Salk SoundScape M7

[Warpdrv]

http://www.salksound.com/soundscape m7 monitor - home.htm

SoundScape M7 Monitor
Design True 3-way design
Drivers
(1) RAAL ribbon tweeter;
(1) Accuton midrange; and,
(1) custom 7" long-throw woofer

Response 42Hz - 60KHz (+/- 3db)
Sensitivity (dB/2.83v/1M) 84-85db
Impedance 8 ohms nominal
Recommended Amplification 100+ tube watts / 200 - 500 solid state watts
Box Alignment Sealed midrange/tweeter,
ported woofer section (front or rear)
Weight 56 pounds each
Dimensions
(HWD) 25.25" H x 9" W x 14" D

Originally designed as a surround speaker to mate with the Full Range SoundScape 10 & 12 speaker series...
They could also be used in conjunction with a good Sub or 2 for mains...

Was Lucky enough to snag these used at a great price... excited to hear them...

I'm looking forward to giving my impressions and hopefully have others from the SE WI audio group chime in on them as well...
I have to say that pictures seriously don't convey the beauty of the finish of these speakers.... More to come...

 

[gene]

Looks like a cool speaker but I wish they published an actual useful frequency response.

84dB sensitivity is rather low for such a large speaker. I suspect this baby is a bit limited in dynamic output.

 

[Dennis Murphy]

Looks like a cool speaker but I wish they published an actual useful frequency response.

84dB sensitivity is rather low for such a large speaker. I suspect this baby is a bit limited in dynamic output.

Gene--First, Salk speakers are rated conservatively--unlike many other manufacturers, the sensitivity spec isn't based on a peak at 1 kHz caused by too little baffle step compensation. Second, this will be used with a sub. A Big Hog sub. I don't think there will be a problem. Warp--tell him about the sub.

 

[Adam]

Warp--tell him about the sub.

Warp has a sub?!

 

[Warpdrv]

I don't think there will be a problem. Warp--tell him about the sub.

I got a Sub....
Small room, plenty o amp .....

 

[ratso]

hilarious to see "junior audioholic" listed next to dennis' name. that's ok dennis, a few years more and you can maybe hang with all us real big boy audio guys.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Then you said Salk SoundScapes before I didn't know they come in anything else other than the chu-chu shape

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

hilarious to see "junior audioholic" listed next to dennis' name. that's ok dennis, a few years more and you can maybe hang with all us real big boy audio guys.

yea, I think we need to mark manufactures reps (or owners ) with some special tag... it's like it's a secret who Denis Murphy or Sean Olive are

 

[Warpdrv]

that's ok dennis, a few years more and you can maybe hang with all us real big boy audio guys.

Yeah Watch your step Dennis - I'm a Ninja !!!! Ha !

Then you said Salk SoundScapes before I didn't know they come in anything else other than the chu-chu shape

Yeah, I wasn't a huge fan of those myself, but everything about the drivers said AWESOME - when I saw these, I was intrigued...

 

[Adam]

This reminds me - you all owe me rent. And, no, I don't care if your shower doesn't work or you're afraid of roaches. Man up. And pay up.

Btw, awesome new speakers, Warp!

 

[jonnythan]

Looks like a cool speaker but I wish they published an actual useful frequency response.

84dB sensitivity is rather low for such a large speaker. I suspect this baby is a bit limited in dynamic output.

The first comment goes over my head. What's not useful about the response posted?

 

[gene]

Gene--First, Salk speakers are rated conservatively--unlike many other manufacturers, the sensitivity spec isn't based on a peak at 1 kHz caused by too little baffle step compensation. Second, this will be used with a sub. A Big Hog sub. I don't think there will be a problem. Warp--tell him about the sub.

Most legitimate loudspeaker companies don't rate sensitivity that way but even still 84-87 dB is a very inefficient speaker so I don't expect these would be appropriate in anything but a small room. This is what I found when Jim sent me the 1801TL floorstanders that bottomed out at 75dB only 10ft away. As for the sub, I hope its not the sub he originally sent Paul? Did Jim redesign the sub since then?

The first comment goes over my head. What's not useful about the response posted?

The scale is 100dB and the graph is smoothed and it only shows an on-axis response.

Read: Audio Measurements: The Useful vs the Bogus

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

The scale is 100dB and the graph is smoothed and it only shows an on-axis response.

I figured it's smoothed and I noticed missing data below 200hz, but I'm confused about 100db graph - the graph above show data from 50db to 100db (with 5 db steps) - doesn't this makes it a 50db scale ? sorry for dumb question

 

[jonnythan]

Regardless of the scale, the entire response is in a 2dB range except for a dip around 250 Hz. It seems the response is indeed within a +/- 3dB range. The smoothing I can understand though, thanks.

 

[gene]

I figured it's smoothed and I noticed missing data below 200hz, but I'm confused about 100db graph - the graph above show data from 50db to 100db (with 5 db steps) - doesn't this makes it a 50db scale ? sorry for dumb question

My bad. I needed to take a second glance to see the graph starts at 50dB so you are correct. The graph is smoothed but it at least shows Jim voiced the speaker to be neutral. The reason he likely stopped the low end at 200Hz is b/c the measurement was taken in-room. Below 200Hz the room dominates the measurement which is why I often splice in a summed nearfield response.

I am sure these are fine sounding speakers like all Salk's I've heard but I just wonder how loud they will play as that is an important part of the equation for those that like to crank up their music, especially for home theater.

 

[its phillip]

Most legitimate loudspeaker companies don't rate sensitivity that way but even still 84-87 dB is a very inefficient speaker so I don't expect these would be appropriate in anything but a small room. This is what I found when Jim sent me the 1801TL floorstanders that bottomed out at 75dB only 10ft away. As for the sub, I hope its not the sub he originally sent Paul? Did Jim redesign the sub since then?

I'm pretty sure the sub they are talking about is Warp's Funkywaves FW18.0.

 

[Warpdrv]

As for the sub, I hope its not the sub he originally sent Paul? Did Jim redesign the sub since then?

The Room is 1800^3
The Sub is a Sealed 18" TC-Sounds LMS driver - Nathan at Funky Waves build the cabinet, I finished the job with loading the driver, external amp and EQ.

The driver has been Klippeled and is almost flat as a pancake all the way up to 500hz, so crossing over higher is a non issue. I'll be shooting for 100hz xover but may end up as low as 80hz... Speakers will have gobs of power behind them.

 

[gene]

The Sub is a Sealed 18" TC-Sounds LMS driver - Nathan at Funky Waves build the cabinet, I finished the job with loading the driver, external amp and EQ.

The driver has been Klippeled and is almost flat as a pancake all the way up to 500hz, so crossing over higher is a non issue. I'll be shooting for 100hz xover but may end up as low as 80hz... Speakers will have gobs of power behind them.

Cool build an extra one for me while your at it

 

[cpp]

Gene maybe a speaker test by your team could take place which in the end would help us make an accurate decision to support a purchase. Might turn out to be really beneficial since these speakers are not sold anywhere but direct.

 

[gene]

Gene maybe a speaker test by your team could take place which in the end would help us make an accurate decision to support a purchase. Might turn out to be really beneficial since these speakers are not sold anywhere but direct.

Jim builds his stuff to order and his cabinet work takes quite a lot of time. Hence why he's got some of the nicest cabinets in the industry. I'd be happy to review something like this from him in the near future however.