Tekton Double Impacts
listening99 My dedicated listening room is 12.5 x 15.5 About the time that the Electrons were released I bought them while being torn between them and the D.I.'s. Near the end of my 60 day trial I was able to upgrade to the D.I.'s (Thanks Eric!) so I've lived with both models. First the D.I.'s can absolutely work great in your room size. However, careful room and system set up is necessary to really achieve outstanding results. I know many speakers need the whole package to perform and IMHO the Tektons fit into this category. The Electrons are much friendlier size wise and weight wise obviously especially if your also an older audiophile like me. One reason I changed models was for the higher efficiency but also if memory serves was the Electrons seemed to be limited on a 3 dimensional level. This critique needs to be taken with a grain of salt being that the Electrons were a recent release which I'm sure Eric tweaked somewhere in the last couple of years. With all that having been said I loved the D.I.'s from the beginning, they are a well proven model enjoyed by many including myself to this day. LP |
I do mainly listen to acoustic music. Take Cassandra Wilson's "New Moon Daughter" and you have a template for my musical path in recent months. Mainly, I go with unplugged fare, and I love Jazz. Classical has been big for me, but not so much in recent years. I could see revisiting some favorite chamber works, like the 4th Brandenberg, or the Goldberg variations. I'm interested to see how piano plays, out of the DI's. Perhaps my greatest desire is to experience an enthusiastic double-bass, in a simple configuration with other instruments, with the DI's. What do you all think about the contrast between the DI and the DI SE? Are there fresh conclusions on how they contrast? Is the extra $ worth it? Very happy to hear some experiences indicating a fit for my 12' by 14.5 room. Is there a particular positioning concept that would work best for this space? -L |
Go either with the DIs upgraded, but I'd buy the larger Moabs for small increase in money over the DIs SE. They are huge speakers, but Eric will tell you regardless of their towering size they work fine in smaller listening rooms. The DI SE has much higher quality drivers and a premium crossover. At their current price (reduced $1k) they are a good option too. I own the Encores and precisely because I wanted more slender and shorter version of the Ulfberhts so they wouldn't physically take over my 14x16x9 room. They sound excellent in my limited choice for positioning. They are my forever speakers, but they are around $8k-$9200. The Moabs are the best high performance speaker at the cheapest price delta over the DI SE ($500 more) and Encores ($3k less). You'll be very happy with the DIs or the SE, but you'll be blown away by the Moabs. It's practically like getting Ulfberhts for 50% off. |
@jcarcopo Thanks for the reflections... Perhaps in white they will blend in with the walls, as they will end up forming a significant portion of the wall at 69" and width. MOABs sound like a riveting option. I have a question, as I haven't heard any Tekton products... One person, who claims to love the DI's, also said they have a very "in your face" presentation, and indicated that they can be fatiguing on that basis. Without refuting the claim outright, can you identify what he might be pointing to? I never felt my Vandersteen 2ci's were in my face, although my Klipsch rp280f's have a glare in the higher registers. |
Honestly, I kinda feel like the DI are similar to Vandersteen sound signature wise (I think a lot of people here would take issue with that, but only my opinion, LOL) - However, a much more dynamic and detailed Vandersteen. The high end never felt fatiguing in any way. In fact, the high end was damn near perfect and the sound-stage was vast. The Dynamics are just tremendous (head and shoulders above anything I’ve heard), that’s likely why they called it ’in your face’ |
@Listening99 Hmmm. I wouldn't say they are in your face or fatiguing whether powered by solid-state or SET Tube amplifiers. I will say they are very dynamic. Hell, if I'm being brutally honest, I may have a slight proclivity for a bit of forwardness in the midrange because I enjoy immediacy and intimacy in the vocals, but I would never characterize the sound as fatiguing at all. I think it's more apt to say that the Tektons just have a good way of projecting vocals, via the array, in a dynamic manner with excellent coherency to both the lows and highs that might be construed as attention grabbing. I've never heard my DIs or Encores sound shouty, sibilant, or harsh whatsoever. I hope this helps you some. This is in contrast to Vandersteens which I know are very even handed, polite, and cordial in presentation. I listened to the big Vandersteens for several years at a buddy's house prior to getting into highend audio myself in my late teens. They were a bit laid back and too relaxed for my tastes, but always quite enjoyable to listen to. Seldom were not playing in the background. They were never offensive either. I wouldn't say that I found them as dynamic sounding to me as the Tektons. I think I just like to be emotionally moved by music at my core at this stage in my life (I'm 44 now). I think you might appreciate the contrast to the Vabdersteens. They are very emotionally satisfying. |
