My Experience With Tekton


I know this is a polarizing discussion point and was thus hesitant to share unless I could keep it objective, helpful, and concise

I have no intention to be inflammatory, sway anyone’s current opinion or beliefs

I merely want to share information in two specific areas, my results of product performance and my experience with the manufacturer

 

Background and reference point

I replaced a pair of Revel F36. The F36 is the upper end of Revel’s lowest tier floorstanding speakers and retails for $2,000 MSRP per pair

Took approx. 45 mins to unbox, level and connect

Like for like drop-in replacement, same location on the floor as the F36s, the listening position did not change, identical electronics and cables

We’ve all got our preferences, biases, different levels of experience, etc; but share the common limitation that we just don’t know what we don’t know

I’ve not heard a pair of 30K speakers but expect to someday and envy those that own them

In my VERY limited understanding, it’s near impossible to pinpoint how any specific system change will behave and perform across the board, contingent on the variances in electronics, set up and room. These three items alone (electronics, setup and room) make me think that while similar in nature, but at a critical listening level, each combination is unique and a different snowflake or fingerprint

 

Listening results

Product delivers as advertised

Meets or exceeds every performance expectation I had hoped for

After approx. 5 hours of listening over 3 days I tried to characterize the sound. The first thought was neutral, but that was understating what I was hearing. I eventually landed on natural or real. The voices and the instruments sound VERY real to me. This is as close as I have come with my electronics, setup and room to sensing that someone is singing to me or that someone or an entire band is playing for me

To date, each song that I’ve played, is the best version of that song that I have heard in a playback, and I’ve listened to all of them 100s and 100s of times

Some of the improvement was by a small margin, but most songs, 65% conservatively speaking, by a vast margin – night and day, game changing stuff

Chet Baker didn’t sound like a presentation from 1958, it sounded as fresh and real as a new recording with the benefits of 60 years of technology advancements. Exile on Main Street didn’t sound like a home recording from 1972 it sounded like 2022 with many layers of percussion, keyboards, horns and background vocals

Is the sound of this $5,000 pair of speakers comparable to the sound of a $30,000 pair of speakers? I don’t know, as mentioned I’ve not heard a pair of $30,000 speakers.

What I do know is the $5,000 pair of speakers, simply put is the best my system has sounded by a wide margin

Again in summary, it sounds real, like someone is singing to me

 

Experience with the manufacturer

I had hemmed and hawed for 2 or 3 months before placing my order. One day the website mentioned a future price increase but until mmdd you could still order at the current price

I called and spoke with Tammy and told her I wanted to lock in on the current price point but wasn’t sure what product or configuration I wanted

She built an open-ended order with current pricing and told me to contact her when I knew what I wanted

With work travel and other commitments it took me 4 months to finalize which speaker, Moab, which upgrades, beryllium tweeters and Cardas connectors, and what color, white

I was never pressured to make up my mind or that my window for the lower costs was going to expire

Since I was the one dragging my feet, I offered multiple times to pay for the product

Not once did they hint or take me up on my offer to pay in advance

They did not bill me until the product shipped

Once I had made all the config decisions, the build and delivery were again, as advertised

Tammy mentioned a 4–6-week supply chain delay with beryllium, that arrived within her estimated timeframe

Once the beryllium arrived, she said she was waiting on cabinets, eta 5-7 days, followed by build and paint, and shipping approx. 10 days after she received the cabinets

Within 2 weeks Tammy emailed my owner’s manual, unpacking instructions and told me to expect a call from the freight company within the next week

Freight company contacted me on that Fri and scheduled delivery for the very next Mon, Aug 30

The boxes arrived scuffed and with multiple impact points that dented the packing material

There are no blemishes or damage to either speaker cabinet, the packing and packaging worked as designed

Upon unpacking, I didn’t experience a heavy smell of paint or wood, if I put my nose to the cabinet, I could smell fresh paint

The cabinet finish or construction does not appear inferior to anything else in my inventory, KEF, Revel, Klipsch, Paradigm, Polk, and Elac – permission in advance to laugh

Enjoy the journey and happy listening

Respectfully


stevewharton
Great post of sanity amidst the harangue of social media arguments. I am so happy for you to have found a solution and recognize that I need to do more listening and less talking (and less clinical and scientific work in my case). I am fortunate to have the cash to listen to ~$30 k speakers - my new Sasha DAWs are arriving. It is nice to have your read your articulate statement.
Nice experience. It did not echo mine however. I never got past the payment in advance with no response to emails or phone calls.

