Tekton Double Impacts

My review on the Double Impacts has been submitted to my editor at hometheaterreview.com and hopefully will be put up in the next couple of weeks.  This speaker is shocking in regard to its overall performance, and when you put in its price it's one of the greatest bargains that I know of in high-end audio.  Remember not just great for the money, this is a reference level speaker that competes with anything on the market today.  Laugh if you want about Eric's explanation of his patient, my ears let me know he has created a beautiful musical speaker that sounds different in certain ways then other designs.

Hi Mofogo,

I never liked the Pendragon  model.  I know it was called the "Wilson killer" because it was voiced like that company's house sound.  Kinda in your face, potent bass, and I hated that Focal sourced tweeter.  The Pendragon would be great in home theater systems or for folks who want to play loud, like your at a rock concert.

The Double Impact is a qualitative shift from sounding like an analytical/electrical device to beautiful tonality/timbres, 3D imaging, all the micro-details without the etch found in many very detailed speakers.  I won't go into all the details, but I think you get the message, I found the Pendragon Speakers annoying to listen to, and bought a pair of up-graded Double Impact Speakers.

A final note, the Double Impact are so transparent/neutral you will hear the signature of what ever you drive them with.  The magic I'm getting with them is being produced by a Concert Fidelity hybrid -040 DAC and  Tube Linear Audio's combo of the MicroZOTL preamp and the ZOTL-40 amplifier. Just beautiful sound is reproduced in this system

Hey Mofojo,

My own taste in music revolves around jazz from the late forties until the early seventies (Blue Note, Impluse, Prestige, West coast labels).  However, for reviewing proposes I used many hard funk, and rock records to evaluate the DI's performance regarding dynamics/punch and they handled with ease anything I throw at them.   The DI did not make rotten recorded music sound great, however it still drew out the best of what could be done with these recordings.

For mac48025

I believe that Linear Tube Audio is also one of the greatest bargains in high-end audio along with the DI speakers.  David Berning is another genius and how Mark has brought his design to the market for regular folks who could not afford Berning's much more expensive line is a blessing for music lovers (Just like Eric's DI speakers) .  Believe me, based on a lot of listening experience the ZOTL pair is as good as anything out there.  Think of the color/timbres of a 300B amplifier with the balls, speed, and kick of a 845 tube!  And for tube gear its dead quite.

To my brother from another mother, Mykeryte (Mike)

In the spirit of discussion about were the DI would fit into the overall perspective of reference level speakers, regardless of price, we have a honest but passionate disagreement between to listeners, professional  reviewers, and friends regarding what you hear and my experience of the DI compared to your series-1 Wilson Sashas speakers.  One big difference between me, you, and Allan is both of you love to hear music at much/much higher volume levels then I do.  This does not imply that the DI will not effortlessly play over 100dB with ease, however in my opinion, regardless of the room/system the individual players will start to sound "larger then life" which is not a natural presentation to me.  So, next time you come over I'll let you pick the volume level that sounds right for your ears.

I totally respect your love of your Sashas speakers, but historically I always felt they were one of the most over rated speakers I had listened to in many systems.  The series-1 had the Focal inverted dome tweeter which after a short while of listening to the speaker I always found it quite annoying and very unpleasant to the point of not wanting to stick around.  Finally, when Wilson could not score Focal's tweeter anymore they finally went to a silk dome tweeter and I found the series-2 Sashas a much better sounding speaker.  Even with this improvement I have always found Wilson speakers to sound like good speakers that measure great/do everything right/,except make music.  When I was at your house and heard the Lawrence Audio Double Bass speakers which you reviewed I liked them a lot more then your Wilson speakers.

I had as my reference transducers in my big rig the Lawrence Audio Cello speakers for over five years and enjoyed them, and still do in my smaller system, which retail for $18,000.00 and they were out performed by the DI!
The DI is not just great for the money, it's a reference level speaker, regardless of the cost and I believe, stated with respect, if you had them in your house you might discover they out perform your Wilson's just like they outperformed my Lawrence speakers.

 

Hi Mike,

I had a conversation with Eric regarding your very positive comments about the performance of the DI speakers at my home and in Allan's listening room.  He was also aware of our respectful disagreement concerning were the DI speakers place in the pantheon of reference speakers, including your pair of series-1 Wilson Sasha speakers.

If the readers of this thread don't know already, you are Mike Wright, staff reviewer for the Stereo Times website.  In my humble opinion, your one of the best and brightest writers on that website.

