F
fredk
Audioholic General
Another great comparo! Did you try switching the position of the two sets of speakers to see how this affected imaging? Sometimes positioning can make a difference here and in other areas.
Thanks!Did you try switching the position of the two sets of speakers to see how this affected imaging? Sometimes positioning can make a difference here and in other areas.
Thanks!I congratulate you on finding a speaker that fullfills your requirements. I am sure that the Studio 20's will satisfy you for years to come.
John
Based on what you seem to prefer, you might consider these ID speakers:…If there are some ID speakers which might be competitive in this range, especially based on any inclinations I have shown in my reviews, I would like to try a couple. I'm kind of anal and don't like to leave stones unturned. In this case it is simply impossible to turn them all, but I would like to catch at least what appears to be the low hanging fruit among the ID stones (as if that makes any sense).
Thanks!Based on what you seem to prefer, you might consider these ID speakers:
Salk Surround I - Marketed as a surround speaker to go with the Salk SongTowers, these make excellent stand mount speakers for a 2.1 system. Salk's wood finishes are the best I've seen. IMHO, they make Totem's very nice finishes look like plain vanilla in comparison.
Ellis 1801 - A step up in price and performance, but they are available as kits in several stages of price & assembly. Scroll down to see details.
Ascend Acoustics Sierra-1 - A close competitor to the Salk Surround I, they have been very popular. I prefer the Salk Surround I to these, but its your preference that counts here, not mine.
I am certain that Salk has a 30-day money-back return policy, although I can't find that on the web site either. There is no restocking fee, but you pay the shipping. When I bought my SongTowers that was the policy. Email or phone Jim Salk to be sure.Any idea what Salk's return policy is?
I did a quick look around the site, but didn't spot a policy link or anything about trial period, shipping, or restocking fee.
Thanks.Kurt:
First, congrats on taking the time to find the speaker that best suits what your ears/brain desire. You'll be much happier having taken the time to find out what appeals most to you.
My views are in no way a criticism of you. Far from it. We need to all realize that our on hearing is unique, and within certain criteria, honest differences in taste are both truthful, and a part of what makes this hobby so fascinating.
At the shop I went to the Rainmaker had the outside left, and the 20v5 outside right. There was about 18 inches between each speaker. Both speakers were slightly toed-in. Distance was 4 ft from the back and 8ft apart. Rotel gear with 12 gauge wire and banana plugs was used. I had my own special audio demo cd for music.
Rainmakers- The tweeter goes higher and is more natural-sounding. The mids are more open and offer up a wider soundstage. Vocals are rich though they can sound a bit nasally with females, and chesty with males. Bass response was deeper though slightly looser. Imaging has always been a huge Totem strength and valued part of my criteria.
Studio 20v5- Vocal location is tighter, and clearer, though slightly missing in depth and detail. This explains why for HT I think the 20v5's are solid choice. A third 20v5 would make for an excellent center channel IMHO.
The tweeter in the 20v5 is less shrill and easier on the ears than previous models, the v1-3's could be like fingers on a chalkboard at times. I believe a metal dome tweeter requires better x-over parts than a fabric one. That may explain why the tweeter has shown such improvement as the Studio series has been able to borrow more from the Signature line in the last two versions.
Bass response was tighter, but I just didn't hear as many notes as I did with the Rainmakers. I listen to classical music about 25% of the time, so I tend to crave bass detail more than just the boom.
For me and that I'm a 2 channel guy (I have a separate HT setup), in my experience in a head to head the Rainmakers are a better speaker. I could happily "survive" with either speaker.
But in any case, I think that you'll end up with a sub at some point, as HT lives for subwoofers to recreate what the director had in mind for the audio experience.
Enjoy!!
+1 - Yup, that's correct. Win win in my book.I am certain that Salk has a 30-day money-back return policy, although I can't find that on the web site either. There is no restocking fee, but you pay the shipping. When I bought my SongTowers that was the policy. Email or phone Jim Salk to be sure.
Not to worry, I'm not one to quickly redefine my judgment. Nor am I so arrogant as to discount someone elses judgement because it does not align with my own.If you're comfortable with what you heard, then stay with it. I won't talk you out of your opinion.
There is a dealer close by. I'll check if they have the 705S in stock and see if they will let me bring them home or carry in my speakers. Thanks!Kurt,
Are B&W available for audition in your area? If so, have you listened to the 705S?
I checked the B&W shop I mentioned and they are pretty much a custom installer only operation. If I was ready to buy a pair, they would be happy to sell them to me with a little discount, but they only keep in stock the speakers which are in their 3-4 HT showrooms (with only 1 HT system per room).Kurt,
Are B&W available for audition in your area? If so, have you listened to the 705S?
I think you pretty much nailed it. A large majority of people, myself included play in that price range.. Companies like Axiom, Ascend, Emotiva, Aperion, SVSound etc. - to me, they put out speakers that offer a genuine taste and entry into true "high end" sound quality and they do so at unusually low prices. That is their great appeal and the reason for their well-deserved success: superb "bang for the buck".