Perhaps they have turned the corner...

ozzy
Who knew that a vendetta had been declared against the period (aka full stop)?
Nwatsme- this is the 1st review of Tekton that  seems believable IMO. You compared the $3000+ tektons (actually higher because you had upgrades) against a pair of smaller $600 DIY speakers and you liked your DIY $600 speakers better. So refreshing hearing a down to earth, not over the top, honest opinion

A common response appears to be that $5000 speakers cannot sound as good as $30,000 speakers. I have heard some really awful $30,000 speakers. Several Klipsch speakers at more than $15,000 sounded truly awful, worse than awful, Harbeth's at $20,000, you must be joking, OK but $20,000+? Many more come to mind. So no I'm not surprised some people like some $5000 speakers better than they like some $30,000 speakers.
I agree with everything the OP said about Tekton sound. I was not the original owner and have never had contact with Eric our anyone at Tekton, so have to take his word on his comments about service.
I had the DI’s (with factory upgrade, spikes and covers) long enough to sincerely appreciate them. They have a big sound that added to my experience of what a great speaker and value should be. As for the Double Impacts, my impression was that they could benefit from some interior anti-resonance, and the beryllium tweeter would probably also bring more sparkle. As they were, great speakers, great value.
I was comparing them to my DIY LXmini’s with (at that time) a cheap single sub. I did what I could with my full compliment of DSP units, but the ’magic’ holographic imaging of LXmini was not recreate-able in the DI’s - and they were sold. Since then, I’ve built a stereo pair of open-baffle subs to fill-in the lower octaves.
I describe the difference, Tekton sound like listening to a live performance from the front row (instument, mic’s, amps, speakers --> ears). LXmini sounds like listening from the stage (instrument --> ears).
I still think Tektons are a very good value, and for manufactured speakers, would choose those or GoldenEar for their full-range linear response sound/value.
I don’t think MC = stevewharton and here is why.

There are too many grammatical errors in Steve’s posts. I don’t think even MC would go out of his way to fake that. And I’m not sure MCs disdain for digital would let him post that 90% of his listening was internet streaming. If MC were going to have a “burner” account, that alter ego would be more like him than this guy.

Just MHO……….

Edit

After reading the “Snake oil Trope” thread I have a different conclusion. Now THAT guy could really be MC…
"Much of the backlash we see here has nothing to do with the product itself. It’s claims like these (Tektons being better than $30K speakers), and the incessant need for self-validation (my speakers are the best, everyone else has overpriced junk) and the unbearably patronizing tone that backfires most of the time."
@arafiq, well stated.

@willgolf +2. Tekton is indeed a very solid product in its market segment, no doubt. And agree there’s no need for over hype redundancy that is possibly counterproductive.

@stevewharton, congratulations on your MOABs acquisition and hope that you enjoy them for many years to come.
Charles

It's nice that you're experiencing an improvement over the Revels, but if you think that the Tektons are just as good as a 15,000 speaker you're smoking something, but I'm glad you're happy that's the main thing.
Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t out to get you.  Some of you “audiophiles” really take yourselves too seriously.  Is what I’m reading really what this is all about?  Don’t see how if I were some novice dropping in and came across this sissy slap fest my motivation would to be learn more.
😄 @three_easy_payments,
That Tony Clifton would make for a great, next Avatar.


@nonoise   I was hoping for more along the lines of Tony Clifton and Andy Kaufman
Well, he did say he was maybe gonna set up some threads to gauge members....

Are we in for some Charlie McCarthy and Edgar Bergen moments? 
Maybe some Mortimer Snerd for comic relief?
Then bring out Chuckie and Annabelle for the kill.

I always liked Lambchops because I had a crush on Shari Lewis.
Don't do any Lambchops.

All the best,
Nonoise
Pathetic! lol

There really is no limit to how low you will stoop??? Seriously man...wow.
@fsonicsmith My initial reaction was you were making a ludicrous  unfounded connection.  But I'm seeing another poster with an ID created very recently speaking now specifically to tweaks and alleged "snake oil" and sounding remarkably like MC.  Watching the two (or one?) talk to each other is disturbing yet amusing.  Hopefully I'm imagining this as no human would engage in such silliness. Right?
fsonicsmith-exactly, only 1 person writes like this.
willgolf - but I read on multiple threads here that they blow away the hundreds of thousands of $$$ Magico and Wilson speakers.
@arafiq 

 Also, the recent incident where the Tekton owner acted like a bully threatening legal action against people for exercising their right to express themselves was not a particularly savvy move if you ask me.

What happened? I missed it.

Post removed 
Always pleased to read a story about a patient upgrade that results
in a pleased ear. 

As a Chet lover myself your post makes me want to ask-
Have you ever heard him on horns?

Best
Granted the DI’s aren’t MOAB’s but people need to stop saying these are as good as most high-end speakers.
+1 @willgolf --

Much of the backlash we see here has nothing to do with the product itself. It’s claims like these (Tektons being better than $30K speakers), and the incessant need for self-validation (my speakers are the best, everyone else has overpriced junk) and the unbearably patronizing tone that backfires most of the time.

