[kenk]

First off I want to thanks Jim Salk for lending me the HT1 for two weeks.  

Please be aware that the following is just my opinion and it might not reflect what you have experienced.

Current Setup:

Before getting into any comparison, my current setup includes Melody SP3, Denon 3910 with BG power caps changed and zapfilter analog stage installed ACI force subwoofer and Onix Ref1.   My previous speakers include B&W 602, CDM9NT, 805 Sig, AR.com DIY,  and EFE T-36.  Also some of the music that I used to evaluate both speakers: River of Sorrow, Burmester sampler CD III, Corrinne May fly away, Celine all the way SACD, Chapton unplugged & Norah Jones come away with me.   In addition, my Ref1 is not really “stock” as it has sonicaps and BH5 installed.  Finally, my room is 20x20x8 (stupid square)  

My Impression:

When I first listed to the HT1, I thought the top end was really good but I did not like the midrange.  Somehow the midrange was very clean, but too “clean”.  It was lean sounding it made vocal sounded very “cold” or lack of “warmth” or emotion.  I had one of my friend came over and his comments were the same.  With all those positive reviews on Salk speakers how could not be true?    I knew something had to be wrong.  Finally I remembered that I had changed both 12AX7 tubes (to Ei)on the SP3 three weeks ago, and the purpose was to tone down REF1 midrange.  After the put the stock tubes back into the SP3, the HT1 sounded way better than before.  Vocals finally sounded “right” and yet very detailed.  On Celine SACD, I could hear her voice right in the center hanging in the mid air and it sounded very clear and super detailed.  The best I have heard in my room in term of image and details.  As the midrange problem was finally solved, I was able to do some serious listening.  On Chapton unplugged and river of sorrow, strings sounded real.  It was the first time I heard string tone reproduced in my home that really sounded like strings!  

In summary, The HT1 sounded really balanced, nothing stick out.  When I put the Ref1 back the ring tweeters sounded good, but not “real” and definitely not in the same class as the HT1.  Vocal was also more forward then the HT1 along with more lower mid/upper bass.  As such, the REF1 has a warmer sound and fewer details and some might say the Ref1 has more emotion.  The bass performance is hard to tell as my room is too big for either of them and they both needded a sub in my room to sound good.


Did I order the HT1?  Nope as I am just trying to figure out which direction to go (monitor or floor standing).  I definitely like the top end and the midrange detail of the HT1, but I also like the how the REF1 midrange as well, warm and forward. On well, I might even have to save up my pennies for the HT3 but I think my wife will kill me first before that happened.  

One last thing, the Salk HT1 is very revealing and it will expose what you have upfront.

[jsalk]

Ken -

Thanks for your comments.  Much appreciated.

Your review brings up one point I have discussed with many others in the past, but probably never in a public forum.  So I thought it might be a good idea to share some thoughts on the matter.

The Veracity line of speakers was designed to be, as the name implies, very truthful.  That means highly detailed.  This is the reason instruments sound "real" as you described.

If you take any two different instuments and play the same note, you will be able tell them apart.  While they are both playing the same fundemental note, their overtone structures will be different.  That is how you tell a violin from a guitar.  In terms of this discussion, the important thing to realize is that these overtones are at MUCH lower levels than the fundemental note being played.

Because the W18 midwoofer in the Veracity designs is so highly detailed, it re-creates all the subtleties in this overtone structure.  That is why the instruments sound so real (as you noted).

There are many great drivers available that are "warmer," but less detailed, than the W18.  This is because their distortion levels are higher.  Distortion masks detail and is interpreted as producing a "warmer" sound.  Keep in mind that this "warmth" is not part of the original recording.  It is added via the distortion levels of the driver involved.

Higher distortion drivers are more forgiving where recording quality (and source equipment quality to a lesser extent) are concerned.  They are forgiving because their distortion levels mask detail.

As stated above, the overtone structures that result in realism are at much lower levels than the fundemental notes being played.  So if you want to hear instruments that sound real, you need extremely low distortion drivers which are highly detailed.  But these drivers would never be classified as "warm" since they are lower in distortion.

The more experienced you become as a listener, chances are the less appealing "warmth" will be.  This is because warmth comes at the expense of detail.  And that means instruments will sound slightly less real as their overtone structures will not be rendered in as detailed a manner.

