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.
your experience with Wilson audio and comparing it to your experience with Tekton is nonsensical at best. Wilson has a dealer network and any issues or concerns are usually done at the dealer level. If you purchased your speakers second hand then it’s pretty normal for a manufacture like Wilson to not honor any aftermarket concerns or questions. There’s scant few companies that offer that level of service the only one that comes to mind is pass labs.
eric does things direct. Also if you went to Eric with the same question I’m pretty sure he’d have snubbed you the same way Wilson did. Honestly please think before you post.
Music is a subset of the art world so opinions expressed by manufacturers, reviewers, and individuals are just opinions. Attacking manufacturers, reviewers or individuals is purely personal and has no place in a forum. To be specific, most opinions expressed are done so without an adequate sample size to validate anything. I enjoy reading informational product reviews and just skip those that are about personal attacks. As well, I appreciate reviewers exposing me to none mainstream products.
The Tekton discussions have been back and forth since the Pendragons had an initial stellar Home Theatre review. This irritated several people who did not want to be told from a professional reviewer that their 5-20k speakers might not be as good as a 2.5k one. Without even listening to the Tekton line, most denounced the overly positive reviews from the pros, as well as many customers, again without listening themselves. They picked on little complaints of "no grill on delivery", or "exaggerated sensitivity", in an effort to discredit the company, again complaining in the third party, most were not actual customers.
As I did my research, prior to purchasing the from Tekton, I was looking for negative customer reviews, yet I could not find any. I placed a call to Tekton when they first released the Enzo. I must say it was a very good speaker for the price. I enjoyed the Enzo very much. If I had one complaint it would be in the packaging. The cardboard was thin, as well as the packing foam. Although, they did arrive fine, and when I sold them and shipped them cross country they arrived fine as well. Everything else I was very satisfied. And consider them a great value.
I really think that the hostility shown on these Tekton threads have a lot to do with ego.
I have been a Wilson Audio owner for a number of years, currently running a pair of Maxx 2’s. I have contacted them a number of times over the years, and have always gotten through to a real person, (usually Jerone in CS.) I use the telephone, not e-mail. Perhaps this is the reason for slow/no response to your query. I can assure you that if you have questions regarding the product, even though you are not the original owner, you will get any info available in their data bank that is associated to the serial numbers. I know this from experience. Good luck
We are not claiming that a small percentage of Tekton customers had negative experiences are lying at all. Even if it just was one customer that is regrettable.
Your false narrative, that you repeat over and over again, is your self-created lie that there are hundreds of this dissatisfied customers. Like all propagandists when asked to produce any facts to support your allegations you just repeat the same nonsense over again. There are hundreds of posts all over the internet, including the numerous threads here on the GON, that objective prove that the vast amount of owners of Tekton speakers are delighted with there performance and cost.
You are a real piece of work, I would love to know what your real motivations are that drives your irrational need/ compulsion to hijack threads like mine and spread a false vile narrative every chance you have.
Wow, you guys are brutal. This reminds me of an article Hunter Thompson wrote for Scanlon's, on the Kentucky Derby, a long rambling article that never mentioned the race. So getting back to the speaker, "goosebumps" (While not a word in my vocabulary, mine would be jaw dropping.) I agree...if playing well recorded full spectrum music. (I'm not a hifi guy, my main speakers are meyer x-10.) What i found with less than full spectrum audio was a thin sound, which I'd compare to listening to music through your TV speakers, the sound was correct but it wasn't BIG. (CD referred to Warren Zevon 'Learning to Flinch' a live sound board recording. This has great energy but doesn't sound great, unless playing on the car or Psb Amazing Alpha, which somehow fills in the missing low-mids(not well, but tolerable. Had a similar experience with Little Feats 'Waiting for Columbus'. I've resolved this issue by adding the speaker off a Event Opal I have, blended in using a Meyer cp-10. rolled in at 700 hz off at3k. Now if your source is good, I've heard nothing better, these are dead black Quiet, and the bass (which is why I bought these. I was looking for deep BIG articulate, resonate bass that I can play at a lower volume than the Meyer's) is absolutely phenomenal. The 7 array are the most realistic reproduction of sound I've encountered in any speaker, spoken word is like the person is real and standing talking to you. (example: Rolling Stones 'stripped' Mick's vocal are exact, and when he talks between songs it sounds like he's physically in the room. I've never heard sound reproduction like this. Realistic is a an understatement. So to answer general questions; 1) I like the way it looks(not the driver arrangement, but a big strong box. I do prefer speakers to be wider than tall, but looks are secondary, at best. 2) with a 2.5 set amp I would estimate that sensitivity is probably 92-93db. Just a guess based on other speakers I have, with known sensitivity. 3) they play fine with solid state (marantz pm 7000 95watt classB) 4) I used this with a Nagra reel to reel (and heard a level of Tape Hiss I never heard before- very revealing. Alesis ADAT, Alesis Masterlink, Sonosax minir 82, Sony PCM D 100, and Pono Player. They all performed excellent no issues. 5) Loud, is subjective I think they'll satisfy most everyone i maxed the Marantz and heard zero issues.I tried to max the MC 275 but hit amp distortion first (Nagra Jazz Pre) Now I'm in the loud camp ( I'm the guy that left a Zeppelin concert and said, well that could have been louder.) I had the Forte iii with a MC 275, and they were not loud enough for me. Neither are these, but again, I LIKE IT LOUD! Hope this helps
As you tone and out right hostility towards me increases your living up to what all propagandists resort to as their sense of control starts to erode away.
