AudioCircle
Industry Circles => Salk Signature Sound => Topic started by: jsalk on 1 May 2012, 07:18 pm
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We built a pair of SoundScape 8's for AKFest and used a new batch of black limba we had recently purchased. John and Jill had ordered a pair of HT2-TL's in tineo that they were going to pick up at the event. When they heard the SS8's, they wanted to know if they could purchase the SS8's instead. So these are not available, although I thought I'd still share the pictures.
Here they are...
(http://www.salksound.com/gallery/ss8/ss8-blacklimba.jpg)
And a close-up...
(http://www.salksound.com/gallery/ss8/ss8-blacklimba-cu.jpg)
Happy listening John and Jill (in May after I finish a replacement pair)...
- Jim
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Congratulation JJ2, I am sure they wil give you many hours of listening enjoyment.
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I see what you did there Jim, so very sneaky....
Build both speakers with a similar veneer and then get them to listen to the SS8's....
Hahahaha Is that a Bait and Switch maneauver.... ??!?!?!?! LOL
Congrats John and Jill - Nothing compares to the beautiful sound of the SoundScapes...
There is NO ESCAPING the SoundScape... <---- New sales pitch...?/?
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Jim,
How accurate is the color in this photo? Is it less red/more yellow in reality? I'm still working on trying to "calibrate" my perception with these photos.
Thanks .......Peter
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I see what you did there Jim, so very sneaky....
Build both speakers with a similar veneer and then get them to listen to the SS8's....
Hahahaha Is that a Bait and Switch maneauver.... ??!?!?!?! LOL
Congrats John and Jill - Nothing compares to the beautiful sound of the SoundScapes...
There is NO ESCAPING the SoundScape... <---- New sales pitch...?/?
Warp,
Great slogan! I love it! I'd actually been considering SS8's but figured I'd better go with HT2's based on cost. Once we heard them though, we decided it was well worth the upgrade, and Jim was gracious enough to let us do that. Can't wait to get them at the end of the month.
John
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Jim,
How accurate is the color in this photo? Is it less red/more yellow in reality? I'm still working on trying to "calibrate" my perception with these photos.
Thanks .......Peter
They look fairly realistic on my monitor. Of course, I processed them on my monitor to begin with.
- Jim
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Congrats John. You certainly went all out for this pair. Wish my wife would understand why spending 8k on a set of speakers is "ok" :)
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They look fairly realistic on my monitor. Of course, I processed them on my monitor to begin with.
- Jim
:scratch: Hmm. I wish I lived in Michigan!! On my monitor, the tone in this photo is a fairly neutral brown with just a hint of red. It has looked more yellowish in the show photos.
John, what do you think about the color representation?
On another note.... What do you all think about this for a half grill idea?
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=62138)
.........Peter
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On another note.... What do you all think about this for a half grill idea?
.........Peter
If not for my 4 yrs old son then I do not need a grill. I think the speaker look nicer with the grill off.
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:scratch: Hmm. I wish I lived in Michigan!! On my monitor, the tone in this photo is a fairly neutral brown with just a hint of red. It has looked more yellowish in the show photos.
John, what do you think about the color representation?
On another note.... What do you all think about this for a half grill idea?
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=62138)
.........Peter
Peter,
I think they may be a just a bit lighter with maybe a little more yellow. Depends on the lighting I think.
Jim has done some grilles for the woofers only on some speakers. (See some of the HT3's). I'm sure he'll do whatever you want.
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Congrats to John and Jill and welcome to the Salk family! Those are simply amazing! Please post pictures of them in your home when they are all set up. I look forward to further impressions.
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Thanks John.
I'm just playing around with the grill idea. Jim posted about grills in another thread and talked about not using grills, except for over woofers where they won't affect the sound. Given my difficulty with decisions, I may ask for both grills!
:tempted: :banghead:
.......Peter
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Congrats to John and Jill and welcome to the Salk family! Those are simply amazing! Please post pictures of them in your home when they are all set up. I look forward to further impressions.
