Two Thumbs Up For SALK and the Veracity ST
Salk Veracity ST
For almost six years, I thoroughly enjoyed the Tekton Lores. Their tour of duty was supposed to be 2-3 years but I could never quite pull the trigger on their replacements. One of the unintended consequences is that the list of speakers I wanted to try kept growing (Salk, OhmWalsh, small Maggie, Tekton’s new mid tweeter array, and Spatial Audio to name a few).
Seven words and a video review gave me the nudge I needed. The seven words were: Jim Salk, Reputation, RAAL, Transmission Line, Resale...and the review was of the Salk Veracity ST.
The STs have a RAAL tweeter and dual 6” Seas Excel midwoofers in a 62 lb transmission line cabinet. They are priced at $4400/pair plus shipping (their transducers alone would cost you about $1500 from Madisound). Being only 8” wide and 42” tall the Veracitys aren’t very imposing. In fact, as you cue up the music and hit play, you might be a little concerned that you will be underwhelmed. You would be wrong.
I’ve read that transmission line bass can sound different form ported bass, maybe because the roll off is similar to a sealed woofer. On the STs, the low end is powerful and deep... so much so that you can’t believe that two 6” drivers can do what they are doing. Bass definition is excellent... bass guitar and stand up bass notes are easily distinguishable.
The midrange is detailed without a hint of bite... pianos really sound like pianos... guitar strings, mandolins, violins are just sweet and the clarity is right on.
The top end is open, airy, clear and detailed...the tone/pitch of snares and cymbals are perfect, so are triangles, xylophones, and drum rim shots.
The sweet spot is wide.. at least 2-3 feet and the vertical dispersion 11’ back is good... stand up and the top end doesn’t disappear.
The soundstage is massive... extending 5’ beyond the speakers with excellent depth and believable height and instrument size.
Voices are beautifully and clearly presented.
These are NOT boxy sounding speakers in any way. They complete disappear, even when positioned 10’ apart in my system. The presentation is 5th row... close, but not in your face.
A few musical specifics...
Steely Dan, Countdown to Ecstasy... acoustic guitar strings, triangles, tambourines, vocals... are all amazingly liquid, harmonious, gripping and realistic... just beautiful to listen to.
Keith Urban, Ripcord... this cd has deep, tight, defined, powerful bass... and the ST with its 6” drivers is up to the task. Vocals are beautifully rendered with no harshness and the driving guitar rifts are right there. Two words... clarity and authority.
Andre Bocelli... the power of his voice often pushes a tweeter to sound sibilant... not with the RAALs through the Veracity STs.
Dire Straights, “Brothers In Arms”... massive soundstage... you are completely immersed... things going on all around you.
Jim Croce... snare drums... perfect, guitar picking...really nice.
Rolling Stones... You Can’t Always Get What You Want... when the choir kicks in you feel like you are in Vienna.
Chris Issak... Heart Shaped World... just wow... liquid, powerful, musical, beautiful.
The Carpenters... Karen’s voice and harmonies never sounded so spacious, so clear and so engaging.
Telarc, Chiller, Cincinnati Pops, width, depth, precise instrument location, rosin on the violin bow, the huge bass drum... close your eyes and you are there.
Billy Joel/Ray Charles, My Baby Grand, just one word...stunning.
The Salk Veracity ST is solid, heavy and easily passes the knuckle wrap test. The speaker’s woodwork is better than most furniture... and if you don’t want a wood finish....automotive paint jobs are available and equally impressive. The STs ooze care and craftsmanship. This is a great looking, highly musical, very impressive loudspeaker that has a lot of strengths and no real weaknesses. They will put a smile on your face every time you hear them...and every time you walk by them (almost a piece of art).
The RAAL imparts planar/electrostatic clarity and tonal accuracy while the Seas midwoofers provide the dynamics of a cone speaker. The transmission line takes the low end deep, tight and well defined. Overall, the sound is captivating. Add to that a manageable size and you have a great product... not inexpensive but Salks hold their resale value if you ever decide to take another step on your journey.
Kudos to Jim Salk and his team...Very highly recommended and appreciated.
