Tekton Double Impacts

@silverrocket Congratulations on getting your system setup and ’loving it.’ Happy for you and your wife and daughter. Great to hear when family members also enjoy our passion and are moved by it.

@triumphtt02  Congratulations also!!! Awesome to hear in words what you are experiencing >>>

the DI’s are the best sounding HiFi stereo speakers i have ever heard in my home in over 40 years of listening to reproduced music.

I’m thinking of building a Nelson Pass 8 watt class A Camp Amp to use with these speakers.

+1

@corelli  So well put and communicated. 

The feedback and reviews on these speakers has been so consistent that it is, IMO, easy to just order up and let the fun begin. Some, I know, really feel the need to audition first. But if that is not possible, the bigger risk is in missing out on a great speaker, not returning them!

@lancelock  I'll let you know. Thank you. Hopefully my travel-ability will open up this fall.

Bob, There are a number of folks using the DIs or similar up close to and nearly touching the front wall. Hopefully they will respond and answer your question / concerns directly.

If you do go ahead with ordering a pair, I would get an absorptive panel installed against the wall, immediately behind the ports. I don’t recommend ’plugging’ the ports.

My DI SEs are well out in my room (just so you know) and the ports are free to breathe. I have a home-made absorptive ’solution’ about 2 feet behind each speaker.

@lancelock  Thanks for reminding me. Dates are now in the calendar.

@snovosel   +1  Wonderful example of going about the 'process' thoroughly and getting the feedback you were looking for regarding your system choices and room. Great to hear the Triode Masters checked all of your boxes. Congratulations and thanks for sharing your impressions and findings and more.

@tommypenngotti  posted this in a thread he started about speakers under 5K. Perhaps those with the DIs and the SEs can answer the following:

I'm leaning towards the Tekton DI's

what are the differences [DI vs SE] ? thanks!

Great to see an 8 Ohm specific design.

Posting this here since many have or have followed Aric's amps and preamps, etc.

https://hometheaterreview.com/aric-audio-transcend-push-pull-tube-amplifier/

@jcarcopo Checking in, on the eve of our friendly wager. : )

@64voxac30  The Truth and Aric Audio 300B driving the SEs...can't wait to hear your impressions when this comes together.

@jcarcopo What our hobby / pursuit is about!!! Happy to hear such positive outcomes for you, not just with your Encores but also the Lyngdorf 3400. And I am truly relieved that the Art Audio Diavolo is staying. 

@teajay Thank you for the heads up. Here is the review by Ed Van Winkle // Stereotimes:

http://v2.stereotimes.com/post/tekton-design-electron-loudspeakers/

And interestingly, @corelli , this thread gets a mention. : )

"especially informing was the humongous DI thread on Audiogon"

@lee59  Echoing @corelli ’s post, your MA252 will be a great pairing, perhaps fantastic! : )

If you can’t find the GE TRef posts within this thread, feel free to PM me.

Hope you give the DIs a trial...it’s the only way to know if they are for you, or not. All the best.

Hey everyone, a general shout out of thanks and appreciation and gratitude to a quartet of very fine gentlemen in Chicagoland!

I was blessed to have @aolprodj  (Allen) host me for the weekend and serve as my Tekton guide. 

Allen has two primary 2Ch systems one built around Magnaplanar 3.7is and the other Tekton DI SEs... as well as a home theater system driven by Anthem components.

I was also able to meet with and enjoy and experience the following systems:

- TJ's @teajay  dual systems anchored by the Tekton Ulfberth and Impact Monitor and the recently reviewed and truly wonderful Jays Audio CDT2-Mk2 Transport and Lab12 DAC1 SE.

- Ezra's @audioezra  primary system comprising of the flagship Tekton Ulfberth BE and newly acquired Bricasti M28 monoblocks.

- Bon's @jayctoy 's multiple systems, one of which utilizes the Tekton Impact Monitors. The others were completed with EgglestonWorks Andras and Elac's baby monitors. He has many speakers and components, so we only touched the surface of all of his system combinations.

The best way for me to summarize my weekend is to fall back on my primary hobby: food. 

This weekend was akin to visiting four unique and highly recommended restaurants whose chefs put together a tasting menu (utilizing similar ingredients and cooking methods, but not always).

Each meal and experience was wonderful and I'd hop on the plane and make the trip to Chicago to re-experience each one of their efforts, in a heartbeat!

Thank you very much Allen, TJ, Ezra, and Bon. Hope to repeat soon.

It was a truly wonderful experience.

As for Beryllium, my Focal Utopia headphones had already sold me on well implemented Be drivers and Eric’s Be version of the Ulfberth is exceptional.

Ezra has his speakers powered with Bricasti M28s and added the Bricasti M12 to his system a few days ago. I can only imagine the improvements based on that synergy and with the elimination of multiple components and cabling, etc.