So here's the "challenge" we came up with that would be a lot of fun and at the same time be very informative for the Audiogon members.  As soon as I get my pair of up-graded DI speakers that I purchased (about two or three weeks) I'll make arrangements to get the audition pair of the basic DI's to your house so you can with your own gear, music, and acoustic space make a side by side comparison of the DI and your Sasha speakers.  Maybe, you can talk to your editor, Mr. Perry, if he would be interested in having you do a formal review for Stereo Times.  If not, at least you could share your experience here on Audiogon. I'll do all the heavy lifting to get them to your house, you just have the fun of hearing what you think of their performance when you get them in your own environment.  I believe this would be very interesting  experience to see what your conclusion would be comparing a $3,000.00 speaker to a speaker that retails for over $25,000.00 when you can spend time listening to it on your own home turf!  

Let me know if you accept this good natured "challenge"

Thanks, Teajay   

The review on the DI will go up on hometheaterreview.com on the 20 (Monday) of this month.  Hope you guys enjoy reading it.

Hey Guys,

This morning I'm listening to Keith Jarrett's, "The Cure" Album that was recorded live at Town Hall, New York.  With the DI it seems I'm in the hall with the rest of the audience.  I still find the experience with the DI a remarkable one, not just because of the price to performance ratio, which is off the charts, but because of the beauty of the music that it creates in my listening room.  

I just hope the rest of the Audiogon members will just use their ears and not get caught up in how much these speakers cost compared to high-end reference marque speaker brands so they too will have the pleasure of having maybe the best illusion of live music in their rooms that they ever heard.

Because of my reviews here on Audiogon I was offered the job of becoming a staff reviewer for hometheaterreview.com.  So, this site is still my "home" so to speak.  All you guys on this thread are great at sharing important information and helping other members learn about new great products that come out on the market.  

I still would suggest that you hear the DI with the Tube Linear Audio gear combo, or at least the Micro-ZOTL preamp, this combination will compete with any system regardless of price, I will stake my reputation, for what it's worth, on this assertion.  Just like the Tekton's policy, you have a 30 day return policy with TLA and Mark and his son Will are great guys, just like Eric.

Hope, you all enjoy my review tomorrow, it just tries to articulate what the owner's of the DI know already, its a GREAT speaker! 

Hi corelli,

I totally agree with lancelock that the Linear Tube Audio's combo really gets you the magic, a lot more then just using the ZOTL-40 by its self (It has a passive volume control).  I believe that you get more of the magic by using the Micro-ZOTL preamp with a very good amplifier, either SS or tube, it gets you most of the beauty you want in your system, the combo takes you all the way there.

Hey corelli,

It's great that you having such pleasure listening to all kinds of music through your system and DI's!  I find them explosive/alive, yet so musical and natural sounding on all the types of music I have played through them.  

I just got in-house a CEC Tl-N3 transport, my usual transport is the big MBL reference, the DI's are so transparent that I heard the difference immediately between the two transports.  So, all the little micro-details are easy to hear, but not in an etchy/analytic way.   

Hey corelli,

Please take my word for this, the LTA Micro-ZOTL preamplifier is the electronic version of the Tekton Design DI's.  Both are as good as anything on the market today, if not better, and each is very inexpensive compared to everything else.  

I'm sure your system is "singing already", however you owe it to yourself to try the LTA piece when you can.  Remember, you get a 30 day trail from Mark and if it does not blow your socks off, just return it. I sold off a highly regarded 20K tube based linestage that sounded 2D, washed out, and wimpy compared to the Micro-ZOTL.

Hey corelli,

First, I agree that the good threads on the GON, like this one is, are great at providing information that is useful/helpful to the readers.  The threads that revolve around who's right or wrong are kinda silly and are just rants with individuals getting their ego's in the discussion.

Secondly,  my first love is the music and then comes the fun of putting together a system with great synergy that creates the illusion that the musicians are in my room.  I have been very lucky in the hobby that even though I'm a hard working middle class person I had enough $ to put together systems that allowed me to come home, and just relax in front of my two channel rig and dig the music, mainly jazz.

I have also been lucky to be able for years to hear, either in my home or other listener's systems, most of the highest regarded equipment that was on the market at that time.  Now that I professionally review it's even easier to get the latest/greatest gear in-house to see how good it's performance really is.

You have no idea how often I'm kinda shocked that some of the most expensive gear is lousy, regardless of its price, yet other reviewers rave about in their writings.  My greatest pleasure is finding the true "gems" of our hobby that transcend the cost vs. performance ratio and blow apart this equation so anybody who loves music can put together a system that allows them this experience and still is affordable.

