Need advice from HT3 Owners

greenhouseman · « **Reply #20 on:** 12 Apr 2010, 12:05 am »

Quote from: Big Red Machine on 11 Apr 2010, 06:57 pm

Hey, can you PM that rock song or album you gave to Jim? It was an outstanding hot guitar song!!

Please excuse the detour of the above thread

Coco Montoya ---
Not sure which track or album he played but for those interested there are 5 album selections available at HDtracks. Great site for extremely well recorded material. To give credit where credit is due it was actually Jims suggestion as while listening to an early SoundScape prototype the music selections played did not feature enough oomph for me and asked him if he had any thing that had a little more energy. Coco Montoya was introduced and for me it was the beginning of a love affair with the Scapes.

Nuance · « **Reply #21 on:** 12 Apr 2010, 04:35 am »

Thanks, greenhouseman. According to amazon he has seven albums. I'd love to find out which it was.

So can I assume you will place, or already have placed an order for the SoundScapes?

revrob · « **Reply #22 on:** 12 Apr 2010, 03:31 pm »

Thanks everyone. A lot of good advice. It looks like AVA / Pass or even maybe Wyred may be good choices. I definitely need something that has more power than the 150 wpc I have now. I just don't want to give up the silky mids and extended highs that the LSA gives me. It also provides good bass but I know the HT3 are cable of more.

I want to be able to take advantage of the great bass of the HT3. I could move down to HT2-TL and keep my amp but that means I would have to sell the HT3 and you know how hard that would be. But for now my LSA Signature is on Audiogon for sale.

Why does the HT3 torture me to find the best components for it and to think I was content before buying these.

Thanks again,
Steve

Big Red Machine · « **Reply #23 on:** 12 Apr 2010, 04:16 pm »

COnsider Tommy's DAC amps if you really want to make those speakers sing. The 4800A or Cherry Jr. would be enough. I think the new Wyred pre/dac driving the DAC amp would be sweet.

I.Greyhound Fan · « **Reply #24 on:** 12 Apr 2010, 05:24 pm »

Quote from: revrob on 12 Apr 2010, 03:31 pm

Why does the HT3 torture me to find the best components for it and to think I was content before buying these.

Thanks again,
Steve

Because as you move up in speaker quality comes a more revealing and detailed sound. So the limitations of your components is exposed!

revrob · « **Reply #25 on:** 12 Apr 2010, 06:25 pm »

This was my poor attempt at being humorous and facetious. I do understand your statement about the quality the Salks demands. My system is currently considered to be very high quality with an Esoteric DV-50, the LSA Signature integrated, Verastarr cables, Logitech Squeezebox Duet and various other components . I just want a little more bass.

Thanks,
Steve

Big Red Machine · « **Reply #26 on:** 12 Apr 2010, 06:33 pm »

Steve, it is torture. Those darn speakers are voracious in their neediness for top quality gear and electrons. You up the ante and they just brush it off and challenge you to do better.

What sci fi movie had the "perfect" machine that kept getting stronger no matter what you threw at it? Was it the Borg?

avahifi · « **Reply #27 on:** 12 Apr 2010, 06:43 pm »

You might want to check out this link:

http://www.salksound.com/speakers_other_ava.shtml

Regards,

Frank Van Alstine

dmatt · « **Reply #28 on:** 12 Apr 2010, 06:50 pm »

Another good value amp for the HT3s is the McCormack DNA 500.

A few ACers either have it or have had it in their systems (BobM comes to mind). In my system the amp handily powered the HT3s and never seemed to run out of steam or have a problem delivering powerful bass, plus it didn't suffer from the ills commonly associated with SS amps. Currently there are two on A-gon in the $4K plus range but I think the sellers are very optimistic since past sales have been more in the $3300 to $3500 range (about half of the original MSRP). I ran a ModWright 36.5 pre although there are other great SS and tube preamps out there. Or if you are happy with the sound of the LSA and your integrated has them, run pre-out from your integrated for a while and just upgrade to a more powerful amp.

I would still have the DNA 500 but it was replaced by a pair of bridged ModWright KWA-150s running high bias (like Philistines http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=25053). But that is another kettle of fish and more $$.

David

BobM · « **Reply #29 on:** 12 Apr 2010, 06:59 pm »

I can't say that I've heard the DNA 500 on the HT3's, but I would be hard pressed to think of a cone speaker that this amp couldn't drive delightfully. It just seems to do everything right, and effortlessly.

There's a new for sale on Audiogon for $3495

gerald porzio · « **Reply #30 on:** 12 Apr 2010, 07:10 pm »

I'll 3rd the DNA 500.

zybar · « **Reply #31 on:** 12 Apr 2010, 07:13 pm »

Quote from: gerald porzio on 12 Apr 2010, 07:10 pm

I'll 3rd the DNA 500.