@teajay I’m glad you brought this point up. It’s also a point of disagreement for me. Like you, I will have to listen to the Encores to know for sure.

Having visited you and @audioezra and from my first listen of the Ulfberths in @bullitt5094 ’s system I believe I now have a good feel for the differences between the SEs and Ulfberths. The feedback on the Encores does not jive with that.


@waltersalas concurs with Clement’s assessment so there’s likely something to what they, and others, are finding!!! : )

@mofojo Reach out via PM if you are still evaluating. I’ve been busy getting ready for and back into riding (somewhat of a reverse bicycling season here) and haven’t been as active on the forum. Thanks, @corelli

@mac48025 and others will also have their perspectives regarding your question.

There were a few posts related to this some time ago. Might be worth trying to capture those via an advanced search.

I think @jcarcopo is saying (please correct me in case I am wrong) the FULL 7 Tweeter Array, flanked by the 2 mid range drivers, is important and worth the added investment.

Tekton Impact Monitor Theater System review by Michael Trei // Sound & Vision:

https://www.soundandvision.com/content/tekton-design-impact-monitor-theater-system-review

I'll have Aric's latest amp creation, a parallel 300B PP delivering 25 watts, to compare to his 300B SET that I've been enjoying for the last year. Should be a fun comparison.

Congratulations, Tom. Looking forward to hearing how your comparison goes. 

@ainwolfe  I prefer to be slightly higher...in my primary listening position my ears align with the top of the top tweeter, but I do sit further away in this particular spot.

Hey everyone. Preemptively letting you know of a new direction I decided to commit to, late yesterday evening.

I purchased a 2A3 amp and will be exploring speaker pairings and eventually a preamp. This will be a 'secondary' system with the same front end as I currently have. 

You may see posts or threads exploring speaker recommendations. Just so everyone is clear, my Tekton DI SE system will remain the same and will be a primary listening system.

I continue to be amazed by how good this system is and it is not going anywhere. This goes for not only the SEs, but also the T+A PA 3100 HV amp, the Denafrips Terminator DAC, and the rest of my system chain.

If you have recommendations of speakers that will shine with a 3.5 W amp, I am all ears.... 8 Ohm speakers and up.

As you know, Eric has a 'Perfect' SET option. : )

@aricaudio Thanks! 

@corelli  Those stands look lovely. I find custom stands for any speaker aesthetically more pleasing than a multi-use one. And it would be what I would also choose to do with Eric's Perfect SET speaker. When you put your order in, make sure you spec it with the Be tweeters. : )

@corelli  It's Scott Sheaffer's Found Music 2A3 

There isn't much information online regarding it, but there is some here, including pics:

https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/found-music-2a3-amplifier.4279/

And some tech info, below:

"These are 2-stage direct coupled single ended triode design. Rectification uses mercury fullwave rectifier tubes
Driver circuit is powered and operated as a dedicated amplifier by itself, rectifier is 82 and signal tube is 7A4
Output circuit has own power supply as well rectifier is 83 and tube of course is 2A3
PS and bypasses are Jantzen and Jupiter. UX4 sockets are Audio Note silver and ceramic. The amps are wired throughout with UPOCC copper. Magnetics are nickel from Intact Audio (Dave Slagle).
Output with the JJ 2A3 tubes that are stock with it is just shy of 3.5 watt into 8 ohm. The amps are made for a 6-9 ohm impedance."

@charles1dad  was instrumental in his support and advice, without which I would have been lost in the woods as this is very new territory for me. Thank You Very Much, Charles.

Hi Aric. Thanks! I am aware of this.

The plate the speaker binding posts are on has ’faint’ negative ( - ) and
positive ( + ) markings on each corner (top and bottom).

My two pairs had the ( + ) on the right side (all four speakers - looking directly at the rear of the speaker).

Shine a bright light on the plate, in case there isn’t sufficient natural light where you have them set up.

@lee59  Were you able to get your DIs setup and listen to them?

The Found Music 2A3 amps went into service yesterday, driving the Tekton DI SEs.

This is an amp that was specifically built for a speaker with an 8 Ohm impedance (6 to 9 Ohm range). As you all know, the SEs are rated 4 Ohm impedance. These amps still need more run time before fully settling in and coming into their own.

3.5 Watts are driving the SEs, at normal listening volumes for me, effectively and beautifully.

A testament to the breadth of amp pairings possible with the SEs (and DIs) and the different approaches one can take in building their systems with the Tekton speakers.

I continue to be impressed with the T+A amp...in this case it’s Single Ended pre-outs, feeding the 2A3 amp.

Also want to reiterate that the T+A - SE pairing will continue to serve as my primary system. The 2A3 amps will be mated to speakers which are yet to be decided.