I have less tolerance for individuals then I used to, that rigidity believe that if a piece of gear does not cost a shit load of $ it can't really be any good or just buy on a "bling factor" to show off their new toy. I rather hang out with the true music lovers like the guys on this thread. 

Hi corelli,

The pair that I ordered are in black piano lacquer with silver flakes.

The DI's in my system are placed on Star Sound Technologies Sistrum Apprentice Platforms which make a remarkable difference regardless of what speaker is placed on them.  These platforms truly are game changers, dropping the noise floor, tightening the bottom end, much higher clarity, and the speed/dynamics pick up dramatically.

If your interested in the Apprentice stands/platforms give Robert a call at 877-668-4332 and tell him I say hello. 

Hey david_ten,

Thanks for the kind words.  

Would you please share with us some details about how your DI's are performing for you! I surely would like to know what you think.

Hi Guys,

Of course I stopped by Mike's (Audio Archon) last night to hear his pair of DI SE speakers.  First, they looked very sexy indeed with their piano black lacquer with embedded sliver particles.  Secondly, with no hours on them, cold out of the crates they sounded great!  I know the question you all want to ask, do they sound significantly better then the standard DI's that I reviewed?  Well, I can't answer the question right now.  Even though Mike was using the linear Tube Audio combo ( the 10 watt EL-84 amp, instead of the ZOTL-40), same cables, and digital front end as my system I did not have enough listening experience, along with that the DI SE's not yet totally settled -in and Mike will work out the perfect placement of them in his room to come to any rational decision.  I will have to wait for my pair of the SE's to compare them in the same system/acoustic environment to the standard model, which I still have in the house, which will lead to a full review on them for hometheaterreview.com.

Corelli, Mike just called me with great excitement with the the news that he had just driven the SE's with the MICRO-ZOTL preamplifier/amplifier ( all of one watt) with out any problems regarding volume levels and it was a thing of beauty!  He uses 6SN7 Tungsol black glass oval plate 1940's NOS tubes in the MICRO-ZOTL, so I can imagine the beauty of the timbres and the 3D space he was hearing.

Just spent about six hours at Mike's listening room and had a amazing experience listening to the DI"s being driven by the Micro-ZOTL which delivers a "Whopping" 1 watt!  However, that one watt was created by using the 6SN7 TungSol Black Glass Oval Plate NOS 1940 in a SET format.

Without any difficulties either in volume levels or Macro-dynamics on many types of music the DI's delivered stunning beauty in timbres, 3D meat on the bone imaging, a floating sound-stage in which the speakers completely vanished and finally a purity that I don't know if I had every experienced before.  All on ONE WATT!

For david_ten

1) Well, if 2 feet off the front wall is the best you can do, so be it.  However, if you can get closer to 3 or 4 feet you will reap many more benefits from your DI's.

2) Put the spikes on your speaker, it will make a BIG difference, regardless of the platform/board you have them on.

3) You got it pretty right regarding the space between them, with a slight toe-in and where you sit.

david_ten

One correction on my last post for you.  I recommend that you experiment closing the distance between your speakers to seven feet from the center of each speaker from ten feet.

I just spent four hours listening to the DI's being driven only by the Micro-ZOTL preamplifier/amplifier, instead of the ZOTL-40 Micro-ZOTL combo in my system and it significantly out preformed the pair!

Across the sonic board- sound-staging, imaging , timbres, etc. the Micro-ZOTL was better, but what really shocks me is that the overall dynamics and the quality of the bass frequencies are better then the forty watt amplifier.  As I said when I heard this in Mike's system it might be the "purist" reproduction of music I have ever heard.  Well, it is a SET using the great 6SN7 TongSol Black Glass Oval Plate NOS 1940's tube, which I find to be one of the most beautiful input tubes of all.  Now I know what it sounds like as a power tube. 

So, at least with the DI's the LTA preamp/amplifier is all you need to get beautiful reference level quality sound without out any downsides regarding volume levels/macro-dynamics.  The only other factor that Mike and I discovered is that Micro-ZOTL and DI's combo sounds great with a reasonable good DAC, however it jumps up to another level when being driven by the Concert Fidelity-battery powered DAC.



 

Hi gentlemen,

If you think you guys are surprised, just imagine my shock at hearing this the last couple of days!

As far as playing "complex symphonic orchestral music" how about Copland's "FANFARE FOR THE COMMON MAN" at over 100Db with prefect clarity and room pressuring bass/dynamics or Radiohead's ARNESIAC with my very large room being shaken because of the bass lines.

