Newbie to this forum with a question about the HT2 - TL

jazzcat1 · « **on:** 16 Jul 2009, 02:44 am »

Hello everyone, some of you are keeping up with my saga on the Salk speaker thread in the AVS forum. Based on Jim's recommendations, the best solution I have is using the HT2 - TL. I really dont want a sub in this configuration so I would like to inquire how many owners of said speakers actually felt the need for a sub. FWIW, Jim is curious as well

oneinthepipe · « **Reply #1 on:** 16 Jul 2009, 03:00 am »

I have a two-channel system, and I don't use a sub. The HT2-TL's F3 is 32hz, which is sufficient for me. How low are you trying to get?

Nuance · « **Reply #2 on:** 16 Jul 2009, 06:43 am »

It's not that you'll need a sub, as in due to the speakers not reaching low enough. If you do need a sub it will be because of your in-room bass response (directly related to your room and all the things in it that can be interacted with), and your room nodes. The speakers themselves reach very low anechoic(ly), and lower with room gain. Unfortunately, the best place in a person's room for great imaging and a wide and deep sound stage rarely is the best position for in-room bass response. This has nothing to do with the speakers themselves, but rather room related variables.

If I were you, I'd get myself a pair of HT2 TL's (I believe that is what you've decided on), then treat the room accordingly. Finally, if you are still unhappy with the bass response purchase a subwoofer to cross over to in order to get rid of any peaks and/or nulls that may be giving you grief. But again, you won't be fixing the speakers but rather the room issues that are still plaguing you.

Hope that makes sense. Best wishes to you and your decision making.

floresjc · « **Reply #3 on:** 16 Jul 2009, 10:21 am »

Well, I would say that for music performance, even with the ST you don't *need* a sub. The quality of the recording and how compressed it may be goes a long way towards dictating what kind of punch you get out. After listening to the ST at Swerd's for several hours, the biggest decider of whether I thought the bass was sufficient or not was whether it was encoded that way on the cd. I brought out some newer tracks that I thought would be punchy, but were not. He had some older recordings that were very well recorded, and the house about came down. I'd imagine the same story with the HT2-TL's. Thats not to say people wouldn't integrate and enjoy a sub, but I don't think its necessary in either case. A music cd isn't going to hit below the 33hz F3 hardly at all, and only at extreme range of a select few instruments.

When I get my sub and ST set up, I'll probly spend quite a bit of time running with and without sub tests to see what I like better. In the end, I'll probly run the sub because it cost me a pretty penny and I'm sure as a rythmik it'll more than keep up, its not just an explosion box. For my HT3's I'm not going to, but thats a different level of performance entirely.

Edit: I was also going to mention, if you take a compressed cd with no punchy bass, you can run it through a system with a sub and get alot of punch. But its not going to be musical in any way, its just going to move alot of air instead of reading any sort of notes/dynamics from the recording. I would prefer to listen this way because i want an ooomph whether its there or not, but some audio purists would prefer just to hear the crappy recording and chuck the cd. Don't really know which side of the fence you'd fall on.

fsimms · « **Reply #4 on:** 16 Jul 2009, 02:23 pm »

Quote

When I get my sub and ST set up, I'll probly spend quite a bit of time running with and without sub tests to see what I like better. In the end, I'll probly run the sub because it cost me a pretty penny and I'm sure as a rythmik it'll more than keep up, its not just an explosion box

When you test the SongTowers with the sub, try the Songs as a small speaker. I found that helps clean up the midrange even more to keep the base signals off the midrange.

Bob

jazzcat1 · « **Reply #5 on:** 16 Jul 2009, 02:59 pm »

Quote from: oneinthepipe on 16 Jul 2009, 03:00 am

I have a two-channel system, and I don't use a sub. The HT2-TL's F3 is 32hz, which is sufficient for me. How low are you trying to get?

Not trying to get real low as much as trying to plan ahead in case I decided to add one. After talking to Jim and getting other feedback, I am not really sure a sub would be necessary in this set-up. Like Nuance said, it will probably be more dependent on the room rather than the speakers and at this point I am hopeful that everything will get worked out for a good dose of audio bliss!

Thanks for the responses.

Nuance · « **Reply #6 on:** 16 Jul 2009, 06:47 pm »

Quote from: fsimms on 16 Jul 2009, 02:23 pm

Quote
When I get my sub and ST set up, I'll probly spend quite a bit of time running with and without sub tests to see what I like better. In the end, I'll probly run the sub because it cost me a pretty penny and I'm sure as a rythmik it'll more than keep up, its not just an explosion box

When you test the SongTowers with the sub, try the Songs as a small speaker. I found that helps clean up the midrange even more to keep the base signals off the midrange.

Bob

+1. That is how I have to run them in order to get rid of a couple nasty peaks. I am crossed over at 80Hz and it sounds amazing! Below is a pic of what I was able to do by crossing over to the subwoofers (green is what I use for music with little midbass, and red is for most regular listening):

jazzcat -

Enjoy those HT2 TL's! I look forward to reading your impressions and seeing some pics when they arrive. Which veneer are you going with?

OgOgilby · « **Reply #7 on:** 16 Jul 2009, 06:50 pm »

How are you planning to use your speakers, music only?

I am very happy with the bass from our HT2 TL's for most of the music we listen to. It is tight, accurate, and very musical. We do have a sub that we use for HT, but not for music. Some day we might get a sub that can be used for music also, but there is no rush

I really don't think you will be disappointed with Jim's HT2 TL's, in fact, I think you will be quite pleased with them.