@viber6, I had DIs with standard $300 upgrade in house along with the Moabs, IMHO it's the best $1500 you can spend if your room can handle the Moab's size. I was hoping to hear an all Be Moab at AXPONA, RMAF, or CAF but no shows due to Covid-19. I also want to hear the $600 Be upgrade for just the 2 true tweeters, but that is on hold as well during this pandemic. I wonder if the Be tweeter upsets the coherence or narrows music selection because of its greater resolution and extension? The Be upgrade is becoming more popular so I would encourage Tekton owners with the Be tweeters to post their impressions.
I'm anxiously awaiting Jay's preamp comparisons between the Pandora and "Mystery" preamp, hopefully the Christine will hang around long enough to be included in the shootouts.
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Jay, I'm lucky enough to get some input into what songs get played so I'm familiar with the music. They don't have a wide sweet spot as you figured out when you saw the seating in the room, 4 chairs in a single file all directly in the center, but WOW are they exciting. From 180Hz up a full range stat and a fantastic coherent (ML could learn from Roger) perfectly blended woofer that allows this system startling dynamics and a see-through transparency that spins my propeller. At least I'm consistent because my GTA 2.5s share many properties with the Sanders both physically and sonically. |
I second viber6, I own an earlier GTAW speaker and I've heard their rooms at CAF for years and each year they have been better and in my top 3 rooms of the show. The GTA 3.2R's performance is right there with the best cost no object and paired with 3 12" OB servo subs per side are sublime, certainly my end game speaker system that checks all my boxes. Now I'm wondering what new (or bring back a previous amp-Block or Pass) amp will be brought in to make the DAWs sing for you? |
Jay, I didn't sell the Moabs as they were in my home for a formal review for AV Showrooms. Two close friends vied for the Moabs and they were purchased locally, sale done through Tekton w/o my involvement. Now the other friend who didn't act fast enough is now asking whether he should order Moabs, Encores, or Ulfberts. |
It comes down to a matter of taste. A friend owns 2 AQUA DACs, Formula and LaScala, Formula allows more information and LaScala wins in soundstage being bigger/deeper. I prefer the bigger stage and he prefers the Formula, nobody is wrong just different tastes/priorities. |
I agree with viber6 about speakers, both Roger Sanders electrostatics and Greg Takesh's GTA planars/OB servo subs have mated cone woofers to panels better than ML. |
I'm still enjoying my GTA 2.5s, an older design that remains sensational. I'll be getting them updated and retrofitted by GTA as they can apply new construction advances to my older design, obsolescent proof, thanks Greg! |
I'll Zoom with WCSS and friends!
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whitecameross, Please consider the AQUA La Scala II or Formula, and Denafrips Terminator in your DAC search. |
whitecameross, Consider contacting Leif Swanson about MasterBuilt cables, and Ozan Turan about Ansuz cables, both in the uber-fi category. Also consider Cerious Tech's new Graphene Matrix cables, new tech but not wildly expensive. |
Boulder 2010 for the matching synergy!
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@grey9hound, To avoid hijacking Jay's thread, see my post from 10:40AM today, I consider the $1500 upgrade to Moabs from DIs to be the best choice to be made if Moabs fit your room. If you need more, PM me, I had both at the same time. |
And the game changing mystery item is......? |
Should we start guessing? Devialet? |
220 Volt line?
Dan D'Agostino Momentum Monoblocks?
Solution?
Audionet? |
Get the Black back, sacrifice the Pass amps, keep the Ref 10. |
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Matt, Please consider calling Bill Parish at GTT and see about getting a loaner Audionet pre/power combo to audition. You are searching for the very best and reviewer Greg Weaver can't praise the gear enough, he's using Audionet for his VSA Aktive 55s and will be using the Audionet pair on the VSA Ultra 9s when they get to his home. Worth a call,
908.850.3092. |
I would certainly include Constellation and Audionet. |
@muzikmann, I'm still hoping on another shot with 2 Adcom GFA 585 SEs in mono for an affordable alternative, c'mon Larry- loan 2 585s to him.. |
You should try the Ref 10 and 925 combo, just to hear what synergy they have. |
Dag integrated, or Rowland Daemon?
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WCSS, Good move, I've only heard Personas at shows but I was not impressed. If you stay with Wilson look for Daryl designed models, Alexia II is a winner.