So, mac48025 I don't know how loud you like to play certain music, but for me the Micro-ZOTL provides as much volume I need on all types of music.  I agree with you Charles all types of SET/low watt amps would work wonderfully with the DI's.  Mike is going to try his Concert Fidelity 300B amp in the next couple of days.     

My dear friend and AUDIOGON member Allan, he was the one who hosted the last Chicago Audiophile Society meeting at his house to show case his pair of DI's, was patiently shocked at what he heard tonight with the setup we have been discussing recently.  He brought over Upscale Audio's Speaker Setup CD that has a wide range of music styles, all recorded at a reference level.  He listened to the entire CD and then grinned/smiled and clapped over what he heard.  He was still shaking his head over, "how could one Watt" deliver the volume levels and ass-kick overall dynamics/punch and room shaking powerful bass that he had heard and felt on many of the cuts off this CD.  He also believed it was the best sound-staging and placement he had ever heard.

Allan, said, " nobody is going to believe us for two reasons: 1) one watt cannot do this.  2) to inexpensive, both the ZOTL and the DI's don't cost enough for the high brows in our hobby."

You guys get it, and we can reap the joy of beautiful music without depleting our $ resources. 

Hi corelli,

I have never heard that specific Audio Note amplifier.  I have experienced both AN of England and Japan very expensive amplifiers and really don't think they are worth the $ compared to both Concert Fidelity and LTA pre-amps and amplifiers.  The legendary Kondo was some what of a let down for me when I finally got to hear one.

david-ten

No, there would be no amplification section in a pure Pre/DAC combo. Remember the Micro-ZOTL is a line-stage , head phone amp, and a SET speaker amplifier with connections for speaker wires.

Hey snopro,

I too have had virtually all the highly regarded 67SN7's in my collection, including the Sylvania 1950's bad boys, and for my taste I still greatly prefer the TungSol 1940's tube.  I fine them to the most natural/real sounding in their tone and unbelievably 3D in their imaging with an overall liquidity from top to bottom.

Yes, very expensive these days, but not over rated in my opinion.

Hey david_ten,

If you have not read my review on HTR on Tekton's very innovative Sigma OB speaker, which is an absolutely wonderful sounding speaker, and I gave a PRODUCT OF A YEAR AWARD, to get the details how Eric figured out how to avoid any electrical EQ  to get the bass frequencies right.  I love planar speakers sound-staging except for how they sometimes enlarge individual images and lack focus in location on the sound-stage and how OB designs can create a planar like sound-stage without these difficulties.

However, I believe the DI's do everything an OB design can do plus many more virtues that are talked about on this thread.

Hey cmss2000,

My go to man for the best quality tubes is Brent Jesse Audio.  I trust the quality of his tubes and he's great to talk to regarding getting the sound you are looking for in different brands of tubes.

Congrats cmss2000,

As mac48025 mentioned the spikes are to be found in one of end caps and you really don't know what your speakers can sound like with out them.  If you did not special order your pair with grills, there are none to find.

Concerning the Micro-ZOTL the one I purchased was the review demo with the stock tubes. It sounded very good with stock tubes, but nothing like the level of performance after rolling in a pair of Sylviana NOS Gold Brand 12AT7's and the TungSol NOS Black Glass oval plate 6SN7's.

Gentlemen,

The combo of the LTA Micro-ZTOL/ZOTL-40 offers some of the most beautiful sound, regardless of $, that I have ever had in my home system.  However, when compared to the MicroZOTL used as an integrated amplifier driving the standard DI's the combo sounds almost " a bit rough around the edges" when it comes another level of transparency, finesse of timbres/tonality, precise 3D imaging, and overall liquidity/ease that brings you closer to the music in a relaxing way.  The 6SN7 used as a power tube, at least the TungSol NOS Black Glass Oval plate, has the color and texture of a 300B, yet the speed/pop of a 211 to my ears.  I can sit for hours on end and get totally lost in the music because of this combination of color/transparency/the ability to easily hear all the micro-details, and an overall "ease" to the sound.  It's the best illusion of live music I have ever had in my system.  

