[DEP14]

I just purchased a pair of Soundscape 8's used.  Couldn't be more pleased with them thus far.  I won't claim to be the worlds top audiophile by any stretch as I'm a rock n roll and blues fan.  I have to say that so far these have me grinning from ear to ear every time I listen.  I'm coming from some Klipsch Palladiums, which are not bad as I like dynamics and midrange, but ultimately like many I found them too forward and bright.  But pricewise they are in the same ballpark.

I really wanted something dynamic and fast that did a great job with guitar and drums.  I have to say that these are absolutely fantastic so far as I've had them less than a week.  I've listened to a lot of speakers over the past year (the palladiums of course, b+w diamond series, Dyn audio Focus, Vandersteen, Vienna Acoustics, and more) and just couldn't find that ellusive sound I was looking for.  I think I'm there (which is a good thing).  They sound like I'm at a live concert with the imaging from both a horizontal and depth perspective being just outstanding.  Fast and dynamic without being harsh.  What they do on vocals, drums, guitar and piano is stunning to say the least at this price point!

I also went to Salks facilities this week to order the center channel and look for a new color to re-finish mine, and to finish the center channel in.  Jim and his wife Mary were just fantastic, spent a ton of time with me and even shot some demo dye one a piece of veneer for me to bring home and take a look at.  All this when I'm simply ordering a center channel to go with used speakers they are going to refinish.  I admit to being a bit OCD and being a talker at times and they couldn't have been better.

I'm sure 99% reading this board already knew all of this about them, but I just felt that great customer service should get recognized to go along with absolutely outstanding speakers.

I would tell anyone on the fence out there who can't check them out personally, or are a bit nervous about ordering speakers direct - don't be.  The level of pride and customer service is outstanding.  Order them up, or find someone out there that will let you give them a listen.

For reference, my system is driven by a Marantz AV8801 and Butler Audio 5150 5 channel amp (it's a cool amp, solid state with tubes on the output). It's nice, but nothing crazy over the top.

Anyways, great speakers, great company.  If anyone out there wants to give a listen I'm in Kalamazoo Michigan. Just drop me a line, I'd be happy to have you stop by. (you can bring your own tunes also if you like).

Now... I just need to make the move to digital music.  Still just using CD's.

[Austin08]

Dep14,

Congratulation!!! So you got BRM blue speaker right? Great thing about  SS8s is it can handle many different music catergory quite well. I am sure guitar and midbass punch would sound so good through SS8. Glad that you enjoy it. 

[JonnyFive]

For reference, my system is driven by a Marantz AV8801 and Butler Audio 5150 5 channel amp (it's a cool amp, solid state with tubes on the output). It's nice, but nothing crazy over the top.

Happy to hear you've been having such a great experience with Salk and your SS8s.  I have SS8s and am planning on picking up the AV8801 in the next couple months.  Glad you're enjoying that combo. 

I found that Audyssey gave the SS8s a treble boost and made them sound very unnatural and tinny.  I don't know if you're running with or without Audyssey, but I'd recommend the "Bypass L/R" setting at the very least.  Enjoy! -Jon

[DEP14]

Dep14,

Congratulation!!! So you got BRM blue speaker right? Great thing about  SS8s is it can handle many different music catergory quite well. I am sure guitar and midbass punch would sound so good through SS8. Glad that you enjoy it. 

Yes, I believe I tortured him with at least 3 hours of my music as I haven't heard from the poor man since!    Though had I done a bit of google searching I suspect I would have found his for sale post here and saved a few bucks, but I was so enamored with the speakers I didn't bother!  ( I discovered them on audiogon...)  No worries, they are fantastic and it all works out as Jim was really fair with me on the veneer.

But no, they will not be staying blue (though I like the blue, doesn't work with my room)  Will post mine here in a few months after refinishing (waiting until the center is done).

Guitars are phenomenal, midbass is great, a bit tighter than I am used to.  Drums and vocals are out of this world.

[DEP14]

Happy to hear you've been having such a great experience with Salk and your SS8s.  I have SS8s and am planning on picking up the AV8801 in the next couple months.  Glad you're enjoying that combo. 

I found that Audyssey gave the SS8s a treble boost and made them sound very unnatural and tinny.  I don't know if you're running with or without Audyssey, but I'd recommend the "Bypass L/R" setting at the very least.  Enjoy! -Jon

I think for a home theater pre-amp that the AV8801 does a nice job with 2 channel listening also.  It's not perfect, but does a nice job.  I have to tell you though, if you ever get a chance to check out the Butler Audio 2150, 3150, or 5150... they sound great with these speakers.

If I had the space I'd love to run the 2150 to my mains, and the 3150 to run my center and rear (though my rears are just the klipsch THX, will likely stay that way as they are only for 5.2 listening and movies only).

[JonnyFive]

I think for a home theater pre-amp that the AV8801 does a nice job with 2 channel listening also.  It's not perfect, but does a nice job.  I have to tell you though, if you ever get a chance to check out the Butler Audio 2150, 3150, or 5150... they sound great with these speakers.

I'll definitely give it a try if the opportunity presents itself.  I've often thought I'd like some tube warmth (I grew up on guitar), but giving up control of the woofers in the SS8s would be a heavy tradeoff for me.  I'm running a Halo A21 and I've been very happy with it so far.

[DEP14]

I'll definitely give it a try if the opportunity presents itself.  I've often thought I'd like some tube warmth (I grew up on guitar), but giving up control of the woofers in the SS8s would be a heavy tradeoff for me.  I'm running a Halo A21 and I've been very happy with it so far.

