[Big Red Machine]

Well I just spoke to Jim and ordered the Salk Sound HT3 with a HTC center did not decided on a finish yet wife wants some shade of black to go with her African décor in the entertainment room, any ideas? The HT3's will place my PSB Synchrony Two L/R and Center which are very good sounding speaker the XPA-1's really woke up the PSB's and that’s what got me the idea to upgrade. The HT3's should sound great powered by the XPA-1's now comes the waiting. 

Nice that the order is in.  The Emo amp should be considered a stop-gap.  The HT3's will eat it up pretty quick.

[mathgeek97]

Well I just spoke to Jim and ordered the Salk Sound HT3 with a HTC center did not decided on a finish yet wife wants some shade of black to go with her African décor in the entertainment room, any ideas?

See
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=65845.msg608676#msg608676

[vermont99]

Mathgeek97 congratulations great looking speakers bet they do sound great. I have to decide on my finish by Monday as not to delay the  HT3’s  my wife wants something to do with African Jungle décor (any ideas) that was the deal I pick the speakers she has a say in the finish. It’s going to be a long 45-60 days for me. 

[MichiganMike]

I have to decide on my finish by Monday as not to delay the  HT3’s  my wife wants something to do with African Jungle décor (any ideas) that was the deal I pick the speakers she has a say in the finish. It’s going to be a long 45-60 days for me.

Jim probably already has you studying available veneers at www.certainlywood.com.  I went through a similar process to get my wife's approval.

Here are three veneers for you to consider at the certainlywood.com web page that may go with your decor:
1)  Ipe (ebony verte)
2)  Zircote
3)  Ebony, Macassar

Mike

[ratso]

i would do this:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=85875.0

and if you wanted it darker see if jim could do this color instead:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=86677.0

[fsimms]

Not Dark but would fit with jungle motif.  Bamboo!

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=65982.0





Bob

[vermont99]

I the SoundScapes are gorgeous I like bamboo other half disagrees. I can all ready tell this is not going to be easy.
Thanks for the ideas they are helping.   

[ratso]

BTW i would also take off your self-imposed time limit. you might wind up keeping these speakers for a LONG time (many do) and you will probably in the end be glad you got something you liked rather than rush. what's the hurry? a few days more won't hurt...

[Nuance]

Well I just spoke to Jim and ordered the Salk Sound HT3 with a HTC center did not decided on a finish yet wife wants some shade of black to go with her African décor in the entertainment room, any ideas? The HT3's will place my PSB Synchrony Two L/R and Center which are very good sounding speaker the XPA-1's really woke up the PSB's and that’s what got me the idea to upgrade. The HT3's should sound great powered by the XPA-1's now comes the waiting. 

Congrats - that's awesome!!  I think you'll fall in love with them very quickly.  Best of luck on the veneer search.  Speaking of which, can you post a picture of your room so we can properly match/contrast?

[Saturn94]

Well I just spoke to Jim and ordered the Salk Sound HT3 with a HTC center did not decided on a finish yet wife wants some shade of black to go with her African décor in the entertainment room, any ideas? The HT3's will place my PSB Synchrony Two L/R and Center which are very good sounding speaker the XPA-1's really woke up the PSB's and that’s what got me the idea to upgrade. The HT3's should sound great powered by the XPA-1's now comes the waiting. 

Congratulations on your choice!

I'm sure Jim already told you this, but he can match a particular color/finish if you wish to match your existing furniture.

BTW i would also take off your self-imposed time limit. you might wind up keeping these speakers for a LONG time (many do) and you will probably in the end be glad you got something you liked rather than rush. what's the hurry? a few days more won't hurt...

+1!

[karl d]

Nice that the order is in.  The Emo amp should be considered a stop-gap.  The HT3's will eat it up pretty quick.

XPA-1 monoblocks are listed at 1000 Watts RMS into 4 ohms, would they really not suffice?

[vermont99]

Until I receive the HT3’s I am powering my PSB Synchrony Two L/R with the XPA1’s and the Center and surrounds with a XPA-5.  I have found with the reserve power of the XPA-1 the dynamics and the detail of the Two’s at lower volume improved dramatically over when they were connected to just the XPA-5. Prior to that the Two’s were hooked to a Denon 4802 ARV this hobby can become addictive.   

[Big Red Machine]

XPA-1 monoblocks are listed at 1000 Watts RMS into 4 ohms, would they really not suffice?

More power is always nice in my book.   But they are just not that good as amps go.  Dollars per watt is very attractive, but someday an amp or two with mondo transformers and more sophisticated circuits may be in order.  I've owned plenty of Emo gear in the past and the amps are good, but not great.  After preamps, amps flavor the sound too in the musical chain.  I found Emo amps to be strident and thin versus the 20+ others I have auditioned.  Again, price per watt is very hard to beat. 

[vermont99]

So far I have been more than happy with the performance of the XPA-1's. All of the reviews compare them with gear costing up to 3-4 X the price. A friend of mine has a older Parasound HCA-3500 2 Channel Amplifier he said its rated a 500 watts @ 4 ohms, he says he loves and will run it until it dies.
When I get my HT3's and I let them brake in a little he is willing to bring the Parasound over for a comparison and if there is enough sound difference to justify the price difference I will have no problem looking at other equipment. As I said when I auditioned the HT3's and fell in love with them they were powered by a tube pre-amp and a 45 watt tube amp, I hope my equipment will sound almost as good we will see.
As right now I feel Emotiva is like Jim Salk being a Internet direct company there overhead is much less then the mainline equipment manufactures and that gives them ability to give there customers great personal service and products that compete with much higher priced mainline equipment at a much more affordable price. 

[billmcc]

As right now I feel Emotiva is like Jim Salk being a Internet direct company there overhead is much less then the mainline equipment manufactures and that gives them ability to give there customers great personal service and products that compete with much higher priced mainline equipment at a much more affordable price. 

I think Emotiva puts out great products and has great service. But I would rate Salk products and their service on a much higher level than Emotiva.

Bill

[vermont99]

Prior to ordering the HT3's I spoke with Jim only a few times and was very impressed with the fact that when you call Jim answers the phone not a machine. Jim does everything he can help answering questions, gives you helpful honest advice and does not try to sell you something (try that with a big box company), that was a important factor in my decision to purchase Salk's. Since ordering the service is just as great, I'm very happy and know I made the correct choice in going with Salk. When I went with Emotiva almost 2 years ago they were the same way and remain that way, I'm tried of talking to computers.