Looking for a great loudspeaker system

MaxCast · « **Reply #280 on:** 10 Feb 2006, 11:52 pm »

Quote from: avahifi

I realize that their business comes first, but this thread has been here a long time now and I wish I had some more speakers to evaulate here.

Frank Van Alstine

No doubt

Get this man some speakers to listen to people

JoshK · « **Reply #281 on:** 11 Feb 2006, 12:06 am »

Hey Frank,

You are an engineer right? Well simply based on the physics of the designs, I'd vote for SP Tech (which I haven't heard) or Selah Audio Line Arrays (which I have and sound damn fine). They both should astound you with how far loudspeaker technology has progressed.

warnerwh · « **Reply #282 on:** 11 Feb 2006, 06:48 am »

One thing Josh you have to remember is that all speakers no matter how they're designed have their own sonic signature. This varies considerably and certainly plays the largest role in a purchasing decision. I nearly bought some Selah speakers but the cabinet making was more than I cared to delve into. No doubt they sound great but do they sound like what Frank wants?

Whatever speaker he chooses it will be because he thought they sounded the most neutral to him from the low bass to the treble. I've heard a number of speakers that do this well but ended up with RM 40's which are actually somewhat obscure in the scheme of things. The 15K B&W's don't do as well to my ears but I wouldn't tell anyone who owned them that unless they said it first. Big Thiels can sound outstanding but their sound I couldn't live with. One of the best speakers I've ever heard were B&W 801 III's and I could live with them with a sub. It's all just opinions.

Frank is certainly very much an objectivist but I wouldn't be shocked if he heard a speaker he thought sounded great even though he didn't agree with the engineering behind it. We'll see. Maybe I'm wrong but I could imagine a speaker with great engineering that may not sound so good too. As much as you've learned I know you know that the theoretical part of speaker design is just that, theoretical. It could sound awful even though you're theory was correct with crossover and box etc.

avahifi · « **Reply #283 on:** 11 Feb 2006, 04:32 pm »

My "big" speakers now are B&W 801 Series II models, with crossover enginering improvements that B&W actually copied and put into production in the 801 Series III version. Mine are better yet with extensive damping of resonances in the tweeter and midrange enclosures.

But they are twenty years old!! Somebody has got to be doing it better now without charging a fortune.!

Hot tip fresh off the press, a set of Salk HT3s are going to be here very soon. I can hardly wait!

Frank Van Alstine

avahifi · « **Reply #284 on:** 19 Feb 2006, 04:41 pm »

To keep all you people up to date, I am happy to report that a set of Salk Veracity HT-3 speakers have arrived!

My only problem is getting them uncrated and into my sound room. As many of you may know, I am a bit "handicaped" short term until I have a worn out right hip replaced the end of March so I can't do much "longshoreman" work by myself. My best full time help is off to Florida for a vacation until next week, so the poor speakers will have to languish in my cold garage until I can get some muscle in here to help me unpack and set them up.

Keep tuning in here for more reports, and thank you so much Jim for the lovely speakers.

Frank Van Alstine

ajzepp · « **Reply #285 on:** 19 Feb 2006, 07:34 pm »

wow, I guess one thing we can say about Frank is that he has no issues with delaying gratification

That would be like friggin TORTURE to me....having a beautiful pair of 4k speakers sitting in my garage.....all those beautiful amps just waiting to be hooked up to them....AARRRGHH!!!

Randy · « **Reply #286 on:** 19 Feb 2006, 07:50 pm »

Frank, can't you get Ole next door to give you some help?

avahifi · « **Reply #287 on:** 20 Feb 2006, 12:24 am »

Ole next door is older and more crippled up than me. I have been told that we live in the "old folks" section of Woodbury.

Frank

ajzepp · « **Reply #288 on:** 20 Feb 2006, 02:26 am »

Frank: A buddy of mine lives right near you....he said if your place isn't too far from where he lives, he might be able to come over and help you get the Salks set up....would that be of help?

Listens2tubes · « **Reply #289 on:** 20 Feb 2006, 10:51 pm »

Guys stop helping Frank get the speakers set up! Once he starts evaluating I'll never see me preamp again.

avahifi · « **Reply #290 on:** 21 Feb 2006, 03:46 pm »

What are you doing with a Dyna St-35 amplifier?

Frank

avahifi · « **Reply #291 on:** 23 Feb 2006, 02:23 am »

Ajzepp, I am sad to report that your buddy who said he was going to call and help me set up the Salk HT-3 speakers on Wednesday was a no-show. They are still languishing in my garage.

I should have some help on Friday I think.

Frank

ajzepp · « **Reply #292 on:** 23 Feb 2006, 04:03 am »

Frank:

I just emailed Chris to find out about how everything went today, and this is what he responded with....

"DAMMIT! I completely forgot!!! Crap...

I can't believe I did that... Got so focused on the new job and was thinking about stuff on the way home that it slipped my mind completely...