Thanks, but these will be my 5th pair of Jim's speakers...I've been in the 'family' for a while!
I'll be sure to take some pics and give a review after I get them in a month.
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Thanks John.
I'm just playing around with the grill idea. Jim posted about grills in another thread and talked about not using grills, except for over woofers where they won't affect the sound. Given my difficulty with decisions, I may ask for both grills!
:tempted: :banghead:
.......Peter
I know Jim recommends leaving the grilles off when listening, and I've always done that. I had one pair (HT1-TL prototypes) that didn't come with grilles. I know there are some here that leave them on all the time as well. Your preference. Might as well have them and you can decide!
John
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Thanks, but these will be my 5th pair of Jim's speakers...I've been in the 'family' for a while!
I'll be sure to take some pics and give a review after I get them in a month.
Doh, sorry buddy. It's my standard line whenever someone gets a pair of Salk speakers.
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Doh, sorry buddy. It's my standard line whenever someone gets a pair of Salk speakers.
No problem!! Just figured you knew I wasn't a Salk 'newbie' :)
I'm really excited to step up to the SS8's. After listening to Pete's in his dedicated room I'm really anticipating getting them. Even though I don't have the greatest room to set them up in at the house we're renting, I'm sure they will sound great! I hope to use them in a dedicated room in the house we buy in the next couple months.
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No problem!! Just figured you knew I wasn't a Salk 'newbie' :)
I'm really excited to step up to the SS8's. After listening to Pete's in his dedicated room I'm really anticipating getting them. Even though I don't have the greatest room to set them up in at the house we're renting, I'm sure they will sound great! I hope to use them in a dedicated room in the house we buy in the next couple months.
I do - just didn't pay close enough attention to the name because I was using my phone to post. You're like a 5-time Salk MVP. :D
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I do - just didn't pay close enough attention to the name because I was using my phone to post. You're like a 5-time Salk MVP. :D
That means I better buy something pretty soon or he'll catch me. :weights: :whip:
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That means I better buy something pretty soon or he'll catch me. :weights: :whip:
If he's the MVP then you're a hall-of-famer. ;)
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That means I better buy something pretty soon or he'll catch me. :weights: :whip:
Better hurry because I'm thinking about those WOW1's that were at the show! :lol:
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I really like the look of Black Limba, especially on the SS8s pictured here! :thumb:
VERY handsome speakers... love the black nameplates, plinths and spikes on this pair.
:green:
We built a pair of SoundScape 8's for AKFest and used a new batch of black limba we had recently purchased. John and Jill had ordered a pair of HT2-TL's in tineo that they were going to pick up at the event. When they heard the SS8's, they wanted to know if they could purchase the SS8's instead. So these are not available, although I thought I'd still share the pictures.
Here they are...
(http://www.salksound.com/gallery/ss8/ss8-blacklimba.jpg)
And a close-up...
(http://www.salksound.com/gallery/ss8/ss8-blacklimba-cu.jpg)
Happy listening John and Jill (in May after I finish a replacement pair)...
- Jim
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Thanks, but these will be my 5th pair of Jim's speakers...I've been in the 'family' for a while!
I'll be sure to take some pics and give a review after I get them in a month.
Hi, Have you received your ss8's yet?
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Not yet :(
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Picking them up on Thursday!!
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Picking them up on Thursday!!
That's awesome!!!
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Picking them up on Thursday!!
John, that's great! Drivers must have come in. Maybe I'll hear from Jim soon <nudge, nudge, wink)!
.........Peter
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Limba wood is used in some of the finest musical instruments out there. I know its Veneer correct? Either way Limba will make them sound great. I took a pair of Grado's and replaced the shells with shells of solid Limba a year ago or so and they sound incredible!
Beautiful work Jim! Fantastic... :thumb:
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John, that's great! Drivers must have come in. Maybe I'll hear from Jim soon <nudge, nudge, wink)!
.........Peter
Yep, they did. It will be an all day trip for me down and back, but I'm sure it will be worth the drive!
I'll let you know if I see yours at the shop.
