[vermont99]

 I upgraded my amps to 2 Emotiva XPA-1 Mono-blocks after doing it is hard to believe the improvement in dynamics they made to my PSB Synchrony Two speakers. So I auditioned the PSB Synchrony One speakers and I loved the way they sounded, a big improvement over the Two’s. I was planning on purchasing the Ones then completely by accident I came across Salk Sound now I aim very interested in the HT3’s. I live in SW Virginia and I cannot find any place to audition the HT3's, I contacted Jim and he is trying to find someone that would let me audition the HT3’s. While we are trying to set up an audition can anybody compared the HT3’s with the PSB Synchrony Ones. My room is 21 X 24 X 8, Pre-Amp UMC-1 I lessen to all types of music. I know my center will also need to be changed in the future if I decide on the HT3 but first I want to take care of the 2 channel. Thanks for any advice.

[Saturn94]

It might be a bit of a drive to Bethesda MD, but if I remember correctly Dennis Murphy has some HT3's.  Dennis can correct me if I'm wrong.

I'm in SE VA and was able to make a couple trips to Dennis's place.  He was very helpful and I ended up ordering a pair of HT2-TLs (hope to receive them within a couple weeks ).

I hope you can find somewhere to audition them as they are excellent speakers.  Even if you cannot hear the HT3s, if you can audition other Salk models it will give you a good idea of the "Salk sound".  I was able to hear the SongTowers (dome tweeter), HT2-TL, and SoundScape 10.  While there are improvements as you move up the line, they all shared that "Salk sound" (IMO Salk sound = accruate sound).

[DMurphy]

It might be a bit of a drive to Bethesda MD, but if I remember correctly Dennis Murphy has some HT3's.  Dennis can correct me if I'm wrong.

Well, you're half right.  I've only got one.  And it's very difficult to judge a speaker in mono.  I have two of just about everything else, including the SoundScapes. 

[David C]

Vermont99
I hope you get a chance to listen to the Salks. I live in the UK and will be moving back to the US in the spring/summer and will be buying new speakers. I have listened to the Usher Be20 and the new diamond series B&W 802D the last time I was in the states but I am determined not to buy until I have heard the Salks. I will be trying to listen to the HT3s and the Soundscapes. If all else fails my wife and I will go to the Denver audio fest in October and take a vacation break and listen to Salks. I would not buy speakers without hearing them but the Salks reputation (very few for re sale and very few disappointed buyers) indicate to me you have to hear them. Wilson Sophia3 and Abbeys/sumas are also on my list
I'm holding out til then

Good luck in your search

David

[Saturn94]

Well, you're half right.  I've only got one.  And it's very difficult to judge a speaker in mono.  I have two of just about everything else, including the SoundScapes.

Thanks for the correction.

While listening to one speaker isn't preferable, I was surprised how much I could tell about the difference between a single HT2 and single SongTower/dome when we compared them at your place.

Do you agree with my statement that the different Salk models sound alike enough that if the OP cannot hear the HT3s then hearing another Salk model would give him a good idea of how Salks sound?  Or am I mistaken about this?

[Saturn94]

Vermont99
I hope you get a chance to listen to the Salks. I live in the UK and will be moving back to the US in the spring/summer and will be buying new speakers. I have listened to the Usher Be20 and the new diamond series B&W 802D the last time I was in the states but I am determined not to buy until I have heard the Salks. I will be trying to listen to the HT3s and the Soundscapes. If all else fails my wife and I will go to the Denver audio fest in October and take a vacation break and listen to Salks. I would not buy speakers without hearing them but the Salks reputation (very few for re sale and very few disappointed buyers) indicate to me you have to hear them. Wilson Sophia3 and Abbeys/sumas are also on my list
I'm holding out til then

Good luck in your search

David

In my speaker search this past year I did get to audition a pair of Usher Mini Dancer Two.  While their imaging/soundstage was fantastic, I found the Salks to be more neutral in sound character.  The Usher sound seemed a bit colored to me.  My guess is that the Salks have a smoother frequency response than the Ushers (at least the model I heard).

[vermont99]

I got some good news Jim has contacted me and he has someone is fairly close me and he has the HT3's and willing to let me audition them. Can't wait, I will post how I make out. 

[Saturn94]

I got some good news Jim has contacted me and he has someone is fairly close me and he has the HT3's and willing to let me audition them. Can't wait, I will post how I make out. 

