Building a new system. trying to decide on short list of speakers

chaz1 · « **on:** 14 Nov 2006, 07:58 pm »

I've narrowed down a budget system to choose from. Thank you Earlmarc for your recommendations. I had a chance to do research and even talked to Klaus and have narrowed down to the Extreme mono se amps and the new candela tube pre amp from Odyssey. I haven't heard this yet and I'm sold on it as we speak. I also like the idea of a remote control volume only with this unit. My question is, with this system Ive also norrowed it down to my speaker choice of the Lorelei, Salk's QW and Salks HT2 and HT3's. The later being the top choice but i don't know if i can step that high for speakers being I want a plasma and need a good cd player/dac and racks.

Does anyone have first hand experience with the Lorelei and Salk comparison? What would you choose pound for pound dolloar for dollar. I would have liked to made it to the RMA show because both were there. I know the salks have nearly unbeatable cabinet quality but I'm referring to shear sound quality in this comparison. Is it worth the extra 1000-2500 for the salks being I'm on a budget or will i be blown away enough by the Loreleis.

Your feedback will be highly appreciated.

fiveoclockfriday · « **Reply #1 on:** 14 Nov 2006, 08:59 pm »

I know it's all relative, but some of us have to laugh at this system being "budget" . No offense intended, but many of us would love to have Extreme mono amps, a Candela pre, and either Lorelei or Salk speakers as our main system! Good luck either way. I've heard the Loreleis, but not with other Odyssey amps and I haven't heard the Salks to compare. The Loreleis are bass monsters though, some of the finest bass I've heard in an actual home.

tvad4 · « **Reply #2 on:** 14 Nov 2006, 09:08 pm »

Doesn't Klaus offer an in-home audition for his gear, including the Lorelei speakers? If so, I'd suggest doing an audition of these loudspeakers. If you like what you hear, then relax and enjoy the music. This hobby can be an endless search for perfection, which is impossible to attain.

PaulHilgeman · « **Reply #3 on:** 14 Nov 2006, 09:15 pm »

Depending on your location, I can have a pair of Ronins out for you to audition in the coming few weeks.

PM me if you are interested,
Paul Hilgeman

gitarretyp · « **Reply #4 on:** 14 Nov 2006, 09:49 pm »

I had a pair of Usher CP-6311, which are a very similar design to the Loreleis. I've not heard the salk speakers, but i've heard speakers using similar drivers (Selah Audio designs), and i think the salks would be in a different league regarding transparency, accuracy, and speed.

If you're willing to DIY, i'd also suggest you take a look at Selah Audio. Rick's pre-made speakers are at the edge of the price range you're looking at.

chaz1 · « **Reply #5 on:** 14 Nov 2006, 09:51 pm »

Never heard of the Ronins. I'm trying to keep it simple and down to only a few. I've emailed a few times asking to look at certain speakers and i don't know if i have the time to keep going deeper into the black hole of audio. There is so much out there. I just want to keep it kinda simple.

Regarding the other feedback about this system being expensive. Yes i would suppose it would be expensive. But you should have seen where i started from the start of all of this. I mean i really wanted the Levinson/Wilson or Levinson/Dynaudio Confidence so bad i was losing my mind. But there was no way i was going to pay that kinda of money for a system even used. So I'm getting closer and Klause is a nice guy and very helpful. When i consider the quality and all the reviews out there on Odyssey, you have to put it on your short list of equipment to choose. I still may wind up with the entry level amps or a used tempest. I really have to way things out. I've also considered AVA and Audiolabs and would love maybe the Belles new reference amp or a used DNA 500. So I've come a long way from the dream and drool system, price no object, to very very good gear for a fraction of the cost.

miklorsmith · « **Reply #6 on:** 14 Nov 2006, 10:05 pm »

Of course, price does not equate to enjoyment level. But, I would get the speakers you want regardless of any price differential. The other stuff you need to budget for can wait if need be. If you're going to spend that much money on audiogear, shortchanging it for the last $1,000 in speakers is foolish, IMO.

WEEZ · « **Reply #7 on:** 14 Nov 2006, 10:28 pm »

Well, I heard all your choices at RMAF. And you can't go too far wrong with any of them.

I would agree with miklorsmith...get the best speaker you can. In your case, the HT3's. You could offset some of the added cost by cutting back on the amplification just a bit. $600 alone by going to mono's instead of the extreeme mono's. Or maybe even a maxxed out stereo unit.