1) Distortions of what was actually said by people who disagree with their absurd narrative and more statements, such as, "preponderance of complaints out of proportion to their sales compared to every single speakers manufacturer discussed here," which is a fiction that only exists in your imagination. Do a fact check and report back with anything objective that would support your delusion.
2) Personal attacks, name calling, and accusing anyone who disagrees with your narrative is stupid and corrupt.
Thank you for labeling me as a "shill," coming from you this is a great compliment. It's obvious that your strategy, often used by bullies, is to resort to naming calling/verbal put downs with the hope that I'll sink to your immature level, upset myself, and sink to shooting your unsophisticated verbal arrows back at you.
You must think the average GON member is not such a bright fellow who has to be protected from the evils of Tekton Design "empire" and corrupt reviewers that are shills that are attempting to hoodwink them out of their resources and happiness. Like all propagandists, you only know the TRUTH and have to save the poor masses from their own flawed shortcomings. Quite a lofty position to be in, and I assume that you surely have convinced yourself that your motivation is purely to save the GON members from the evil forces to be, or this demonstrates ego/arrogance at an amazing level.
kosst, as someone who hasn't even heard the speakers that are subject of this thread you sure have a lot to say....Give it up before you dig yourself any deeper. Stick with the subjects that you're familiar with so folks can value your objective opinion rather than your subjective rant.
I'm interested in hearing more about the Perfect SET and hoping some owners will post on this thread.I almost bought them myself but ended up going with the monitors because of the lower weight.In hindsight it would have been easier to position a floorstander.I'm very happy with my Tektons and am still having plenty of those "goosebump" moments after several months in my system.
FWIW 2girl, the Tekton hater with the dog opened that can by having his dog eat (or pee on / I didn't read it to closely because I don't care) the patent info.
Not in this thread, but awhile ago, you got into it with a fellow named Kenny. If you are the same person I am talking about, you kept calling hm "Mr. Bright bulb." Kenny thru out that thread pretty much maintained his composer and maturity with his conversation expressing his own reasons for no longer owning Tekton speakers. It appeared to me that you were the one whose sense of control was eroding away. Most of the personal attacks were coming from your end.
I have no dog in this fight, (no pun intended) I think, as I have said before, that you and Tekton are the biggest reason for much of the hate talk about Tekton. I couldn't care either way as I think there are a lot of speakers out there that I like better than Tekton. Once again, just say'in....
@mr_m One question many of us probably have is "what is the value of continued hate talk"? Presumably it is to either chase customers away from Tekton (which obviously isn't happening) or keep this thread going and off the main topic of impressions of the Perfect Set which most of want to hear.
Six years ago, if you bought from Tekton, you had relatively few choices of models, no grills and the color was always black ...kind of like the Model T.
Since then, the market has told Eric that it wants grills...he gave them grills...it wants color options...he gave them color options....it wants smaller speakers...he gave them smaller speakers....it wants bigger/better speakers...he gave them the Double Impact....the market wants even better....he gave them the Ulf (and others)...it wanted Beryllium...gave them Beryllium. He is clearly a guy that listens to the market...and his customers..all while moving forward with his own designs.
Some of these moves might have been rolled out in a better manner and often times the sheer number of orders seems to overwhelm their system...but just using history as an example of Tekton over the past 6 years, I have no doubt that a number of things are either in the works or being seriously evaluated and will improve their business in the years to come:
1. How to handle the volume surges and yet not add so much cost that the more normal times has them too overstaffed. (and we all know this is tough for every company).
