My family and I had the opportunity to visit the Salk shop yesterday. And in simple words, the experience was quite extraordinary! Thanks again for the hospitality and opportunity Jim! I'm not sure if the people in and around the workshop realize about the kind of amazing works of art that get created in suite 204
Jim took us on a tour inside the shop and showed all the steps involved in
creating a speaker. Note the emphasis on the word create ( and not manufacture! ). Wow the place is so well kept. I am impressed! There are some unique techniques that are applied ( of course I was not aware of them! ) such as the vacuum bag veneer press. Wow!
There were quite some interesting veneer selections in some speakers being built. Some of which I was told were the only kind to exist. Talk about being unique! You couldn't ask for anything more custom could you?
Now coming to the main purpose of my visit - to listen to the Supercharged SongTowers and Veracity HT2-TLs. Jim mentioned that there was a pair of each finishing up, and graciously accepted my request for a listening session. It turned out that there were the Soundscape 8s as well. My lucky day!
Mrs Salk had already set everything up and everything was ready to go. Thank you!
I took the sweet spot ( from my 9yr old son
) and then Jim put on some music. Wow. The sound was amazing. I did not know which speakers were playing the music. The set up was set in such a way that we could switch between the SCSTs and HT2-TLs. I did not know which speakers were playing at that time. Whichever set was playing the music - did not matter at that moment. All was good! I asked Jim to reduce the volume - so that I could relate to similar levels that I'm used to. The sound seemed full. Not sure if I am expressing in words but I could distinctly hear the lows, mids and highs. They were right Bout the RAALs. Those sweet things produce such clean highs. Impressive. Then when asked, I was told that the SCSTs were playing the music. After a couple of tracks Jim switched over it the front ported HT2-TLs and wow the sound seemed to be fuller. The lows had the thump. Nothing boomy. Just full. Jim played the same track on the SCSTs and the HT2-TLs and definitely the sound was fuller on the HT2-TLs. There were a few more tracks played from Jim's collection. Music sounded so clean and so real.
I then requested that the SS8s also get connected. Jim as always, graciously accepted. The SS8s were not level matched though - and had a different sweet spot. I switched places. Some of the tracks were played on the SS8s and from what I remember. The SS8s reproduce music as close to reality that you can get. The kick drums had that realistic sound. As if the music was playing in front of us. Like a live band.
I had a few of my CDs that I took along with me. And we played a few tracks. I took the remote and started switching between the SCSTs and HT2-TLs and also added the SS8s to the mix. The SCSTs seemed so well behaved in the mid to high notes. Amazing. Understandably the bass was not as pronounced as the HT2-TLs - but nothing that knocks them off. My ELTs would bite the dust - and so would some high priced speakers!
Everything sounded so good. It's so tough in taking a decision. The SS8s are definitely out of my reach and the HT2-TLs would stretch my budget. However at this time I am leaning more towards the HT2-TLs but who knows I might get the SCSTs. Both are amazing speakers. I'm sure I would be happy with either selection.
We were at the Salk shop for more than an hour and left the place with so many sweet memories! Thanks Jim. I hope to get in touch with you soon!
