No contest, Tekton, the others don't even come close. Check out my system page, pretty sure someone said they heard Goldenear and it is no contest. Not that the others are bad, they simply cannot match the seamless perfect midrange and clean clear dynamics of Tekton. https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/8367 Mine are Moab, they are definitely better than Double Impacts, but the DI is a hugely popular speaker for a very good reason, it gets a lot of the Tekton magic in a very affordable price. Only downside, the wait is a couple months. But some things are worth waiting for. This is one of em.
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Thank you. I appreciate your comments and would like to hear more specifics if you want to share. I am also really trying to get a handle on the differences in the "house" sound of the Tektons compared to the other two, which I have heard. I thought the Golden Ears sounded kind of veiled. The Cornwalls had a great energy, like at a rock concert, but thought they would wear me out over time and had weak bass. Could have been the rooms and electronics.... Thanks for litening, Dsper |
Tekton speakers are universally terrible. They use a multitude of cheap drivers in silly combinations in cheap MDF cabinets slathered in acrylic lacquer that is guaranteed to crack in time. In no way shape or form are they any where near the quality of Klipsch Heritage speakers particularly the Cornwall 4's which are vastly superior to anything Tekton ever dreamed of making. |
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Please ignore the ignorant rant above. We have one here so triggered he simply cannot think straight. Ask him to show you his system some time. If he even has one. The Tekton "house sound" is fast like a stat, dynamic like a horn, but without the horn sound. It is big and full and neutral and incredibly revealing. Like you have to hear it to believe it. Listen to this, he owns Double Impacts and a lot of others too. Tekton comments begin about 4-5 minutes in. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RxRTFx6Cd0 |
Having not heard the current versions of Tektons it would be foolish of me to speculate. Just as it's foolish for MC to make the comments he did. You can't dismiss out of hand a loudspeaker you have never been in the same room with. That said, I did own Pendragons many years ago. I know they aren't the same as current offerings, but I thought they were just ok. A competent 2K loudspeaker, but no giant killers. And as for @tubebuffer, this gent has trouble stringing together coherent sentences, so grain of salt here. The Cornwall IV is a great loudspeaker. No denying that. And it pushes my buttons like few have. Is it better than a Moab? Can't say. But I would find it difficult to believe it's not at least competitive. Oz |
I like the Cornwall's sound-dynamic, musically engaging, full (not thin in the upper-bass) and good at lower volume levels. Like many horn systems, it has a certain tonal qualities and some roughness in its frequency balance that one either loves or hates (I am more in the "love" camp. The Double Impacts I heard had a much more modern sound--even frequency response. But, unlike many modern speakers, it did not seem dynamically flat and unengaging and it did not go completely dead at lower volume levels In that sense it was much more like better high efficiency/horn systems. It may not have as much of those charming qualities as the best high efficiency/horn systems, but, it is very good nonetheless and it has fewer of the tonal anomalies that can plague high efficiency systems. It is a very good all around system and it is quite a bargain at its price point. In short, the Cornwall is more toward the you either love or hate kind of sound, the Double Impact is more balanced (I don't see too many people hating its sound). |
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I only have three things to add: A. I asked a Facebook forum to compare the O/93 to the Perfect Set. I never got an answer but got accosted. Zero interest in being part of that "community" of charming open minded intellectuals. The arrogance around some brands is truly bizarre. 2. I'm making arrangements to hear the CW's. My curiosity was piqued when some members that I've know and traded with began embracing this particular speaker. I wish it wasn't such a monster but at least they have a classic look that I can put a plant on or something like we did 20 years ago. and D. Can dsper compare the CW to the GE? I'd imagine the CW to be more lively and textured but with less low end and smoothness? How am I doing? Good luck on your journey- always fun to get out and listen. |
I've heard the current as well as a much earlier version. I liked both. The settings were different, so it is hard to make a comparison. I am not a bass freak so it does not bother me that the Cornwalls do not do ultra deep and tight bass (I tend to like bass that is not has tight as is the case with most modern speakers). |
I’ve heard a lot of Klipsch and could live with many models. Have almost pulled the trigger on many occasions. Also classy looks...not for everyone but nice! Limited exposure to Tekton, but not likely to buy. Not crazy about big boxes with lots of drivers. Big boxes also are a hindrance for me with Klipsch. I’d prefer to downsize. Very efficient Class D amps have helped keep me clear of larger speakers these days in that it is easier to get more out of smaller boxes. But..... I’ve liked the small Goldenear Aon monitors when heard but have not yet taken to the Triton line in limited exposure. Possibly bad setups. |