Ok, so here's my question... please center your mind on my room. It's 12' by 14.6'. The ceiling, at the far lengths drops to nine feet and then rises at the mid-mark of the room (6' in) to a high points of 11'. It's something of a cathedral style. The room opens on the north side to an entry door from outside on the west and then a few feet across from the entry a stairwell rises up the north side of the stereo room. The space between the door and the stairway dumps into a room to the north. So, consider both the DI and the MOAB: how would you set them up and what kind of soundstage - given high quality (mostly CD) recordings & TIDAL - could I expect to develop? Would you expect any bass weirdness in this space? I don't want to go to all this only to find I'm really trying to squeeze a 20lb wild salmon onto my plate. Quickly a blessing becomes a |
I'm receiving quite a bit of assistance here, so thank you. @jcarcopo (or others) What is the "good way" of projecting vocals? How would this contrast with a horn? How would it contrast with other designs that you have experienced? What would you anticipate as a possible disappointment with the MOAB, a 69" speaker, in my 12 by 14.6' by (9-11' tall) room? Also, can we describe any of the true improvements broadcast by the MOAD, contrasted with the DI SE? Or, is there anything the DI.SE does better than the MOAB? |
DIs pair well with McIntosh, which is said to have a laid back presentation. I have MX151 Pre/Pro with Roomperfect ,and it does just that .... makes the room perfect . Amp is the Belles 150A Reference V2. I am using Sonoran Desert Plateau speaker cables and Bill Dion's (grannyring) Dueland wire interconnects with my DI . not at all in your face ,or harsh ,or shouty. smooth AND Detailed with good bass. My room is about 10x12 and open on one side ,see pics in my system pics |
@listening99 As many have stated, the DI's pull off a neat trick of having very good detail but with no edge. I am intolerant of bright speakers that have any fatigue associated with them. These would be a welcome change from Klipsch for example. The DI's are very coherent and well integrated in spite having many drivers. They float a large but accurate soundstage (better than my prior Magnepans). Very nice depth, horizontal spread beyond the far edge of the speaker. Vocals are silky, with the soloist presented behind the plane of the speakers with nice height. When I first auditioned my DI's I was struck by the weight and nice tonal qualities of the piano. Regarding your room, it's anybody's guess. I will say the DI's are more forgiving of placement than other speakers I have owned. But you will be rewarded for optimizing their placement. What associated gear will you have? |
@oorelli I'm working with a Schiit Saga, inclusive of both SS and Tube options; a modi DAC; a Cambridge transport; the NuForce STA200. If necessary, I can use my Marantz SR5013, which is how I work the HT. I talked to Eric about the amplifier and he said it would be fine, owing to how easily his speakers play. Nevertheless, I'm a little concerned, having heard the STA200 doesn't take a 4ohm load well... If I need to, as I mentioned, I can fall back to the Marantz, while looking for a new amp. If that happens, I might look to the Schiit Aegir, or perhaps Parasound, or anything else people recommend. In your view, Corelli, what disintinguishes the DI from the DI SE or the MOAB and do you think, given the room size of 12x14.5x(9'-11' at the midpoint), that I'm mostly involved with a head game, given that all of these speakers easily fill rooms four times as large as mine...? |
Eric has a video on YouTube saying basically big speakers in a small room is no problem. Not sure if you've seen it. https://youtu.be/CuU-GrirOXI |
I'm not in a position to comment of the SE's or Moabs relative to the DI's. I am sure they are all great speakers and huge values--especially the DI's and Moabs. See the above link Don't worry about your amp right now. Sort out the speaker and placement. Later you can decide what flavor amp you want. Unlike many speakers, these speakers afford much more choice with almost any amp you might pick and they will clearly show the virtues or shortcomings of that design. |
