Tekton Double Impacts

Guys this is this is my first post here in Audiogon. I am based in India. I am primarily a vinyl guy. I have the Rethm Saadhana V 3 speakers and a custom made Berning class A zero feedback fully balanced 6b4g ZOTL 10 Watt amp. The 6b4g tube is basically a 2a3 in an octal.

I just placed my order for a DI SE.

I would personally like to thank Teajay, Mike, Charles1dad and obviously Eric for guiding me in my purchase

Thanks Charles.

Thanks Mac48025. You should probably also look at the Berning amp using the 6b4g tube. It’s zero feedback class A ZOTL amp and uses quite a bit of the technology found in his uber expensive 211/845 amp. The 6b4g is basically a 2a3 in an octal. In the past I have owned a 2a3 amp with Dave Slage nickel based output transformers, nickel based interstage  transformers and chokes. 

In the Berning 64bg amp you get all the magic of the 2a3. 

He sells this amp direct. It’s a hand made amp. So you don’t get a great looking finished product but that’s more than made up with the quality of the sound. Incidentally this is the amp Berning uses for his personal listening. 

I have been using the Berning 6b4g amp now for nearly a year. Mine was the first 6b4g amp Berning built. In fact he has even etched his signature on the amp. 

In the past I have used Dehavilland 845 Aries SET monoblocs with their Mercury preamp, a Rethm Gaanam amp, Vinnie Rossi’s amp, a customised 2a3 SET amp using Dave Slagle components including his nickel based output transformer along with his auto former vol control

I personally feel the Berning amp is way ahead. It captures all the magic of a 2a3 SET amp along with great extension and amazing dynamics. 

sbayne, the Berning is a push pull, class A, zero feedback, fully differential balanced, ZOTL amp. On the rear panel you can have a toggle switch between xlr and rca input. So technically you can have two sources connected. One via xlr and one via rca.   I have gone with only the xlr input. The amp has four stages of power filtration including power factor correction. There are two LEDs on the front panel whose colour keeps changing between greenish orange to more greenish orange depending on impedance load. The colour the LED shows also indicates if there’s any problem with the amp. For example it will go red if a tube goes. No biasing is required.

The amp puts out 10 watts at 8 ohms and 12 watts at 4 ohms.

There is a toggle switch in the front panel which gives you option of two output impedance - 2.8 ohms and 2 ohms. At 2.8 ohms output impedance it puts out 5.4 watts. And at 2 ohms impedance it puts out 10 watts.

And yes it costs around USD 7000.

Above are the specs of my amp. I do not know if any changes have been made in his current version.

David Berning also custom makes a 300b class A, SET, ZOTL amp. I was actually more keen on that amp but David Berning was of the opinion the 6b4g, push pull, ZOTL was a superior option. So went with it. In the past the 300b SET was Bernings personal amp. Now he has moved to the 6b4g push pull amp

Thanks Teajay for another great review. I am so happy it will not work in my room😊 

Happy new year to everyone.

Congrats Mac48025 and david_ten on your new DI SE.😊

I too received mine. Set it up yesterday. Initial impressions are very good.

Would like to thank teajay, mike kay, charles1dad and david_ten for their inputs and guidance 

Mac48025, do you fire the speakers straight? Are you using the one third placement principle for the SE too like you mentioned you did for the DI?

Eric suggested I fire the speakers straight or toe them out by 5-15 degrees

Thanks mac48025. I also pretty much ended up at the one third placement position. Have you toed your speakers in or out? Eric suggested out

Even I was surprised. Once they have run in a bit will try toe out