Salk Sound Song Towers

MikeC78

Hello,

Looks like I'm going to try something different and get my hands/ears on a pair of these if I can. Has anyone heard or owned a pair of these? Especially the owners who have gone from LSi15's, how would you compare the two?

I'm looking at the Ribbon Tweet upgrade like this:

http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/index.php?topic=20723.80

Thanks!

Mike

Face

A friend who's heard them said the ribbon tweeter model can be a little bright.

MikeC78

Really? That's the first I ever heard of the ribbon being "bright", interesting. The Ribbon tweeter upgrade is quit a bit more, something to think about.

Thanks,

Mike

Face

Maybe it was the room, associated gear, or how he voices the speakers, etc...?

My friend and I have heard the same ribbon in other speakers and it wasn't offensive.

zingo

They look pretty high quality for the price.

MikeC78

Zero wrote: »

Hello Mike,

I had the soft dome version of the SongTower's for roughly two months. My formal review of them can be seen here: http://www.sonicflare.com/

Thanks Zero!

You just had them for a review, why did you dump them?

Anything else you can say about them from a non-formal point of view?:D

Mike

MikeC78

Zero wrote: »

Hello Mike,

They were never my speakers to begin with. The only reason Jim Salk sent the SongTower's to me was so I could write the review for SonicFlare. This is how the gig works. A manufacturer sends the reviewer a piece for X amount of time, and unless the reviewer buys the product, the product is sent back to the manufacturer once the reviewing process is done.

Here's my take on the situation. Having once owned a pair of Polk Audio LSi-15's (which I gave to my parents), my recommendation would go something like this: If you have a powerful amp and intend on using the speakers for mostly HT use, the LSi-15's will be a good bet. They can output more volume and have greater range.

However, if music is your concern, the SongTower's are a solid step up the food chain. They are in better in nearly every regard to music reproduction, and better yet, they bode well with all sorts of room configurations and electronics - from low powered tube amps to ultra high current class D amps.

Zero,

Thanks for the reply!

I currently have an LSi15 setup right now. I also use the 15's as my surrounds too. I'm looking for something up the food chain a little more for both music and HT. The reason that the Song towers sparked my interest was that they concentrated on mostly the mids and the highs since I'll have a couple subwoofers in play here. I was hoping to find that these would be a definite improvement in that range for the money and quality of speaker from the LSi's. Maybe I'll look at something else, or better yet get my ears on them along with the ribbons. For the most part, the ST's are about perfect in size for me and come in about any wood finish I could possibly imagine.

tonyb

Never managed to get an ear on the song towers,but I did on the HT3,and I must say,I was impressed.I think the HT3 might be up your alley for a HT/music system.Alittle pricey,but used,they aren't bad,and beautifull finishes to boot.

MikeC78

Maybe I'll look at the Verasity HS2's for the mains since they use a large driver and use the ST's for surround duty? I do dig the simple design and looks of the Salk's...

MikeC78

Zero wrote: »

Mike,

What type of sound are you wanting to achieve that your Lsi-15's aren't quite giving you?

Good question, nothing too major besides the center...

I'm not quit digging the 8" side-firing woofer on the LSi's, they can be a pain in the rear in my HT setup. Plus, I have the LSiC inside a cabinet, not really a good place for a ported center. The Salk center would be better suited and sealed, plus I'm going for a different look. Like I said, I'm digging the Salk's right now... If I do go this route, I just dont want to make a lateral move, I want them to be better in all regards. If that makes any sense? BTW, I do like the SQ of the 15's, but the center is the weak spot right now. Make any sense?:o

MikeC78

tonyb wrote: »

Never managed to get an ear on the song towers,but I did on the HT3,and I must say,I was impressed.I think the HT3 might be up your alley for a HT/music system.Alittle pricey,but used,they aren't bad,and beautifull finishes to boot.

Yeah, the HT3's are on the large side and the upper end of the price spectrum for me. The largest that I'd possibly go would be the HT2's, I'm going to have to give them a listen.

MikeC78

Zero wrote: »

Mike,

Usually moves of this sort only give lateral results. In this case, I feel that you'll get a reasonable upgrade for not a lot of money down. The SongTower RT's are not significantly more expensive than the standard SongTower and it sounds like you'd really dig the ribbon tweet (as would I). The bottom line is that the SongTower is more efficient, sports a wider/deeper soundstage, is far more linear (accurate), far more balanced, has much better midrange reproduction, arguably better highs, and quicker, more resolute bass. As far as I'm concerned, they are the superior loudspeaker, at least when compared directly to the LSi-15.

