[coke]

Listening to the Dynaudios right now.  Literally sounds like someone is standing in my room singing.

The Salks are going to have to be pretty impressive for me to give these up. 

 

[rahimlee54]

When the seagull calls on a song I have my dog thinks it is a bird and barks at my HT2s alot.  He also looks around for Norah Jones when she is on.  I dont know if it is someone in the room singing to you as you hear it, but it is really funny.  Also sounds really good.

[coke]

When the seagull calls on a song I have my dog thinks it is a bird and barks at my HT2s alot.  He also looks around for Norah Jones when she is on.  I dont know if it is someone in the room singing to you as you hear it, but it is really funny.  Also sounds really good.

Yeah Norah Jones is actually what I'm listening to.  I use some of her stuff as reference music.

[DMurphy]

Well, a lot of speakers are going to sound good on Norah Jones.  This has always been a sore spot for me.  The first cut on Jim's HT4 demo is some young lady singing about In the Arms of the Angels way too close to the mic.  I've A-B'd that with just about every speaker I have here, and she always sounds about the same. There just isn't enough complexity in the overtone structure to differentiate between good speakers and very good speakers.  And then there's that Bird on a Wire thing (don't get me started).  You need much more complex music than that to sort out differences among decent speakers.  I use classical orchestral music, but I'm sure there are more contemporary cuts that will do as well (and have probably been listed in the demo CD's thread).  Yup--another late night post.  But if I hear One More Norah Jones Demo----,,,,,,,,,.  Sorry.  I've been to a lot of audio shows. 

[coke]

Well, a lot of speakers are going to sound good on Norah Jones.  This has always been a sore spot for me.  The first cut on Jim's HT4 demo is some young lady singing about In the Arms of the Angels way too close to the mic.  I've A-B'd that with just about every speaker I have here, and she always sounds about the same. There just isn't enough complexity in the overtone structure to differentiate between good speakers and very good speakers.  And then there's that Bird on a Wire thing (don't get me started).  You need much more complex music than that to sort out differences among decent speakers.  I use classical orchestral music, but I'm sure there are more contemporary cuts that will do as well (and have probably been listed in the demo CD's thread).  Yup--another late night post.  But if I hear One More Norah Jones Demo----,,,,,,,,,.  Sorry.  I've been to a lot of audio shows.

Makes sense.  I have noticed how some speakers do really well with music like that.  Sometimes someone starts out singing and everything sounds perfect.  Then the instruments join in and it sounds horrible, or all jumbled together.

I think it can still be used as a reference though.  If a set of speakers can't get that right, then that should probably tell you something.

[Kris]

That's why i use Diana Krall as my reference. 
How about small scale classical music for A/Bing speakers? It gives a better sense of space and solo violin does not sound great on all speakers.

[Nuance]

Sounds like you really love your Dyn's, coke.  I don't blame you. 

Try to score an audition of the HT2 TL, and bring your Dyn's along.  That will be the true tell. 

[charmerci]

Well, a lot of speakers are going to sound good on Norah Jones.  This has always been a sore spot for me.       But if I hear One More Norah Jones Demo----,,,,,,,,,.  Sorry.  I've been to a lot of audio shows.

Time for you to start buying music from adydula's Outstanding Demo CD's list..... and then perhaps start giving them away. After all, making CD copies isn't that expensive...

[fishinbob]

Well, a lot of speakers are going to sound good on Norah Jones.  This has always been a sore spot for me.       But if I hear One More Norah Jones Demo----,,,,,,,,,.  Sorry.  I've been to a lot of audio shows.

Time for you to start buying music from adydula's Outstanding Demo CD's list..... and then perhaps start giving them away. After all, making CD copies isn't that expensive...

Always wondered why one would strive to have a system that sounds live..... just like you were there... and just like the line-arrays they heard at the concert?

[coke]

Sounds like you really love your Dyn's, coke.  I don't blame you. 

Try to score an audition of the HT2 TL, and bring your Dyn's along.  That will be the true tell.

As far as mids and highs, i really enjoy them, but I can't stand the bass. I've become aware of it now, and it's impossible to overlook.

The speakers came with foam plugs for the ports.  I put those in and it solved the issue of boomy bass, but the speakers lose almost all of their bottom in with the plugs  I don't think these speakers are going to work for me in this room.  I think i'm also approaching 200 hours break in time, so I doubt that's the issue.

I already have them sold, so it's just a matter of finding a replacement now. 

[K Shep]

I already have them sold, so it's just a matter of finding a replacement now.

