Congratulations to Eric for the recent Stereophile review, giving some technical vindication to his design!
Tekton Double Impacts
Anybody out there heard these??
I have dedicated audio room 14.5x20.5x9 ft. Currently have Marantz Reference CD/Intergrated paired to Magnepan 1.7's with REL T-7 subs. For the vast majority of music I love this system. The only nit pick is that it is lacking/limited in covering say below 35 hz or so. For the first time actually buzzed the panel with an organ sacd. Bummer. Thought of upgrading subs to rythmicks but then I will need to high pass the 1.7's. Really don't want to deal with that approach.
Enter the Double Impacts. Many interesting things here. Would certainly have a different set of strengths here. Dynamics, claimed bottom octave coverage in one package, suspect a good match to current electronics.
I've read all the threads here so we do not need to rehash that. Just wondering if others out there have FIRST HAND experience with these or other Tekton speakers
Thanks.
I have dedicated audio room 14.5x20.5x9 ft. Currently have Marantz Reference CD/Intergrated paired to Magnepan 1.7's with REL T-7 subs. For the vast majority of music I love this system. The only nit pick is that it is lacking/limited in covering say below 35 hz or so. For the first time actually buzzed the panel with an organ sacd. Bummer. Thought of upgrading subs to rythmicks but then I will need to high pass the 1.7's. Really don't want to deal with that approach.
Enter the Double Impacts. Many interesting things here. Would certainly have a different set of strengths here. Dynamics, claimed bottom octave coverage in one package, suspect a good match to current electronics.
I've read all the threads here so we do not need to rehash that. Just wondering if others out there have FIRST HAND experience with these or other Tekton speakers
Thanks.
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@charles1dad Well, I may have spoken a tad prematurely. I had a local audiophile over who inquired about my DIs come over to hear the Encores because my DIs are not a compatible color to his room decor. So to punish him for not buying the DIs I forced him to hear only the Encores and not the DIs. I’m sadistic that way. 😂. Just kidding, not kidding. (Also, my back hurt from swapping speakers the day before for another local audiophile who heard both the DIs and the Encores) The Elrogs at 8 wpc at a much higher volume level than I thought I could get away with before soft clipping, I was able to shrink the differences in the bass region performance. It was very close to the Nords with the exception of the transient attack and that chest hit of a kodo drum. Overall the Diavolo performed much better with the Elrogs, but maybe the best thing for these speakers is the Emission Labs 300b XLS because they are more dynamic and better in the bass region when compared to the Emission Labs 300b meshplates. So rest assured the Diavolo is staying here, but its nice to have the choice to swap amps for a change in pace and presentation. I’ll report back with the xls in and also with them tweaked to the higher 13 wpc output. So far I like both presentations for slightly different reasons. The Nords are good for pyrotechnics and fireworks that impress you, but the Diavolo is still more emotionally involving overall. Maybe my local audiophile visitor will chime in with his feelings of the Encores. He’s on Audiogon, but he said he doesn’t post much. I’ll leave that up to him. He owns the Tekton Lores now and is also a 300b tube guy at heart (Manley parallel SET). He spoke highly of you and your posts Charles. |
What I find most amusing is just how much "energy" the Tekton brand has created on Audiogon. I’m not a fan of the aesthetics, or the patent wording per se, but the hexagonal arrangement of tweeters is definitely a new, fun and interesting idea that audiophiles should experience for themselves. Best, E |
@direstraitsfan98 The Double impacts for $3375 upgraded are hard to beat under $5k and that’s being conservative. Or you jump to $6500 for the Double Impacts SE, (unless theirs a break for ordering just plain softgloss black? (Call Tekton)) You could go nuts like I did on the Encores at $8000 in black softgloss finish which are like mini-ulfberhts which cost $12k, there is even a discounted pair in black softgloss discounted vs the high gloss custom color option still available in the original Ulfberhts for $9k, but I know you didn't want to spend that much. |