I too, still find it hard to believe that in my very large listening room, you can see a picture of my system on Tekton's website under the blog section, that as far as sane ultimate volume levels I play to get to the sweet spot on all types of music in my acoustic space there is no loss of overall dynamics, no attenuation either of high or low end frequencies, or that sense of aliveness found in music being played in real time is being lost at all.  Now, remember this in the context, and I'm very lucky regarding my acoustic space and the synergy of the rest of the gear in my system that feeds the LTA amp before it drives the DI's to get these qualities I'm experiencing, so results might vary in each system depending on many factors.  However, I would find it hard to believe that anyone would not find the LTA gear and the DI's just a wonderful combination and one of the greatest price to performance bargains in high-end audio.

  

Hey sproket75,

You are more the welcome to come hear the DI's at my home.  Just send me an Email at terryjaylondon@gmail.com

Just put back the ZOTL-40 amplifier back in the system for some listeners who wanted some Jimi Hendrix and James Brown at "party" level DB levels.  Well, the DI's with forty watts stayed absolutely clean with no distortion/strain at all and shook the room.  This was at levels that you don't want to listen to for very long time periods, unless you don't care about going deaf!

Hey mac48025,

For my personal taste both in music, mainly acoustic jazz, and volume levels, mainly based on the size of the instruments/singer, along with dynamics about 95% of the time I'm fine without the ZOTL-40 amp.  For a matter of fact I'm going to start experimenting with the  Micro-ZOTL driving SET 2A3 or 300B based amps in the next couple of weeks.  This should be very interesting, can I get the overall power/pop of the Micro-ZOTL and all the meat on the bones and color of either of these tubes?  Going from the 1 watt of the Micro-ZOTL as an amp to either 4 or 8 watts for the SET amps could be a match made in heaven!  The combo of LTA is still world class, these other combinations will give different tastes and this experimenting is possible because the DI's are such an easy load to drive.

Just got through, about five hours, of listening to a SET 2A3 (3.5 watts into 4 ohms) being driven buy the Micro-ZOTL as a preamp into the DI's.  

This combo was very sweet, colorful, rich with lots of "meat on the bone" imaging.  However, it did not have the overall dynamic drive/pop, bass control, transparency, and ultimate volume levels of the Micro-ZOTL used as an amplifier.  Remember the Micro-ZOTL is 1 watt into 4 ohms, yet it's control of the DI's bottom end and its usable Db levels were better then the 3.5 watts of the SET amplifier.

Yet, on the right musical selections, (vocals, small group jazz) the SET 2A3 amp sounded beautiful with the DI's. 

Gentlemen,

I'm amending my conclusion regrading that the SET 2A3 was some what lacking in over Db levels/dynamics/transparency compared to the Micro-ZOTL used as an amplifier.

I discovered after I posted that I had not total disengaged a volume control on the SET amplifier that was leading to the prior shortcomings that I had talked about.  Now, the Micro-ZOTL as a line-stage with the SET 2A3 is a magical combo on all types of music and will play at higher volume levels, with great bottom end control, then the Micro-ZOTL by itself through the DI's.

Hey corelli,

I do not have the Melody 300B anymore.  I have nothing but respect for Melody's products, very well built and they sound great.  That particular amp was my reference for about a year in my big system.  

So, shortly I hope to have in  house a pair of mono-block SET 300B amps (10 watts) to see how they will sound with the DI's.  These speakers are great in that you can virtually drive them with anything you want to get the overall sonic signature to match your personal taste in sound.

Right now I have three different, each one in its own right is terrific, ways to drive the DI's: Micro-ZOTL as an amp, the Micro-ZOTL/ZOTL-40amplifier, Micro-ZOTL as a line-stage/SET 2A3 amplifier.

This is Fun!

Hi nitewulf,

I believe your assumption regarding a mid-range/high frequency section produced by AMT's would be better than the DI's seven driver array is not valid.  My Lawrence Audio Cello loudspeakers use two highly regarded AMT transducers for these frequencies and yet the micro-details and the decays come no where close to Eric's design.

No offense to anyone who owns the Legacy speakers, however the Focus SE's are not on the same level, in my opinion, to the Cello's overall performance and the DI's displaced therm into my second smaller system

Hi Mofojo,

Yes, such as Pass Labs XA-60.8 mono-blocks/Accuphase-450 and it brought its special magic to these SS amplifiers.  When I was taking it around for people to hear it in their systems there were both tubed and SS based, the owners all agreed that it was superlative and better then their pre-amps, regardless of price.  I believe it sounds very different, more like real music, because of David Berning's ZOTL design, and it brings this to any system its placed in.  

I have reviewed both Backert Labs pieces and have listened to the Coincident SLS, all three are great performers.  However, they don't  do color, space, and dynamics the way the LTA does.