2. Offering high end cabinetry like Jim Salk and others offer...why, because eventually the demand for the plane jane cabinets will be taper...and/or because this is a big untapped and high value market for him.
3. More innovative models that will challenge conventional thinking and probably move the industry forward...and give us more fun choices to experience.
At this point...those who dislike Tekton are not having much luck persuading the Tekton supporters or vice versa.
I think its time to call a truce.
At the Florida Audio show yesterday I heard other loudspeakers I think I could own...and I heard some that I couldn't own...no big deal. But as expected, in every room, every manufacturer put forward his best story as to why his product was the best (at least at a price point) and should be seriously considered...again, no big deal, and exactly what they should be doing.
It's funny you mention this gentlemen. Many months ago Kenny sought me out and personally apologized to me for accusations toward me. Of course I accepted this and had a friendly/nice conversation with him. Hope he's doing well these days.
The nickname I gave him in our disagreements on that thread revolved around his position that what ever issue of speaker design, parts, build quality, and theory he was a world class authority, always knew more then anyone could, hence the "brightest Bulb" in the room moniker. Labeled is attitude, but did not condemn him.
If I had never professionally reviewed even one Tekton Design speaker or ever posted here on the GON, the irrational hatred/mudslinging and the spinning of a false narrative towards Eric/Tekton by a small number of individuals who had taken place for reasons that have been discussed (ego, speaker companies threatened by a product that out performs their speakers at much lower prices, jealousy of a breakthrough design) many times before this thread.
I start a nice post to share information on a new exciting speaker. Then I get personally attacked, always the same very few posters with a hateful agenda on every Tekton thread, and AudioGon allows them to hijack the thread.
So, I stand up in a respectful way regarding the facts and don't resort to nasty retorts towards these few individuals, and yet you are advising me to call a "Truce" as if I started this conflict to begin with!
I would be thrilled to go back to only having fun talking about the Perfect SET speaker on this thread. But we all know that the individuals with their agenda towards Eric and I will always act like bullies and not just get off this thread. If AudioGon will not intervene, and ban them from posting on this thread, I'll still stand up for what's factual and not let these few sally my reputation.
After another extended listening session with Perfect Set using both the Triode Lab 2A3 SET and Threshold S/200 series 2 amplifiers, another very good virtue I am now aware of is that this speaker hits it's "sweet spot" at low volume levels. So, if you do late night listening or live in an apartment/condo and have to be careful at what dB levels you play your music at this would be a blessing. You get all the dynamics/aliveness and soundstaging at low volumes. This does not imply that you can't rock out at high volume levels, the PS can move a lot of air if you want it to.
I believe most of us posting here at Agon, are very nice, You will be surprise how they are when you meet them in person..In disagreement it’s really hard to feel how nice they are, thanks Teajay for moving on , and more info😀
Point taken. It makes me happy to see that you and Kenny have made amends. Seriously. I don't have anything personal against Tekton or you, for that matter. If you and Eric are excited about the speakers, fine. You feel Tekton punches way above it's price point and I understand. But many audio component and loudspeaker manufacturers claim similar about their products. I for one, can't get passed the idea of "better than anything else" attitude. And THAT can apply to any audio company. This is how I feel personally. I don't have anything against Tekton. If the people who have them really love them, then by all means, enjoy. That's what this hobby is about, right?
I just read a thread on this very board where a Individual demoed them and was ADAMANT about not getting a dog hair on them as you will get slapped with a sure OVERCHARGE. AND HE DID !
I will not quote it with out his permission but its in plain site
I would think if there was any damage Tekton could make a claim from shipping! Why does the customer take the hit !
Well, we had peace and good cheer for maybe a total of 2 hours. Nobody is challenging that their are a few dissatisfied Tekton customers. This is very old news. Find a company that never makes mistakes and has 100 % satisfied customer base.
As I stated before, I want to go back to having an enjoyable/fun conversation but these killjoys just won't let it go. Cap you convinced us that Tekton is a rotten lousy company. Don't buy their product and get off this thread so we can go about our business. You attempted to save us from the "evil forces", we would not listen, so go on with your life.
Anytime I've auditioned a component with a grace period to return one of the rules has always been 'must be in like new condition ' and 99% of the time 'return shipping paid by customer '.Any scratches and scuffs are my responsibility unless the carton has obviously been damaged by the carrier resulting in damage.I'm so paranoid about it I wear gloves and slide things around on plastic or a towel.If the company I'm dealing with needs to resell it,they'd appreciate selling it as a demo rather than a 'scratch and dent ' at a large discount.That's my take on it anyway.