What a fantastic position to be in!  You have a good pair of speakers (great speakers to some) that you'll pass on, however until you find your next pair you will have the ability to compare the Dyns to those that you audition.  Its a great learning opportunity.

If I may, you should also consider treating your room.  Acoustic panels transformed my attic into a listening room.

Kirk

[fsimms]

As far as mids and highs, i really enjoy them, but I can't stand the bass. I've become aware of it now, and it's impossible to overlook.

You came to the right place.  Jim Salk doesn't believe in boomy bass.

Bob

[Paul K.]

My sentiments exactly.  I always get a big kick and an even larger question mark when people say, "on my system she sounded exactly like when I heard her live at a concert", yet unless one attends something like a symphony orchestra concert, no one ever hears anyone perform truly live.  What they hear, in the case of a singer for instance, is the voice going into a microphone, through amplification, perhaps through EQ, through power amplifiers and finally out of some speakers which are, IMO, designed primarily to play loud without a lot of attention paid to fidelity.
Paul


Always wondered why one would strive to have a system that sounds live..... just like you were there... and just like the line-arrays they heard at the concert?
[/quote]

[coke]

I already have them sold, so it's just a matter of finding a replacement now.

What a fantastic position to be in!  You have a good pair of speakers (great speakers to some) that you'll pass on, however until you find your next pair you will have the ability to compare the Dyns to those that you audition.  Its a great learning opportunity.

If I may, you should also consider treating your room.  Acoustic panels transformed my attic into a listening room.

Kirk

Yeah my mom is the one buying the speakers.   She's building a small theater now, and I get to keep the Dynaudios while she has to do carpet and painting. I have the money to go ahead and order the Salks (dynaudios already paid for, just need to get money for my amp, pre, and sub), but i think i'll wait and time it so that I get the salks, or whatever speaker i decide on, at the time my mom picks up the dyns.  Trying to avoid going any amount of time with no speakers.

I have 20 of these in my "theater"
  http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10098005

I have a 100" projector screen on the wall behind the speakers, and it's surrounded with window scarves.  Not sure what else i could do to help with that.

I've considered additional treatment, but i'm going to wait until I get new speakers. I think my next thing to do would be work on the ceilings.  The walls in the room are 9' i think, at the point where the vaulted ceiling starts. I think the ceiling extends to around 15'.  I'm not sure how much of an impact they have on sound.

[fluke242]

Super fun, Coke.  I would recommend broadband acoustic treatments too, not just thick curtains which are narrowband (high end).  As far as speakers from Jim - I would listen to the HT2-TL.  Based on your comments I think they will impress you the most.  I have the HT2's, non-tl, and they are fantastic with that magic mid-range and  amazing clarity. 

John

[coke]

Super fun, Coke.  I would recommend broadband acoustic treatments too, not just thick curtains which are narrowband (high end).  As far as speakers from Jim - I would listen to the HT2-TL.  Based on your comments I think they will impress you the most.  I have the HT2's, non-tl, and they are fantastic with that magic mid-range and  amazing clarity. 

John

Do you mean things such as bass traps, or something like adding mass to help with low frequency?

[Nuance]

I have 20 of these in my "theater"
  http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10098005


I've considered additional treatment, but i'm going to wait until I get new speakers. I think my next thing to do would be work on the ceilings.  The walls in the room are 9' i think, at the point where the vaulted ceiling starts. I think the ceiling extends to around 15'.  I'm not sure how much of an impact they have on sound.

Those aren't thick enough, nor made of the proper material to do much.  No offense or anything.  If you want to fix the room you need to measure it, then use panels with a good amount of density that are at least 2" thick.  Treating the first reflections points will help a lot, and installing bass traps will help alleviate that "boom" that you had.  Also, adding a subwoofer would take away the boom and give you more headroom down low, as it can be placed in the ideal location in-room.  I love my SongTower RT's, but there is only so much 5" drivers can do.  Crossing over to dual subwoofers made a large difference, and it allowed me to EQ below the Schroeder Frequency (200Hz).  Adding room treatments as of recent (thanks to kshep) helped EQ from about 140-800Hz.  My bass response and lower midrange is a quite a bit better now, so I highly recommend trying some of these things.  If you don't you might just find that any speaker you place in that room has the same issues. 

You mentioned it was a theater.  Is that where you had the Dyns?  If so, I assume you already have a subwoofer(s)?

[coke]

I have 20 of these in my "theater"
 http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10098005


I've considered additional treatment, but i'm going to wait until I get new speakers. I think my next thing to do would be work on the ceilings.  The walls in the room are 9' i think, at the point where the vaulted ceiling starts. I think the ceiling extends to around 15'.  I'm not sure how much of an impact they have on sound.

