Jeez, I'm so sorry for missing this thread, Jared. I kept looking at it all week, but just didn't click for me so I skipped it. I guess I should look at the authors too. I'll follow it now. Thanks to lonewolfny42 for bopping me on the head today. He really is the mayor of AC, he sees all....
That sound you are referring to was a high water mark for me too. I own the speakers and speaker wires. Everything else playing at that moment was brought by the guys. It was a DAC comparison, so Oracle, Northstar PSAudio and Cullen DL3s were playing through the Oracle as preamp, driving Mac MC402 via JPS balanced ICs, digital and speaker cables. Black Sand and JPS power cables. The whole system retail value was well over 50k, so it should sound pretty good! And it did, really good, to everybody who was listening. Everybody learned something hearing their part mixed into a super system. Few people have a system that good all to themselves. But we can dream, and we can hear it every other month at a meet. That's fun for me..
We have some very experienced audiophiles here in NC. I learn more at a G2G about my system, strengths and weaknesses than months of reading and tweaking on my own. I usually come away wanting to make big changes, but that's impossible, slow and steady is better.
Some of the difference you noticed compared to the Salks is resolution, but also scale. Ushers are big speakers, with 2 carbon 11" bass reflex drivers in bass reflex on each side. They make small ensembles sound realistic scale, and big music like rock and symphony can be overwhelming if the rest of the system is up to the challenge. It takes a combination of electronics and speakers to make big sound but you just can't get there without the large drivers. Good bass drivers are expensive and require lots of power and big pretty cabinets. The system becomes more complex overall to accomodate the larger drivers.
PM me your address so I can send you the album details
It is kinda forward, but a good test record for resolution and taming brightness. It's close miked steel guitar and very twangy.
Your speakers are always welcome. I know everyone would love to hear Salks in person. I've only ever heard them at RMAF. But wrap them up carefully to avoid dings. Seeya
Rich