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The used market is flooded with Alexia 1s, get a great deal. |
WCSS, Please give the Neolith/Ref 10/Krell system a go! |
Overloading the room with bass is the primary reason big speakers in small rooms can falter. The Neolith has 4 and 8dB shelving switches so you get some adjustability. Perhaps consult ML and GIK and get their thoughts on room size and treatments? I believe the stat screens will be fine and image properly, maybe consult Ted at Synergistic Research about room treatments that would be beneficial? Please keep up your good work and letting us tag along vicariously with you! I applaud your ability to sell gear you've called "Best" ie Rowland amps and Ref 10 pre and move on, maybe you'll get them back if you feel the pull strong enough. Keep going at your pace, enjoy the hobby as well as your family, and continue to have fun. |
For those of you who clicked on Jay's link to find the video blocked, just go to YouTube, search for Jay's Audio Lab, and you can then view the video. |
Bring the Neoliths in and strap the Krell to them, sounds exciting! |
My money is on the Ref10/Krell. |
@thezaks, I just went to YT and the video played perfectly. |
@thezaks, The Pass INT250 vs Lux separates. |
Like Guido I have heard Luxman driving Vivids at RMAF in Philip O'Hanlon's rooms, transparent, sensational imaging/soundstage/depth, nice tonally, dynamically alive, and packing weight and wallop in the bass range, great choice. |
I think Lyngdorf calls it RoomPerfect TM. |
WCSS, I know it might be slumming, but don't discount the Direct Digital approach Lyngdorf and also Exogal have accomplished, the TDAI-3400 is new and has the power to juice difficult loads as well as Room Perfect. |
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The last 2 hours were with Magico or Focal? |
@grey9hound & @viber6, The larger Tektons using 15 tweeters are able to crossover the midrange at 300 Hz to the tweeter array and using cones only up to that point, a frequency very close to where the ML Monoliths crossover is to their electrostatic element. I have a pair of DIs in my system which cross the 7 tweeter array in at 600 Hz, and in 2 minutes the increase in vocal detail was noticeable to me and my wife compared to our previous speakers, a great buy at $3000 and a market disruptor at that price point IMHO. |
WCSS, I wonder if tube rolling in the BHK monos would provide a more extended top end? |
@grey9hound, I second ron17's pick the Mola Mola Makua, and add the Vinnie Rossi L2i SE using DHT tubes and loading it up with DAC and Phono, superb integrated. |
Jay, Consider me very interested in your Ethernet cable escapades as I just put a Bricasti M3 w/network card in my system and have no USB connections just Ethernet. |
I listened to Constellation monos in Irv's room with Rockports @ $38K, sat next to John Curl with Harry Belafonte Live at Carnegie Hall, great sounding system. I can't remember the model but Irv said they were downsized from last year's RMAF. |
@speedbump6, Jay's Audio Lab on YouTube. |
M3 was the number I was thinking also, good luck negotiating your way up the ladder WCSS!
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WCSS, Why not try a speaker you haven’t already owned, I say go for Focal Scala Evo or Wilso Alexias. |
viber6, I'm going to pull a quote from your post, " A nearly massless stat driver will have an inherent advantage over a more massive dynamic driver", please consider that the Tekton Encore and Ulfbert have an array of 15 tweeters that allow them to be crossed over at 300 Hz, 100 Hz lower than the Neolith and I bet the moving mass of 15 tweeter domes is much less than the weight of a Neolith diaphragm. |
viber 6 and kw6, thanks for mentioning the AlsyVox magnetic planars. viber6, please be careful with your use of the word "ribbon", the AlsyVox speakers do not use ribbon drivers, but utilize a planar-magnetic method like Magnepan except they are push-pull employing neodymium magnets on both sides of the diaphragm for fast response and high efficiency. Their room at RMAF was one of the best at any price, percussion was particularly real sounding, and they made a big band sound believable right in the room, stellar achievement! I'm sorry WCSS didn't get to Denver to hear the AlsyVox, maybe he'll come up to Maryland for the Capital Audiofest, many wonderful speakers to hear including a similar planar magnetic at 1/8th the cost of AlsyVox, the GT Audio Works Reference 3 full range planar, just for reference to what he has at home. |
viber6, Even the 5mm wide tweeter in the Alsyvox is a push-pull planar magnetic, unlike the true ribbon tweeters in the better Maggies and the GT Audio Works designs. The Botticelli Alsyvox at RMAF would sell for $87K if a distributor can be found.
You may not be aware of another stellar electrostatic design from Conifer, CO, Roger Sanders' Model 10 hybrid shown at RMAF. Honed over 3 decades of improvements his stats are as or more transparent than ML and have beat ML at the woofer integration equation, play with more dynamic excitement, play very loud, but exhibit the narrow sweet spot flat planars come with. The Sanders are $17K/pr but that includes a Magtech amp for the stats @900 WPC, a 10" woofer in a transmission line loading, and DSP room correction. You need to supply an amp for the woofers and you're done. Every year his room sounds like a breath of fresh air, startlingly transparent, big dynamic swings, intimate vocals, seamless woofer integration coupled with crushing deep bass when called for, a real value. |
WCSS, We are all waiting for your reveal! What did Friday bring? |