Thanks Zero! How would you directly compare the stock dome tweeter to the Ribbon? FYI, the RT mod is $700 more a pair. That includes the milled aluminum baffle, instead of MDF. The center is only $150 more. So, yeah... the RT upgrade will cost quit a bit more coin for two pairs.

MikeC78

Found a nice review of the RT's at AVS. There sure are a lot of glowing reviews on these, especially the ones who upgraded to the ribbons.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=14575239&postcount=3475

MikeC78

I can almost say that from all the reviews in that I could possibly do a blind purchase with them. Hell, I did with the LSi's.:D The only problem is that these cost quit a bit more than what I paid for the Polk's.

At this current point in time, these are about the only speaker that I'm interested in upgrading too. The speaker size, finish, quality, reviews, center channel, just about everything works out perfect for me with this line.... damn I want them bad!:o

tonyb

Don't forget Mr.Salk is a great guy to chew the fat with.He can build just about anything you want with a variety of finishes,definately a step up from the LSI line.Another line you could look at is SP Tech,their monitors are gorgeous and they garner some great reviews also.I always look for a speaker that does all types of music well,chances are,the ones that do music well,will also do HT well.Not necessarily the case the other way around.Good luck and let us know what you end up with.Salk has a good following over at audio circles,you might be able to pick up a used pair in your budget.

MikeC78

Thanks Tony! I think I about have my mind set on the RT's with the regular stock black laquer finish. I can't find any other speaker that seems to do everything I want and have a high WAF approval. The only hard part now is coughing up the 5-6k at the moment... I will have a full LSi set for sale soon once I get these for a good price.

malikarshad

Hi Mike,
Last week I grabbed SongTowers that were available for immediate delivery. Its going to be delivered next week .
I was also eyeing the Ribbon Tweeters. But when the stock ST came up I could not resist to have them immediately. Also the cost differential was about $850 for RT. Jim Salk mention that for my setup and room the stock dome tweeters will work out as well. Also I read on some forums about vertical dispersion of RT vs horizontal for the dome tweeters.

I'm also moving from Lsi15 setup so let's see how this works out.
I've never heard them & I've ordered it is based on the glowing reviews that i've researched in the past few months.


I'll have my LSi15 and LSiC for sale shortly.

Arshad

malikarshad

For guys interested here's the link to Salk speakers that are available immediately.
http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/index.php?board=140.0

tonyb

The man can make some nice sounding,beautifull stuff.

MikeC78

Arshad,

Congrats!! Please post a review of how the speakers compared to each other, and don't forget the pics!:)

These speakers are currently holding the 1 spot on my upgrade list.

Mike

tonyb

Those HT3's in the mahagony are frickin' gorgeous.

mhartman29

Any update on the Salk's versus the LSI 15s? Would love to see a review Arshad.

I am happy with my 15s, but the upgrade bug is starting to kick in. I have been looking at the SongTowers, but not sure if it's worth looking into.

tjaj

Still waiting after 45 days and no end in sight. I ordered my songtowers may 25 and still not here, I am sick of it and do no not even want to open them if they ever do get here so if anyone wants a pair of new songtower qwt's in curly cherry let me know. All I know is that I have been without speakers since May 20 when I sold my old speakers and ordered the phantom songtowers. So I guess I am going speaker shopping this weekend, tired of waiting on the salks that will never get here. Oh by the way they do have my 2 grand and I have nothing.

dorokusai

The Salk are superior to the previous LSi series in every way.

Sorry to hear your story Tjaj. I think this is a perfect time to step into the new Polk LSiM series since they give them a real run for the money and I just recently did a pseudo AB comparison at the recent CAF show....and when available, there will be no wait for the Polks. The bang for the buck is 100% with Polk Audio.

ranger

Dorokusai, I have been patiently waiting for LSiM 705's to hit the streets. I have been researching speakers and keep coming back to either Salk SongTowers or the new Polk 705's.

Why do you feel the bang for buck is with the LSiM when they start at $1100 more than the SongTowers? Or do you anticipate the Polks will be available at much less than MSRP prices?