American Made Speakers for $2000

[wilejoe]

Hello everyone. I would really like to buy a pair of good ole made in the USA speakers but it seems that all the towers I look at are around $2000. I'm upgrading my system and wouldn't mind paying that sort of money if I have to . Nothing exciting thinking about getting a 100w Yamaha RS700 receiver and a Denon DCM 390 cd changer ( can play HDCD's which I have a lot of and would like to start enjoying)
I am only going to use it for music and the speakers are going in my living room. I like to listen to music while I'm puttering around the house so I need something that will cover a large area. Living room about 15*20, dining room 10*15 kitchen 10*15. I realize this is no where near optimal conditions.
I looked at the Sierra Tower and the Salk Song Tower. My question is will I notice a difference between these two speakers and lets say the JBL 890's which are less then half the price but not made in the USA.
I realize that how they sound is up to the individual but I'm looking for some feed back and suggestions to help me.
Thanks in advance and everyone have a great day.

Joe

 

[fuzz092888]

Source Technology Speakers. Made right in CT by John Solicito who originally created the JSE infinite slope crossover. He has a few towers in your price range and they there are definitely a few that will handle the volume needed to cover that area. While the models in your price range might not be as smooth at the top end, or measure quite as flatly as the Salk's, they are excellent speakers by made a guy who really knows his stuff.

index1

 

[Steve81]

I'd toss the Klipsch Heritage line into the mix as well, made in Hope, Arkansas to this day. They'll definitely cover large areas, though the only ones you could get new in your price bracket would be the Heresy. However if you're willing to go used, it wouldn't defy the imagination to score La Scalas within your budget, and Cornwalls in good condition around the $1000 mark.

 

[Jimz711]

I looked at Source Technology, but the matching center for the towers I'm interested in costs more than one tower, which always make me want to cry.

 

[fuzz092888]

Which towers and which center?

 

[Jimz711]

The 6.2 tower seems to be matched by the cc-3wc. Once I get more serious about my speaker purchase I will most likely give them a call to make sure I'm reading things correctly.

 

[fuzz092888]

I think the CC-2 or the CC-3 would be a fine match. You probably wouldn't notice a huge difference between the two centers. I've heard the CC-4 and it sounds great.

Those are pretty much the breaks with a quality center channel. I have a pair of Phil 3's, which were $3700 and the "matching" Salk Song center was around $1700+. I've also got a pair of 8.3's from Source Tech and the RC4's. I'm almost thinking of eventually getting a center from John just to see if it integrates better with the 8.3's as more of a timbre match.

 

[Jimz711]

I know it's par for the course with more expensive speakers that the centers and towers are roughly the same price, but it's still depressing especially when you look at some of the other brands that have towers for say 800-1000 a pair and centers ranging from 200-300. If it wouldn't look too odd or be a strain on my space, I'd go with 3 towers across the front.

The only issue I saw with the 2wc is the woofers aren't the same size as the 6.2. Maybe I can swing it and go with a refurb receiver from A4L and get the 3wc.

I know I should read the site more closely but do they have a demo period?

 

[wilejoe]

Source Technology Speakers. Made right in CT by John Solicito who originally created the JSE infinite slope crossover. He has a few towers in your price range and they there are definitely a few that will handle the volume needed to cover that area. While the models in your price range might not be as smooth at the top end, or measure quite as flatly as the Salk's, they are excellent speakers by made a guy who really knows his stuff.

index1

Thanks I'll check them out

 

[wilejoe]

I'd toss the Klipsch Heritage line into the mix as well, made in Hope, Arkansas to this day. They'll definitely cover large areas, though the only ones you could get new in your price bracket would be the Heresy. However if you're willing to go used, it wouldn't defy the imagination to score La Scalas within your budget, and Cornwalls in good condition around the $1000 mark.

Thanks
Used is pretty much out of the picture since my knowledge base isn't that great and the speakers themselves have to be wife approved first for looks.

 

[fuzz092888]

Higher quality parts, means more expensive stuff. Take, for example, the popular ER18 tower build. The parts kit is $720 + shipping not counting wood and other miscellaneous parts. Now buying the parts individually to make a matching center would cost nearly as much for a single speaker. Parts are expensive, wood is not.

Larger companies can afford to build center channels cheaper due to buying in larger quantities and using cheaper parts for center channels and surrounds.

