Salk Sound HT4 Floor-Standing Speakers [High-Priced, High-Quality Sound Wrapped in Bamboo]

I don’t consider myself any kind of expert when it comes to either interior design or sound delivery devices, so when I took a look at the latest product introduction from high-end speaker manufacturer Salk Sound, I wasn’t exactly impressed. They struck me as big, bulky, and, quite frankly, hard on the eyes. Like most people, I typically settle for the relatively budget-friendly gray or black boxed home theater audio systems and I don’t relish the thought of spending thousands on componentry. But, if you’re one of the few lucky enough to be in the market for some high-end floor units cloaked in renewable material, Salk Sound has your number with their new HT4 speakers.

The HT4 speaker cabinets are constructed of something called trans-laminated bamboo. I’m not sure what that means, but it sounds expensive. For the more cost-conscious there’s a cheaper MDF version in the works. And they’re big. Really big. Weighing in at 155-lbs (70-kg) and standing a full 42-in (1.1-m) tall they are more like industrial equipment than home speakers. You might want to get your floors reinforced before you install them. While specs haven’t been released for the HT4 model, it’s a safe bet that they will be similar to those of its older brother, the HT3 (see below).

So how much could one expect to pay for such a luxury? Try $18,000 for the 12-in woofer-equipped bamboo version. If you want to save a (very) little, you can opt for the MDF set that’s expected to list for around $14,000. Maybe a 12-in subwoofer is too much for your pad. Don’t worry, an HT4 with a 10? woofer in bamboo will run you $12,000, and the MDF version at least $10,000. I have no idea how they sound, but given that they sell for about as much as a small car, they had better be damn good.