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Tekton DI Monitors

Finally got to see the measurements for the Double Impact monitors. I’m a little disappointed.

https://www.stereophile.com/content/tekton-design-impact-monitor-loudspeaker-measurements

This woofer - tweeter - woofer configuration is similar to the style named after the esteemed Joseph D’Appolito. Done well this configuration functions like a single large woofer in terms of dispersion. Less floor and ceiling bounce yield better detail at the listening position. 

Interestingly, the Audiogon craze of criticizing the tweeter array for possible comb filtering is not what I’m sad about. In fact the array appears to be the least of the issues. Look at figure 4. The horizontal plots are superbly clean. Any comb filtering from the tweeter array would be displayed here, and it’s not. Those critics going nuts about the array’s poor performance can apologize for their uninformed criticism right now.

The problem is really the vertical response. It is terrible. Here we do have evidence of comb filtering! See the plot closest to the viewer in figure 5? See the regularly occurring hills and valleys completely absent from figure 4? That my friends is comb filtering. However it’s not coming from the tweeter array, but from the two widely placed woofers. There’s also a great deal of hash above 5kHz on this same plot. This makes me so very very sad.

Part of this is fixable. As Dr. D’Appolito discovered, the designer should have used a higher order crossover slope, which would have taken care of the hash above 5 kHz. However the comb filtering below this is not easily remedied. The issue has to do with how far away the two woofers are from each other. They are so far, and cut in so high that they can’t help but interfere with each other and this woofer to woofer distance is ultimately controlled by the size of the tweeter array.

Should you buy this speaker? I think you should listen to it. See how it sounds to you as you move around your listening space. If you find yourself enamored of the mid-treble resolution and detail, I would encourage you to listen to other Tekton designs that don’t attempt a D’Appolito design, because I'm afraid that the main benefit of this type of design, narrow mid-woofer dispersion, is lost.  A simpler 2-way would avoid these issues and be as good at detail and resolution 
erik_squires

Showing 7 responses by teajay

teajay
1,714 posts
 
I reviewed the Double Impact Monitor for hometheaterreview.com, gave them five stars out of five stars, bought the review pair to use in my smaller reviewing system and am delighted with their performance.  I have had speakers in for review in this system that cost more then 6K to 8K that were easily out performed by this 2K speaker.  I have had many listeners that are shocked at how beautiful the DI Monitor sounds even compared to the ULF's in my much more expensive reference system.

Frankly, when I'm listening to music I'm sitting down in front of my system, therefore, believe it's mute how the speaker sounds when I'm walking around in the room.  I'm always listening to music when I'm home, like now as I write this, as background pleasure, but that has nothing to do with serious listening to either of my systems.  So, who cares what any speaker sounds like when your walking around the room. 
teajay
1,714 posts
 
By the way guys,

Technically, the DI Monitor is not a D'Appolitos design because it is a three way design, not a two way design.  The smaller transducers sonicly function as a single point two way coaxial speaker, hence it's a three way design.  In a true D'Appolitos approach you have MW/T/MW drivers that are always a two design.

The reference UIF's are a true D'Appolitos were the double circle array of small transducers are the MW "drivers" flanking the tweeter between the two arrays.  

I nick named the DI Monitors Jr DI's because in a smaller acoustic space they are very similar to their larger siblings in performance.  What surprises a lot of my listeners is the powerful bass extension and overall macro-dynamics of this stand mounted speaker.  It completely disappears like all reference level stand mount monitors, but presents over all as if its a full size floor-stander.  Unlike Herb, I had no problem with over loading my room with bass, and did not have any reason to stuff the rear ports with socks. I think his review says more about the limitations of his room regarding bass response, then any short-comings in the bass response of the DI Monitor. 
teajay
1,714 posts
 
To address seanhies1 "pet peeve",

Here's the speakers that have been in the same system for review that the the DI Monitors were compared to: Role Audio Enterprise Speaker 4K, Lawrence Audio Violin SE Speaker $8,500, Lawrence Audio Mandolin $5,500, NSMT Super PSM Monitor Speaker 5K.  These are all wonderful music makers that I gave high ratings to and enjoyed having them in my home.  However, the much less expensive DI Monitor was at least there equal and out preformed them on certain sonic parameters.

erik_squires,

Part of the magic of both the DI Monitor and the DI's is that the circle array with the tweeter in the middle functions as a single point co-axial driver that virtually weights nothing so it presents with horn like dynamics and yet has the speed/transparency of a planar design.  So, in my experience with this speaker you get all the benefits with out short-comings.  I hear no muddling of the mid-range band and the upper bass foundation, along with taut powerful lower bass extension, is excellent.


teajay
1,714 posts
 
Hey facten, 

Let me be very clear and precise, for my personal taste the DI Monitors did out perform the speakers that I mentioned.  I could have purchased any other of the speakers I reviewed.  However, I did not, but did purchase the review pair of DI Monitors for the reasons I mentioned in my review.  That does not mean the other speakers are still not excellent products and fine music makers.  Eric figured out something with his new design that for me sounds more like the illusion of real music in my systems.
teajay
1,714 posts
 
Hey Erik,

You keep referring to the DI Monitor as a "quasi' D'Appolito design" , however I politely disagree with this statement.  Since it is not a D'Appolito design to begin with, therefore it by logic it can't be a "quasi" version by default.  As I shared above on this thread this is a three way (co-axial single point tweeter/midrange flanked by the two woofers) all D'Appolito designs are MW/T/MW drivers, two-ways, not three- way designs.

In my home the DI Monitors still sound excellent when I'm going about my business, but still want to enjoy music.  Of course, when I sit in the sweet spot it's more magical, but it does not become horrible off axis at all.
teajay
1,714 posts
 
Hey Charles,

This is one of your very well said/insightful statements that I totally agree with.  By the way its been four professional reviewers that gave the DI Monitors five stars, not two.  I still found it amazing what nit-picking still goes on towards Tekton speakers that give so much pleasure to scores of music lovers because they are so reasonably priced.
teajay
1,714 posts
 
Hey Erik,

Though out this thread you make recommendations and negative statements about the DI Monitors.

I have one question:  Have you ever heard these speakers with your own ears?  If you have then you have some credibility, if not you are speaking out of your you know what.
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