Hey all, I have another thread going asking for input on my choice between Focal Aria 948, Revel F208, and the Tekton Double Impact. I am in anguish over this decision, honestly. I have now heard the Arias, and they sounded incredible. They do seem to drop off significantly at lower volume levels, which could make it more difficult to enjoy movies/TV at lower volumes (such as when kids are asleep), but I don't know yet how they would sound in my room at the lower volumes I heard during the audition. At normal volumes they blew my mind (and my wife's mind). How do the Double Impacts hold up at lower volumes? Have any of you made the switch from Focal to Tekton? As for amplifiers, I purchased a Cambridge Audio Azur 851W, which puts out 200 wpc into 8 ohms and 350 wpc into 4 ohms. The guy who sold it compared it to a Parasound A21 (he said he didn't notice any real difference in sound). Would the 851W play well with the Double Impact? I am concerned about brightness and ear fatigue. I had a pair of Klipsch RP-8000f which would give me ear fatigue after an hour or so. And do any of you who have Double Impacts live anywhere near Richmond, VA so a guy could hear how they sound and make an informed comparative decision between these speakers? |
@graitscott The Double Impacts are great for low volume listening. How do the Double Impacts hold up at lower volumes? There is no substitute for an extended audition of speakers in your own room and with your gear. Tekton offers a trial period. It’s the ideal and best way to go forward with any speaker choice. Whichever speaker you choose, you will have to make some adjustments in the gear and cables, etc. to bring them to where you want them to be, for you. |
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@david_ten Thanks for the feedback. I would love to trial the Double Impacts, but return shipping if we don't like the sound would be hundreds of dollars. The Tekton return policy also says that "new condition" means there can't even be any fingerprints. I don't know how thoroughly they check for fingerprints, but even if I were okay with paying for return shipping, I would not be very happy to have restocking fees applied just because I missed a fingerprint in the final wipe down prior to return. I am not knocking Tekton. I understand they are a very small operation run by one very overworked guy. I also understand that if I don't like the Arias the return shipping would be substantial. But I have also had the opportunity to hear the Arias, which means less risk for me since I know how they can sound. I wish Tekton were even bigger than they are if only so there might be someone in the Richmond area with a pair I could hear, even for 15 minutes... just for a taste. I'm so intrigued by them. |
@klh007 I live about 3 hours from BWI, and I have drooled over the MOABs since I first set eyes on them. You are selling those on behalf of Tekton *just* outside of my budget, and I'm sure my wife would be okay with an extra $100 over budget. But I simply can't fit them where I would need them to go! Maybe I should knock down the mantle over the fireplace so I can squeeze those MOABs in. Woe is me. |
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Glad you are happy with the combo tony. Looks like you did some listening into the early hours! One real bonus of the DI's is the latitude they afford in choice of associated gear and the ability to fine tune things to your liking. After many years listening to my Marantz 152 series gear, I upgraded to the Marantz K2 Ruby integrated/cd player. A clear step up. I was a bit leary of a class D amp, but Marantz executed the design very well indeed. The soundstage I value so much has expanded into an even bigger canopy of sound. Clarity is superior, even more detail, better low end impact. All presented in a silky smooth fashion. The DI's easily let you hear it all. |
Yes, they are very sensitive to all changes made upstream and positioning as I've mentioned before. More so than any other speaker I own. But they don't sound bad with the changes , just different, so you can really season to taste. In contrast my Vandersteens (3A Sigs) require you to get them just right or they will not perform and you will be frustrated! Once they are dialed in with just the right positioning, tilt back, etc, they come to life. Tektons change but always sound good when you change. In other words they reveal everything. This weekend I'm going to see how the Mosfet based Counterpoint Solid 1A fares. It's been out of service for a few years and now it's been fixed. More of a tube like sound vs the PSE amp (Bipolar) which is very clean. I really like the PSE amp so with the Tektons revealing capabilities I'm sure I'll be able to hear the differences in the sonic traits of these 2 amplifiers. |
I have been drooling over the DIs for years. Now I can finally afford them (barely) and everyone says, "get the MOABs". Very torn on what to do. My room is 21’ wide, over 23’ deep, with 8 foot ceilings. With acoustic panels and bass traps. I won’t be able to audition them before buying, although I do already have a pair of Tekton Lore-S in a different room. I do really enjoy them. They will not be run with a sub for 2 channel listening. |
