Impressions of Salk SongTowers

[Alex2507]

Those will do. Get the trim done already, and start listening.

towaerd Is bryceo your editor now?

A pair of Seas CA15RLYs are $120 (marked down from the usual $158) and Hiquophon OW1s are now $220/pair. The MB27 drivers are now Seas 27TFFC $92/pair, and the M-130 woofers are $54/pair. That's $194 more for the CAOW1 drivers. And that's with a $38 lower special price, normally it would be $232 more. Is that more than a pair of Primus 150s?

When I first read that, I swear I thought it said this :

Send Bonnie on a vacation with your daughter and knock <strike>out</strike> up 4 of them. 2 for you and 2 for me.
​

Lol ...

That's a lot of ching and a lot of work. It's too late and I'm too tired for trim. I kind of had fun seeing that my cheesy little battery operated miter box would get my through some tallish pine base. I got the Passload out too. I love having the tools but there really is nothing like having a pro-grade set up with a compressor and a variety of nail guns, brad nailers and pin nailers.

Not only have I been listening, I've been demoing. The old ladies just love it. I can't wait to finish up and have them over. They act impressed but that may have more to do with just having something to do.

I honestly don't know what the 150s go for but they're pretty decent and not as big as the 160. I'm able to cross them at the THX 80 Hz so I'm happy there. My wall mount solution is already in place and the black matches a shadow box we have on the rear wall. All in all it's already a done deal. NHTs would work back there too plus they look nicer. Yes, I'm like that now.

 

[Nuance AH]

Well ... how much? Do you have boxes? When? Just curious. Does anyone know what Audiogon says about their value? I take it these are called Salk SongTower QWT RT? I'll do a search of my own I guess.

I honestly haven't really thought about it. Like I said, I am not unhappy with my speakers. Selling a speaker with high gloss is tricky, because while I paid more to have that hand rubbed finish the potential buyers may not care, thus I might not get what I'd like. I also have a matching SongCenter but that isn't in high gloss. As for when, I hope this year at some point, but it all depends on a few other things. We shall see.

On audiogon I would just search "Salk" and see what comes up. The short name for our speakers is SongTower RT's (RT = ribbon tweeter). Most people call the RAAL SongTower's the SongTower RAAL's.

 

[fuzz092888]

What am I, an open book? Primus 150 surrounds and OWS1s rears. Yep had to do it, 7.2. The rears lean up on the Grammas pointed towaerd the money seat.
TLS disagrees ... I'm pretty sure about that but this hobby is about excess and overkill anyway. I find it crazy that a doable good looking MB-27 is $500.

I know Swerd and others will disagree, but I'm with Walter about surrounds. Higher quality surrounds all the way for me.

 

[Alex2507]

I know Swerd and others will disagree, but I'm with Walter about surrounds. Higher quality surrounds all the way for me.

A higher quality than Infinity? Is that like Infinity+1?

Hey, you do the math!

... just search "Salk" and see what comes up.

That was a bad idea. A pair of HT3s going for $3500 about 45 minutes from me.

 

[lsiberian]

I know Swerd and others will disagree, but I'm with Walter about surrounds. Higher quality surrounds all the way for me.

Only if you have the front end and subs taken care of. I think having a multiple surround setup would be really nice. I'm talking 2 surrounds per channel. Localization is a major disadvantage of 5.1. I want 9.4. Overkill FTW!

 

[lsiberian]

A higher quality than Infinity? Is that like Infinity+1?
Hey, you do the math!
That was a bad idea. A pair of HT3s going for $3500 about 45 minutes from me.

It might be time to visit Greg. I know where he drinks on Friday nights. If we buy him enough rounds those HT3s will be all yours.

 

[Nuance AH]

That was a bad idea. A pair of HT3s going for $3500 about 45 minutes from me.

LOL! Offer $3000 and see if he bites.

 

[Swerd]

That was a bad idea. A pair of HT3s going for $3500 about 45 minutes from me.

After the whole past year, I'd like to think you aren't seriously considering those HT3s .

In case you are, or someone else is, I would avoid them for two major reasons.

First is the bass. In the HT3, there is a serious dip somewhere in the frequency vs. impedance curve that occurs because of an unfortunate compromise between cabinet design and visual appearance. If I recall correctly this dip, below 3 ohms, makes heavy-duty big-iron amplifiers a must for these speakers. I mean the kind of amps that TLS Guy describes as "allowing you to piss in the tall grass".

Interestingly, that same 10" woofer is used in the SoundScape 10, but in a larger cabinet with two large passive radiators instead of a reflex tube. In the SS10 cabinet, the impedance curve looks much more favorable, and the power requirements are actually lower.

The other reason is more difficult to describe but involves soundstage depth and the apparent placement of instrument or voice locations. Compared to the ST or the HT2-TL, the HT3 seems to place voices or instruments further away or more distant within the apparent soundstage. The SoundScape series (SS 8, 10, or 12) were originally designed to better deal with that issue. In my opinion, all of the SS models do much better at that than the HT3. In fact, I prefer the HT2-TL over the HT3. I don't know what Jim Salk plans, but I wonder if he wants to stop making HT3s and make the SS8 instead.