Hi jcarcopo, Thanks for the additional clarification regarding your two amplifiers. Undoubtedly both of them are excellent but each revealing their individual sonic attributes via the Tekton Encores. It’s wonderful to have the option of swapping amplifiers as you desire. No amplifier is flawless across the board (obviously) but I’ll always select the audio component that is the more emotionally involving every single time. You are on the mark in regard to the choice of 300b so it isn’t surprising the improvement provided by the terrific Elrog tube. I suspect that you’ll be very pleased with the EML XLS via the Encores. As I’ve written before it is a fantastic 300b and I’ve enjoyed it immensely in my amplifier the past 4 years. As you know it is very robust and utterly reliable. Jcarcopo I always enjoy reading your comments and listening impressions. BTW I agree with your assessment of the XLS compared to the EML meshplate as I’ve heard both in my SET amplifier. The mesh plate version has beautiful finesse and air but the XLS will come closer to the Nord in terms of dynamics, bass and authority. Charles |
@charles1dad I've got them in, just waiting for my household to wake up so I can turn it up. My friends sleep-in on the weekends, waste of a weekend if you ask me. I'm up at 6am ready to jam out. Listening at very low levels is a waste of Class A amplifier electricity consumption. Don't these fools care about the environment? 😂 I'm so just kidding. |
Had been away for a few days. Just when it appeared things were slowing down and 5000 posts looked distant on the horizon--67 new posts! Wow. Much of the credit goes to Eric. As he stated long ago he is "driven to create" and now jcarcopo shares the new Encore with us. Sounds like a great speaker. Love the notion of so may tweeter never breaking a sweat. That just does so many good things for the sake of the music. Just wish it didn't weigh in at 175#! Last night was in the mood for some music of my youth, so in went Genesis/A Trick of the Tail. I was amazed for effortlessly the DI's reproduce whatever you throw at them. Better yet was the sound stage--great height and width way beyond the confines of the speaker. This from a 40 year old recording! What a bargain these speakers have been. |
@charles1dad SO...Yeah the 300b XLS definitely is the right tube for the added dynamics and control. The bass presentation is nearly as good as solid-state, but a hair more punchier and shocking on kodo drums using the Nords. I prefer the overall presentation on the tube amplifier as it's just a more emotional experience. Being a no feedback design it will never mirror what the Nords do deep down with regards to the control of the woofers, but I can live with that compromise. I find the Nords very exciting to listen to, even shocking at times, but there's a realness and organic quality to the tube amplifier that it doesn't convey. I feel like exciting and shocking wears you down and leads to fatigue after awhile, but it can easily seduce you in the short term. Life would be so much easier if I could switch back and forth to either presentation based on my mood, but at least swapping the amps in and out is relatively quick for me with how my equipment is oriented and spread out. I'm listening to Tracie Chapman's Let it Rain Album and her voice is so resolute, palpable, and dynamic that it's haunting to listen to. This MTM array is very revealing. I hear things that I never knew existed before on familiar recordings and it's a very odd experience to me because I rarely say that because it sounds so cliche. Call me cliche then because the low level detail retrieval is revelatory on the Encores. Delineation between voices and various instruments is on par with best I've heard at shows and when I was involved in high end in the past. They do the holographic effect very well. I just wish was my room was deeper so I could get further away to let the soundstage develop more appropriately. I don't mind the near-field presentation sonically, but I think there's more to gain in image depth and width that a larger room affords you by bringing the speakers further into the room and my seating position further away with more space between the speakers, but I'll get over it. Moving is not on my to do list having just dealt with heart troubles so I'm taking it easy for now. If you have questions for me regarding the Encores let me know and I'll do my best to answer them. I highly recommend them to anyone on the fence considering them. They are worth many times their price to me just in the short time I've had them. Happy Listening! |
The album, Mr Jelly Lord with Wynton Marsalis is simply amazing on the Encores. Especially Jungle Blues and New Orleans Stomp. Some of the best trumpet 🎺 playing I've ever heard. Available on Tidal: https://i.imgur.com/LxMfAxl.png |
Hi jcarcopo, Based on your comments I get the feeling that you'll regard the Encores as one of the best audio related purchases you've ever made. It's very clear that you find them to be simply outstanding! Excellent buying decision my friend. The intriguing aspect ( at least for me) is that their performance in all likelihood will improve further with additional hours of use. Think about that. You are going to have many deep into the night listening sessions in your future. I see no way you'll be able to avoid this 😊. Charles |
