Tekton Design's new THE PERFECT SET equals "goosebumps time"
Just got in house for review for hometheaterreview.com Tekton Design’s new, The Perfect SET, which is close to 100dB efficient and never dips below 8 ohms, which Eric built to be used with SET "flea watt" amplifiers. It is a front ported design using a 12 inch woofer and his patented array of small transducers that function as a midrange driver with a single tweeter in the middle. I set them up in a system with a great 2A3 SET amplifier and found them so superlative I did not stop listening for over five hours! Taking about "goosebump time" the music was so beautiful that I lost track of time.
These speakers have all the virtues of the other Tekton speakers, speed, utter transparency/micro-details, great soundstaging, and that special "aliveness" that I experience when I listen to my Ulf’s. What really amazed me was what the Perfect SET was delivering on the bottom end frequencies, subterrainian/taut powerful bass, that was shaking the room, all coming from at most 2.5 to 3 watts.
If you love SET amplifiers this speaker is a match made in heaven, and remember this pair just arrived and is not totally burnt in yet.
That was a nice dissertation from Jim salk on his using the Satori BE. HE NEVER SAID BE WAS HORRID AS A MATERIAL FOR A TWEETER ! DID he? This industry has a memory like an elephant. .
I never said SB has poor drivers. If Tekton uses a $53 midwoofer Retail and it plays their intended pass band so be it. Bigger companies have purchasing power and can have drivers custom made with differing magnets and voice coil winding.
Huge claims by the pom pomers claiming they beat $30k speakers is Typical Internet sales on these forums. Distributors allow demos and proof by direct head to head comparison.
I'm not a hater, but I most certainly DID try out a set of DI's with upgrades and promptly sent them back. 300 bucks...ouch. They were alright, but that tweeter array wasn't nearly as clean and detailed as the Ascend Acoustics Towers I was trying them against . No comparison. There was a whole bunch of midrange available, but as my wife proclaimed, " a whole lot of nuthin" . I ended up with Legacys, and am glad I tried those Tektons. I'm also glad I sent them back …
@kosst_amojan -- I'm just curious how many high end companies you can name who offer a sixty-day trial period to audition equipment, and will pay shipping both ways?
I have auditioned cables, a preamp, an amp, and, if my memory serves, at least one DAC over the years. I sometimes had a week--two weeks at the most--to audition, and without exception I paid the return shipping if I did not wind up buying what I was sent. That seemed fair enough to me. But now it has the Tekton detractors clutching their pearls?
To suggest that this policy somehow reflects poorly on the company is frankly silly.
mofojo, Anyone should be able to post whatever they want. We are all capable of doing our our filtering and taking what we want from the thread. If anything, it's the moderation/censoring that's a unacceptable.
You should try Audio Adviser. They pay shipping both ways on everything. I have tried CD players, Pre -Amps, and returned both on their dime. Never have purchased speakers, but I’m assuming its the same deal
To the extent that the post is on topic and not profane, I agree completely.
... If
anything, it's the moderation/censoring that's a unacceptable.
I have found the moderation here to be excellent and have not seen or experienced anything that would justify calling it "censoring." Profane and off-topic posts deserve to be deleted. Otherwise, every thread results in a free-for-all.
Second … If someone is truly building a speaker for SET low powered amps , why don't they design the speaker with a higher impedance than 8 ohms ? Why not 10 , 12 or 16 ohms ?
Three...Teajay lists these speakers at 100 db. efficiency , Tekton's website lists them at 96 db. ? Several other reviewers have stated that they figure Tekton's to be several points lower than what is claimed by the manufacturer . As someone else has stated , a few points make a big difference in this situation .
Looking forward to reading Teajays comparison of the two that he has recently reported on here . A truly low powered amp friendly speaker for @ $2,000 sure would be nice !
I would implore anyone and everyone to start their own Tekton threads. The more the merrier I always say. Ahh I make myself laugh and that's all that matters.
Klipsch Heresy IIIs. I had considered Tektons before buying the Heresys, but they just look weird to me and I had no way to hear them...the Heresys look great for my tastes ("ebony" Capitol version, which seem sort of dark purple, black grills), and I attach the grills when not seriously listening. Heresys are a bargain in my book, and sound beautiful.
As I recall, Heresy III is efficient and tube amp friendly in general but also I recall reading still not the easy load one would seek out ideally for a flea powered SET amp that must not be driven hard to sound its best.
There is obviously a small group of posters who's agenda is to disrupt in a highly vile and unpleasant manner any thread on Tekton Design speakers.
As I stated before when I start a thread to share information on a great piece of equipment from other companies I never get personal attacks on my integrity or my motives for sharing with Gon members.
I will not address their motivation or goals, this was explored on another Tekton Design thread that this small group attempted to hijack, but I hope members interested in this speaker or want information will still participate on this thread. I have already received numerous Emails inquiring about the PERFECT SET speaker. The senders explained that they did not want to post positive opinions about Tekton or ask questions because of the possibility that they would be attacked in a nasty/disrespectful fashion.