I would be very interested in what Charlies, because of respect for his ears, take would be on the comparing his SLS with the Micro-ZOTL in his system  

Hey guys,

Wanted to share after many hours of fun listening, that now my favorite combo driving the Dl's is the LTA Micro-ZOTL with a  SET 2A3 amplifier offering 3.5 watts at 4 ohms.
 
 Now get this! This SET 2A3 retails for only $1,200.00!  It's the Opera Consonance SET headphone/integrated amplifier.  My dear friend Mike Kay (CEO of Audio Archon) who by trade is a professional engineer performed surgery to remove totally out of the circuit the inexpensive volume control so the Micro-Zotl was directly driving the amplifier section. It was quite good before surgery, but now it kills it!  The purity/transparency and macro-dynamics have been unleashed.  I experience this combo as retaining the sheer power/dynamics, spatial qualities, and purity of the Micro-ZOTL used as an integrated amplifier, plus the color/timbres, and "meat on the bones" three-dimensional imaging that a 2A3 tube brings to the mix.  I had no problem with volume levels and dynamics with the Micro-ZOTL as a stand alone amplifier as I shared before, however you can hear what the extra 3 watts delivers when the music calls for it.

I scored this "little gem" from Quest For Sound.  If they have anymore in stock I would go for it.  Remember, to get what I'm hearing now you will have to modify it yourself or pay the small charge to remove the volume control out of the circuit.  

My final experiment will be with 10 watt 300b mono-blocks that I will be getting hopefully in the next couple of weeks.  Right now I'm in "sonic heaven" with this combo.  Just think, world class performance with a pair of 3K speakers, that you can drive with anything, and electronics that retail for less then 3k!  The NOS tubes I use actually come close to the price of one of the pieces!  By the way I'm using a pair of NOS RCA 2A3 tubes and one  NOS RCA  5751 in the Opera amplifier     

Hey Charles,

Not only is fair to claim both of us are Jazz lovers I have Lee Morgan and Lester Young tattoos on my arms to prove it!

All the gear that you mention is still in-house in my smaller up-stairs system.  It's a great solid state system, however as we both know it does not sound like a great tube based system.  As one of my listening guests said ,"your up stair's system sounds like great HiFi, your down stairs system sounds like great music".

 I want to share I'm not a great fan of KT-88-120-150 based amplifiers because they sound "solid state-ish" to me.  I also find any gear ( Audio Research, BAT) that uses the Russian 30 super tube in its design quite unpleasant to my ears.

Now,  El-34's, 300B's, 211's, 2A3's, 845 based amps SET or Push Pull that sounds like music to me, with the right line-stage, like the LTA's Micro-ZOTL which is still the best preamp I have ever heard in how uniquely deals with space and macro-dynamics, now we have music to my ears/personal taste.  I have never been a fan of horn designs and have reviewed single driver designs, which have a beautiful purity but lack extended highs/lows that can be easily driven with a few watts. Now, that I'm using the DI's I can play with all these great tube low watt amplifiers, without any drawbacks at all.  

  

Hi Guys,

I have been getting scores of Emails regarding which is the "BEST" combination of these three possibilities: 1) the Micro-ZOTL by its self  2) the Micro-ZOTL/ZOTL-40 amp  3) the Micro-ZOTL/2A3 amp to drive the DI's.

All sound terrific, all though slightly different, and factors such as how loud you listen to get to the sweet spot in your system, types of music, and what DB levels are needed for your acoustic space would decide which one you would prefer.

Right now I'm getting the total signature of the Micro-ZOTL plus the colors/3D imaging of the 2A3 tubes which I find enchanting on all acoustic jazz music, which I mostly listen to the great majority of the time.

All three combo's are great, it's your personal taste to reach your decision.  

Hi everybody,

Just want to share, many Emails asking this question, that a decision was made that instead of Eric sending me a pair of SE Double Impacts to review for hometheaterreview.com I'll be getting the much larger and brand new model called the ULFBERHT, which I believe is Viking for a special sword. ( Don't hold me on that one!)  The estimated date of arrival is the middle of June.  

Any technique questions regarding what drivers/transducers, wiring, caps, etc. will be answered by Eric on his website and on this thread.  By the time this speaker gets to my house for review I'll have a least two more amplifiers to drive it with to get my take on it.  Fortunately, my acoustic space is gigantic and would allow any speaker to breath and preform at its best, including this new Tekton.  My only concern is how my back will feel after setting up this baby, I think it weighs around 170 pounds, but I'll manage somehow!   