The SEs and this 2A3 amp are a wonderful pairing and an effective one for a far wider range of music than I expected and at higher volume levels than I anticipated. 

@corelli  It is surprising how many speaker options exist that pair well with a 3.5W amp, so the search is taking a fair amount of time... I have barely scratched the surface.

Lead is the Tekton Array...Paul Elliot's // part-time audiophile RMAF 2018 : A Critical Eye  ...for those of you who like photographs:

https://parttimeaudiophile.com/2018/11/10/rmaf-2018-a-critical-eye/

Congratulations to Eric Alexander and the Tekton Design Team!

Positive Feedback Writer's Choice Awards 2018....

Steve Lefkowicz: Tekton Design Impact Monitor

"This is the third Tekton Design speaker that I've given a Writer's Choice award in the last six years. Simply put, Tekton's designer Eric Alexander just keeps designing speakers that hit every major point that I hold important in a set of speakers, and at prices that a self-avowed bargain hunter like me can appreciate. Though I didn't review the Tekton Impact Monitors, I did get to live with the review set that Victor Chavira wrote about in Issue 98 (HERE) or a few months.

Though viewed as small speakers in comparison to Tekton's larger floor standing models, the Impact Monitor is no mini-monitor, but very much in that traditional near-two-cubic-foot size. They may look much like the top two feet of the Double Impact, but use different drivers and port arrangement. They of course use Tekton's patented tweeter array, where the six outer drivers are driven as a super lightweight midrange driver (above about 1000Hz) with only the center tweeter used for the highest frequencies.

Highly efficient like all Tekton speakers, I used amplifiers from 15 to 100 wpc (both solid state and tube) with great results. Like the larger Double Impact that I gave my award to last year, the Impact Monitor excels in the categories of detail retrieval, natural tonality, dynamic expression and sound-staging. Maybe not so surprising, these speakers were solid into the mid 30 Hz range in my room, and needed no subwoofer for any music I chose to play. In many ways, they may actually perform better in my room than the Double Impact.

What more can you ask for?"

https://positive-feedback.com/audio-discourse/the-15th-annual-positive-feedback-writers-choice-award...

Positive Feedback Writer's Choice Awards 2018....

Victor Chavira: Tekton Design Impact Monitor

"Rarely does an audio component cause me to completely reevaluate my ideas and experience about our musical hobby. The Tekton Design Impact Monitor is such a product. With its unconventional ring of one-inch dome drivers operating down to 1 kHz, the Impact Monitor projects an open, detailed, and dynamic sound commensurate with speakers of $10,000 or more. The Impact Monitors are near full range stand mount speakers that produce deep, articulate, and balanced bass in my 20' by 13' living room. With its 95 dB sensitivity rating, I found the Double Impact's exemplary macro and micro dynamic responsiveness highly engaging. My stalwart 60 watts Bel Canto C7R integrated ($3000) paired very well and reinvigorated the listening experience in my home. Furthermore, having recently been connected to an $8000 20-watts tube integrated for several weeks, the Double Impacts revealed unparalleled harmonic nuance, depth of resolution, and emotional expressiveness. Approached with an open mind, the Tekton Double Impact Monitors will reward the listener with hours upon hours of musical enjoyment as they have for me during the last six months. Therefore, I positively confer my 2018 Writer's Choice to the Tekton Design Impact Monitor speakers with distinction."

https://positive-feedback.com/audio-discourse/the-15th-annual-positive-feedback-writers-choice-award...

Hope everyone is recovering from a wonderful Thanksgiving, though I'm sure we are not burning off calories as quickly as Bill is!

A couple of points regarding the Tekton SEs.

I have a new preamp in system and the results are remarkable...one of the differences (for me) between the Ulfberths and SEs was the greater body, weight and fullness of the Ulfs. With this preamp in system, that gap has narrowed (significantly). Note: I used [was]. Also Note: Room Size remains a factor.

With this Pre ahead of it, the 2A3 amp is driving the SEs to volumes beyond what I will ever need, including large scale orchestral music. 

My conclusion, the SEs can be successfully driven by low power amps and will greatly respond to and deliver on (a wide genre of music), based on specific choices of amplification used [both pre and amp].

Amps used in this comparison are the:

- Found Music 2A3
- T+A PA 3100 HV
- Pass XA30.8

@grannyring   Bill, sure. I was going to add an additional post more preamp specific, but I got pulled away for family stuff. I'll try to get that out later today or tomorrow.

The preamplifier is the Grandinote Genesi.

@charles1dad Thank You! The Found Music 2A3 has me reconsidering everything. Everything.

I had promised a preamp update and I haven’t forgotten, but it needs to wait until I have the right connectors and cabling in system. Run in time for the cables will add another week. I should have a good feel for system performance with the new preamp, the Grandinote Genesi, and the Found Music 2A3 amps by mid December at the latest.