Hi @dsper, I believe that your interest in tube amplifiers and higher efficiency speakers is a good direction to pursue. With this category of speakers it allows you to focus on the all important "quality " of the tube amp and not be overly obsessed with the wattage it provides. larryi in my opinion offered a very good assessment of the Tekton Double Impacts that closely match my listening impressions. I heard them in a friend’s audio system driven by his Linear Tube Audio amplifier and my 300b SET mono blocks. I find them to be solidly ’Good' sounding but not ’great' sounding. Certainly competitive in their price range. I disagree with the comments suggesting they’re outstanding and trounce the competition . I disagree with the comments that say they’re junk. Hyperbole in both cases. My friend really enjoyed the Double Impacts for a few years. He now has Omega speakers which he prefers due to (In his opinion) better midrange and more refinement. He acknowledged the Double Impacts have deeper bass with more impact. For his taste the Omegas were better overall. So Cornwall IV, Double Impacts or possibly Omgas, all worth consideration. Best of luck, Charles |
I had both Double Impacts and Triton Ones. I have to say I enjoyed the Double Impacts more. If you move around the room a lot when you are listening they may not be the best. Kind of weird sound when walking around from the tweeter array. Was not ever a problem for me but worth noting. It would be a tough call if I was choosing between Tektons and the Cornwall 4. I’ve never heard the Klipsch but really want to! Love the look and they seem to hold their value very very well. |
i have been at this pursuit since the early 80’s... after university, making some real money -- always been attracted to the sound of tubes, curing the harshness of cd and solid state electronics, making music sound harmonically rich like real music played live - excited about the possibililties of super sweet flea watt tube amps driving the right speakers - in fact i still have from the 00’s lovely wavelength cardinal xs’s, and cary 300b sei amps that i just won’t sell, not giving up hope entirely... so it has been 35-40 years, been through many many high efficiency speakers - cabasse, klipsch, zu, jbl, audio note (lesser model), ref 3a, even had avant garde horns for a while -- i simply have never been able get fully comfortable with either the horn or paper driver colorations, or the tonal imbalance (bass lightness) of these speakers the impact, speed and ability to project and get loud on a dime were always impressive, but to my ear, in my rooms/homes over the years, i could never make it work well enough, especially lacking in truth of timbre of vocals and piano, reeds... esp. when there are more instruments and dynamics in the mix, so to speak on the to do list now are higher devores perhaps (and do i want to wrestle with newest cornwalls? -- cw3’s did not do it for me, not even close...) got spatials recently, which are excellent but still not really proper flea watt amp candidates... ugh... |
Larryi Thank you for your response. It was the sort of info I am seeking. I may be in the "hate the Cornwall sound" camp. After hearing the 4's, I noticed the dealer had a used pair of Maggie 1.7i's set up in an open area on one end of a roughly 60 ×40 room. Now those sounded good. So what speakers sounds like a combination of Thiel CS5i's and Maggie 3.6's, both of which I know intimately, but are efficient enough for a 50 watt tube amp? Thanks for listening, Dsper |
Yet another Tekton post,geeeeez...they are junk,..poorly designed jinky cabinets with lousy bracing,big,butt ugly,loaded with cheap off the shelf drivers...all they do is go loud!.how many times does this need to be said...look at US audiomart listings..tons of Tekton up for sale going no where..get clued in! |
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missioncoonery I could care less about Tekton, but stating " tons of Tekton up for sale going no where" seems a bit of an exaggeration - 6 pairs listed on USAudioMart - one pair listed 5 days ago; 3 pairs listed in April; 1 in March and 1 in January. Overall on USAudioMart there’s 846 pair of floorstanders ; 430 pairs of "bookshelf; 47 pairs of planars listed for sale. |
I don’t think you can go wrong with the speakers from either company but I would try to audition before buying. For Tekton speakers this might be an issue as they are dealer direct. I would consider doing another posting to see if anyone near you owns the speakers you are interested in and let you listen to them although for Klipsch if you are lucky there may be a dealer near you. |
Facten....You argue the fact there are a lot of Tekton speakers for sale?..but my statement "they are junk,..poorly designed jinky cabinets with lousy bracing,big,butt ugly,loaded with cheap off the shelf drivers...all they do is go loud!.".....you say nothing about,lmao...I think that speaks for it self!! |
@mapman I’ve done a lot of research on what speakers I would use were I to tackle a tube amp in the last few years. Have pretty much narrowed it down to Klipsch Heritage or Fritz, not sure which yet for sure.The Fritz monitors have been on my radar as well. Seems to be almost universal postive comments. What size room do you think they can fill? I have my rig on one end of a 32 X 22 foot room. This allows me to place the tweeters three feet from the front and sidewalls with another ten feet to the listening position. I have about twenty feet of open space behind me. I am thinking Fritz speakers would get lost, especially coming from Thiel CS5i's. Thanks for listening, Dsper |
