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Salk Speakers - Opinions & Advice?

This past weekend I went to Karma Fest in Livonia, Michigan, and saw so many beautiful speakers in the Salk Signature Sound, I didn't know where to start. Since I live quite close to the company, I'll head up there for a private audition. However, after going through the A'gon threads addressing Salk speakers, I still don't have a real idea as to what they sound like - how they make music.

So, for those of you who know (and hopefully own), Salk speakers, what is the "signature sound" of these beauties? I know what to pretty much expect from a Harbeth, Spendor, Thiel, etc. but what might I expect from Salk?

The impression I got from some threads is that Salks are on the detailed, transient (leading edge of the notes), and cool side of things, as opposed to, say, Harbeth, which are on the warm and full (body of the notes) side of things.

Thanks in advance, guys and gals.
tomryan
tomryan OP
796 posts
 
I remember now the big Tylers did have amps on the woofers as Ty was turning them up and down to show what the speakers could do. I think he finally left the amps set a bit too high - too much bass.

I, too, was taken by the little white Dyn x12s. Very musical and enjoyable; I stayed a while to just listen. I went next door to the big Confidences but actually enjoyed the x12s more. Found them more musically "happy", if you know what I mean.
ktamura88
16 posts
 
I guess it is difficult to judge speakers at shows due to room size and other factors,however, both Salk and Tylers
have had excellent reviews by customers who own them.So you really need to hear them in a setting that is closest to yours,although that is always the difficult part because
you would have to incur cost shipping speakers back if you don't like them.
ihcho's avatar
ihcho
612 posts
 
I was a bit disppointed by D1's sound. However, I attribute it more to the (mediocre?) Jolida amp and cd player. To my ear, my system sounds better (Tyler Linbrook SS, BAT vk-200, vk30, Arcam CD23). My room (about 25x30) is about 4 times as big as the hotel room.

For Salk, it sound pretty good on Jazz and Rock, which were played everytime I dropped in the room.
However, it did not sound as good as I expected on classical music. Again, I would say my system wins hands down. It may also have to do with the AVA gears, which I don't think are as good as mine.
Maybe I am so stuck with the sound of my systems.

One speaker I thought to be very good for the price point was Tom Evans model one ($9K). And there was one other speaker powered by BAT vk55, vk32se, and vkd5. I can't remember the name but it is one of those curve shaped speakers ($15K?). I am not sure whether the BAT gears made them sound so good, but I couldn't stay long enough in that room.

One utter disappointment was the McIntosh room. All combined at $45K, I did not care to stay for more than a couple of mins.
Well, just my opinion.
s7horton
1,077 posts
 
Interesting about the Tom Evans speakers as they did nothing for me. Missing all the upper end. I found the full range Jordan driver an odd combination with what looked like a Hi-Vi bass driver. Way over priced in my opinion. My comment about the build quality of the tylers stems a lot from the sloppy fit of the drivers in the recess. Everytime I have seen them the fit was gapped and then painted to try to hide it. Not something I would expect on a speaker of that caliber.
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