I wouldn't worry about the difference in woofer size. They should be voiced similarly, and the difference would only be in how deep each reaches and max output. If you're crossing over to a sub, neither should be a problem.

You'd have to e-mail John and ask him. My guess is that it depends on what he has lying around the shop. He usually builds to order, so if none are already built then probably not. However, he may know some owners near you who would be willing to demo.

I know it's par for the course with more expensive speakers that the centers and towers are roughly the same price, but it's still depressing especially when you look at some of the other brands that have towers for say 800-1000 a pair and centers ranging from 200-300. If it wouldn't look too odd or be a strain on my space, I'd go with 3 towers across the front.

The only issue I saw with the 2wc is the woofers aren't the same size as the 6.2. Maybe I can swing it and go with a refurb receiver from A4L and get the 3wc.

I know I should read the site more closely but do they have a demo period?

 

[Jimz711]

They certainly are intriguing especially at their price point. I was looking to do a front 3 for around 2,000. I'd have to expand my budget but not that much. I could also go with the 5.2 and it would fit my budget.

 

[fuzz092888]

They certainly are intriguing especially at their price point. I was looking to do a front 3 for around 2,000. I'd have to expand my budget but not that much. I could also go with the 5.2 and it would fit my budget.

You are crossing over to a sub right? If so what sub do you have, or plan to buy?

 

[Jimz711]

I currently have a JBL venue 12 inch sub. I know not ideal and I will upgrade at some point, but for how long I keep the speakers I would think I need to go with the 6.2. It's not that much more and from what I'm reading the 6.2 is a 3 way, and since it is not listed for the 5.2 I'm guessing more of a 2.5.

 

[fuzz092888]

The 5.2 is a 2.5 way. You can tell by looking at the XO frequencies. Either is a good choice, and if the extra couple hundred doesn't bother you then definitely go with the 6.2's.

FWIW, I got these for a steal from John as a clearance. Never hurts to ask if he has any clearance stuff not listed. Sometimes he will, sometimes he won't.

82WC

 

[Jimz711]

I've been looking at NHT specifically the absolute tower, but it looks like these would be a nice midpoint between those towers and some of the more expensive ones.

I have some time before I'll be ready to order as my current towers are going to my parents once they move which in all likelihood won't be for a couple months. Although something on clearance might tempt me to move sooner.

 

[Adam]

 

[slipperybidness]

I know it's par for the course with more expensive speakers that the centers and towers are roughly the same price, but it's still depressing especially when you look at some of the other brands that have towers for say 800-1000 a pair and centers ranging from 200-300. If it wouldn't look too odd or be a strain on my space, I'd go with 3 towers across the front.

The only issue I saw with the 2wc is the woofers aren't the same size as the 6.2. Maybe I can swing it and go with a refurb receiver from A4L and get the 3wc.

I know I should read the site more closely but do they have a demo period?

Many people run a "phantom center" (ie towers only) and are happy with it. If the towers image very well, then it isn't an issue.

 

[markw]

You may not want to hear this, but many of the finer speakers are very sensitive to the upstream components. Translated, that means you may find your receiver won't bring out the best performance of which they are capable.

 

[Swerd]

I'm surprised no one made a direct answer to the OP's question .

I looked at the Sierra Tower and the Salk Song Tower. My question is will I notice a difference between these two speakers and lets say the JBL 890's which are less then half the price but not made in the USA.

If you can spend about $2000 for a pair of tower speakers, you have some excellent choices. Both the Sierra Tower and the Salk SongTower are excellent speakers, and I urge you to find a way to hear them (contact the manufacturers and ask who near you has them). They aren't identical, but they probably have more about them that is similar than different. In this price range, they are the speakers that everyone else tries to beat.

I could tell you my preferences, but you're buying them, not me. Depending on what type of finish you want in your room, I think Salk offers a wider variety of standard and optional veneers. Look below in my signature line for a link with photos of my SongTowers with a standard curly cherry veneer finish.

Even though I haven't heard the JBL 890s, I would guess that you could easily hear that it doesn't sound as good.

About being made in the USA, remember that all or nearly all woofers, tweeters, crossover and other parts are made outside of the USA. For example, Salk builds the cabinets and assembles everything in the USA, but buys parts from Norway, Denmark, Serbia, Taiwan, and China. I don't know those details for the Sierra Tower, but they could easily be similar.