I have already experienced a taste of what’s in store and it is amazing.

@grannyring  Bill, Thank You. I realize most would have chosen a tubed preamp. I went with with I was hearing, my preferences, and a desire for a preamp that would allow for (as much as possible) the preservation of the Found Music 2A3's 'sound' / 'impact.' In the end, I decided a solid state preamp would be a better fit (for me and my system). The Robert Koda Takumi K-10 was my top choice.

@mac48025  Tom, It's wonderful hearing your findings on what Hornshoppe's The Truth has brought to your system. As you know, I was strongly considering it, but decided I needed active gain and the build I wanted (when a non-gain pre was a possibility) wasn't available in the near term.

@2psyop If your budget is maxed out at 4K, then go with the DI-SEs. Your Line Magnetic 216ia, as Charles pointed out, will be a great amp pairing for the DI-SEs.

Folks, correct me if I am wrong on this: I believe that Eric tried to establish a dealer program but it never took or he pulled back from it. The good news is that the pricing dropped due to the dealer margin being eliminated from the models that were initially offered via the dealer program.

It is hard to believe the sensitivity of such large speakers can be driven with low tube watts

@2psyop   I drove my SEs with a 2A3 amp and my music choices range far wider than yours. Your LM amp will cruise. : )

Good to hear from old friends on this thread.

Hear! hear!  @corelli  

fyi, my SEs have found a new home. Eric is really impressed and is enjoying them thoroughly.

Here's something that should make multiple camps happy...

Billy (Steve Guttenberg's YouTube Channel) commenting on the Tekton Double Impacts  starting at ~ 5:50 minute mark.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RxRTFx6Cd0

Backing this up with evidence, is a recent experience between two Cardas XLR to RCA adaptors. Cardas carries two versions in their accessory line up. 

Differences between both adaptors with the same cables were readily and clearly apparent and my prefered choice an easy pick.

The SEs were able to showcase this, with ease. 

@corelli  That stood out for me as well. As you say, it's really quite remarkable.

In Billy's case with the DIs. The SEs and Encores and Ulfberths take the same up a few more notches.

Keeping up, at least with my audio related New Year resolutions.....

A reminder for doing the following (which most of you are):

Tightened the driver units on my SEs. There was no play in the tweeter array, very minor play in the two accompanying mid-range drivers, AND definite play in the bass woofer screws.

Also applied Caig DeoxIT to the Cardas Binding Posts and Speaker Cable terminations.

Result: tighter sound and imaging. 

Shout out for advice. Eric is able to custom spec the drivers for the Perfect SET. They come stock with the tweeter array drivers and 12 inch woofer from the Ulfberths.

Any suggestions or recommendations from those of you who "know their drivers"? The BE tweeters are an option, but I’d rather go with something else. Thanks.

@corelli  Fantastic advice. And so very true! Thank you.

Eric is very open to customizing the Perfect SET. When I spoke with him he was working on a Perfect SET with a 15 inch bass driver for a client. 

The Perfect SET is also setup to accommodate the BE tweeters that he uses in the BE Ulfberth. 

I will be following his lead, but figured it was worth asking since some of you have changed out drivers, etc. on various Tekton models.

I am open to tweaking the crossovers, wiring, etc., should Eric agree to and endorse those changes. 

@mikirob   I'm considering the Perfect SET speaker to pair with my 2A3 / 8Ohm amp. I also have other speakers that are high or higher on my list.

The 2A3 pairing with the Tekton SEs has so far exceeded expectations, that it is (most unexpectedly) complicating my speaker choice.

If I move forward with the Perfect SET, it will likely be with custom drivers, which Eric will install. In other words, this will not be a DIY effort.

I believe Mike Kay of Audio Archon is receiving a stock Perfect SET pair soon. You may want to reach out to him, as well.

I was just wondering where you were at in your speaker search. So, what are your priorities in the sound you are after and what are you willing to give up? (there’s always a compromise, right?)

@corelli Great questions.

I’ve been ’wandering’ in the search. Lately, it has felt more like ’flailing’ : )

Top choices are the Cube Audio Nenuphar, Voxativ, and Horning Eufrodite Ellipse (and a few others).

The primary goal is for a synergistic pairing with Scott Sheaffer’s Found Music 2A3 amp. I now have the Grandinote Genesi solid state Preamp ahead of it and I am moving towards a full analog signal cable loom from Scott Sheaffer (his silver 2112 ICs and E+ SC).

At this point, with the T+A PA 3100 HV / SR cabling based system and the system described above, sound quality is superlative.

Therefore "priorities in sound" are mainly focused on increasing naturalness, realism, and my emotional connection.

I expect gains to be slight, but am hopeful for a shift in Gestalt and a ’higher level’ whole, when all the elements come together.

The other top priority is to learn about and experience different speaker design and approaches.