Noramlly, when I hear or read comments about a given speaker's "lack of warmth," I conclude that the person commenting is probably not quite as far along in the development of his/her listening skills.  There is certainly nothing wrong with this, mind you.  The important thing is that you have a speaker that you find satisfying.

I have freinds who love their Bose speakers, for example, and I would never criticize them for what makes them happy.  Their listening skills are probably not developed to the extent that they would fully appreciate better speakers if they had them.  So what's the point.  They are happy and that is what is important.  There is no right or wrong.

Over the years I have had two customers, both experienced audiophiles, who first found Veracity speakers to be slightly too "analytical."  But they both hung in there for a few weeks until they became accustomed to a higher level of detail and "truthfullness."  When they later switched back to their old speakers (both highly regarded) for comparison, they wondered how they could ever have lived with them.

This leads me to some thoughts about "auditioning" speakers.  If you are not used to hearing highly detailed speakers and don't have an oppotunity to spend some time with them, you may dismiss them as being too "analytical" or lacking in "warmth."  Only after spending time with them will you come to appreciate the realism offered by highly detailed, low distortion drivers. That is one reason why making buying decisions based on hearing speakers in audio showrooms may not be wise. The speakers that win the "showroom showdown" may not be speakers you would love to live with.

I hope this makes sense and provides some perspective.

- Jim

[kenk]

This leads me to some thoughts about "auditioning" speakers. If you are not used to hearing highly detailed speakers and don't have an oppotunity to spend some time with them, you may dismiss them as being too "analytical" or lacking in "warmth." Only after spending time with them will you come to appreciate the realism offered by highly detailed, low distortion drivers.
...

Jim this is so true as it took me a little over a weeks to get used to the HT1.  After switching back to the REF1 for one day, I can honestly say the REF1 is almost "dull" sounding, music no longer sound "live" or "real" anymore.    

[ricardojoa]

Jim, i thought i would bring this thread to life as i would like to find out a litle bit more about your views between HT1 and HT1TL

Since the HT1 TL is a transmission line desing, the bass reaches lower. But aside from that, in my experience with the Song tower and the songcenter, while listen to only one channel for A/B testing, i could tell there is further clarity from the Song Tower over the song center. I believe thats probably comming from the lower mid/ upper bass area. The midrange seems more diffuse for the SongTower.
Can that be said for the HT1TL having even more clarity over the HT1?

Thanks

[DMurphy]

Since the HT1 TL is a transmission line desing, the bass reaches lower. But aside from that, in my experience with the Song tower and the songcenter, while listen to only one channel for A/B testing, i could tell there is further clarity from the Song Tower over the song center. I believe thats probably comming from the lower mid/ upper bass area. The midrange seems more diffuse for the SongTower.
Can that be said for the HT1TL having even more clarity over the HT1?
Thanks

Did you mean to say that the midrange was more "diffuse" for the SongCenter?  I don't generally consider "diffuse" as a positive attribute for a midrange. 

[ricardojoa]

Did you mean to say that the midrange was more "diffuse" for the SongCenter?  I don't generally consider "diffuse" as a positive attribute for a midrange.

Dennis,
Thank you for taking the time.
I may have used the wrong term. What i meant was, the ST are able to dissapear while the Song center is a litle more localise.
Anyway, what im trying to say is, TL desing seems to have an effect on the midrange on my ST, specially on the lower midrange/upper bass area, so i was thinking if that would also apply to the HT1 and HT1TL.

[jsalk]

I think a lot of what you may be hearing is the lower level of compression in the transmission line design.  The TL design is more free-flowing and there is less back pressure on the rear of the cone.  So the midrange, at least to my ears, seems a bit more relaxed.

- Jim

[audiotom]

 One of the key issues with sonic reproduction in such a truthful speaker as the Salk (that resolves so well) is that it will quickly uncover any component upstream that exhibits a sonic flaw

When I initially owned my HT3s  they sounded just a little shrill on the top end.  The preamp that I had previously thought highly of was revealed to be the culprit.  Once I acquired a new preamp and did some tube rolling I was in heaven.

That said the Salks are very forgiving even in a modestly set up system

I've noticed that with every sonic improvement that I have done upstream, that it has been reflected immediately by the Salks. Tonally balanced, transparent and highly resolving. That is quite an impressive feat.