorable one, we look forward to many more.

Nick

Hi Jamie,
I bought the TST3's and took one apart.
Nick is talking about TST"2"
I can only vouch for what I found in mine.

Rick

Whoops my bad I still was just wondering, not in a bad way...... Thanks for straightening me out buddy....

 

[just-some-guy]

i think its GREAT when a rep responds in a public forum. it shows they care.

i can see it being a problem packaging speakers of that size without it getting expensive. after all, i want my $$$ to go into the product. not the packaging that is often thrown away. but, the nature of the beast says the product must delivered undamaged. its a thin line.

good luck with that.

 

[TimPFla]

Yes!!

I thought I was having a issue with my Speaker Company order. It had been 4 days and appeared to have no action on my account. Nick GM replied to my posts on the forums. He explained what was going on. So I emailed him my order number and he replied on my personal email saying that they have filled the order and will be shipped the next day. "THIS HAPPENED" On top of that I got a email from I guess the warehouse order apologizing for the short delay due to inventory going on and trying to fill the orders. They are a great company in my book...

 

[Fredhizzle]

Thanks to everyone who purchased the first round our our towers. The TST2 is now sold out! We expect more in April.

A couple of notes:

1. There is no famous designer who helped on this project. We employed some industry experts and available parts (some of which we tweaked) to help out on our T series line but no one involved with the Sapphire design. That said, I've heard the Sapphires and our speakers sound every bit as good.

2. Packaging... we thought we boxed these well enough including dobule boxing them, but the best laid plans... Round two of these speakers will sport thicker boxes, MUCH improved top and bottom trays and a snugger fit to keep the speakers safe no matter how rough UPS or FedEx treats them.

3. Customer service... as with any new business we're having some growing pains but thanks to all our great customers we are growing, and fast. If you read our fourms you know we take CS very seriously and resolve issues as quickly as possible. In the near future we'll be expanding our CS with the hopes of maintaining a "personal touch".

4. Round two... We are studying Audioholics review and are currently planning on how we can improve on what we think is already a great sounding "high value" design.

Again thanks to everyone that has helped make our first year in business a memorable one, we look forward to many more.

Nick

Keep up the good work, continue the good quality speaker building and we bargain hunters respest how you guys dont cut corners to profit more, we appreciate well built speakers. Don't sell out like most companies do with all there marketing hype, dont compromise advertising for better research and improvements because in the long run, customers will continue to notice that these are legit bargain speakers that compare to speakers twice the price, I hope you guys continue to grow and you will because word of mouth will spread like fire! I just want to let you know upon good reviews of your products I'm planing on buying the LCR3 - P Series Home Theater Front Speakers as soon as my Atlantic subwoofer gets here.

 

[Tommytutor]

Hi Tommy,
I agree, in CD Direct mode the bass is pretty anemic.
I have mine set up in a spare room converted into a listening room.
There're powered with an Yamaha RXV1 and I turn up the bass knob a little and they sound great.

I used Steely Dan's Asia CD, the one engineered by Steve Hoffman in 1984, as an audition disk.
In the first ten minutes I wanted to return them. (for lack of bass) Though they really present a good sound stage.
I'm listening to them in stereo mode, and I'd swear my center channel is on.
I played around a little with bass and treble, and they sound very good now.
I have their woofers facing out and about 2-1/2 ft off the wall.

One fault I've noticed is the lower cabinet suffers from resonance. I have plans to brace them soon.
The upper portion is pretty solid, due to the mids and tweeter having their own box, within the cabinet.

Good luck, let us know how you make out.

Rick

Hi Rick, Have you tried any mods to your tst3's yet? Just curious if you tried any of your bracing ideas? I seem to be gaining in the bass department as my ears/drivers break in but I think there are some issues with either the tweeters or midrange on vocals which I would describe as graininess. Have you experienced this? I don't know if this is the tweeter breakup that was mentioned in the review since in my case it happens at moderate listening levels. Maybe these are ultra resolving speakers which are showing up shortcomings further upstream. I may have to break out the headphones and do some comparisons.By the way, thanks for your input on the speaker wire issue.

 

[Rickster71]

sent you a pm.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I received my new tSC TC2 center in about 7 days [5 business] after order with free shipping.
There no damages to box, but then again TC2 is only about 23 lbs.
I guess its bigger issue for 50 lbs plus towers.

I love the speaker and so does my wife, with my only gripe is the email few days after I placed the order, received with so called tracking number was not recognized by none of 3 large package shippers (UPS/Fedex/DHL) and email didn't specified which one is it.

P.S: The package was delivered by Fedex Ground.

 

[nick51]

New Boxes for TST Towers

The good news is we're closing in on new packaging for the tSc Towers. The bad news is we're out of 2's and almost out of 3's. The next batch should be here some time in late April early May with what we hope to be UPS proof packaging. Double boxed 5 ply with new resilient internal foam.

Nick

 

[majorloser]

I received my new tSC TC2 center in about 7 days [5 business] after order with free shipping.
There no damages to box, but then again TC2 is only about 23 lbs.
I guess its bigger issue for 50 lbs plus towers.

I love the speaker and so does my wife, with my only gripe is the email few days after I placed the order, received with so called tracking number was not recognized by none of 3 large package shippers (UPS/Fedex/DHL) and email didn't specified which one is it.

P.S: The package was delivered by Fedex Ground.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

You mean these? hehe

 

[Torgus]

nice review!

 

[Alamar]

Question to those that have heard these speakers: Are they still "the" speakers [bookshelf or floor standing] to get for 450$ shipped per pair? Are there "clearly better" choices at that price [for mostly movies and games] if I match the speakers with a good sub?

Note 1: I've got a fairly pathetic 5.1 set of speakers currently. I've got a 7.1 capable receiver and will be going to Blu-Ray soon. I'm trying to upgrade in pieces so eventually my system will still be "budget" but hopefully clearly better than the "crap" I have now. My thoughts are these speakers might make a good choice for new fronts ....

Note 2: I don't really care much about the finish or playing at high volumes. I do care about getting a product that is easily worth the money and will last a good while ...

 

[engtaz]

Nice review. Not a speaker to have with kids in the house. Dont care for all the plastic (grill and stand brackest).
Thanks for the review, job well done,