 

[mr_bill]

I upgraded my amps to 2 Emotiva XPA-1 Mono-blocks after doing it is hard to believe the improvement in dynamics they made to my PSB Synchrony Two speakers. So I auditioned the PSB Synchrony One speakers and I loved the way they sounded, a big improvement over the Two’s. I was planning on purchasing the Ones then completely by accident I came across Salk Sound now I aim very interested in the HT3’s. I live in SW Virginia and I cannot find any place to audition the HT3's, I contacted Jim and he is trying to find someone that would let me audition the HT3’s. While we are trying to set up an audition can anybody compared the HT3’s with the PSB Synchrony Ones. My room is 21 X 24 X 8, Pre-Amp UMC-1 I lessen to all types of music. I know my center will also need to be changed in the future if I decide on the HT3 but first I want to take care of the 2 channel. Thanks for any advice.

I'd love to hear a Salk and PSB Synchrony One comparison too.  Please let us know how it turns out.
I've heard the PSB Synchrony One and was mighty impressed.  Have never had the oppotunity to hear the Salks in ND.

[Nuance]

I got some good news Jim has contacted me and he has someone is fairly close me and he has the HT3's and willing to let me audition them. Can't wait, I will post how I make out. 

We look forward to your impressions!

[vermont99]

Finally auditioned the HT3’s (thanks Tommy) prior to auditioning the HT3’s I listened to the PSB Synchrony Ones about 6-7 weeks ago which I felt was a large step up from my Synchrony Two’s. About 1 1/2 weeks I also stopped and auditioned a set of Monitor Platinum PL200 which has a ribbon tweeter. The only other brand that dealer had was Klipsch which I was not interested in (we are kind of limited on dealers down hear in SW Virginia). The Monitor PL200 was powered a tube CD player directly connected to a 50 watt tube amp this was the first ribbon tweeter speaker I have listened to and loved it sounded in the PL200. The PSB One’s were powered by a better Denon AVR (no not remember the model number)  Pl200 to me it surpassed the Ones in the upper and mid ranges not that the Ones were bad But The PL200 seemed better,  lower end in the Ones seemed to go lower but were not quite tight as the PL200. Over all the PL200 were clearer and tighter and the best speaker I have listened to so far and the dealer had them marked down to 9K and said he could work with me on the price.
I arrived at Tommy’s home he welcomed me in and made me feel at home. After liking the PL200 so much I was wondering if the HT3’s could match the Monitors. The HT3’s were powered by a tube pre-amp into 45 watt tube amp. He told me he did not want to turn the volume up too high because he did not want worry about clipping the speakers. We played some CD’s I brought with me some classical, rock and country. Every thing we put on sounded fantastic, the HT3’s were seamless from the highs to the lows the bass even at the low levels we were playing clear and tight they just blended in with the rest of the music. If I closed my eyes the speakers seemed to disappear. I think I am in love.
After auditioning the HT3’s I stopped and re-auditioned the PL200 with the CD’s I just used with the HT3’s. I aim no expert I am over 60 even though the PL200 is a very very good sounding speakers it’s not quit as good as the HT3. Playing at the same volume the HT3 had more detail, better sound stage, the low end was clearly better. The PL200 seemed a little more in your face while the HT3’s if you closed your eyes seemed to disappear if that makes any sense, as I said this is only my opinion.
Heading to NJ this week maybe some more auditions would like to hear the PSB Ones with some different equipment powering them.    

[martyo]

Thanks. And those were with the G2 ribbons, not the RAAL.    (I've been waiting for someone to get RAAL/HT3's so Jim can see if an upgrade would even be possible or cost effective)

[Nuance]

Thanks. And those were with the G2 ribbons, not the RAAL.    (I've been waiting for someone to get RAAL/HT3's so Jim can see if an upgrade would even be possible or cost effective)

The RAAL ribbon really is amazing. 

Vermont99,

You were listening to the HT3's with a tube amp...just imagine what the bass will sound like with even more power and control.  The HT3's are one of those speakers that continues to improve every time you upgrade your electronics.  The only real downfall is since the speakers really are that nice, you may find yourself wanting to continue to upgrade the electronics just to see how much more things improve, which can obviously become very costly.  That isn't really a negative to the speakers at all, though...

No matter what you decide on I hope they bring you years of enjoyment.

[vermont99]

I will be powering them with twin XPA-1 Dual Differential Mono-Block Amps 1000 watts @ 4 ohms. The improvement they to my PSB Synchrony Twos speakers were unbelievable and that's what gave me the upgrade bug. According to Jim they have a XPA-2 in the shop and the XPA-1's will be a good mach for the HT3's. Now I have to decide on the options for the HT3's.