To hell with the TV...you'll be so busy listening to music that you'll soon forget about TV

WEEZ

Spirit · « **Reply #8 on:** 14 Nov 2006, 10:33 pm »

I am biased because I am the new proud owner of Odyssey's Mono Extremes, so please take my comments with a slanted grain of salt.
At RMAF one of my favourie rooms was Klaus'. I believe he was selling the entire system of
Monos, pre, CD and loraleis for under $6000.00! The sound was glorious.
Here is my take on this hobby....the cost of a piece does not determine the quality of sound.

chaz1 · « **Reply #9 on:** 14 Nov 2006, 10:41 pm »

Thanks for the feedback!
Thats why the Odyssey equipment is on my short short list. Im sure all the other gear mentioned is up to snuff or more..but what im hearing from these reviews and what took place at the RMA festival has me convinced and again i havent even heard them yet. Especially when you factor in the price and a 20yr warranty. Wow!
As for the speakers..i really have my mind set on the Salk's but wanted to check out opinions in comparison to Lorelei's. So again i appreciate your feedback from actually hearing and or owning this equipment.

chaz1 · « **Reply #10 on:** 14 Nov 2006, 10:48 pm »

Im also hearing the same thing from Jsalk. Get the best speakers you can and the components will follow.

Everything is all relative.

Bob Reynolds · « **Reply #11 on:** 15 Nov 2006, 05:13 pm »

Or go active speakers. No worries about amp/speaker interaction. Usually save quite a bit on total system cost. Just a thought.

TomS · « **Reply #12 on:** 15 Nov 2006, 05:38 pm »

I have to second the recommendation of the Odyssey package system Klaus had at RMAF - Candela, Mono Extremes, and Loreleis for a bit over $5k (no CDP) was an unbelievable combination and built to last. It sounded really good in his room all weekend. It was truly all about the music there and VERY satisfying.

If you started with the Loreleis, one would think they'd be easy to move if you decided to step up later and you certainly wouldn't get hurt too badly on resale. The resale market for $5k+ speakers is decidedly smaller than $2k, even as beautiful in both looks and sound as the Salks definitely are.

Marbles · « **Reply #13 on:** 15 Nov 2006, 06:12 pm »

Quote from: chaz1 on 14 Nov 2006, 07:58 pm

Does anyone have first hand experience with the Lorelei and Salk comparison?

Your feedback will be highly appreciated.

I have had the Lorelies in my system and they are very similar to my nOrh marble 9.0's, and I own the Salk HT3's.
I did not directly A/B the Lorelies and Salks.

The Salks are as toneally pure as a speaker can get from 29 - over 20Khz.
They will lay bare any faults in your upstream equipment. Great CD's will sound great..crappy ones will sound crappy.

The Lorelies are very musical (not anylitical like the Salks), the Scan-speak drivers are toneally on the warm side. They will make great sounding CD's sound just below great, and they will make crappy sounding CD's sound better. They will suck you into the music on almost all CD's.

I could be happy with either, and it's fun going back and forth between my nOrhs and the Salks.

So if you fall on the anylitical side, pick the Salks, if you prefer more "musical" speakers pick the Odyssey.

The amps used for the comparisons were either the Odyssey dual mono or the Symphonic Line (also sold by Klaus and the amps the Odyssey line is designed on) Kraft 400's.

chaz1 · « **Reply #14 on:** 16 Nov 2006, 10:30 pm »

To be honest..i don't know the difference between analytical and musical. I haven't really compared many speaker or systems. I've heard several but the ones that moved me the most was the Levinson/dynaudio confidence c-5 combo over 5 years ago. Also recently heard the Levinson/Wilson Maxx and that was stunning. So i dont know what character these have. I just want to enjoy outstanding music at a fraction of whats happening on the retail end. Im also considering some used equipment. Im finally getting close. And yet want to make the right decision.

zybar · « **Reply #15 on:** 16 Nov 2006, 10:32 pm »

Quote from: TomS on 15 Nov 2006, 05:38 pm

I have to second the recommendation of the Odyssey package system Klaus had at RMAF - Candela, Mono Extremes, and Loreleis for a bit over $5k (no CDP) was an unbelievable combination and built to last. It sounded really good in his room all weekend. It was truly all about the music there and VERY satisfying.

If you started with the Loreleis, one would think they'd be easy to move if you decided to step up later and you certainly wouldn't get hurt too badly on resale. The resale market for $5k+ speakers is decidedly smaller than $2k, even as beautiful in both looks and sound as the Salks definitely are.

I "may" have a pair of Salk HT3's available in the next month or so.

George

Charles Calkins · « **Reply #16 on:** 16 Nov 2006, 10:46 pm »

I heard the AV123 Strata mini speakers at the RMAF. For $1595 a pair with a built in amp to drive the woofers I thought that they not only sounded very good but were a steal.

Cheers
Charlie

F-100 · « **Reply #17 on:** 16 Nov 2006, 10:53 pm »

I just received the Strata Mini last week and so far my initial impression is Wow!!!
I don't think you can find any speaker for under $2K that can sound this good.

WEEZ · « **Reply #18 on:** 16 Nov 2006, 11:04 pm »

Quote: I "may" have a pair of Salk HT3's available in the next month or so. End quote. (zybar)

Holy sh*t, George. What's up?

WEEZ

95bcwh · « **Reply #19 on:** 16 Nov 2006, 11:08 pm »

Remember, George just bought a $20k Vandy 5A?? aa

Quote from: WEEZ on 16 Nov 2006, 11:04 pm

Quote: I "may" have a pair of Salk HT3's available in the next month or so. End quote. (zybar)

Holy sh*t, George. What's up?

WEEZ