The strings in the various KH libraries all seem to be different - probably different instruments and players, definitely different recordings. I know that the Spotlight Strings library uses newly recorded samples, but to my ears the strings in Diamond and Concert Strings 2 are also different. The one possible exception to this rule is Pop/Rock strings, which sounds an awful lot like Concert Strings 2, but the controls and articulations are different.
 
I find that various string "instruments" from the different libraries play well together, providing me with even more possibilities - maybe too many??
 
I have not tried SS1, but I do have Diamond, Pop/Rock Strings, Concert Strings 2, Concert Brass 2, and now Spotlight Strings. I really like all the libraries, and they make up the backbone of my orchestral templates. I supplement them with the included content in Kontakt 5, and a couple of older (read GS era) libraries, such as the Presonus Orchestra, SampleTekk Big Orchestral Brass, and Quantum Leap Brass. I am also evaluating (again) G-Player, with the hopes that it will handle Garritan Orchestral Strings, another GS library, and one that will not import properly into Kontakt. For a brief time - before my dedicated GS computer gave up the ghost - I was layering CS2 and GOS and the result was glorious!

That's part of the beauty of all the KH libraries... they work well with other libraries. It is exactly their close, dry nature that makes this work. It's also the thing that lets you craft a variety of sounds.

This can be a double edged sword - I find that I have had to work harder to tweak the sound of the libraries to what I would like, but the flexibility is part of the charm!!

If you still have a chance, and some cash, I think you'll be quite pleased with any of the other KH libraries.

real quick tip of the hat to Peter... you are doing a great job fielding questions! Thanks...

wst3
The strings in the various KH libraries all seem to be different - probably different instruments and players, definitely different recordings. I know that the Spotlight Strings library uses newly recorded samples, but to my ears the strings in Diamond and Concert Strings 2 are also different. The one possible exception to this rule is Pop/Rock strings, which sounds an awful lot like Concert Strings 2, but the controls and articulations are different.
 
I find that various string "instruments" from the different libraries play well together, providing me with even more possibilities - maybe too many??
 
I have not tried SS1, but I do have Diamond, Pop/Rock Strings, Concert Strings 2, Concert Brass 2, and now Spotlight Strings. I really like all the libraries, and they make up the backbone of my orchestral templates. I supplement them with the included content in Kontakt 5, and a couple of older (read GS era) libraries, such as the Presonus Orchestra, SampleTekk Big Orchestral Brass, and Quantum Leap Brass. I am also evaluating (again) G-Player, with the hopes that it will handle Garritan Orchestral Strings, another GS library, and one that will not import properly into Kontakt. For a brief time - before my dedicated GS computer gave up the ghost - I was layering CS2 and GOS and the result was glorious!

That's part of the beauty of all the KH libraries... they work well with other libraries. It is exactly their close, dry nature that makes this work. It's also the thing that lets you craft a variety of sounds.

This can be a double edged sword - I find that I have had to work harder to tweak the sound of the libraries to what I would like, but the flexibility is part of the charm!!

If you still have a chance, and some cash, I think you'll be quite pleased with any of the other KH libraries.
 
...real quick tip of the hat to Peter... you are doing a great job fielding questions! Thanks...

First, thanks for the kind words, Bill. As far as the reason Pop/Rock Strings sounds so much like Concert Strings 2, it's because PRS is made up of some of the samples from CS2. Basically, you could consider Pop/Rock Strings is Concert Strings 2 Lite. The product came about when I told Kirk that I thought Concert Strings 2 sounds really good for pop/rock singer/songwriter productions because the samples are dry and not the bombastic, cinematic type like many other string libraries on the market, so I suggested that he should create a more economically priced version (at that time, Concert Strings 2 was $799 USD) that targeted people like me who do pop and rock productions. PRS has less articulations than CS2 and uses less samples per octave than CS2. And, if you own Diamond, you already do have Solo Strings 1; those are the solo strings in Diamond.

Ok, thanks Buds.
 
...'good for pop/rock singer/songwriter productions'...
 
This is mostly what I do.
 
Late Edit:
 
Ok, I decided to go for the gusto. I went for the Concert Strings II while it was still on for $200.00.
 
There's a boat load of options combined in there. 

I just touched base with Kirk to ask about the Group Buy page still being up/working and he told me that he still has everything operational in order to give some people who signed up for the Group Buy but have yet to complete their purchases some extra time. Consequently, for however long it is he keeps things up, the Group Buy 50% is still active. So, if you signed up but haven't completed your  purchase, want to pick up an additional library or held off on the Group Buy and are now interested, there's still time, but the window is closing.
http://www.kirkhunterstud...potlight_group_buy.php

Thanks for posting this. I stumbled upon the KH sale just by visiting the site, and decided to go ahead and get the Diamond Orchestra. At $149, it is quite a bargain. I have Miroslav and from what I've seen so far, this blows it away by far (it's still downloading but I keep unzipping instruments to try them out as others are downloading). Really impressed so far. The Concert Strings Combinations sound very good. It's going to take a while to download the whole 65GB enchilada.

I'll definitely be looking out for future KH sales.  I purchased the cheapest library, SS1, and already used it in a remix.  I can image what the other libraries are like!
 

stevec
I'll definitely be looking out for future KH sales.  I purchased the cheapest library, SS1, and already used it in a remix.  I can image what the other libraries are like!
 

FYI, prices are still showing as the group buy sale prices on the site, if you can do a last chance grab.
It'd be a shame to have to wait months & months if you already know you're gonna go for & use them.

I know...  but so little $$, so many good sales right now.  
 
 

stevec
I know...  but so little $$, so many good sales right now.  
 
 

Yeah - I hear ya'