Sounds and looks like a good speaker for the money. I’ve not heard this speaker, but based on what I’ve heard from reading this thread it seems to have a cult like following. In real world discussions I’m sure there would be as many detractors as proponents to these speakers. Many things contribute to the cost of building a hi-end loudspeaker: Materials, Research & Development to name few. Based on the amount of drivers and size of the speaker cabinet and final cost of the speaker 3-4K, materials used can’t be of the highest quality, or anywhere near. Not that a speaker has to use the highest parts available to be considered a great speaker; it doesn’t. But like anything you get what you pay for, and sometimes you get less. I’ve come to the conclusion based on the many responses to this thread it’s more about the uniqueness of the speakers design and sound that this speaker produces that gives its popularity to; kinda like a fad. Here today gone tomorrow. Quality comes at every level and quality cost money at every level. Some of the statements proclaiming it beat out designs in the 30-40k range seem to really stretch it a bit. I suspect these statements are based more on infatuations with with the design concept and the sonic results than the quality level of the presentation. I don’t thing speaker manufacturers who produce speakers costing many times their price have to worry! In fact I doubt manufacturers at this price point are loosing any sleep over them either. |
@hiendmmoe I had Analysis Audio Omegas ribbon planar speakers ($24k) and Von Schweikert VR5, they weren't as good as the Double Impacts. I now own the Tekton Encores and they are my forever speaker. A friend of mine had the Kef Blades, he also preferred the Tektons. If you knew how much you're being ripped off by typical speaker manufacturers it's not hard to build a better sounding speaker at an affordable price sold directly to the consumer. |
@hiendmmoe You know, it really isn't very helpful to post on a speaker you have never even heard. If you read this entire thread, you might have gained some insight into what makes this one of the biggest gifts to music lovers of all time. The value is unheard of. But if it makes you feel better, Wilson is waiting. Don't mean to be rude, but you make some fatal assumptions in your analysis of Tekton. In life, you DON'T always get what you pay for. Some are driven to give more. Some are driven by corporate greed. @brad1138 One thing I can tell you is you won't go wrong with either. I have had my DI's for over 2 yrs and they only get better. Never have I felt that I am missing out. Sure I have looked at the Moabs, but I keep dragging my feet as I am so content. I've been in this for half a century and the DI's are the single best decision in audio I have ever made. |
@jcarcopo I am glad you continue to enjoy your Encores. I am totally with you man! Once you arrive at a really good place, do you really need to keep looking? Reminds me of when I use to cut down my own Christmas tree. Would walk around the whole farm thinking that the one on the horizon looked so much better. Often came back full circle the first good looking tree I spotted when I first arrived! |
Based on what I have read I have decided Tekton is a Fad..lotsa of people must be drinking the koolAid.. based on what I have read.. Those of you that have replaced speakers costing much more have bought into the Fad.. drank the koolaid.. the Tektons will probably disappear soon.. they can't be that good based on what I have read.. I know everything that you read on the internet has to be true.. .except for this about the Tektons. So,based on what I have read I will not purchase anymore Tektons. .I am glad I sold my Pendragons that I really enjoyed when I was hurting for money. I am so sorry that I bought the Mlores and Lore References that I enjoy daily Based on what I have read..I drank that koolaid too. I feel so silly now! |
@david_ten Always good to hear from you David. Hope you continue to enjoy your journey into SE/fullrange driver world. I have no doubt your system works some magic. More importantly, hope you and your family are well in these uncharted times. I did speak with Tom not too long ago and he mentioned meeting up with you to audition your system. Given recent events not sure if that happened. In any event, both of you have been a great asset to this thread. Best wishes. |
Heind, how would you know? All the people with first had listening experience sure couldn’t know as much about what they sound like as someone who arbitrarily decided they can’t be any more than a fad? I’ve read about everything I could find on the internet about tektons myself. Almost all give high praise, and are detailed about what they are praising, and those details don’t seem radish at all. Also read where two professional reviewers for noted magazines made Tekton their reference speakers in their own systems. The negative reviews I have read were either by people who havnt even heard them, and went on to explain how and why they could not sound good, or by people who seem like their fixated against them for their design, or love for another brand that some have said the Tektons were better than, without giving details of what about the sound disappoints in the way that those who enjoy them seem to be able to give their reasons. I’m sure some people will prefer other speakers, as everyone has different preferences in sound, and i for one enjoy many different types, and try not to pigeon hole myself, just let my ears decide. |