I'll call him (assuming I don't forget again:( ) tomorrow on my way home and see if he still needs help."

He feels really bad about forgetting....says he's going to call you tomorrow to see if you still need the help. I'm hoping you guys can get together cause I really want him to understand the benefits of good amplification

He's got a pretty nice home theater going, but we've talked about him adding a nice outboard amp to his Pioneer receiver to take things to the next level. He's a really good guy and I know he feels bad about forgetting.....he was actually really excited about swinging over and taking a look at everything!

avahifi · « **Reply #293 on:** 23 Feb 2006, 07:35 pm »

LOUDSPEAKER SEARCH OVER ! ! ! !

SOLD!

Sorry customers, your orders are going to be delayed another day or two, I am just drawn and seduced into listening, listening, listening, and smiling at the new Salk HT-3s a kind client helped me set up this morning.

Here I am at the puter for a minute and the system is playing a big steel drum band CD (probably the hardest thing of all to play back even remotely right) and the HT-3s are calling me again.

I don't even have them on the plinths yet, just on the floor, positioning - - - who cares? Dead cold out of the garage. No matter. As Jim Winey of Magnapan once told me, "if you can't hear it in the first three notes, it does not have it." These do!

More later.

Frank Van Alstine

ajzepp · « **Reply #294 on:** 23 Feb 2006, 09:54 pm »

Congrats, Frank! Those have got to be some kick ass speakers....I just picked out my speakers, too, so once you're able to get back to amp makin', you'll have to let me know....I need to pick your brain on which of your products to focus on.

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #295 on:** 24 Feb 2006, 12:27 am »

Frank...I'm glad that you finally got the HT3's set up. And that your enjoying what you are hearing. But I still hope that you will listen to the other speakers that are (I hope) still heading in your direction.

Chris[/list:u]

avahifi · « **Reply #296 on:** 24 Feb 2006, 02:41 pm »

I got a private message from a person somewhat annoyed because I called off the search but still wanted to hear other speakers and had not waited for them to show up, I was waffling too much for him, and perhaps he is right, but - - - oh well, here is how I answered him:

>>Sorry to annoy you.

Yes I would like to hear other speakers. But I doubt if they are going to come even close to what Jim Salk has done. Yes the HT3s are sold. At worse case going upstairs in my video system because the cabinet work is state of the art beautiful. I may end up with two sets.

If I don't hear other speakers now, I really don't care. I had not expected the HT3s to beat my 801s so well. They have the definition of the big $20,000 a pair new B&W 800D models but with a much better bass, better looks, better workmanship, and one hell of a lot lower cost.

If I annoy other speaker manufacturers who did not come through with demos in the past few months, well that is the breaks.

I am at the computer right now typing this of course, and the HT3s are across the room playing at low level, and while I am typing, they just keep grabbing me and saying listen listen listen, in a way that no other speaker I have ever hear has done. They keep making me quit typing and turn my head and stop and listen. Yes, the search is over.<<

Frank Van Alstine

avahifi · « **Reply #297 on:** 24 Feb 2006, 03:35 pm »

OK, I am trying to post some snips of how the HT3s are making me feel, kinda rather than analysing the sound.

Emotional impression this morning:

I am in one of the "ultra hi end rooms" at a CES show with zillions of dollars of cables and 300 pound tube amps and tubes glowing everywhere and room treatment accessories everywhere and a set of $50,000 speakers being showcased and played. This is how the looks and workmanship and the sound, the sound, of the HT3s is coming across (with of course day and night better sound than any room at a show ever) nothing in my 55 years of listening has grabbed me quite this way, well maybe the Fulton J Modular system 20 years ago.

I am so lucky to have these absolutely awesome looking pieces of exotic furniture here playing music so awesomely too. How am I supposed to get anything done here now for the time being?

Frank

Bill Baker · « **Reply #298 on:** 24 Feb 2006, 03:41 pm »

Hi Frank,
I have no doubt the HT3s are truly amazing. It is too bad you didn't get a chance to hear other options though. I guess with the others snoozing on getting samples to you, it is their loss (and possibly yours also).

I know if I married the first thing that showed up at my door, I would be married to a bitch. (I'm not calling the HT3s a bitch)

Hey, as long as they are giving you everything you are looking for, that's all that matters.

Now get your butt back to work. You have customers waiting

avahifi · « **Reply #299 on:** 24 Feb 2006, 03:49 pm »

Yes it was a quick judgement and yes it is too bad I did not hear others first. But I have been at this for years and years and have heard lots of speakers in lots of conditions, and nothing has grabbed me like these. The others demos were to be smaller speakers too, not big full range ones, so even if I had waited, I would have then needed to decide whether to invest in the big models from the less than complete demos (deep bass not all there) and that still would have been a trial and error process.

First thing in the door? Maybe, but not the first thing I have heard.

Frank