Tekton Double Impacts

The Tekton design principle is that in order to accurately reproduce the full range of timbral harmonics that are the hallmark of the various instruments the moving mass of the driver must be close to the moving mass of the instrument. A single big massive midrange simply cannot accurately replicate the sonic signature of a much less massive violin or guitar string, for example. But a whole bunch of much smaller lower mass drivers can do this easily.

It is this conceptual leap of genius that renders moot the old school paradigm of having to use big expensive drivers. So its not only foolish to dismiss this as a fad, its technologically ignorant, and luddite as well. Dismissing actual reviewer listening impressions without any first hand knowledge to the contrary is pure arrogance.

grey9hound is, if anything, being kind.

I know just how you feel. When I was a little kid and someone showed me just how childish my reasons were I took it personally and my feelings were hurt. Sometimes acting out of frustration I called these people names. Eventually I grew up, learned to separate my personal self from what are really just intellectual positions, and found not only are my feelings no longer hurt (as much- its always a little painful to be proven wrong) but it actually helped me to think more clearly.

Its a little late in the game to be still acting all adolescent but hey, you never know, you may yet mature into a grown up with a grown up mind. Maybe some day. I hope so. I really do.

For quite a number of years now I've bought all my gear based entirely on on-line research. Would greatly prefer home audition but that's just not possible. Not once the field is narrowed down to the one or two best in value/best in class. 

One of the things I have learned in doing all these searches and reading all these comments is to completely disregard anything and everything that is not owner or at least first hand experience. Actually I learned that long before I started doing this. They keep on writing it, oh well.

Actual user comments on the other hand are gold. Especially when they run against the grain of the common wisdom. When something is popular it takes a certain strength of character to have the courage to say the Emperor has no clothes. But when something is new and different then you take on a certain degree of risk in saying its marvelous. Even if it is.

Tekton is a pretty good example of this. Everything about Tekton from their design principle to the owner and even manufacture and sales, its all a little unusual. You say something positive, you open yourself up to attack from people totally clueless with no knowledge whatsoever. Some so totally determined to complain instead of admitting they have nothing to say they fall back on... well never mind.

Another thing I learned is how to find value even in the negative stories. If there's a lot of them, doesn't matter what they are, run. Never had that happen yet. But if there's hardly any that says something too. Especially in the inter web age, where one bad experience can be broadcast around the world instantly.

Not seeing anything here that worries me. Got a pretty fine system right now, if I do say so myself. If I was to win the Lottery, my first call would be to Eric to order some Ulfs. Then to Raven for a Reflection MkII. And Peter for a Hyperion. Yeah. I know. Dream on. But that's the company I put Tekton in.

Too funny. I tried for the better part of 2 years to get good sound from HT. Actually it was probably more like 4. Whatever it was, I gave it the college try. Brought a slew of processors home, full range surrounds, everything. Nothing sounds good once you run it through HT. Nothing. By far the best center channel is two good stereo speakers running stereo. By far. When I say, "by far" I worry someone may think this means by audiophile standards. No. It means so obvious your wife who thinks everything else is imaginary, over the top and nuts says, "No way!" and "How can it suck so bad?" when she hears HT.

The world is currently in the grips of several even greater mass delusions, but the superiority of multichannel and in particular the need for a center channel is always out there ready to take it’s rightful place at the top of the heap the minute we come to our senses on the other two.

Hi Tekton lovers,
I wanted to ask you for an advice.
I’m trying to build an hifi system around a pair of Double Impacts.
Going to order Don Sach’s preamp and need your opinion on power amp: I’m between Audio Van Alstine Vision Set 400 and Pass Labs XA25.
I’d really want to buy a Pass’ gear, since years. But can any of you mention if that would a good idea? The Impacts have good sensitivity, but they’re massive and Eric mentioned they like power. The XA25 reaches 50W at 4ohm and can go to 200W A/B class into 2ohm. Do you think it’s a good match? Any of you uses the Pass Labs XA25 with the DI’s?
Thanks:)

A Raven Blackhawk will probably sound better for a lot less money than separates. I’m using a 50WPC tube integrated with my Tekton Moabs and that is way more power than needed even at very high SPL in my 17x24x9 room. No way I would ever go looking for more power. More sound quality, sure. If more sound quality happens to come with more power, fine. But I would never go looking for power for power’s sake.

The next amp I want is the 50WPC Raven Reflection. But they are so long to make I will probably be getting a Blackhawk first. 20WPC. Am I worried about having "only" 20WPC? Not in the least. Does Eric say Moabs like power? He does. Pretty sure he says that about all of them. The Perfect SET is made for single digit watt amps, I bet he says that one likes more power too. Some things you learn to take with a grain of salt.

We are not trying to control each other's buying behavior.

I'm clearly now on Team Moab. Super percussive speaker, but not bloaty. Rarified midrange and layers.  

 Sometimes you get something that is truly breathtaking, and why not "give it away"?

Right. I live for the comments from people who are genuinely enthusiastic and excited. Only thing better is when they are emotionally captivated. Who wants the component that makes people go, "Meh"?