John
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Yep, they did. It will be an all day trip for me down and back, but I'm sure it will be worth the drive!
I'll let you know if I see yours at the shop.
John
Oooh yeah! If you do, take pictures - even if not finished.
Nice way to get them - by visiting Jim and his shop. I would do the same if I weren't all the way up here!
........Peter
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Limba wood is used in some of the finest musical instruments out there. I know its Veneer correct? Either way Limba will make them sound great. I took a pair of Grado's and replaced the shells with shells of solid Limba a year ago or so and they sound incredible!
Beautiful work Jim! Fantastic... :thumb:
I'm sure they will sound good, but I doubt the Limba will make any difference at all, it's just veneer on top of the MDF.
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I'm sure they will sound good, but I doubt the Limba will make any difference at all, it's just veneer on top of the MDF.
Oh man, these decisions are plenty hard enough. Can you imagine also having to take the impact of the veneer choice on sound quality into account! :duh:
........Peter
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Picked them up today and they are playing. I've not had much time to listen to much of the music I wanted to, as my wife is home. I had a few of the demo cuts on I wanted to hear and she said 'put something else on.' We are listening to what she says is "the good stuff', i.e. the music she likes. She's at work tomorrow so I will be able to listen to the music of my choice!
So far, I really prefer listening to them with just a bit of stuffing in the back. Jim suggested to put half of the bag of stuffing he gave me in each speaker. I really didn't like how that sounded. The treble sounded too compressed to me. Without the stuffing they really open up. They are pretty amazing in my less than ideal room. I will play with setup some more tomorrow. More to come.
Thanks Jim and Mary!
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Picked them up today and they are playing. I've not had much time to listen to much of the music I wanted to, as my wife is home. I had a few of the demo cuts on I wanted to hear and she said 'put something else on.' We are listening to what she says is "the good stuff', i.e. the music she likes. She's at work tomorrow so I will be able to listen to the music of my choice!
So far, I really prefer listening to them with just a bit of stuffing in the back. Jim suggested to put half of the bag of stuffing he gave me in each speaker. I really didn't like how that sounded. The treble sounded too compressed to me. Without the stuffing they really open up. They are pretty amazing in my less than ideal room. I will play with setup some more tomorrow. More to come.
Thanks Jim and Mary!
I am experiencing this vicariously!!
Did you have a chance to see mine in the making?
....Peter
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Jd3,
I got the same experience as you did. I gone from more stuffing to none at all. Without the stuffing, the sound is really open up but little messy to my taste so I put one 4x4x8 sound diffuser behind each speaker and pull them 5' away from the front wall. Now, the sound is really awsome. Much more balance and details.
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I am experiencing this vicariously!!
Did you have a chance to see mine in the making?
....Peter
Peter,
No, sorry to say I didn't. I did see a pair that Mary said were going to New Zealand and Jim showed me the cabinets to his new pair.
John
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Jd3,
I got the same experience as you did. I gone from more stuffing to none at all. Without the stuffing, the sound is really open up but little messy to my taste so I put one 4x4x8 sound diffuser behind each speaker and pull them 5' away from the front wall. Now, the sound is really awsome. Much more balance and details.
I'll have to try placing them further into the room, but I won't be able to get them 5' out. I'll be waiting to do room treatments until I move (still renting).
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I want to see pictures of the speakers in their natural habitat! :D
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Peter,
No, sorry to say I didn't. I did see a pair that Mary said were going to New Zealand and Jim showed me the cabinets to his new pair.
John
Thanks John. I just talked to Jim who tells me the dye is applied and they are applying the sealer coats. Once that is complete, we will look at photos to decide if will will darken any with the top coat. Hopefully done within a couple of weeks!
I hope you are enjoying getting yours settled in. What electronics are you running with them?
.......Peter
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JD3 must be in music heaven because he's only emailed me twice all day!! Happy listening honey, i'll be home in a couple hours!! :kiss:
I've not had much time to listen to much of the music I wanted to, as my wife is home. I had a few of the demo cuts on I wanted to hear and she said 'put something else on.' We are listening to what she says is "the good stuff', i.e. the music she likes. She's at work tomorrow so I will be able to listen to the music of my choice!
