Salk Sound vs Legacy Audio


Impossible to answer, but always popular: tell me your experiences of these speakers. In particular, I'm looking at the Legacy Audio Classic HD and the Salk Sound Song3 Encore, with drivers from the SS9.5 speakers. Even if you don't have experience with these specific speakers, are these manufacturers known for a "signature" sound? 

I lean towards warm presentation vs. clinical accuracy. My main complaint in this hobby is listening fatigue so I'm really wanting a speaker that can move me even at low volumes. I also want a bigger soundstage and just a fuller more complete image. 

I'm in Atlanta so there is nowhere close by to hear either of these speakers. I'm just looking for lots of information to help guide my decision. Thanks, y'all! 

Robert  
rblondeau
I've had a pair of Veracity monitors for a number of years, paired with a Dehavilland tube pre and Edge G8 amp.  Having never used these with a SS pre I can't comment on this combination, but these have always floated my boat and not been fatiguing except on recordings that were overly bright to start with.  Salk gives great customer service too; had one tweeter go out a year or so ago, and Salk replaced the defective component and returned a 100% tweeter module within about a week, at a more than reasonable price for the repair.
I have the Salk SS6M. These are stand mounts but with the same tweeter. I compared them with other speakers which are known for some brightness -- the Focal 936. I also compared them with Fritz's Carreras, which has the same tweeter. My experience was that the Focals were too bright, and the Salk and Fritz were both fine -- warm enough. A couple of changes adjusted the highs in the Salks: some changes to positioning and also a change of tubes in my tube amp (to GL KT 77's). 

Ultimately, I chose the Salks because there was a happy marriage of accuracy without roll-off in that tweeter. Initially, I asked Jim if other customers reported a brightness to them; he said no, but sent me some resistors in case I wanted to adjust them down the road. I don't feel the need at this point. I would rather tweak the room with a little absorption then choose a speaker incapable of accuracy. 
I've owned Legacy speakers for over 20 years.  One thing they are not is bright.  I bought my first pair in 1999 - original Legacy Classics.  And bought many other models over the years including last year when I added a Silverscreen HD center and Legacy Focus SEs.  And they're fantastic. 
I've never heard Salk but they get great reviews (I did consider their line before I bought my Focus SEs).  He uses very good drivers.  The only reluctance I had was with them filling my large-ish room.
I can't compare since I've never heard Salk. I did hear a set of 6 or 7 way Legacy speakers. I thought they sounded good at first, but got bored with them after listening to a few different selections. Everything sounded the same, so I can't recommend spending the big bucks for them.
I have owned and reviewed (for Dagogo.com) both Legacy and Salk speakers. I am currently finishing up a review of a Salk speaker, which will be revealed at the publication. Both companies give a great amount of value per dollar spent, among the best of N. American mfgrs, imo.

Legacy does not make a "6 or 7 way" speaker, and "everything sounded the same" applies to all speakers, as they cannot change their physical design. The character of the speaker is a different matter, and one may prefer it or not. Neither of these speaker brands make everything sound the same; they are both capable of presenting music with its wide palate of performances.

In general, the Salk drivers and crossover tuning is toward the warmer side, and the Legacy toward the cooler side, but they do not stray far from appropriate neutrality. Neither is harsh or etched if set up in a system properly. If there is stridency or wooly/flabby low end, it is due to 1. poor equipment, 2. placement issues, or 3. unoptimized setup/system matching. Salk's speaker line is not as dominating, as large and with extended LF, as Legacy, but both have good specifications for frequency response.

Pay close attention to amp selection; you can ruin the beauty of any speaker with a sloppy, cold or underpowered amp.

I do not hesitate to recommend either brand for building a fine system at a reasonable price point. Watch in the nearer future for an amp review used with both brands that can drive them sensationally well.