Owner Impressions, Delivery Times and Things to Do While You Wait

vintagebob · « **Reply #780 on:** 25 Mar 2011, 01:07 pm »

Excellent!

Which speakers did you order?

Spinerep · « **Reply #781 on:** 25 Mar 2011, 01:30 pm »

Happy to say, add me to the list. Also add me to the "order without listening" list. Made the intial deposit yesterday for HT2-TL's - L/C/R. Im geeked!

and now the wait.....

Saturn94 · « **Reply #782 on:** 25 Mar 2011, 01:50 pm »

Quote from: vintagebob on 25 Mar 2011, 04:26 am

OK, let's go friends and lurkers. The "In the Queue" section is empty on the first post of this thread. No one wants to own up to having some beautiful Salk speakers on order? I probably just missed the posts, what with my crazy work schedule these days.

Nice review Saturn94!

Thank you.

vermont99 · « **Reply #783 on:** 25 Mar 2011, 02:14 pm »

I have a pair of Salk HT3’s and a HTC center on order I ordered them about 3.5 weeks let me say the time sure goes by slowly while you are waiting.

jonpol · « **Reply #784 on:** 25 Mar 2011, 08:35 pm »

Quote from: vintagebob on 25 Mar 2011, 01:07 pm

Excellent!

Which speakers did you order?

A pair of SongTower RTs, a SongCenter RT, a pair of SongBirds, and a SongSub. I'm excited

vintagebob · « **Reply #785 on:** 26 Mar 2011, 01:28 pm »

Thanks guys!

Spinrep, those HT2-TLs and Center work great in an HT setup. Enjoy.

Big Red Machine · « **Reply #786 on:** 26 Mar 2011, 01:43 pm »

Quote from: jonpol on 25 Mar 2011, 08:35 pm

A pair of SongTower RTs, a SongCenter RT, a pair of SongBirds, and a SongSub. I'm excited

wow, talk about overindulgence! Luv it!

zybar · « **Reply #787 on:** 26 Mar 2011, 02:14 pm »

Quote from: Big Red Machine on 26 Mar 2011, 01:43 pm

wow, talk about overindulgence! Luv it!

Overindulgence??? Hardly!

I was just listening to my five SongTowers crank some Dave Matthews and Rush Blurays and it was a treat as always.

Now five HT3's or SoundScapes could be a different matter.

George

jonpol · « **Reply #788 on:** 26 Mar 2011, 10:13 pm »

Quote from: Big Red Machine on 26 Mar 2011, 01:43 pm

wow, talk about overindulgence! Luv it!

Well, not only do I use my speakers for music and movies, but I also really enjoy good positional sound in video games. So, when I decided to upgrade from my existing setup I knew I wanted to upgrade all 5.1 speakers, if possible, so that all the channels match as closely as possible. Once I discovered Salk speakers and the option to order custom ones it only served to strengthen my resolve to get all at once so that they would all match.

I knew I wanted SongTowers for the fronts, so that was easy. I've haven't heard the ribbon tweeters, but from what everyone says about them it seemed like a pretty wise upgrade, considering how much I would be paying for everything else.

The SongCenter was then also an obvious choice, and since the ribbon tweeter upgrade is even cheaper for that than for the SongTowers, I figured I'd go for it rather than having to ask myself "what if" questions later.

Everyone says the subs don't have to match the other speakers, and so I believe it, but I have been really impressed with Jim Salk and figured if the SongSub is good enough to be sold as a worthy match to the SongTowers then that's good enough for me (plus, that also lets it be customized to match the others).

Unlike the others, though, it was really hard for me to decide what to get for the rear/surrounds. I know that good sound in video games is a bit of an unusual priority (I program graphics for games and also have a music degree, so maybe that strange pedigree is where it comes from), but it really increases my enjoyment of a game when I have good positional sound in back of me. I still remember getting my first sound card that supported rear sound, setting up some cheap radio shack speakers, and playing a bit of Unreal Tournament and hearing a rocket come from behind me and thinking "this is it!".

When I got my current surround speakers, I was excited because they were special bipole/dipole ones that were specifically made to be used as surrounds, and I positioned them to the sides like I was supposed to, and they are fine for movies, but I'm always disappointed now in games because as sound moves from the front to the rear it isn't seamless. So, ideally, were money no object, I would have gotten another pair of SongTower RTs for the rears to match the front ones.

Of course, money is always an object, right?

I finally decided that I would need to buy stands if I got either of the SongSurrounds anyway, so I might as well just but a floor-standing one instead. I think the SongBirds will be close enough to the SongTowers to give me the seamless surround panning I want, but I'm guessing I won't ever notice the QWT instead of RT or the "missing" woofer.

So yeah, I do kind of feel overindulgent, I'll be honest, but I've had my current speakers since I was a college student, and I decided I might as well get what I want since who knows if/when I'll upgrade again.

dlbeck · « **Reply #789 on:** 2 Apr 2011, 09:42 pm »

Add me to the list. Ordered HT2-TL's and a HTC2 yesterday. Can't wait for the 45 days to end.

sierrarider · « **Reply #790 on:** 3 Apr 2011, 03:07 am »

OK, my turn...
I ordered A pair of Songtowers and a Songcenter. I will be making my surrounds with the same drivers used in the Songsurrounds and some crossover help from Dennis. They may not have the exact finish of the Salk built speakers but they should have the same sonic character. Funny thing is, it costs almost as much to replicate the Salk speakers as it does to have them build them. They represent quite a value.