Tru-dat - I wasn't a fan of Jennifer Warnes over and over! :duh: But atleast I let him listen uninterrupted for a while before telling him to put on the good stuff! Think of it this way my dear, since it's my fault that you have the SS8's I should get to listen to whatever I want, whenever I want!!!!! :inlove:
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Here are some pics in their 'natural habitat'!
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=63701)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=63669)
(Note that I have the latest in acoustic treatments: a stuffed pheasant diffuser)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=63700)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=63659)
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Thanks John. I just talked to Jim who tells me the dye is applied and they are applying the sealer coats. Once that is complete, we will look at photos to decide if will will darken any with the top coat. Hopefully done within a couple of weeks!
I hope you are enjoying getting yours settled in. What electronics are you running with them?
.......Peter
Peter,
Hope you get yours soon! I'm using a Luxman 505u integrated with sources: iMac streaming to an Apple TV, through a Bel Canto DAC 2.5, Emotiva ERC-2, and Rega RP-1. Speaker cables are BRM made 6 gauge(?) with bananas at both ends. It sounds pretty awesome so far. I'm hearing detail I've never heard before on recordings I'm really familiar with.
Oh, and my wife's right, I'd be listening to HT2-TL's right now if she hadn't suggested the step up to the SS8's! Thanks dear.
John
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Peter,
Hope you get yours soon! I'm using a Luxman 505u integrated with sources: iMac streaming to an Apple TV, through a Bel Canto DAC 2.5, Emotiva ERC-2, and Rega RP-1. Speaker cables are BRM 6 gauge(?) with bananas at both ends. It sounds pretty awesome so far. I'm hearing detail I've never heard before on recordings I'm really familiar with.
Oh, and my wife's right, I'd be listening to HT2-TL's right now if she hadn't suggested the step up to the SS8's! Thanks dear.
John
Awww, ain't that sweet?! I'm verklempt at the WAF!
So now you have two things I don't - SS8's and WAF. Hurrumph, well it'll just be one soon! (http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2012/017/d/6/foot_in_mouth_by_mirz123-d4mnc3h.gif) <kiddin' around>
........Peter
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I’ve had my SS8’s for a bit over a week now, and figured I’d post some of my general impressions thus far. First thing I’ve decided (which I already ‘knew’) is that I need a new amp. Don’t get me wrong, my Luxman 505u (140 wpc into 4 ohms) sounds great at lower levels, but if I really try to crank it up, things start to deteriorate. It’s not bad, just not as coherent as at lower volumes. I didn’t experience this with my HT1-TL’s or the Songbirds, but I never tried to play them really ‘loud’. The SS8’s seem to be able to take as much power as you can throw at them. While bass is there down to ‘subwoofer’ levels, my sense is I’m missing out on all that’s available, due to the limited power reserves I have with the Lux. I just don’t have the amp to tap all the resources of the speakers. Anyway, enough of that.
Setup
Speakers are about 2 feet out from the wall (as far out as I can get them in my room), and spaced about 7 ½ feet apart. My listening position is 12’ away. I don’t have any room treatments at this point (we are renting) and will wait until we buy a house later this year before I invest in some.
My system is composed of the aforementioned Luxman, a Bel Canto DAC 2.5, an Apple TV, Emotiva ERC-2, and a Rega RP1. Most of my listening has been via streamed music from my iMac. Interconnects are Nordost Blue Heaven, vintage Kimber PBJ’s (circa 1995!) and speaker cables are custom made by BRM.
Listening impressions
Most of my critical listening is done with the amp’s volume control around 9 o’clock. I’ve also done most of my listening with the ‘transparent’ tweeter/mid back grilles on vs. the ‘solid’ ones. With the transparent grilles I also seem to prefer the tweeter/mid only slightly stuffed with damping material. When listening with the solid grilles, the sound is much more of a traditional speaker, while the ‘transparent’ grille gives a sense of an open baffle speaker. I don’t think imaging suffers too much with the transparent grille, but the sound is more focused with the solid grille in place. I think if I had more room to move the speakers into the room the sound would be even better.
