Salk Speakers

[wingnut4772]

Has anyone heard Salk speakers? I think they are absolutely beautiful and I am daydreaming about my future audio set up (keeps my mind off of my current dilemma).


http://www.salksound.com/

[dorokusai]

They have an interesting driver selection and what appears to be excellent woodwork. It's much like Tyler Acoustics, nothing stands out but I bet they at least sound good.

[Vr3MxStyler2k3]

Salk is very similar to Tyler Acoustics - like mentioned above...

Top quality drivers, crossovers and craftsmenship ---

The biggest difference between him and Ty is his stuff is rather pricey from the get go... lol

[Early B.]

I would stick with Tyler Acoustics over Salk for two very important reasons:

1. price

2. quality

Sure, the Salk website says they use premium crossover components, but they don't tell you which components they use. The term, "premium" can be loosely interpreted. I really admire the fact that Ty tells you up front exactly which premium crossover components are going into each speaker so you can do your own research.

However, Salk makes much nicer looking speakers, but that's a large part of what you're paying for. If aesthetics are very important to you, then Salk certainly has tremendous appeal in that category because you can customize your speakers.

[wingnut4772]

Aesthetics are extremely important too me but not at the expense of sound. They sure are purdy though.

[Gaara]

I remember someone comparing the two saying that Tyler focuses on the quality of sound first and foremost, while Salk focuses on having beautiful cabinets first and foremost.

From my impressions Salk goes for the high quality speaker components + a high quality nice looking enclosure, and the prices reflect that.

[Vr3MxStyler2k3]

Honestly --

You wont see me paying 1-2 thousand more for prett(ier) cabinets...

Ty has some FANTASTIC veneers to choose from -- what more could you need?

[wingnut4772]

But has anyone actually HEARD the Salks?

[appadv]

Honestly --

You wont see me paying 1-2 thousand more for prett(ier) cabinets...

Ty has some FANTASTIC veneers to choose from -- what more could you need?

Same here, but aesthetics play a big role with me. Especially the WAF...

[Vr3MxStyler2k3]

http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/index.php?topic=40230.0

That may help you

[wingnut4772]

http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/index.php?topic=40230.0

That may help you

Cool. Thanks

[Ricardo]

Wow...I need to hear those HT3's ;)

[Kex]

Has anyone heard Salk speakers? ...
wingnut, you might want to follow any updates on this thread from AVS (I'll also post a link when I read them). This group had a blind listening test this weekend including some Salks (that arrived late and were not included in the initial list). The full results have not been posted yet but here are the most significant excerpts IMO from the 155 posts in the thread at the time of writing this message:

The listening list: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=12174488#post12174488
First impressions: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=12188757#post12188757
More results: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=12191776#post12191776
More comment: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=12193104&postcount=148

[Zero]

Both Tyler and Salk products use a similar recipe; good drivers, solid/handsome cab, with a no frills standard crossover. That said, I err more to the side of Salk sound. Why - you ask?

I could say its because I typically like ribbon drivers over dynamic cones and domes, but thats only half-true. The real reason is due to the man behind Salk speakers, Dennis Murphy. I've encountered a number of his designs and regard each one of them to be top-notch. Not to discredit the experienced folks at Madisound (who design all Tyler products), but I get the 'feel goods' whenever I know a bona-fide guru invested effort into a product. Thats what gets my juices flowin'.

On the aesthetics side; we've got a different animal. Although Ty uses very fine and handsome veneering that results in a very attractive speaker; Salk Sound is a master craftsman who's work comes out like a piece of art you can stick right into a museum. You will be hard pressed to find anyone that can do what Jim Salk does - and at the price he does it for.

That said; I haven't heard the Salks or the Tyler equivalent. However, I am pretty confident that I know how both would sound within a 80-90% degree of accuracy. My full bets are on the Salks for the W (to my ears).

Meanwhile, some eye-candy....

[tonyb]

Darla,I have heard the Salks......excellant sound and build quality.Worth every penny.You can grab them used for around 4 g's.Very musical speaker and a finish to die for.Haven't heard the Tylers so can't really say whats what on a comparison.But I can say,I could easily live with the HT3's for a very long time.Compared to my Legacy Focus they are every bit as good on the top end and mids,the Focus grabs them though in the bass dept.Not to say the Salks are no push over either in the lower regions but the Legacy's have it all over 'em down there.Need some decent electronics to make them shine.Grab a pair...resale is pretty good on those baby's.

