AudioCircle
Industry Circles => Salk Signature Sound => Topic started by: jsalk on 27 Sep 2009, 02:10 am
-
Based on the success of the HT2-TL's, we decided to re-visit an HT1 version of the same speaker.
We just finished work on this new design and will be showing it for the first time at Rocky Mountain Audiofest. We'll then be taking it on the road to the Oregon GTG.
Here are some pics...
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=22286)
And a close-up...
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=22287)
This pair was done in genuine Brazilian rosewood and they sound as great as they look.
- Jim
-
Looks great as usual Jim.
What is the cost of these puppies and why not the G2 tweet?
-
Great work, Jim. Gorgeous as always!
-
Very nice, Jim and Dennis (et al).
Looking forward to learning more about this speaker.
-
Hi Jim,
How does the new updated tl version of the ht1 compare with the ht2 (non tl) speaker? I presume pretty similiar except that the ht2 would be a little more efficient?
You and dennis continue to push the boundaries :icon_lol:.
Regards
Rod
-
Hi Jim,
How does the new updated tl version of the ht1 compare with the ht2 (non tl) speaker? I presume pretty similiar except that the ht2 would be a little more efficient?
You and dennis continue to push the boundaries :icon_lol:.
Regards
Rod
I'm sure Jim pushed the quality-of-finish boundaries, and Paul Kittinger pushed the single-driver TL boundaries, but I just adapted the regular HT1 crossover to the different cabinet and sensitivity specs. I haven't compared the HT1 and HT2 TL's in stereo, because I didn't have enough drivers. The main difference is sensitivity--the HT1 uses the least sensitive version of the Seas W18, and there's only one. So it's a little less sensitive than the regular HT1, and a good deal less sensitive than the MTM HT2. There's no way around that if you're trying to maximize bass reach with one 7" driver. MTM's and TM's always have a slightly different sound due to their different radiation patterns, but it's hard to put into words, and probably not enough to influence a purchase decision one way or another. I'll be very interested to compare the HT1 TL with the STRT at Denver. I imagine they won't be priced all that far apart, so a lot of people might be shopping between the two
-
What is the sensitivity and impedance of the new HT1s, Dennis.
I plan on running our new Ultravalve tube amps (30 watts but sounds like 100) as much as possible, (bridged on the big speakers).
Regards,
Frank
-
The HT-1 impedance is at or above 7 ohms up to about 2 kHz. Then it dips down between 2k and 4k, going a little below 4 ohms. I don't know whether that would be a problem for your tubies. The HT-1 sensitivity is quite low--we're getting down into HT3 territory. I would certainly prefer that you throw more watts at them than even your bridged tube model can provide. The HT4 can also use as many watts as possible, but they're significantly more sensitive than the HT1.
-
Jim,
What else is in store for RMAF?
Chris
-
Jim,
What else is in store for RMAF?
Chris
+1 ....What other speaker's will you be making the trip to RMAF this year Jim ? Thanks :thumb:
-
Every year we bring more speakers than I would like. I guess this year will be no exception.
As mentioned above, we will be bringing the new HT1-TL's. In addition, we will be bringing our "HT4" prototypes, SongTower "RT's" and perhaps a pair of red HT2-TL's.
- Jim
-
In addition, we will be bringing our "HT4" prototypes
If I knew that before, I would have made plane reservations. :peek:
Bob
-
Every year we bring more speakers than I would like. I guess this year will be no exception.
As mentioned above, we will be bringing the new HT1-TL's. In addition, we will be bringing our "HT4" prototypes, SongTower "RT's" and perhaps a pair of red HT2-TL's.
- Jim
Thanks for the info Jim. Have you recieved an acceptable driver for the "HT4"? Bringing a 10" version to the show?
Chris
-
Thanks for the info Jim. Have you recieved an acceptable driver for the "HT4"? Bringing a 10" version to the show?
Chris
We will be bringing our 12" prototypes with the original drivers. We will be meeting with FAL at the show to get an update. I expect we will see drivers that pass our tests very shortly, but not for this show.
