**SALE PENDING** Salk Archos Prototypes

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Big Red Machine

**SALE PENDING** Salk Archos Prototypes
« on: 23 Jan 2010, 09:37 pm »
For sale and nearly mint as prototypes go.  Have to give them an 8 I guess for one small scratch at the peak of one speaker seen in photos.  Otherwise in no scratch condition elsewhere.

As prototypes they have some different drivers than now offered in the standard units.  NO, these won't be reworked into production versions.  And the liability extends to shipping damages only and no production-level warranty is offered but knowing Jim if you have a problem down the road he'll do what he can to remedy the situation at minimal cost.

Grills included (magnetic), silver spikes, no bi-wire capability on these.

The drivers in this pair are:

midrange is a 6.5" PHL
tweeter is a Morel dome tweeter MD33
woofer is a Lambda TD12H

How do they sound?  Well, of course, with all of Jim's speakers these sound like crap.  So, buyer beware!  (Did you spill your beer there?) 8)

Open, of course, sound for an open baffle speaker.  Dang good bass given the high efficiency.  The bass is tight and you can emphasize it if you push them into the corners a little, but watch the top end reflections when you do this if you push them too close to the rear wall.

The dome tweeter is all-encompassing and extremely efficient so it easily does its thing.  It gives up nothing to a ribbon and in my experience produces more top end than you can imagine.

Midrange is super duper and dead on.  Has good guttural feel on saxophone and string bass.

With the high efficiency of these speakers I found them to be very dependent on cabling and electronics.  You can really influence the sound by switching from copper to silver or backwards and tubes really match well with these and are highly recommended (by me).

Shipping will be through the factory and at a better rate than I could offer.  The lovely Mary will assist!

Price is $2800.  List on standard pair is in the $4k area.

Some photos of details here and more in my galleries:








The scratchy:






« Last Edit: 10 Feb 2010, 05:44 pm by Big Red Machine »

mpaulsen

Re: Salk Archos Prototypes
« Reply #1 on: 24 Jan 2010, 05:07 am »
Hi Big Red,
I have a couple of questions for you.

How far do you have to keep them from the wall to get good imaging? Is that measured from the bass enclosure or the baffle?

Since these are going to be shipped through the factory would Jim be able to touch up the scratch at the top? I would pay any labor/material costs associated with this.

Any idea how much they weigh? Any idea of how large the boxes/crates would be that they ship in?

Thanks,
Mitchell

Whitese

Re: Salk Archos Prototypes
« Reply #2 on: 24 Jan 2010, 10:53 am »
I heard these at AK fest and they are awesome!!

Big Red Machine

Re: Salk Archos Prototypes
« Reply #3 on: 24 Jan 2010, 12:54 pm »
Hi Big Red,
I have a couple of questions for you.

How far do you have to keep them from the wall to get good imaging? Is that measured from the bass enclosure or the baffle?

Since these are going to be shipped through the factory would Jim be able to touch up the scratch at the top? I would pay any labor/material costs associated with this.

Any idea how much they weigh? Any idea of how large the boxes/crates would be that they ship in?

Thanks,
Mitchell

Here are some answers:

From the baffle I have them 43" from the rear wall and 21" from the side to the speaker edge.  My room is well treated and I can absorb rear reflections more or less if I adjust my treatments but overall this was a pretty good distance.

Imaging works at any distance.  They have wider soundstage than box speakers and in my room they spread the sound out wider than the HT3.  They image just as well and depth is the same as HT3, probably due to my room.  The real surprise for me, and given open baffle design it shouldn’t be, is that the soundstage raised up for me.  Typically in my room the soundstage is about door handle height, but now it is a foot and a half higher which seems more “normal.”  And no listener fatigue ever in case that is a question you have wondered about.

Well, the trick with scratches is they can get away from you.  Some touch up is possible but it will stop short  of a respray which is just too much work.  So a little sanding and hand touch up is easy enough and these guys are masters at that.  It will look better but not disappear up close.

I’d expect the boxes to be at least 48 x 18 x 16 and I’m guessing just over 100 lbs. each.  They’re about the V3 size and they were 100 each.

Big Red Machine

Re: Salk Archos Prototypes
« Reply #4 on: 24 Jan 2010, 03:17 pm »
Doctor Funk sounded pretty good this morning - especially the alto sax.

Big Red Machine

Re: Salk Archos Prototypes
« Reply #5 on: 24 Jan 2010, 07:18 pm »
bump

Big Red Machine

Re: Salk Archos Prototypes
« Reply #6 on: 25 Jan 2010, 12:56 pm »
bump

Big Red Machine

Re: Salk Archos Prototypes
« Reply #7 on: 25 Jan 2010, 11:15 pm »
bump

Big Red Machine

Re: Salk Archos Prototypes
« Reply #8 on: 26 Jan 2010, 03:21 pm »
Now on Audiogon.

sfox7076

  • Full Member
  • Posts: 1327
Re: Salk Archos Prototypes
« Reply #9 on: 26 Jan 2010, 10:40 pm »
Why the sale?

nicksgem10s

Re: Salk Archos Prototypes
« Reply #10 on: 27 Jan 2010, 12:29 am »
These speakers sound excellent.  I remember hearing them at AK Fest when they made their debut.

Pete is great to deal with and takes excellent care of his equipment.   :thumb:

I am shocked they made it from AC to Audiogon.  :o   I believe they will be sold very soon.


Big Red Machine

Re: Salk Archos Prototypes
« Reply #11 on: 27 Jan 2010, 12:30 pm »
bump

Big Red Machine

Re: Salk Archos Prototypes
« Reply #12 on: 27 Jan 2010, 07:37 pm »

martyo

Re: Salk Archos Prototypes
« Reply #13 on: 27 Jan 2010, 08:13 pm »

Big Red Machine

Re: Salk Archos Prototypes
« Reply #14 on: 28 Jan 2010, 11:15 am »
bump

MaxCast

Re: Salk Archos Prototypes
« Reply #15 on: 28 Jan 2010, 11:46 am »

Four why?
I bet it is because he is buying new speakers  :wink:

Big Red Machine

Re: Salk Archos Prototypes
« Reply #16 on: 28 Jan 2010, 12:33 pm »
What, in my history, could give you that idea? :eyebrows:

vman71

  • Full Member
  • Posts: 421
Re: Salk Archos Prototypes
« Reply #17 on: 28 Jan 2010, 04:51 pm »
Those are some beautiful speakers!

Big Red Machine

Re: Salk Archos Prototypes
« Reply #18 on: 28 Jan 2010, 06:59 pm »
Look good, sound good, factory shipping, what more could a girl want?

Big Red Machine

Re: Salk Archos Prototypes
« Reply #19 on: 29 Jan 2010, 12:51 pm »
1900 views on Agon.  Teasing inquiries only.  Step up!!