So far, I’d have to say these are phenomenal speakers. They are a true full range speaker, exactly what I’ve been looking for. Midrange and treble are both fantastic. The best way I can characterize the treble is smooth, uncolored, and unfatiguing, just what I expected with the RAAL. I think it’s ‘just right’, not recessed or forward in any way. What is in the source material is what you get. Same for the mids; which are expansive and detailed. Bass is never overbearing, though as I mentioned above I think I’m missing some due to the limitations of my amp. On most music it’s almost as if I’m in a HT setting with surround speakers as the sound is so enveloping. On some tracks I even ‘hear’ music behind me!
I’ve heard so much more detail in music that’s very familiar to me than I’ve ever heard before, with any speaker, and with this amp and DAC combo I’ve had the Salks mentioned above, Harbeth SHL-5’s, and Vivid 1.5’s. . These speakers outperform them all, and by a huge margin.
So, I will be selling my Lux and looking for a more powerful amp (maybe one of Frank’s Synergy 450’s?) and probably a tube pre to throw in the mix.
At this point I can honestly say the SS8’s are the best audio purchase I’ve ever made, and the best speaker I’ve ever owned.
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New Salks better than the Harbeths and Vivids - whoa, that is quite a comparo and compliment from one who has had all 3!
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"...and the best speaker I've ever owned". Seems to me we hear that a lot in this circle :thumb:. Congrats.
Cornelis
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The Vivids are thought to be one of the best reasonably priced speakers out there!
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New Salks better than the Harbeths and Vivids - whoa, that is quite a comparo and compliment from one who has had all 3!
Well, I didn't own the Vivids, but I did have them on loan for about a month. I really liked them, and was strongly considering them, but they were a no-go from the wife. My kids referred to them as the 'alien pods'. They and the Harbeths were both very nice speakers and had their own strengths, but for a top to bottom speaker IMO they are no comparison to the SS8's.
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Nice review John, and food to quiet my anxiety while I (try to) patiently wait. Your description also fits what I have been looking for... truly full range (though my subs may still run to fill in ~14 to 25 hz), mids and highs that will allow much more listening with less fatique (minimizing the effect of my digital hearing aids which, unfortunately, have to stay in the audio chain) and, of course, that detail, resolution, etc.
One thing that I have found as I have improved my system is that I can turn down my h/a's a bit. This was particularly apparent when I added the W4S DAC. And expect the SS8's to help further in that regard. The DAC addition has made a dramatic difference. I am curious about your BC DAC 2.5 though. One thing lacking with the W4S is a limit of 24/96 on the optical input and my media player does not have a coax out. When I saw description and specs on the BC DAC, I was impressed and tempted. I also like that it has analog input so phono stage could be run through it making for a single run from the DAC to the pre (or even straight to the amp). Are you happy with that DAC? And do you know what DAC chip it uses?
.........Peter
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Peter,
I really like the Bel Canto. I'm thinking about using it as a preamp as well until I decide I really want to get. I think it gives a clear, open presentation to the music. It's certainly not veiled or 'rolled off' to my ears. If I have the cd player into it, it's a bit more 'open' that the Emotiva. That could also be due to the interconnects I'm using (running balanced out from the BC to the Lux) via Nordost cables. On some stuff I like the cd player better than the dac, especially on some stuff that's recorded on the 'hot' side. I'm not sure if this is correct, but I found a review about the chip "[a] dual-differential sigma-delta DAC from Burr-Brown operating full time at 24-bit 192khz. So this means that the incoming digital signal are over and up-sampled to 24-bit word length with slow roll-off digital filter." I thought at one time I found something direct from BC about the dac chip but I don't remember where(?). I'll keep looking and if I find out I'll pm you.
John
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John...... I tried to PM you but your mailbox is full. Too busy listening I guess!! :beer:
PM me when you make some room.
........Peter