 

[Dennis Murphy]

After the whole past year, I'd like to think you aren't seriously considering those HT3s .

In case you are, or someone else is, I would avoid them for two major reasons.

First is the bass. In the HT3, there is a serious dip somewhere in the frequency vs. impedance curve that occurs because of an unfortunate compromise between cabinet design and visual appearance. If I recall correctly this dip, below 3 ohms, makes heavy-duty big-iron amplifiers a must for these speakers. I mean the kind of amps that TLS Guy describes as "allowing you to piss in the tall grass".

Interestingly, that same 10" woofer is used in the SoundScape 10, but in a larger cabinet with two large passive radiators instead of a reflex tube. In the SS10 cabinet, the impedance curve looks much more favorable, and the power requirements are actually lower.

The other reason is more difficult to describe but involves soundstage depth and the apparent placement of instrument or voice locations. Compared to the ST or the HT2-TL, the HT3 seems to place voices or instruments further away or more distant within the apparent soundstage. The SoundScape series (SS 8, 10, or 12) were originally designed to better deal with that issue. In my opinion, all of the SS models do much better at that than the HT3. In fact, I prefer the HT2-TL over the HT3. I don't know what Jim Salk plans, but I wonder if he wants to stop making HT3s and make the SS8 instead.

Hmmm. I checked the impedance curves for the HT3 and SS10, and there's not much to choose between them. Both remain above 4 ohms in the critical 100 - 200 Hz region. As for soundstaging, I always found the HT3 more forward than the SS10, which makes sense since the HT3 has a conventional closed-back midrange. The SS10 does go lower, and I prefer the passive radiator tuning, although some would prefer the somewhat beefier sound of the HT3 in 60-80 Hz range. That said, if someone could afford to bump up in price a little, the SS8 is probably the superior speaker.

 

[Alex2507]

After the whole past year, I'd like to think you aren't seriously considering those HT3s .

Not anymore I'm not. Actually my wallet never even considered it.

... and I'm good where I'm at which is getting ready to paint my trim

... so my subs and surrounds can go in

... so my couch can go back

... so I can set the rec'r up for 8 channel

 

[Swerd]

Hmmm. I checked the impedance curves for the HT3 and SS10, and there's not much to choose between them. Both remain above 4 ohms in the critical 100 - 200 Hz region. As for soundstaging, I always found the HT3 more forward than the SS10, which makes sense since the HT3 has a conventional closed-back midrange. The SS10 does go lower, and I prefer the passive radiator tuning, although some would prefer the somewhat beefier sound of the HT3 in 60-80 Hz range. That said, if someone could afford to bump up in price a little, the SS8 is probably the superior speaker.

Wow, I usually try to avoid being that wrong. My memory of those past things is clearly off. Sorry about that.

 

[Nuance AH]

In fact, I prefer the HT2-TL over the HT3. I don't know what Jim Salk plans, but I wonder if he wants to stop making HT3s and make the SS8 instead.

I actually do too.

You're right about the amp needed for the HT3's, though. 500 wpc anyone?

Not anymore I'm not. Actually my wallet never even considered it.

... and I'm good where I'm at which is getting ready to paint my trim

... so my subs and surrounds can go in

... so my couch can go back

... so I can set the rec'r up for 8 channel

I'm looking forward to seeing it in all it's finished glory. Hurry up already!

 

[fuzz092888]

Only if you have the front end and subs taken care of. I think having a multiple surround setup would be really nice. I'm talking 2 surrounds per channel. Localization is a major disadvantage of 5.1. I want 9.4. Overkill FTW!

Hey I'm working on it Right now I'm only 7.2, soon to be 7.3. Heights and another sub will be next year for 9.4

 

[lsiberian]

Hey I'm working on it Right now I'm only 7.2, soon to be 7.3. Heights and another sub will be next year for 9.4

I'm still working on the front 3 so I can't talk. At my rate you will have another 8 years to beat me to the punch.

 

[fuzz092888]

I'm still working on the front 3 so I can't talk. At my rate you will have another 8 years to beat me to the punch.

Hopefully it doesn't take that long, and I'm sure things will come to a screeching halt as soon as real life sets in

 

[Alex2507]

Wow, I usually try to avoid being that wrong.

Yeah but you sounded like you knew what you were talking about ... that's good, right?

First coat of paint is on the cut to fit and partially glued up trim.

Oh yeah, the sound panel! Almost forgot!

 

[JerryLove]

I actually do too.

You're right about the amp needed for the HT3's, though. 500 wpc anyone?

I run 500WPC. Right now, it's powering a pair of Salk SCST's.

That reminds me: I'm gonna need another amp.

 

[cpp]

I'm still working on the front 3 so I can't talk. At my rate you will have another 8 years to beat me to the punch.

I got to 5.1 until the wife said no more crap in her living room

 

[JerryLove]

I got to 5.1 until the wife said no more crap in her living room

Get Jim Salk to match your furniture and use pretty wires (and hide them well) and you should be fine

 

[lsiberian]

I got to 5.1 until the wife said no more crap in her living room

It's a theater room for me now. I did the living room thing and it's not fun.