Also, the recent incident where the Tekton owner acted like a bully threatening legal action against people for exercising their right to express themselves was not a particularly savvy move if you ask me.
I have experience in plus $30k speakers and I have the Tekton DI.  Let me say this...for the money and for people on a budget you can not beat Tekton for value and sound.  If my budget was $5k and under and I wanted a big sound, I would definitely consider Tekton.  However, you simply can't compare to a $30k speaker.  My $30k speakers blow away the DI's. Granted the DI's aren't MOAB's but people need to stop saying these are as good as most high-end speakers.  
A nice review of a noteworthy company & speaker. Thanks. I've never heard Tekton Speakers. I know they get a lot of good reviews. A lot of good reviews often just makes some people mad cause others are having fun with it
For some of us who remember the rant about “ no diminishing returns “ 1.65 x $2k = $3.3…. not $5k

But Flourocarbon is clear

To the OP, seriously happy for your happiness - that IS what matters. Good move, a properly executed Be tweeter is not lossy like a soft dome. In the long haul, you made a great chiice there.
I checked out this post out of boredom while away from home. The OP has only been posting since March of '20 and in his posts he more than once echos Miller Fluorocarbon's thoughts. And then there is this prior post which sound eerily reminiscent of the one above;


While a tired subject and well past ODing on analysis paralysis, what's important here extends beyond the subject matter itself and more about the abundance of irresponsible misinformation

We've got various paper tigers and YouTube alleged industry experts, that are somewhere between an audiophile and journalist, spewing their spin and shaping opinions and purchases of the uninformed with their misinformation

It's difficult to tell how much is an intentional attempt to mislead the general public and how much is something they just don't know

In all cases, we just don't know, what we don't - myself included

When you don't know, I'm quick to offer up the get out of jail free card but when you're intentionally being misleading it's import for those of us that do know the difference to call BS

In Gene's case, my guess is he knows the difference and is thus intentionally misleading the uninformed with irresponsible misinformation

And this where I want to call BS on Gene's, self proclaimed 'once and for all debunking the myth with armed to the teeth measurements'

What a crock of poo

You replaced a $2000 speaker system with a $5000 speaker system and were pleased with the differences. Awesome!
Glad you are happy with your Tektons and thanks for sharing your experience. This is information that is both helpful and informed.

My experience with both of my Tekton purchases paralleled yours very closely. I was able to talk with Eric and get my questions answered in advance. Everything came off without a hitch.

Here’s more good news. At least for me, the speakers only got better with time. I’m not just talking about break in. I’m talking about long term satisfaction and contentment. I don’t get too much into the "30k" debate as I am too happy listening to music to care. No itch I need something better. I feel they do so many things well it’s a great compromise for me (and most everything in life involves compromise). So I wish you a similar experience with your speakers Steve.

It would be nice for others to know a bit about your room and associated gear and what your priorities might be in putting your system together.
With work travel and other commitments it took me 4 months to finalize which speaker, Moab, which upgrades, beryllium tweeters and Cardas connectors, and what color, white

What were the Tekton models that you purchased that provided you so much joy that you described. I did not see it in your opening paragraphs or subsequent paragraphs. If I overlooked, please point me to the location in your write-up. 

Sounds like you have achieved musical bliss. Congratulations. 

After approx. 5 hours of listening over 3 days I tried to characterize the sound. The first thought was neutral, but that was understating what I was hearing. I eventually landed on natural or real. The voices and the instruments sound VERY real to me. This is as close as I have come with my electronics, setup and room to sensing that someone is singing to me or that someone or an entire band is playing for me

To date, each song that I’ve played, is the best version of that song that I have heard in a playback, and I’ve listened to all of them 100s and 100s of times

Some of the improvement was by a small margin, but most songs, 65% conservatively speaking, by a vast margin – night and day, game changing stuff

For accurately describing the marvelous Moab sound without being tagged a shill or worse I hereby award thee a damn fine cup of coffee.
Sell the fleet and get $30 k speakers….

just kidding.

You seem well adjusted, emotional intelligence intact / present, Ego in check, fellow Chet Baker fan, therefore your review will be well received by most. Very importantly you chose to write this… AFTER… actually hearing them.


Enjoy the music, my best to you.

Jim
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Sounds like a great purchase from beginning to listening at the end, congratulations.
permission in advance to laugh
Granted


Good for you.

I ordered my Tekton's (Enzo XL's) in custom paint about a year ago......right before everything got all backed up.

I also had a good experience.

It's scary to buy speakers sight unseen, and by all rights, reviews are going to be subjective, at the very least.

All told, I'm pleased with Tekton. They were very helpful before the sale, and whenever I have any questions, Eric Alexander has responded pretty promptly. So......all good from this Tekton user, too.

Enjoy.