[Early B.]

Aesthetics are extremely important too me but not at the expense of sound. They sure are purdy though.

OK, then I say go for it. Definitely.

Have you started picking out your veneer colors?:p

Go to audiocircle and spend some time reading their forum and looking at the pretty pictures. When you buy them, don't stop with the fronts. Make sure you order a matching center channel.

[wingnut4772]

Oh my, no. I have not picked out anything yet. I am just researching for when things turn around for me. Law of attraction you know.

[Kex]

Here are the review notes of one of those present at that audition (it's a quite lengthy post): http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=12195175#post12195175

[tonyb]

Here are the review notes of one of those present at that audition (it's a quite lengthy post): http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=12195175#post12195175

These links are not for the HT3,but for the song tower,not what Darla is looking at.Audio circles has a good following of the HT3.Check for reviews there.

[Kex]

These links are not for the HT3,but for the song tower,not what Darla is looking at.Audio circles has a good following of the HT3.Check for reviews there.
True, I didn't know that when I read the OP though. The Song Towers are quite boring looking IMO too: http://www.salksound.com/songtower.shtml.

Isn't that the V3 Darla is looking at: http://www.salksound.com/v3.shtml?

[tonyb]

Ht3 buddy.....HT3.

[steveinaz]

But can they rock out Zeppelin at 5.2 giga-watts?

[gidrah]

I have heard Salk speakers more than a couple of times. They sound and look amazing.

[TroyD]

Salk, didn't he develop the polio vaccine? What the hell would he know about good sound?

BDT

[hearingimpared]

May not know about sound but I love the look of those bad boys.

[jsalk]

I never knew this site existed and ran across it completely by accident this evening. I am not certain whether it is "kosher" to post on Polk's site, but since the thread was basically comparing our products to Tyler Acoustics products, I thought I could at least address some of the questions brought up.

First off, Ty is a great guy. I last saw him at the Rocky Mountain Audiofest where we didn't have too much time to talk, but shared a few thoughts. He builds some very nice speakers. And, of course, anyone who uses Seas Excel drivers puts himself in a rather elite group.

One question asked above is what "premium" crossover components we use. We obviously use many suppliers, but in our Veracity line, they are mainly Alphacore foil inductors, Sonicaps and Mills resistors. Of course, since all of our speakers are basically custom built, you can have virtually anything you want if you prefer other components.

The crossovers in most of our speakers were designed by Dennis Murphy. In addition to having the technical skills most good crossover designers possess, Dennis has the most well-developed listening skills I have ever come across. He is a practicing classical musician and he knows how things should sound. I have had the good fortune of being able to build many speakers by many talented designers. Dennis Murphy crossover designs are consistently first class and in a league by themselves.

As for drivers, our top end models all utilize pure ribbon tweeters. There is a crystal clear transparency with ribbons that you just can't match with a traditional dome tweeter. Not that we don't like dome tweeters mind you. Our newest entry-level design (the SongTower QWT's) features one of my favorite dome tweeters - the Hiquphon OW2's.

We use high-fi drivers (as opposed to mid-fi drivers) in most all of our designs. Seas Excel drivers are one example. Another is the woofer used in our HT3 model. It is custom manufactured for us by TC Sounds, probably the best subwoofer manufacturer on the planet.

As for our cabinets, they range from the simple, straight-forward, cost-effective SongTower QWT transmission line cabinet, to the complicated and labor-intensive cabinets we build for our HT3's. We use only raw veneers on our cabinets. They are much more labor intensive than the sheet goods used by almost all other speaker manufacturers, but the selection is virtually unlimited and the quality of the veneers is simply not available in backed form.

Our goal is to build truly world-class speakers at a price that is within reach. While our speakers are not necessarily inexpensive, we feel they are all very good values. If you ever happen to run across our speakers on the used market (which isn't all that often), you will see that they maintain their value very well.

If anyone would like to investigate our offerings, I would be more than happy to try and arrange an audition with one of our owners. Simply contact me via the address on our web site.