I want to be very clear about two things: 1) I find their totally none reality based raging narrative somewhat amusing, kinda parallels the approach of some one who gave a speech last night. You just keep stating the same lies over and over again until you convince yourself that they really are the facts. 2) I believe in free speech. However, I think AudioGon's moderators are making a grievous mistake to allow the same few individuals to launch personal attacks, bold face lies, and hijack every thread regarding Tekton Design products.
In the interest of overall fairness to Teajay with respect to Tekton... it’s worth noting that in his HTR review last month of the Model 50s as speakers that can be paired with Set Amps... he concludes by saying that he liked the 50s so much that he bought them.
I for one one appreciate that he he looks for smaller companies that are doing great things... and tries to shine a light on them.
I recommend you let your very intelligent dog that you mentioned before read my statement. I believe your smart canine will make the correct interpretation or see the parallel more clearly then his master.
kosst, what upsets you about Tekton’s success? You do realize that they are successful because they have many happy customers, and relatively few complaints, mostly about speaker grills arriving late.
Are you posting to inform these satisfied customers that they should not be happy with their purchases because you don’t like their construction or the patents? If not, what is the message, I'm sure its clear to you but its not clear to all readers?
If You did not come on here and proclaim them as the Bell of the ball almighty giant killers, Tekton may have a better chance at being taken seriously. In any Tekton thread there have been individuals like my self who have had first hand experience with them and are considered Trolls or hatters. We have met and albeit , we don't agree on speakers, I respect your passion. You might have had the largest CD collection I have ever seen, definitely the best organized
In thirty years of this high end industry I, as others have seen many speakers that claim to be the next giant killers with spiral zenophonic linial phase aural acoustics that some individual has figured out. Bashing big names and disparaging manufactures for charging more than you think is not gonna gain respect. It is also very difficult for many to accept something as the next best without paying $400 to try it. No dealers to demo makes most leery and a costly ordeal. Show conditions are always less than ideal
In "My" opinion if Tekton wants to promote their line with no distributor distribution. They should offer a PAID hotel stay, or fuel reimbursement to and from any owner or place that may have Tekton speakers to listen and demo, Its far easier for both the consumer and the and the manufacture as shipping is costlier, and time is saved with less damaged units ! Many manufactures market to the idea that once a person gets their product in their home they have a much higher chance of them not returning the product based not only on joy but fear of rejection from others. Reshipping hassles.. On a desert island even a ugly girl becomes pretty !
whats your thoughts or have you reviewed BE version vrs their silk?
Cap.... "In "My" opinion if Tekton wants to promote their line with no distributor distribution. They should offer a PAID hotel stay, or fuel reimbursement to and from any owner or place that may have Tekton speakers to listen and demo."
Cap, this is really not a practical idea. I cannot think of one company that offers this service at all, especially not for a relatively low cost product like a Tekton speaker. There are reasons.
Think of it like this, when I travel on business I am required to submit my expense reports with supporting documents in order to be reimbursed for my travel cost. They want to know I went where I said I was, and the business purpose for my travel. They also want to know I spent my per diem hotel and food cost on lodging and food, not alcohol, theater, or the ladies. My immediate supervisor has to sign off that he has reviewed all of this before I am reimbursed. Who is going to verify all the travel documents sent to Tekton? Also, my best friends live in Manhattan, LA and Miami and do have Tekton speakers, I just remembered I haven't visited them in a while...…...
Boiling it all down, it seems like what you are saying is that you heard the Tektons and didn't particularly like them...and it bugs you think their patent is too generic, that their ad copy is too boastful and that the return freight is too high of a price for home audition.
So, just a few thoughts:
1. Not really a big deal that you didn't like them...we've all heard lots of well promoted, top of the line speakers that we didn't prefer.
2. Their patent attorney decided how the patent would be worded, what would be included and what would be left out...so, I guess if there is a quarrel it is with the attorney.
3. Maybe the ad copy is too boastful...but you have to admit that it resulted in a lot of attention for Tekton...and a lot of satisfied customers.
5. As for the cost of the return freight....you can fly round trip from Florida to Salt Lake same day for $226....so its possible to avoid all the hassle of packing, unpacking, repacking and returning...and while you are at Tekton, listen to some of their other speakers.
I guess my point is that it would be much more effective when people don't like a product...Tekton or otherwise....to make a point/post...simply saying something like..."hey, I know a lot of people on this thread like product A...but I'm telling you that I heard product A with this associated equipment in this kind of a room...and this is what I heard XXXXX....so my advice to anyone considering buying product A is to consider alternatives such as B,C,D,E...and be aware of the return policies.
At any rate...I hope this thread can now return to Teajay being able to post what he has heard over the past few days since receiving the Perfect Sets...and since few if anyone else has heard them, there really isn't much they can say as to their own specific impression.
Cap, I have also been fortunate to visit Teajay house. He is one of my best audio buddies and have seen the evolution in his system over the years. We don’t always agree on equipment but most of the time we agree on the merits of a piece of gear. Teajay called me the other day quite excited about this new speaker and I am hoping to listen to them shortly.