Teajay Not saving anyone from any "Evil Forces" Just asking questions and not getting answers
When a company draws a line in the sand and makes a blanket statement that we all are wrong and hearing things terribly from inferior material that others are praising and low and behold. Its suddenly appears in their Top line speakers at a premium.
Whats that tell you about the company ? They were not correct with their thinking ! Many of consumers may have bought the other material recommended by the manufacture using it, Now their speakers are upgrade able to a better material that they were told not to buy ! Maybe the mods should make a section just for reviews of reviewers. No posting just a review. Then its Caveat Emptor
It looks a tad sales like in most of your threads in not only mine but others opinions Im sure this wont last !
When I threw out the idea of a truce...It was NOT to say you should not defend yourself....you should & did....as did others who would prefer that these threads remain as positive as possible.
The truce suggestin was to say that all the detractors had pretty much said all they can say...as had all of the defenders...so it seemed that nothing worthwhile was going to happen...until you/we got back to actually talking about the performance of the Perfect Set.
@oddio....its pretty clear that you don't like the looks...again, no big deal...based on looks, you won't be a Tekton customer for the time being....not everyone is. I made it a point at the Florida Audio Show yesterday to ask people how important looks were to their purchase decision (why, because there were some really beautiful products being shown)...and would looks stop them from buying a speaker that they liked...pretty much what I heard was about 60% said that looks mattered enough to stop them from buying something they didn't like....but then again, you may like the ultra modern Paradigm Persona and hate the beautiful woodwork of the Legacy...as they say..beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
@jtcf +1 totally agree....from the Tekton website...."
* Returned speakers must be in new condition - no signs of damage or abuse, including scratches, fingerprints, dust, etc." couldn't be more clear...and I also use the gloves and towel method when I'm auditioning things.
@teajay....to follow up on your sweet spot comment...is it that the Perfect Set is at its best at a low listening level....or that its really good all listening levels and just that its a surprise how good it is at low levels?
jtcf & loayo, I tried to steer this thread back to the speaker, with a general impression.(see post above/earlier.) 2nd Attempt. This Speaker excels with horn sections, very real, detailed, alive. Low Volume is another major strength. Bass is very present at the lowest whisper of volume setting. It plays loud, distortion free,as well.
OH NO, not another Tekton thread (complete with fanboy testimonials)! Please Tekton, just pay for an ad here. I’m no hater, just trying to understand why there are suddenly so many threads, complete with gushy testimonials about Tekton products. It hasn’t escaped my notice that many of these testimonials come from posters with very few past postings.
I recently took the plunge on a pair of impact monitors. I read a number of reviews, forums and took all the information (both over the top positive and absurdly nitpicky) with a grain of salt. I figured the $300 "trial fee" was worth it to hear how these would sound in my house with my equipment. After a little more than a week (and a couple days listening only to one speaker since FedEx somehow split the shipment), I have to say these are magnificent. Vocals (especially female) are incredibly lifelike. My wife even took over the ipad and started adding songs to listening que. She never does this. Of course there is no such thing as a perfect speaker - it all depends on what types of music you listen to. For string quartets, jazz trios, singer/songwriters and alternative bands that don’t blow the doors down (e.g. death cab, trampled by turtles), these speakers are my end game. They don’t do orchestral music as well and struggle a little with big musicals (La La Land, Phantom of Opera). I can now see why the Tekton line up carries as many speakers as they do - except for maybe the encore/ulfbehrt, each speaker has a particular listener in mind.
Anyway, that was a long winded way to ask Terry where he sees the perfect SET fitting into all this. And thank you for all that you do. Without you I would not have the LTA microzotl! I haven’t stop smiling since I got it last November!
I have purchased Aric Audio electronics, Jay's transport (that shockingly easily beats my Levinson 31.5), and a DAC all given rave reviews by Terry. I am virtually in complete agreement with his assessments. I have been considering the Impact Monitors for some time now, as well as Buchardts....I'm wondering how the Perfect SET compares to the Monitors, particularly since the latter apparently also works with SET amps. I am reluctant to consider a 70 pound speaker due to my back and knee issues.
I don't understand the $300 "trial fee" mentioned above and a $400 fee mentioned in other post about the DI. Do you actually pay Tekton for the trial or is that just the returned speakers shipping cost you pay Fedex or UPS?
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