So I have been saving for a little while to get the funds to purchase a pair of Song Towers and I like everyone else anticipated a long wait for the speakers to arrive. I called up Jim and told him what I was looking for, plus I had a couple of questions about some of the upgrades that were available. In the end he managed to convince me that if any of the upgrades were a significant improvement over the sound of the stock Song Towers that he would probably end up building them into the design and charging a little bit more; fwiw the only upgrade I was seriously considering was the Sonicap upgrade. As it so happened, Jim just finished building a pair of stock Song Towers in curly cherry with a rose red dye. They were supposed to got to someone who wasn't sure about the finish on the first set up speakers he ordered. Well, said purchaser was happy with the veneer he first chose, so Jim was sitting on an already built set that was exactly what I wanted! (or rather, we wanted – I picked the speakers, my wife picked the color) I ordered my Song Towers on Wednesday and I had them in my house the following Monday!
The box arrived in perfect condition from FedEx. As everyone has already mentioned in previous posts, these speakers are packaged to withstand any number of natural disasters. Once the packing materials were removed, I was stunned. Sure this was not an exotic wood, but it is hard to over-state the classic styling of the veneer for these speakers – it was love at first sight. The proportions. The shine. The contrast of black baffles on rose red. Wow!
It should be noted that I bought my Song Towers listen, unheard (i.e. like sight unseen). For the most part I lurked around Audio Circle taking in reviews and advice and generally getting a feel for the quality and value that is available in the hi-fi world. There isn't a big audiophile scene in Memphis as best I can tell (someone point me in the right direction if this is inaccurate), so it was difficult to find a place to sit and listen to any potential purchases. I had a $2,000 price point in mind and from all of the musings I ran across it seemed like Song Towers were the way to go. I took it as a good sign that Salk Speakers rarely came up for sale either on Audio Circle's Trading Post or over on Audiogon.
Some background. I am, at best, a novice in the hobby and I have not had the opportunity to listen to many systems that one might categorize as audiophile quality. My system, is modest: Squeezebox Duet with CI Audio Power supply and a Cambridge Audio 640a V2 integrated amp. My previous speakers were JM Labs Focal 806s monitors.
As for listening impressions, I am certain that no one here is surprised that, I was not disappointed. In fact, as with the aesthetics of the finish, the function also floored me. I first chose Spoon's album “Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga.” From the first notes of “Don't Make Me a Target” I was struck by a number of things:
Imaging. I thought I understood what it meant to have a sound stage with depth and detail. Well, the Song Towers showed me just how wrong I was. Every instrument, every vocal had its own place – there was no stacking of sounds is the best way I can describe it. In essence the music was much alive than before (more on that later). Decay. I never realized how my previous speakers were “rounding off” sounds - Guitar strumming, cymbals and most notably piano keys. Every note from a piano now has an added dimension of warmth and real-life character that was not there before. Balance. My previous speakers were too bright. The Song Towers were even across every frequency yielding a much more natural sound-scape.
I sorted through many of my other favorites: Ryan Adams “Gold,” Beck “Sea Change,” Wilco “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot,” Radiohead “Kid A” and another aspect became apparent. I was missing a lot of my music. Places in the composition that were once dead spots resonated with tones that transitioned in and out, back forth from channel to channel. Incredible!
Even with all of this, my favorite thing about the Song Towers is how my live recordings really capture the mood and sound of the venue now. I mentioned this whole notion of sounds being “stacked” before, well now I can hear the confinement of the small club show or the open-air surge of the summertime sets at the outdoor amphitheater. Much of this character was missing before. My listening is mostly audience recorded live music, especially Widespread Panic who I spent my early college years following around the country. Now when I listen to some of the shows I attended, I have even more of a sense of being there all over again.
A couple of final notes. The Song Towers actually sound better, louder. At first I thought that was over-zealous emotions of a new speaker purchase, then I sat my wife down, she listened, and she agreed. This is a wonderful woman who approves of my foray into this hobby but does not like loud music by a long shot. Also, there is no more fatigue. With my old speakers I could only actively listen for so long before my ears would tire. But now thanks to my Song Towers I can listen louder and for longer!
Thanks Jim!
-Adam
