Maggies to Tekton?


Hey Audiogon-ers.  I've only posted a few times, as I mostly enjoy reading the threads and comments.  I've been a 20+ year Maggie owner, and I currently have the 1.7s in my "new" (post divorce) house.  I'm a big Maggie fan, but lately I've been craving something different...something with oomph and excitement - a dynamic speaker that will get my mojo going on jazz and modern rock.  The Tekton line-up piques my interest, especially the affordable models - Mini Lore  and Lore Ref.  I mean, damn, for under a grand I can take the plunge.  Plus, they have a  60 day return policy!  My amp is the McIntosh MA 252, and I have a Sony HAP player for digital and Music Hall 'table for LPs. My questions:  For the extra money, is the Tekton Lore Reference the way to go?  Is there another affordable, high efficiency brand that I should consider?  Is there anyone out there who has gone from Maggie to another (dynamic) brand and hasn't regretted the move?  Thanks! 
jrod68

Showing 1 response by pinwa

I have the Maggie 1.7's in a large room.  Unclear if I have really optimized their placement.  Often I am enthralled by the soundstage and precision/definition I hear but other recordings just don't seem to be that engaging which may be the lack of that "dynamic" quality you are mentioning.  I will say the Maggie's sounded a lot better with something like the Crown XLS 2502 which really brings out a sense of fullness and presence or the PS Audio Stellar S300's which are very precise and open but a little sterile than they did with a 45 watt tube amplifier.  If you want to give your Maggies a different sound cheaply I would suggest buying the Crown XLS 1502 or 2502 on Amazon and seeing how they sound.  If you don't like them it is an easy and often free return.  I think the Crown's sound amazing but the soundstage is quite a bit smaller than the S300's.

OK, that was all an aside.  I have a pair of Moab Short speakers (62" version) being delivered tomorrow.  I've listened to the Moab's in two different setups.  I am hopefully they will provide all the positive qualities of the Maggies and then some.  One guy that let me hear his Moab's also had a set of Lore's set up in a different room and I got to listen to them also.  They sounded detailed and musical but also just sounded small compared to the Moab's.  I would not have been happy trading the 1.7's for them and I don't think you would be either.  A lot of the excitement/magic around the Tekton's comes from that 7 tweeter array that handles the midrange and high end.  I'm not sure you will get what you want from a Tekton that doesn't include that tweeter array.  So my suggestion would be to move up a bit in the Tekton product line and maybe buy used if your budget is strict.

And Zu Audio is having their  OMEN DIRTY WEEKEND [MK.II] sale starting this Thursday where a special edition of the MK II's is marked down to $999. I've never heard them but a lot of people love them. Final idea for a small room is to pick up a used pair of the KEF LS50's. I think somebody else mentioned them.  All the reviews are great but I've never heard them either.