It must be getting close to 6 weeks now!

phoward · « **Reply #791 on:** 3 Apr 2011, 03:11 pm »

Proud owner of ht2-tls - have had them for a week...ordered without listening based upon conversations with jim and posts by all of you. THANKS

Had been planning on upgrading electronics and purchasing songtowers, but decided to start with speakers and learn as I go. Have them in a small (11x10) extra bedroom that we have converted to a family room. Going 2 channel because more into music than movies. Leveraging 120w Harmon Kardom integrated amp that I bought in the 80s, and denon cd player.

Like most of you, the waiting was the hardest part...especially the last two weeks when I began to wonder if I was nuts to buy without listening. I was confident that the fit and finish would be fantastic, but worried about size of room, potential "boominess" of bass, and whether my unsophisticated ears would appreciate the quality of sound, especially given my electronics.

Please add me to the list of Salk "fan boys". The sound is hard for me to describe...other than WOW. Clear, natural, three dimensional are the first words that come to mind - a fullness that I hadn't heard before - which to me reflects the emotional content of the performance in a way that has me going back through my cd collection to hear things I hadn't heard before.

No problems with size of room, or challenges with positioning...in fact...am really impressed at how good these speakers sound at low listening volumes they are alive and vibrant. In short, I will be happy with these for a long, long, time...

So now that I have the speakers "handled", would appreciate thoughts on upgrade path, focused on where would I get the most bang for the buck next. Adding a DAC? Moving to separate pre-amp? Tubes? Input welcome!

Thanks again to each of you for the time you have spent posting...it makes the waiting easier!

Nuance · « **Reply #792 on:** 4 Apr 2011, 02:41 pm »

This thread always put a big 'ol smile on my face. Congrats to all the new (happy) owners, and to the future owners. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Big Red Machine · « **Reply #793 on:** 4 Apr 2011, 03:32 pm »

DAC will flavor the sound the most and I recommend the EE tubed DAC as the starting point. Tubed preamp and SS amps next.

Fanboy - check!, added to the list.

Put $10k of electronics behind them and you will be amazed!!

Quote from: phoward on 3 Apr 2011, 03:11 pm

Proud owner of ht2-tls - have had them for a week...ordered without listening based upon conversations with jim and posts by all of you. THANKS

Had been planning on upgrading electronics and purchasing songtowers, but decided to start with speakers and learn as I go. Have them in a small (11x10) extra bedroom that we have converted to a family room. Going 2 channel because more into music than movies. Leveraging 120w Harmon Kardom integrated amp that I bought in the 80s, and denon cd player.

Like most of you, the waiting was the hardest part...especially the last two weeks when I began to wonder if I was nuts to buy without listening. I was confident that the fit and finish would be fantastic, but worried about size of room, potential "boominess" of bass, and whether my unsophisticated ears would appreciate the quality of sound, especially given my electronics.

Please add me to the list of Salk "fan boys". The sound is hard for me to describe...other than WOW. Clear, natural, three dimensional are the first words that come to mind - a fullness that I hadn't heard before - which to me reflects the emotional content of the performance in a way that has me going back through my cd collection to hear things I hadn't heard before.

No problems with size of room, or challenges with positioning...in fact...am really impressed at how good these speakers sound at low listening volumes they are alive and vibrant. In short, I will be happy with these for a long, long, time...

So now that I have the speakers "handled", would appreciate thoughts on upgrade path, focused on where would I get the most bang for the buck next. Adding a DAC? Moving to separate pre-amp? Tubes? Input welcome!

Thanks again to each of you for the time you have spent posting...it makes the waiting easier!

Nuance · « **Reply #794 on:** 4 Apr 2011, 05:37 pm »

Quote from: Big Red Machine on 4 Apr 2011, 03:32 pm

DAC will flavor the sound the most and I recommend the EE tubed DAC as the starting point.

That's my next DAC; loved it at RMAF. I plan on waiting until the high res version is released, though. Are you running the stock tube?

Big Red Machine · « **Reply #795 on:** 4 Apr 2011, 05:51 pm »

Quote from: Nuance on 4 Apr 2011, 05:37 pm

That's my next DAC; loved it at RMAF. I plan on waiting until the high res version is released, though. Are you running the stock tube?

Mine already has the silver fuse and Pavane tube and is boxed and ready to ship to Wayne for mod this week.

Nuance · « **Reply #796 on:** 4 Apr 2011, 07:05 pm »

Wow, very nice. Congrats!

Is the stock tube really that bad?

martyo · « **Reply #797 on:** 5 Apr 2011, 08:39 am »

Quote from: Big Red Machine on 4 Apr 2011, 05:51 pm

Mine already has the silver fuse and Pavane tube and is boxed and ready to ship to Wayne for mod this week.

Hey Pete, can you give a ball park figure of the total cost; DAC+tube and fuse+Wayne mods? Or pm me? Thanks
Isn't this DAC already high res? thanks again

srb · « **Reply #798 on:** 5 Apr 2011, 09:39 am »

Quote from: martyo on 5 Apr 2011, 08:39 am

Isn't this DAC [Eastern Electric MiniMax Tube DAC] already high res?

High Res via the USB input?

Steve

Big Red Machine · « **Reply #799 on:** 5 Apr 2011, 10:04 am »

Quote from: Nuance on 4 Apr 2011, 07:05 pm

Wow, very nice. Congrats!

Is the stock tube really that bad?

Stock tube is decent. I tried several and the Pavane is pretty darned good.