Thanks,

- Jim

[Zero]

Jim,

Thanks for stopping by. I'd love to get my ear on those Songtowers and HT3's. I may send you an e-mail in the near future to see if anyone in the southern VA area has a pair.

[Keiko]

But has anyone actually HEARD the Salks?

Never heard or heard of them until now wingnut. They sure do look nice tho. I'm sure they sound just as impressive. :)

[Ricardo]

Jim, welcome to Club Polk.

It is expected from all newbies to give away something on a "karma". Yes, it can be "B" stock.

Just kidding of course (or am I? :)).

Your speakers are absolutely beautiful and people write good things about their sound. I went from Tylers to Thiels....maybe a pair of Salks is in my future....

[Polkersince85]

Nice explanation, Jim; anyone who makes good speakers and has a last name of four letters that ends in a "K" is welcome here. ;)

[hearingimpared]

Welcome and thanks for the write up.

[Early B.]

One question asked above is what "premium" crossover components we use. We obviously use many suppliers, but in our Veracity line, they are mainly Alphacore foil inductors, Sonicaps and Mills resistors. Of course, since all of our speakers are basically custom built, you can have virtually anything you want if you prefer other components.

The crossovers in most of our speakers were designed by Dennis Murphy. In addition to having the technical skills most good crossover designers possess, Dennis has the most well-developed listening skills I have ever come across. He is a practicing classical musician and he knows how things should sound. I have had the good fortune of being able to build many speakers by many talented designers. Dennis Murphy crossover designs are consistently first class and in a league by themselves.

As for drivers, our top end models all utilize pure ribbon tweeters. There is a crystal clear transparency with ribbons that you just can't match with a traditional dome tweeter. Not that we don't like dome tweeters mind you. Our newest entry-level design (the SongTower QWT's) features one of my favorite dome tweeters - the Hiquphon OW2's.

We use high-fi drivers (as opposed to mid-fi drivers) in most all of our designs. Seas Excel drivers are one example. Another is the woofer used in our HT3 model. It is custom manufactured for us by TC Sounds, probably the best subwoofer manufacturer on the planet.

Thanks for providing this information. Very impressive components in the Veracity line. FWIW, I think crossover component info is vitally important to provide on your website because it speaks volumes about the level of quality of your speakers.

[george daniel]

Welcome aboard Jim,, and thanks for the response.Absolutely gorgeous finish on your speakers. :)

[dorokusai]

Jim - You're absolutely welcome to comment anytime, on anything, thanks for posting. We're not a bunch of Polk robots ;)

-Mark

[Sherardp]

Gorgeous craftsmanship on those bad boys, count me in..............HT3s.

[pearsall001]

Welcome aboard Jim...I look forward to hearing your imput on other subjects also. Nothing better than hearing & learning from a seasoned audio veteran.

Those HT3's have been on my short list for quite some time now. Stunning craftmanship & fabulous reviews on their musical performance. Some day!!!! Some day!!!

[wingnut4772]

Yes, thanks Jim and welcome. I am definitely interested in looking at a set for an HT/2 channel combo in the future.

[hearingimpared]

One question asked above is what "premium" crossover components we use. We obviously use many suppliers, but in our Veracity line, they are mainly Alphacore foil inductors, Sonicaps and Mills resistors. Of course, since all of our speakers are basically custom built, you can have virtually anything you want if you prefer other components.

Jim I used Sonicaps and Mills resistors to upgrade the crossovers in my Polk SDA/SRS 1.2 TLs. What facet of tonal quality do the Alphacore foil inductors impart to the music?

Thanks,
Joe

[Face]

Jim I used Sonicaps and Mills resistors to upgrade the crossovers in my Polk SDA/SRS 1.2 TLs. What facet of tonal quality do the Alphacore foil inductors impart to the music?

Thanks,
Joe
Joe,
Here's a little on them. http://www.goertzaudio.com/foil.html
I use their Sapphire Interconnects and AG2 speaker cables.

[hearingimpared]

Joe,
Here's a little on them. http://www.goertzaudio.com/foil.html
I use their Sapphire Interconnects and AG2 speaker cables.

Thanks so much Bro. . . have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

[gidrah]

Hey Jim welcome aboard. See you at AKFest.