Those aren't thick enough, nor made of the proper material to do much.  No offense or anything.  If you want to fix the room you need to measure it, then use panels with a good amount of density that are at least 2" thick.  Treating the first reflections points will help a lot, and installing bass traps will help alleviate that "boom" that you had.  Also, adding a subwoofer would take away the boom and give you more headroom down low, as it can be placed in the ideal location in-room.  I love my SongTower RT's, but there is only so much 5" drivers can do.  Crossing over to dual subwoofers made a large difference, and it allowed me to EQ below the Schroeder Frequency (200Hz).  Adding room treatments as of recent (thanks to kshep) helped EQ from about 140-800Hz.  My bass response and lower midrange is a quite a bit better now, so I highly recommend trying some of these things.  If you don't you might just find that any speaker you place in that room has the same issues. 

You mentioned it was a theater.  Is that where you had the Dyns?  If so, I assume you already have a subwoofer(s)?

I'll only be using this room for another year or two. The curtains provided a realitively low cost option. I couldn't find anyting else that cheap.  Also they help with light reflections from the screen lighting the room up.

I have this sub, http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-764 but i'm selling it along with everything else.  It has an eq on it also that helps smooth out the response.  In my opinion though, $3000-$4000 speakers with proper amplification shouldn't need a sub.

I'm going to build a large sub(s) to replace it. Initial thoughts are using 18" soundsplinter, FI, or diycable with nice pro audio amp, and some sort of sub EQ.

Plan is the following.

Stage 1: 2 chanel setup - fronts, preamp, 2channel amp
Stage 2: Build sub
Stage 3: Center, Surrounds, and 3 channel amp (i might purchase the 3 chanel amp in stage 1 and use the old speakers i built as place holders until i can afford something new)




 

[K Shep]

The curtains provided a realitively low cost option. I couldn't find anyting else that cheap. 
I'm going to build a large sub(s) to replace it.

Some of us are able to work with our hands a little and it sounds like you may enjoy it too.  I enjoy building stuff.  As Nuance shared we found a great source for diy acoustic panel building.  And if you can build a sub you can build an acoustic panel.  They cost about $20 each.  The panels are great for first reflection points.  I am not an acoustic specialist, there is a thread on this site you may visit and get professional input.

Check out this site: http://www.atsacoustics.com/cat--DIY-Acoustic-Materials--102.html

As you noticed there are a bunch of guys expressing their input, please know that I (we) are here to help and share our experience, in the end you will do what is best for you and makes you happy.

Kirk

[coke]

The curtains provided a realitively low cost option. I couldn't find anyting else that cheap. 
I'm going to build a large sub(s) to replace it.

Some of us are able to work with our hands a little and it sounds like you may enjoy it too.  I enjoy building stuff.  As Nuance shared we found a great source for diy acoustic panel building.  And if you can build a sub you can build an acoustic panel.  They cost about $20 each.  The panels are great for first reflection points.  I am not an acoustic specialist, there is a thread on this site you may visit and get professional input.

Check out this site: http://www.atsacoustics.com/cat--DIY-Acoustic-Materials--102.html

As you noticed there are a bunch of guys expressing their input, please know that I (we) are here to help and share our experience, in the end you will do what is best for you and makes you happy.

Kirk

I appreciate the help.  I'm really impressed by the nature and helpfullness of responses in this forum.  It reminds me a lot of the forum on carsound about 7-8 years ago when it was active. 


Changing topics, Jim sent me an email giving me the rough locations of a few owners nearby, and asked if I'd like him to set up an audition for me.  The closest one is 2 hours away and has a set of songtowers. 

I'm beginning to think I'll just take advantage of the 30 day return policy.  I can't think of a better audition than one in my home with my own equipment.  I plan to get standard finish cabinents, so I don't think refund or resell for Jim will be difficult if the Salks aren't what I'm looking for.

Here's what I think I'll get. Open for suggestions on amps and preamps(with HDMI input) that will keep the cost of of speakers, amp, and preamp, around $6000.

Speakers - Salk HT2 - TL
Amp - Emotiva XPA - 2
Pre amp - Possibly an onkyo 886 on the outlaw audio website ($1500 is more than i'd like to spend). Another option would be an onkyo 876 from shop onkyo (roughly $1000, but would allow me to power center and surrounds while i save for another amp). 3rd option would be an integra 40.1 (roughly $1200)