- Jim
-
Hi Jim,
I will have some new interesting electronics to drive your speakers at RMAF I think you will be happy with. Please bring your own Ultra electronics as backups as usual.
Looking forward to an outstanding sounding show.
Regards,
Frank Van Alstine
-
Every year we bring more speakers than I would like. I guess this year will be no exception.
As mentioned above, we will be bringing the new HT1-TL's. In addition, we will be bringing our "HT4" prototypes, SongTower "RT's" and perhaps a pair of red HT2-TL's.
- Jim
Thanks Jim.... :beer:
-
These are over-the-top in coolness, Jim. :drool: You're going to get me fired by my Finance Minister.
See you in a couple of weeks!
Based on the success of the HT2-TL's, we decided to re-visit an HT1 version of the same speaker.
We just finished work on this new design and will be showing it for the first time at Rocky Mountain Audiofest. We'll then be taking it on the road to the Oregon GTG.
Here are some pics...
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=22286)
And a close-up...
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=22287)
This pair was done in genuine Brazilian rosewood and they sound as great as they look.
- Jim
-
beautiful speakers Jim!!!!
or those the Lcy 110 or the 130's?
-
beautiful speakers Jim!!!!
or those the Lcy 110 or the 130's?
They are 110's. We played with a few LCY tweeters, including some OEM versions, and those seemed to perform the best over all.
- Jim
-
Jim,
Any more info available on these speakers?? Will they be added to the website soon?
Ron
-
Ron -
Jim,
Any more info available on these speakers?? Will they be added to the website soon?
Ron
We are already building pairs for customers. I just returned a few days ago from RMAF and Oregon and haven't had time to put them on our web site. I am hoping to do that this coming week-end.
In the mean time, if you have specific questions about the design, please feel free to fire away!
- Jim
-
Hi Jim,
I'm just curious to know how much the new ht1 tl speakers are selling for?
Thanks
Rod
-
Hi Jim,
I'm just curious to know how much the new ht1 tl speakers are selling for?
Thanks
Rod
Rod -
Pricing with a standard veneer is $2995 per pair.
- Jim
-
Earlier in this thread Dennis commented on changes to the crossover between the sealed and TL versions.... Jim is building a cabinet for my 1801B's which will be a TL cabinet. I'm assuming I can use the same crossover and components. Is this correct, or will I have to modify the crossover?
Thanks,
Scott
-
Earlier in this thread Dennis commented on changes to the crossover between the sealed and TL versions.... Jim is building a cabinet for my 1801B's which will be a TL cabinet. I'm assuming I can use the same crossover and components. Is this correct, or will I have to modify the crossover?
Thanks,
Scott
The original HT1 is ported, not sealed (except for a few exceptions in surround applications). I had to change the crossover for the TL version because Jim switched the tweeters--LCY instead of the G2. Although the TL baffle will obviously be taller, the width will pretty much control the radiation pattern. I'm assuming the width of the TL version is the same as for the 1801. If so, no crossover changes should be necessary. But I might be able to gerry rig an 1801 TL using one of my HT1 TL cabinets and check for sure.
-
That's what I thought. Thanks Dennis.
Scott
-
Hi Jim,
$2995US for the new Ht1 TL speakers is very good value. Looks like you will have another hit on your hands.
Regards
Rod
-
I am so confused. I have been reading about Salks for sometime now but have never posted. What is the difference between the Veracity QW and the HT1-TL?
Thanks.
-
Sirbrine -
I am so confused. I have been reading about Salks for sometime now but have never posted. What is the difference between the Veracity QW and the HT1-TL?
Thanks.
Your confusion is certainly understandable.
Although we may not remove the Veracity QW's from the web site, we essentially are replacing it with the HT1-TL. The QW's are something we did a number of years ago, and it is a very good speaker. But it never caught on like the HT3's and HT1's.
When we finished the SongTowers and HT2-TL's, we thought we may as well do an HT1-TL version as well, using the same LCY tweeter as in both of those designs. The HT1-TL cabinet results in a lower F3 than the original QW's. Other than that, they perform about the same.