So the beauty of the Butler is you do not give up any control on the woofers.  Zero.  It's a mofset amp, and the tubes are simply part of the output stage.  They give a bit of harmonic warmth to the sound, but not a full blown tube effect.  Zero question in my mind it does exactly that.  I have a couple 5 channel amps and they sound different.

Butler works with ZZ Top, David Gilmore, Eric Johnson and others in amplifier development.

They can be hard to find used, but can be had.  New, the lead times can vary.

If you ever decide to look for one new, I know a dealer that can hook you up and save you a few bucks off of retail.

[SCompRacer]

Congrats on your new speakers! I bought mine used too and Jim and Mary made me feel like I was buying them new. My friends that have heard my SS8's had nothing but high praise for the finish and sound quality.

I use some old Class A Krell SS gear and love the sound. I enjoy both digital and vinyl. I'm all over in genre, from classical to dubstep and the SS8's handle it all. 

[benguin]

Dep14- congratulations on the SS8s and the upcoming center channel!

The SS8 does a great job with rock and blues!  Not to mention everything else we've tossed at them.  The clarity of the upper frequencies coulpled with the base response is outstanding.

Last night I finally got all of my Salks into their final spots and hooked up at once in their newly remodeled environment.  It was AMAZING to hear them.  I have to say, one of the most suprising tracks was from the Yoshida Brothers- between the shamisen and the Japanese percussion instruments, you could really feel the music.

I know you'll enjoy rediscovering a lot of things that the SoundScapes bring to light!
  Ben

[sfox7076]

The limits of my room constrain me from joining this upgrade happy discussion.  My HT2-TLs do my Brooklyn apartment good.  Though, I often wonder what my ideal speaker would be in my room.  It's odd as it is a sort of an F, with the speakers at the bottom left of the F.  Hard to explain... 

[audiotom]

DEP 14

We have a few things in common

I am originally from near East Lansing Michigan, Mason in fact
I bought a set of used HT3s speakers and later some HT V3's from Pete
Jim treated me as if I ordered them direct

I was so impressed with Jim's company, sound and service, that I upgraded to the Soundscape 10's (I have HT3s and SS7 prototypes in the HT)

now you just have to wash off that smurf blue from the ss8s 

you might consider the Soundscape C8, as the center channel is so dominant in HT applications

are you running a sub?

share a review on audiogon if you get the chance

cheers and welcome to the happy family

Tom

[DEP14]

Tom,

I am actually running dual subs.  I have a couple of SVS PC12-Plus subs.  One in each front corner.  I run them sealed.  My room is only 13 x 18, but dual subs really helped with eliminating any localization.

The SS8 center would be gigantic.  Really, the 7c is going to be large in my room.  I almost went with a Veracity, but wanted that midrange driver in the center also as I really like live music blu-rays.

The smurf like speakers will be no more.  Though, can't go too bland with the tamo ash veneer underneath.  I'm sure a couple months from now or so I'll be posting some images.  Not going to refinish them until the center is done though.

I had met Jim about 16 months ago when I went up to listen the first time and was impressed.  Just couldn't afford soundscapes at that time.  Fortunately I didn't take much of a hit on the speakers I sold to finally score the soundscapes.
 
- Doug

[Austin08]

Tom,

I am actually running dual subs.  I have a couple of SVS PC12-Plus subs.  One in each front corner.  I run them sealed.  My room is only 13 x 18, but dual subs really helped with eliminating any localization.

The SS8 center would be gigantic.  Really, the 7c is going to be large in my room.  I almost went with a Veracity, but wanted that midrange driver in the center also as I really like live music blu-rays.

The smurf like speakers will be no more.  Though, can't go too bland with the tamo ash veneer underneath.  I'm sure a couple months from now or so I'll be posting some images.  Not going to refinish them until the center is done though.

I had met Jim about 16 months ago when I went up to listen the first time and was impressed.  Just couldn't afford soundscapes at that time.  Fortunately I didn't take much of a hit on the speakers I sold to finally score the soundscapes.

Dep14,

I has the SS8s and SS8c. My room is almost at same as your (13x20) and The SS8C is fit perfectly in the room. When watching movie, i prefer to crossover my speakers at 80hz. I found the human voice is more natural and did not inherit lower tone voice like people speaking through microphone. When I listening to multichannel music like blu ray concert or multichannel SACDs, I prefer running them full-range. I love how the center produce full-range sound. It elevated the whole thing and altogether, the SS8 trio created a very dynamic, full scale upfront soundstage and awesome chess thumping bass. I felt like I don't need my dual rythmik subs at all.(have to admitted that with the dual subs, the bass note has a bit more weight)

[Big Red Machine]

Well if you guys didn't like


You're really gonna hate my Exoticas!!!!

[jtwrace]

You're really gonna hate my Exoticas!!!!

When do you get them?

[Big Red Machine]

When do you get them?

No ETA, still in the design phase.

[audiotom]

Congrats Pete

Just a little friendly ribbing




Ive been told to smirf off

[DEP14]

Well if you guys didn't like


You're really gonna hate my Exoticas!!!!

Well, my daughters really like the smurf blue if thats a consolation.

Truth is, I like the blue but it doesn't work in my room. Everyone will be green with envy once Jim is done with mine anyways...

[Big Red Machine]

Congrats Pete

Just a little friendly ribbing




Ive been told to smirf off

I know.