Hey corelli,

The Melody AN-211 is a great amp, both on it's sound and build quality.  However, I'm more a 300B fan then 211 based amplifiers.  However, if you want a little less romance/color -meat on the bones and more quickness/speed, but still very musical, I can see the Melody AN-211 kicking butt on the DI's.  As I stated a couple of days ago I'm enchanted with the combo of the LTA Micro-ZOTL and a very inexpensive 2A3 based amp on the DI's.  

Finally, my least favorite Triode tube is the 845 because it sounds like great solid state to me, therefore why not just use a solid state amplifier at that point.  

Hey Guys,

I have professionally reviewed and owned gear from both Melody and Audio Space and can share that each company has very high standards when it comes to the quality of parts, innovative design, and build.

The Melody AN-300B was my reference for a period of time and I also had Audio Space's 300B PP mono-blocks in my second system which were great.  So, I'm sure that the Audio Space 300B integrated amp would be a winner too.  

I have never had in house a Line Magnetic amplifier, however I'm using their tube based and tube rectified redbook DAC in my second system and find it to be a great performer.    

Hey mac48025,

CONGRATS!  It is amazing what the Micro-ZOTL sounds like as an amplifier driving the DI's.  

As far as Kenny's question regarding how the Micro-ZOTL sounds like driving SS amps is it brings its virtues to the overall sound when I used it with great SS pieces like Accuphase, Pass Labs, and Perla Audio.

Just like the DI's the LTA piece is great and it's hard to believe what it costs. 

Gentlemen,

Wanted to share that I'm into about nine hours of listening to a Triode Lab 2A3s SET amplifier I have in house for review for hometheaterreview.com.  Of course this amplifier is no were close to being fully burn in.  Yet, being driven by the Micro-ZOTL preamplifier it makes the DI's sing beautiful music.  The very inexpensive 2A3 based Opera amp is still a killer in its performance/price, however this amplifier is qualitatively better on every parameter.  The combo of the Micro-ZOTL and the Triode Lab keeps the dynamics/speed of the linestage and kicks up the color/timbres and adds more 3D imaging which I easily hear through the DI's.  I'm also impressed by the part/build quality of this companies piece of gear.

Hi mac48925 and Charlies

The unit I'm reviewing is the one that still is up with a picture in tube amps for sale here on the GON.  I guess it is somewhat of an unique model because of the James transformers and how they setup the 6NS7 tube section.

Charlies, could not agree with you more regarding where to put your money regrading SET amps.

Hey Charles,

I have had many discussions with listeners regarding which gives most of the magic of David Berning's ZOTL circuit, the 40 watt amplifier or the Micro-ZOTL line-stage.  After trying the Micro-ZOTL with all kinds of  solid state and tube amplifiers it always brings it's virtues ( speed, a very special type of overall dynamic, great color, and a terrific sense of space/3D imaging) to such a level, that when it is removed the system sounds somewhat "dead/whimpy", loses color and sounds much more 2D overall.  Now don't get me wrong, I bought the 40-ZOTL and believe that it's a great amplifier, but my point is that much of the unique sonic qualities of Berning's design can be gotten with the preamp and then you can add any flavors to it with your amplifier.  

And as you said Charlies, to hear these nuances it takes a reference level speaker, plus the ability to be driven with very little watts to use many of the low watt/SET designs, without resorting to horn based speakers which are not my cup of sonic tea. 

Hey Guys,

After many hours of listening I have come to the conclusion that my favorite combo, on all types of music, of course through the DI's, is the LTA MIcro-ZOTL and the Triode Lab 2A3 SET amplifier.  As I have have shared before the Micro-ZOTL delivers the speed/dynamics and holographic imaging and the Triode Lab gives the mix the beautiful color/tonality and image palpability that a great SET based amp can offer.  I'm very impressed not only with the performance of the Triode Lab piece but its build quality and what they charge for it.  It will get a great review from me in the future.

I will be getting a pair of mono-block SET 300b amps in for review this coming week and then will be able to decide if I prefer a 2A3 or 300b based amplifier for my taste on the DI's.  I had never tried a 2A3 tube in any of my systems before and as stated above am quite smitten by what it does.  Historically I have always loved good 300b amplifiers, so I'm quite curious about what any differences might be on the DI's.

All this experimenting would never had been possible without the unique aspect that you can drive the DI's with virtually anything you want including "flea watt" amplifiers without losing ultimate DB levels and dynamics!   