Hi, I had a pair of GoldenEar 2+s. I didn’t particularly like the tone of the midrange and the powered bass was a bit distracting and not totally integrated into the sound. I would never go with a speaker that has a built in powered woofer again. I sold them and bought a pair of Tekton Electron SEs that are similar to the DIs but a bit shorter. All in all, I do like the Electrons - very balanced sound, and as many have commented, any change you make upstream will be clearly heard. Also, the build quality and finish is outstanding (I purchased the standard finish and it looks great). I'm still looking for the perfect amp to drive them with that fits my budget - presently have a Willsenton R8 with EL34s... not bad, but not what I'm looking for. Think I'll try an Elkit 300b amp kit next. Josh |
missioncoonery "Facten....You argue the fact there are a lot of Tekton speakers for sale?..but my statement "they are junk,..poorly designed jinky cabinets with lousy bracing,big,butt ugly,loaded with cheap off the shelf drivers...all they do is go loud!.".....you say nothing about,lmao...I think that speaks for it self!!" Well , missioncoonery, unlike some folks I don’t speak positively or negatively about equipment that I have never heard. Since I have never heard nor seen firsthand any Tekton speakers I am not in a position to contradict nor support your commentary on them. However, just looking at the listings I could comments about your exaggeration how there are "tons for sale" ; 6 do not make a ton. |
@dsper I heard the Fritz Carerra also off the flea powered tube amp and was amazed at the results. That was in a typical size hotel room. I was ready to buy if I could justify another pair of 4 figure speakers which I could not at the time. Maybe someday still.... THese are not very efficient speakers but look at Fritz website and see how the crossover is designed to provide a very smooth and easy load which helps smaller amps to overachieve compared to the alternatives. I would expect them to go loud enough for most listeners off a decent size and quality tube amp. You could email fritz and get more details. I have inquired in the past and he was very responsive. Klipsch are quite a bit more efficient in general and I would expect will go louder BUT probably not as easy a load as Fritz from what I have read, so exact sound might vary more amp to amp as they interact with varying load at various frequencies. On paper, Tekton is somewhat more efficient but I’ve read with at least one monitor model the efficiency may be overstated (not uncommon) and from what I have read typically not a hard load on the grand scale of things but not the easiest either. Fritz in fact may own that title, along with a few others I know of, like Daedelus. |
Apparently Fritz speakers utilize a series crossover as opposed to the more common parallel crossover design. It’s my understanding that series crossovers are generally simpler circuits and require fewer parts. This could be responsible for an easier speaker impedance curve and thus more compatible with lower power tube amplifiers. L Based on testimony from others on this thread this might explain the reported good sounding results with tube amplifiers of modest power. So most likely complex crossovers probably siphon off more amplifier power. Charles |
Hi @dsper, The Fritz crossover is absent capacitor and resistors to the tweeter driver so probably very minimalist compare to the Thiel speaker crossover layout. No doubt that the builder can provide additional detail beyond my limited comments. People report Fritz speakers pairing well with Dennis Had 10 watt SEP amplifiers in addition to 300b SETs. Charles |
@missioncoonery “Facten....You argue the fact there are a lot of Tekton speakers for sale?..but my statement "they are junk,..poorly designed jinky cabinets with lousy bracing,big,butt ugly,loaded with cheap off the shelf drivers...all they do is go loud!.".....you say nothing about,lmao...I think that speaks for it self!!” Nope they do more than go loud they sound very good and much better than most anything if not everything in their price range. They also have probably the highest raw parts cost to retail cost in the industry. Yes cabinets are not crazy high tech but are sufficient. They could make Magico bomb shelters for a small improvement with a triple cost maybe. |
I came very close to producing a speaker for production, a 95db 5 ohm 15 inch 2 way. I wanted a very high value speaker and I looked long and hard at producing high quality sound while cutting cost where I could. I built 4 different prototype cabinets trying very hard to get the cabinet stiff and inert while keeping cabinet weight down. Everything is a balancing act. I've sat in front of a couple of Tekton speakers, he does use cheaper parts and he does cut cost on cabinets, but they are well thought out, well designed speakers. I'm sure that if you wanted to drop and extra grand or two into a given model that Eric would beef up the cabinets and improve crossover parts for you. I doubt that he would change drivers, that would require a whole new design, but if you would want to pay it, I'm sure its worth asking. I hope this explanation might help a few of you out there. Tim |
