You went right to the top! Did you demo any Salk speakers in your search, or just knew these were the ones based on the description?
So, I did not demo any Salk speakers in my search. Sounds crazy right?
However, IME, I have most often times found that going direct gives you more bang for the buck. I mean, that is readily apparent when you take a look at the drivers and crossover parts that some of these direct companies are putting into their products versus much more expensive competition.
Salk was not my first choice to be completely honest. There was several companies I emailed. One in particular I was about to give a down payment. However, the communication became non-existent, and I would go weeks, or a month without responses to my questions. I figured if I was putting five figures down, I needed to be assured it wasn't a huge risk.
I saw the audiocircle posts about the Exotica 3's, and figured I would email Jim and see what he thought about my room, system, and what speaker he would recommend.
Within an hour I had a response, and the communication between myself and Salk has been amazing. I have something like 80 emails between myself and the company, asking question after question about my order.
This kind of customer service, which is surprisingly rare in this audio hobby, made my decision very easy. Sometimes, absolute performance is not all the matters. Sometimes, its also the customer service, and the feeling that you are buying a quality product, from a quality person/company.
Once I decided I wanted Salk, I had to choose between the SS8 and the Exotica 3s.
This was a very hard decision. There has been, throughout this board, arguments between which is the better speaker for rock and blues, or vocal and folk. It is hard to distinguish between what is conjecture, and what is actual truth. As far as I know, no one has compared the two speakers together in their own systems over a period of time, except for BRM, and even then he has changed equipment in the process.
Sfox's seemed to be of the opinion that the E3 was stellar for all variety of music, because they are very organic, transparent, open, and natural, and at the end of the day, that is the kind of sound I am looking for.
I went with my gut.
A friend of mine went to RMAF, and I asked him to check out the E3's for me. He has an amazing system with SoundLab U1s. Like any good friend, he enjoys busting my proverbial "balls," so believe my when I tell you, he was anxious for the reality to be that the Exoticas weren't very good.
The fact that seconds after he heard them, he texted me to tell me that he loved the sound, and that they were excellent, assured me I made the right choice.
Its been a long time waiting for these, and due to some aggravating screw up with my vacation payout from my old job, it will be just a little bit longer. Jim has been patient with waiting, which again is a testament to his customer service.
I am super excited.