@charles1dad Agreed. Agreed. And Agreed some more. : ) I'm glad you brought up Break In. Important point. I believe it's also worth considering the following: As one (in this case @jcarcopo ) becomes intimately familiar with his Encores and how they 'illuminate / represent' his system, a realization of (soft) 'deficiencies' in one's system will also be highlighted. As will System Potential. And we all know what that means. : ) |
In @jcarcopo 's case, I believe it will be more about finding the correct balance (vs 'upgrading'). Break in was significant, and lengthy, with my SEs. If that holds to some degree with the Encores, as you say, time will tell. My point is general in nature. My system is 100% different than when I had the Double Impacts. I believe Tom's ( @mac48025 ) system is as well (or close it). I see a similar pattern with other SE owners (not 100% correlation, of course, but quite high). Mentioning this for those considering moving up from the Double Impacts or those making their first DI vs. SE / Encore / Ulfberth purchase. In other words, if you are tempted, know what's likely ahead on that beautiful, wonderful path. |
Hi David, Okay, " finding the correct balance" I see your point. That could very well be a possibility. Jcarcopo seems so happy currently that if he doesn’t make a single additional change at this point and going forward I believe that he remains exceedingly content for the long term. Just an observation. Charles |
Friendly (and delicious) wager with Charles and Jonathan. I'd love to hear back on @jcarcopo 's findings after a full two months of break in and time spent getting to know his Encore's intimately. He has already rolled in the Emission Labs 300b XLS tubes (replacing his Elrogs) and he's already testing the waters between the Nords and the Art Audio...and is finding differences in preference and responding to them, all within three days of the speakers being setup. Let's do a 'reverse' wager and a delicious one: If you have to eat 'crow' so to speak, I'll send you both packages of Etouffee and Jambalaya. If I have to eat 'crow' then something delicious and representative from Raleigh and Detroit. Can we commit to September 15th? |
16 posts and I'm betting on Corelli again; have to go to a party so I'm out of the race. jcarcopo: My technique is to have 2 homes and a stereo/5.1 system in each. That way, when you upgrade one you've got another home to outdo that previous upgrade. Works indefinitely as near as I can tell...but then there are the boxes in the garage... |
David, I’m game for the culinary wager but what exactly are the stipulations/criteria? I’d expect jcarcopo to experiment with amps/ audio products he already has in his possession (various tubes, cables etc.). My point is that I doubt he’d do any "significant " upgrades of components such as you and Tom did. Let’s clarify what the wager entails. Charles |
Bill, In addition to the Coney dogs there were some well regarded barbeque and "soul food" establishments in the heart of the city. Famed Detroit jazz club Baker's Keyboard Lounge has/had a terrific kitchen(haven’t been there recently post new ownership). Back in the day it was a true training ground for my ears with all the live jazz, sigh. Charles |
Reminds me of my Corporate Days. Leave a meeting to sign off on a sale, and the guys do their best to slip something by me. Tonight it was dinner for family! 😊 I agree, it’s for Jonathan to decide. My reference point would be where he was with the Double Impacts and where he gets to, OR has committed to, at the two month mark. Both of you are generally in the camp that ’nothing’ is going to change as evidenced here: I side with @charles1dad I tend to find a happy delta which I believe I have attained. I’m definitely caught up on all my upgrades. I’ve found tube guys to be ’tricky’ with what they consider ’no change.’ 😊 More appropriately labelled ’benign denial.’ 😄 For me, again for reference: going from 8wpc to 13wpc, a 62% increase in power per channel, along with an outright change in tubes is a notable adjustment, without even considering the cost of doing so. This has already happened. For me this would be ’akin’ to my changing the power cable to my primary source, my USB cable from it and swapping out isolation devices (as an example). I would consider this a ’significant’ change. Baseline is today and as I said, this is a friendly wager with Jonathan in the driver’s seat. Guys, I want to lose...it means a free and hopefully tasty meal. Though I have no idea how fried okra travels. 🤨 |
Charles, I will defer to Jonathan on what he considers a ’significant’ movement from where he was with his Double Impacts to where he gets to with his Encores. For me, a cable loom change is greater than a component change because it is a system wide change, and across multiple components. My perspective. I don't know where Jonathan falls on the cable spectrum. |