While I have never bought a Teckton speaker, I think they are fantastic bargains. The Double Impact at around $3,000 is amazing for what it costs. I can make no comment on their business practices but it hard to believe that the margins in this speaker are large. Their more expensive speakers do have a dealer network and can be heard. You can visit Mike Kaye in the suburbs of Chicago to hear them. Another friend Dave Cox of Puckerbrush Audio is about to take on the line in Maine. There are probably other dealers in other areas as well.
My point is in this internet world it is a different ball game without bricks and mortar stores. As an aside Roger Modjeski in another current thread said that Bill Johnson of Audio Research threatened to pull the line from Modjeski’s store if he didn’t stop demoing ARC gear against other manufacturers! I guess even bricks and mortar stores are immune to outside pressures beyond paying the rent. have been burned before buying gear based on enthusiastic forums (yes I even bought a HCAT preamp...yes I was one of those gullible types!) I have no idea if the haters on this thread are competing manufacturers or have financial interests that are being hurt by the popularity of these speakers. It has been known to happen. The flip side is direct sales have made more gear affordable than ever before. You can put together a great system today for less money than before.
The economics of the higher end of audio have changed as well. Many of the most expensive brands are not catering to audiophiles but to the rich who must have the best (and most expensive) equipment. One of the largest retailers told me that these Icon brands are lifestyle products being sold to those lucky few that can spend 250k without reservation. I have seen ads where these customer’s trip to see the equipment will be subsidized upon purchase. I can’t imagine Teckton could afford this practice.
All I know is that Teajay is fair and balanced in his thoughts on gear. He is an audiophile first and he does not make his living in the audio industry. He is free to call them as he sees them! This is exactly what he does and it is a benefit to us all. Audio nuts like you and Jeff Day make this hobby more rewarding!
"Audio NUTS"........ ! HMMMM.. Maybe a compliment? Maybe not!
This is NOT business for the consumer ! Federal Per Diem is set rate. Gas per mile ! Food cost as well as hotel stay ! Write offs! There has to be a better way than me paying $400 to demo and my time ! Maybe Tekton can sponsor an event. Send a pair of speakers to a individuals house with comparative or higher end speakers and advertise it as a Get together listening session. Host will be Reimbursed for the Ordeal (food, drinks, time) A neutral place to demo against and for ! Its up to the consumer to get there for free food and drinks as well as potentially world class listening !
Dealers provide that and head to head comparisons. I would like to know who Blindly buys something based off and opinion or review?
Like "Dec Fest" put on by Decware every autumn.They provide food and drink for the three day weekend and there is a variety of components to audition.Great idea for small audio manufacturers!
Cap, It was only meant "audio nut" as a compliment and I also like the ideas that you propose but how many purchases have you made that have paid your expenses to buy them? I do like the Tupperware party of audio gear idea! I am guilty as charged for buying many pieces of gear without first hearing them. There was the HCAT example and I also bought a few TRL modified CD players, AMR Cd-77, Lector Cd player, Supratek Preamp, Mapelnoll Athena, Well Tempered Turntable and many others over the years. Some were great purchases and others were not so great. I am willing to take a chance based upon the recommendations of others whom I trust. Some of the poorer purchases maybe have been component mismatches. In audio the best we can typically do is to go to shows and read reviews if there is no dealer network. There is much great gear sold this way like Triode Lab in Canada, Auric Audio, Don Sachs and others. The Triode Lab 2A3 single ended amps are great. I believe this is what Teajay is using with this new Teckton speaker. He used them also on the Double Impacts and they were an amazing combo. I read the reviewers who I agree with in their taste of Audio. This is why Teajay has helped so many by bringing to light otherwise unknown manufacturers. Many have agreed with his reviews and find them relevant. If others are interested I can post my impressions after I have heard the speakers. My taste is more biased toward classical and jazz and gravitate toward tube gear.
Following on @barany's comment....if you buy a piece of gear and like and and happen to find a reviewer who liked....or if you buy a piece of gear because a reviewer liked it and find out you like it, then you may have increased confidence that you and that reviewer have similar taste and expectations...its not a guarantee but a start...and maybe you trust his judgement going forward.
How many reviewers have a forum presence and make themselves known and have an open dialogue? How many reviewers answer the numerous questions and comments they get at the bottom of the article?
In my opinion, we should be thankful to Teajay for putting himself out there and for being accessible. And while we all have the right to disagree...we should do so respectfully and with our own hearing/findings.
In a better world, there would be more "fests" and free return shipping...and no doubt, the product prices would have to go up to cover those costs...and as we all know, there really are no "write offs" as they are really just added cost that have to be deducted from revenues thereby possibly reducing profits...if there are any. Overall, I feel pretty fortunate with our ability to audition things at home...in the 80's when I started buying more serious gear, there were three high end stores in town (only one remains)...pretty much with these marketing strategies:
1. No you can't take it home2. Take it or leave it3. We don't accept returns
So, if you bought it and didn't like in your home, you could advertise in the paper for several months...knowing that at best you would get 25% of what you paid.
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