The DNA-500 + a nice tubed preamp would be a great combination.

I used a DNA-500 with HT3's and always liked what it produced.

George

BobM · « **Reply #32 on:** 12 Apr 2010, 07:15 pm »

Just be careful of matching the tube preamp with it. You'll need a tube preamp with fairly low output impedance.

zybar · « **Reply #33 on:** 12 Apr 2010, 07:20 pm »

Quote from: BobM on 12 Apr 2010, 07:15 pm

Just be careful of matching the tube preamp with it. You'll need a tube preamp with fairly low output inductance.

The DNA-500's Input Impedance is 10k Ohms and requires a little more careful matching than normal.

I have seen very positive reviews in which tube preamps from VTL and Rogue were used.

George

zybar · « **Reply #34 on:** 12 Apr 2010, 07:25 pm »

Quote from: greenhouseman on 11 Apr 2010, 03:59 pm

Again outside the box ---- AVA gear is very, very good and have heard it on many SALK models over a period of time but consideration might be given to the Wyred4Sound products---do not have HT3's but have the 1"s and 2's and although different animals the Wyreds are very good especially after a substantial break-in period(200+hrs). Initially they are a bit bright and that can be a bit disconcerting, but with a little patience they begin to revel some very good sonic qualities. I have the ST-500 but you would probably want more and the ST-1000 or SX-1000(Monos) are an option. The STP-SE is also a very capable pre and you will find that this combo will work in your budget. Happy hunting

I think the Wyred products offer killer value and good to very good performance. Given the HT3's ability to pass along what it is fed, the combination of the Wryed preamp and amp might be a bit too much for some. I think combing either a tube preamp with a Wyred amp or a neutral to warm amp with the Wyred preamp might provide better results.

George

BobM · « **Reply #35 on:** 12 Apr 2010, 07:25 pm »

I'm using an Audio Prism Mantissa with my 500, recapped with teflons, and loving it.

Wally King · « **Reply #36 on:** 12 Apr 2010, 09:18 pm »

Steve,

I've had a Double Ultra 550 driving my Salk HT-3s for a couple of months now. The Double Ultra replaced an AVA 550EXR, which is now driving a pair of Maggie 1.6s in a 2nd system. While I haven't done extensive amp comparisons like a lot of the guys here, I'm extremely pleased with both of my AVA amps, and have no desire to keep looking. The Double Ultra drives the HT-3s effortlessly: smooth; dynamic; clean, powerful bass. It really is a wonderful combo.

I'm using a VTL 2.5 preamp with NOS tubes, which resulted in a BIG change for the better from the stock, no-name tubes that came withh the preamp.

satfrat · « **Reply #37 on:** 12 Apr 2010, 11:46 pm »

The Salk HT-3 system I've listened to quite a few times always blows me away when powered by D-Sonic Magnum 2000-5 amp which is made by Cullen, the same company who makes Wyred products. This amp is paired with an Antham D2v processor but has an Eastern Electric tube Dac from a modified SB3 going into the processor. Swear to god it takes me a day to acclimate myself to my system evertime I hear this system. Incredible clarity and when paired with the EE Dac, a wide 3D sound stage presenation. My friend also has an Insight+ Dac and while nice, is no comparison to the EE Dac.

But back to the amp, the HT-3 like power, lots of power and the D-Sonic Magnum supplys the HT-3 with 525 watts. While tubes have their place in the chain, the HT-3's like lots of clean power to really show what they're capable of imho.

Cheers,
Robin

Kwebb · « **Reply #38 on:** 13 Apr 2010, 03:01 am »

Satfrat,

I have the Anthem Statement D2 also and really like it. Have your ever listened to HT3's or HT2's powered by the Anthem Statement P5 amp? Just wondering.

Kyle

cdorval1 · « **Reply #39 on:** 13 Apr 2010, 04:01 am »

Congrats on the HT3s--you'll never regret your purchase. I've owned mine for four years, and I'm using a Double Ultra 550 and a T8 with it, and I'm a very happy camper. The 550 is very pleasing at low to moderate levels--and tube-like, in my opinion. It might be that the amp works in class A for the first 20 watts or so.

I love the "tube" sound, and our listening room is live--so I love the T8 combined with our bridged Ultimate 70s. But the best all-around amp--especially at absolutely breathtaking high volume, is the Double-die 550. The detail and dynamics are extraordinary--the best I've heard.

Very low distortion is key. And remember Frank Van Alstine has a 30-day satisfaction guarantee.

Have fun.

Craig