[broom1998]

A review from the California show kind of missed the brand name.

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/show-reports/show-reports/california-audio-show-4.html

SoundScape showed some extraordinary speakers that had excellent sound, and unusual wood veneer (Pepperwood). This kind of look is for consumers who want everyone to ask them about their speakers when they visit. The veneer and numerous coats of varnish, with hand rubbed finishing in between each coat, is $4,000 just by itself. The base price of the Model 8 speakers (the speakers with the large woofers) is $7,995/pair, and then add the $4,000 on top of that for this gorgeous and unique wood. All made in the USA.

[broom1998]

not sure of his info on that finish either, did not think Jim had a 4k upgrade on theses speakers.

[Ern Dog]

I was at the show and heard the SS8 for the first time.  I was very impressed and thought it was one of the better sounding speakers at the show.  I also liked Jim too.

[Big Red Machine]

not sure of his info on that finish either, did not think Jim had a 4k upgrade on theses speakers.

Yes, that veneer woul cost you 4k.  It is hard to obtain and in small pieces which requires extra "bookmatching" skill.

[broom1998]

Yes, that veneer woul cost you 4k.  It is hard to obtain and in small pieces which requires extra "bookmatching" skill.

They are very unique looking, I am glad my wife and are simple wood people. Looking forward to our sub woofer to finish, although I think it takes a sled team to move one. The guy's in the finish shop must hate them.

[audiotom]

those may be piano grade finish which would add to the $4k



it really brings out the detail in the wood

too bad he focused more on the cabinet than the sound

[audiotom]

I was at the show and heard the SS8 for the first time.  I was very impressed and thought it was one of the better sounding speakers at the show.  I also liked Jim too.

Ern Dog,

Is this your first experience with Salk?  glad you were able to hear them

[Ern Dog]

Yes, it was.  I was also impressed with Jim's Salk Stream music server.  Instead of buying a Mac mini and stripping it down, he has designed a bare bones computer w/Linux.  He was using that as his source and controlling it with an ipad.  It sounded amazingly good.  The ribbon tweeters sounded spot on with lots of air and detail, but not bright or edgy.

[audiotom]

I heard the salk stream / van alstine / soundscape 12 setup at RMAF in 2011 and bought SS10s

[ericmj]

I believe those SS8's are Jim's personal set that have been around for some time now.  The veneer is certainly not that much more cost.  He is nearing completion on a set of SS8's and an SSC8 in that veneer for me.  The cost for the veneer upgrade for all 3 speakers is far less than 1k.  However, his personal set does have the hand rubbed high gloss finish which significantly adds to the cost.  I have seen and heard  those speakers in person in his shop and was obviously impressed enough to order some of my own (I not sure Jim would have let me pack up his set to take with me). They sound even better than they look in my opinion but they will certainly draw attention with that veneer. 
-Eric

[Gzerro]

I believe those SS8's are Jim's personal set that have been around for some time now.  The veneer is certainly not that much more cost.

I was at the show and Jim told me the complete finish job would be $4k, but I think you are correct that most of the cost was due to the high gloss hand finish. They are his personal speakers.

I didn't hear anything else at the show under $20k that was any better than the SS8s, but as a current Salk owner I am probably not very objective. The Silks and Veracity STs were both impressive as well, but I didn't get to hear them for very long.

I really enjoyed meeting Jim and Mary, it was the highlight of the show for me.

[guf]

I really enjoyed meeting Jim and Mary, it was the highlight of the show for me.

agreed