For almost six years, I thoroughly enjoyed the Tekton Lores. Their tour of duty was supposed to be 2-3 years but I could never quite pull the trigger on their replacements. One of the unintended consequences is that the list of speakers I wanted to try kept growing (Salk, OhmWalsh, small Maggie, Tekton’s new mid tweeter array, and Spatial Audio to name a few).
Seven words and a video review gave me the nudge I needed. The seven words were: Jim Salk, Reputation, RAAL, Transmission Line, Resale...and the review was of the Salk Veracity ST.
The STs have a RAAL tweeter and dual 6” Seas Excel midwoofers in a 62 lb transmission line cabinet. They are priced at $4400/pair plus shipping (their transducers alone would cost you about $1500 from Madisound). Being only 8” wide and 42” tall the Veracitys aren’t very imposing. In fact, as you cue up the music and hit play, you might be a little concerned that you will be underwhelmed. You would be wrong.
I’ve read that transmission line bass can sound different form ported bass, maybe because the roll off is similar to a sealed woofer. On the STs, the low end is powerful and deep... so much so that you can’t believe that two 6” drivers can do what they are doing. Bass definition is excellent... bass guitar and stand up bass notes are easily distinguishable.
The midrange is detailed without a hint of bite... pianos really sound like pianos... guitar strings, mandolins, violins are just sweet and the clarity is right on.
The top end is open, airy, clear and detailed...the tone/pitch of snares and cymbals are perfect, so are triangles, xylophones, and drum rim shots.
The sweet spot is wide.. at least 2-3 feet and the vertical dispersion 11’ back is good... stand up and the top end doesn’t disappear.
The soundstage is massive... extending 5’ beyond the speakers with excellent depth and believable height and instrument size.
Voices are beautifully and clearly presented.
These are NOT boxy sounding speakers in any way. They complete disappear, even when positioned 10’ apart in my system. The presentation is 5th row... close, but not in your face.
A few musical specifics...
Steely Dan, Countdown to Ecstasy... acoustic guitar strings, triangles, tambourines, vocals... are all amazingly liquid, harmonious, gripping and realistic... just beautiful to listen to.
Keith Urban, Ripcord... this cd has deep, tight, defined, powerful bass... and the ST with its 6” drivers is up to the task. Vocals are beautifully rendered with no harshness and the driving guitar rifts are right there. Two words... clarity and authority.
Andre Bocelli... the power of his voice often pushes a tweeter to sound sibilant... not with the RAALs through the Veracity STs.
Dire Straights, “Brothers In Arms”... massive soundstage... you are completely immersed... things going on all around you.
Jim Croce... snare drums... perfect, guitar picking...really nice.
Rolling Stones... You Can’t Always Get What You Want... when the choir kicks in you feel like you are in Vienna.
Chris Issak... Heart Shaped World... just wow... liquid, powerful, musical, beautiful.
The Carpenters... Karen’s voice and harmonies never sounded so spacious, so clear and so engaging.
Telarc, Chiller, Cincinnati Pops, width, depth, precise instrument location, rosin on the violin bow, the huge bass drum... close your eyes and you are there.
Billy Joel/Ray Charles, My Baby Grand, just one word...stunning.
The Salk Veracity ST is solid, heavy and easily passes the knuckle wrap test. The speaker’s woodwork is better than most furniture... and if you don’t want a wood finish....automotive paint jobs are available and equally impressive. The STs ooze care and craftsmanship. This is a great looking, highly musical, very impressive loudspeaker that has a lot of strengths and no real weaknesses. They will put a smile on your face every time you hear them...and every time you walk by them (almost a piece of art).
The RAAL imparts planar/electrostatic clarity and tonal accuracy while the Seas midwoofers provide the dynamics of a cone speaker. The transmission line takes the low end deep, tight and well defined. Overall, the sound is captivating. Add to that a manageable size and you have a great product... not inexpensive but Salks hold their resale value if you ever decide to take another step on your journey.
Kudos to Jim Salk and his team...Very highly recommended and appreciated.
0 responses Add your response