Hey Kenny,

As I stated in my response to Charlies, either as a pure listener or as reviewer I'm not a great fan of single driver or horn designs that usually are the partners for 45 or 2A3 based SET amplifiers.  Therefore, I had a lot of different 300b/211/845 based amplifiers because they could drive the speakers I like.  Now, with the DI's I have the freedom to have fun with these great tubes and SET designs because you can drive them
with virtually no watts at all!

Hey facton,

Here's the answers to your questions:

1) I use MG silver ribbon IC's

2) I have had numerous preamps that use 6SN7 tubes, and have a large collection of NOS 6SN7, and none of them sound anything like the LTA Micro-ZOTL, so its the tubes plus the Berning ZOTL circuit.

Hey mac48025,

I'm laughing because you ordered  some of the best sounding 6SN7's that were every created!  I will be very curious what you think about the TungSols (are they the black glass 40's tube) which are my favorite in the Micro-ZOTL.  If your KenRad tubes are the staggered plate version the amount of space and 3D imaging is fantastic.

Being as clear as I can be using the Micro-ZOTL by itself on the DI's is a wonderful match.  No qualifiers at all.  For my personal taste adding on the Triode Lab 2A3 is just the right amount of "frosting" on the sonic cake with the color and a little more meat on the bones it brings to the performance.

Hey Gentlemen,

It was almost two years ago, after I reviewed Eric's OB Sigma speakers, that he shared his great excitement with me that he believed he had created/discovered a break through, which finally lead to the DI's, and I would be the first professional reviewer to get a pair to evaluate his new design.  I took this as a honor that he chose me because he trusted my opinion/honesty to report on his "baby" to my readers.  I feel the same way regarding his decision to let me have the first crack at reviewing the Ulfberhts! I wrote in my review that the DI's are a "disruptive product" because they shatter the price vs performance ratio compared to any other speaker I know of on the market.  My reference speaker of five and a half years which cost 19K were roundly out performed and now are in my secondary system.

So, am I some what excited to having the Ulfberthts in-house for review,  you could say so!  If Eric has built a speaker that takes the DI's performance profile to even a higher level this should be one fascinating listening/reviewing experience.

 

Hi grannyring,

I'm glad you shared your recollection of the speaker in your past using a tweeter array that you totally enjoyed.  It gives me the opportunity to clarify the misconception that the seven tweeters in the DI's are a type of line array in Eric's design.

Even though these are tweeter transducers the six of them that form the circle, based on what frequencies they handle, radiate acoustically as if they were one six inch mid-range driver.  The transducer in the middle is being used as a tweeter and handles the high end frequencies up to 30Khz.  So, acoustically you have a six inch mid-range driver with a coaxial mounted tweeter which means it functions as a single point source.  Now, by Eric figuring out how to make this work you get all the advantages of a coaxial driver, however the mid-range array weights close to nothing leading to blazing speed/dynamics/micro-details compared to a regular six inch driver, regardless of what materials it is made out of it cannot be as light in weight.  Yet, you still get not only remarkable transit response, but great control because each driver is small and well behaved.  The closet you could come to this regarding weight/control would be a ribbon or AMT which cannot be used coaxial design as a single point source.  Brilliant on his part!

The more I listen to the DI's regarding mid-range and high frequencies they easily rival any panel design/ribbon/AMT I have had in my system and surpass them in low end extension/dynamics and overall macro-dynamics.

Hey everybody,

Just spent five hours listening to Canary Audio's reference SET 300B mono-blocks that are in for review on the DI's.  Yes, these are brand new and need some hours of burn-in, yet they sounded quite superlative right out of the crate.

Here's some cursory impressions regarding the difference between the wonderful Triode Lab SET 2A3 sound compared to the SET 300B amplifier driving the DI's.

1) First, the DI's are truly perfect conduits, you hear every change you make upstream so easily.

2) Do you like great plasma or high res?  The 2A3 has slightly more dense colors/timbres/warmth (beautiful) and the 300B has slightly more defined leading edges of the individual players.

3) The layering and size of the sound-stage using the 2A3 is quite good/natural, however the 300B expands on these aspects in all directions: height, width, depth

4) With both being driven by the Micro-ZOTL more of the speed and overall power of the line-stage is transmitted by the 300B amp.

5) The bottom end of the 300B amp is much more powerful/taut compared with the 2A3 amp.

Remember, this is all cursory and the Canary needs to burn-in more.  Both amplifiers are wonderful on the DI's, but different and I think which will appeal more to you and I would be totally personal taste and the type of music you mainly listen to.