[Ern Dog]

I recently heard the Salk SS8's for my first time at the Calif. Audio Show in San Francisco.  I was very impressed with their sound.  I currently have been using Tyler Acoustics Linbrook Signature System speakers for the past 3 years and was thinking about upgrading.  I'm using Coincident Dragon tube mono blocks, 75 wpc and the Tylers sound Heavenly with the dragons driving them.  I'm debating which speaker would be the best upgrade path for me and was hoping to get some opinions.  I'd be particularly interested in hearing from those who have had both the Salks and the Coincident speakers.  I'm never heard any Coincident speakers.

Thanks,
Ernie

[Ern Dog]

There must be somebody who can shed some light on this ???????

[markie]

Haven't heard either, but it looks like the Coincident speakers would be a much better match to go with your Coincident Dragon amplifiers. The amplifiers are high impedance, and the the Coincident speakers have crazy high impedance.  Also the Coincident speakers are much more efficient, better suited to the Dragon amp than the Soundscapes are.  If cost is no issue, the Coincident speakers, almost twice the price of the Soundscape 8s, would be the way to go imo.

Mark

 

[markie]

Additional note. The new Vapor Nimbus speakers would seem to be a very good match for your amplifier.  Sensitive, high impedance, huge dynamics.  About half the cost of the Coincident Total Victory V.  (I don't know how they can be so inexpensive, frankly.)  Amazing look, very unique.

Mark 

[Austin08]

Agree with poster above. If you have never though about changing your amp then you should go with Coincident speaker or any speakers that has high sensitivity and impedance.

[fsimms]

I heard the Total Victory at the 2011 RMAF.  I loved their tone, but was unimpressed with their cabinet.  The base cabinet was very thin and vibrated.  I have some old Electrovoice EV6 speakers in my bedroom that have thin cabinets so I recognized that sound immediately.  The cabinet on the SS8s won’t vibrate.  I too would want to check the impedance match with the SS8s and your dragons carefully before I ordered the SS8s.  Jim Salk might be a good person to ask about that.

Bob

Edit: They were Pure Reference Extremes at the RMAF.  My bad. 

[EdRo]

Ern, if you are able, I'd suggest that you listen to these different speakers at RMAF. I'm certain Salk and Vapor will be there. I don't know about Coincident. Ask lots of questions, too. Both the Vapor guys and Mr. Salk are very knowledgeable. Choosing speakers can be such a personal thing; From tone to styling to size...there are endless variations and considerations to make. Make the most informed choice that you can, and have F U N doing it!!!!

[Ern Dog]

I have no plans to attend RMAF.  I was just at an audio show last month and heard the SS8's and Vapor, although I don't remember how I liked the Vapor speakers.  They didn't stick out in my mind.  I thought the best sounding speakers I heard was the Wilson Audio Alexia's, and they cost $50K!

I'm in communication with Jim about whether my Dragons would be a good match for the SS8's, so more to come on that.

As far as tonal preferences, I prefer a warm/organic perspective instead of an analytical/bright perspective.  I have a tube dac (MHDT Stockholm) which does an incredible job of transforming my computer source into sublime music.  I also like high resolution with a natural coherence, so that the music sounds like they are performing in my living room.  I listen to some very powerful classical music passages so the speakers need to be able to handle this well and make it sound believable with weight and authority.  I also use a JL Audio F110 sub to supplement the low end.  At some point in the future, I'd like to sell the F110 and get dual F113's, but I could scrap that idea if the speakers could provide the bass foundation needed that the dual subs would provide.

[rbbert]

I liked the less expensive (~$18k IIRC) Coincident speakers Israel was showing at RAMF 2012 better than the Total Victory in 2011.  Less analytical and more "organic" sounding, or perhaps better balanced, IMHO.  I also liked them better than any of the Salks I heard either year, but part of that may be synergism between Coincident's amps and speakers.

[Ern Dog]

Yeah, it's hard to tell if speakers sounds good because of the speaker or the electronics driving it or the synergy of both together.  The only way I'll know for sure which speaker would be a perfect match for my electronics and my ears is to have an in-home demo of both.

[Vapor Audio]

I have no plans to attend RMAF.  I was just at an audio show last month and heard the SS8's and Vapor, although I don't remember how I liked the Vapor speakers.  They didn't stick out in my mind.  I thought the best sounding speakers I heard was the Wilson Audio Alexia's, and they cost $50K!

We (Vapor) haven't been to a show since May, so you probably are confusing us with someone else. 

[Ern Dog]

Ok that explains why I didn't recall hearing them. Thanks