But with the HT1-TL's, we'll have an entire family of speakers (including an up-coming stand-mounted monitor for surround duty) using W18's and the LCY tweeter. So this is what we will concentrate on rather than the QW's which were more of a special-purpose speaker primarily for music.
I hope this clears things up a little.
- Jim
-
Jim,
It would be great to see some "official" specs for the HT1-TL.
Regards,
Art
-
Thanks Jim. I'm looking forward to seeing the specs on the website.
-
I had the pleasure of listening to the new HT1-TL speakers at the recent RMAF show for an extended period of time.
I think the are VERY good loudspeakers, easily worth the price in sonic quality first, and looks and build quality too. We got a big image and very defined wide band sound and deeper clean bass response than I had expected. They were driven by a pair of our brand new Ultravalve vacuum tube amplifiers, bridged so they could drive any of Jim's speakers, including the Soundscape-12s. They definitely have that undefinable "magic" that so many loudspeakers are lacking. I think they would work great with our Insight Control Amplifier too. Jim has a sample of that now, hopefully he will comment about this combination.
Best regards,
Frank Van Alstine
-
IIRC, the HT1-TL F3 is 32hz, identical to the HT2-TL, and their efficiency is 84 or 85 db.
-
I spent a good bit of the morning demonstrating the HT1 TL's, STRT's, and HT4's to a couple of anesthesiologists (who actually seemed quite alert). We had the advantage of my instant-comparo machine, and a really excellent audition CD one of them brought. I think the order of preference was (best to least): HT4, and then "it depends." The ST has a more focused up front sound, and the HT1's have a little more relaxed and spacious sound with a deeper sound stage. Sometimes we thought it was a coin toss, sometimes there was a preference on way or the other, perhaps more for the ST on the music we auditioned. The HT1 definitely goes deeper.
-
Jim,
What is the low end frequency response of these compared to the SongTowers and the H2-TL's?
Alex
-
Alex -
Jim,
What is the low end frequency response of these compared to the SongTowers and the H2-TL's?
Alex
The F3 for the HT1-TL's is roughly the same as for the HT2-TL's - about 32Hz. In comparison, the F3 for the SongTowers is about 38Hz.
- Jim
-
What are the dimensions of the HT1-TL ( height, width, depth) and approx weight of each speaker?
-
They definitely have that undefinable "magic" that so many loudspeakers are lacking. I think they would work great with our Insight Control Amplifier too. Jim has a sample of that now, hopefully he will comment about this combination.
Best regards,
Frank Van Alstine
Absolutely agree with Frank. The HT-1 TL's have the "magic" and having hearing them compared to the HT4's, HT2, and SongTower RT, they are special for sure. Testing was a pleasure with AVA gear supporting the entire Salk line-up. :)
John
-
They definitely have that undefinable "magic" that so many loudspeakers are lacking. I think they would work great with our Insight Control Amplifier too. Jim has a sample of that now, hopefully he will comment about this combination.
Best regards,
Frank Van Alstine
Absolutely agree with Frank. The HT-1 TL's have the "magic" and having hearing them compared to the HT4's, HT2, and SongTower RT, they are special for sure. Testing was a pleasure with AVA gear supporting the entire Salk line-up. :)
John
The Oregon event was a very special Salk fest that gave many of us an opportunity to compare most of Jim's speaker line-up. The synergy of Salk and AVA gear was indeed magical to hear. I've said it before, and surely will again....the combination of the HT4 with Frank's gear is absolutely THE ultimate audio listening experience I've ever had. As intently and critically as I listened, I could find zero to criticize. I could only find music and intimacy with the artist playing at the time. And I'd guess everyone there felt the same. Jim and Frank have ruined us. Anything else would be a compromise and step down.
As far as the other Salk speakers, to me they were excellent values and great performers. I'll let others detail their presentations. (I was truly surprised by the terrific bass performance of the HT1's.) I just can't get the HT4/AVA experience out of my mind. (Maybe I need anesthesia. :wink:)