Tekton Double Impacts

As usual, well said teajay.

 In my younger days I preferred big SS amps in order to reproduce live concert sound levels. Hopefully I didn't damage my hearing too much! Now I prefer much lower listening sound levels with peaks in the high 90 db's so flea amps work best for me and I'm grateful the DI's perform equally well with either type amp. Even though I currently enjoy the sonic benefits of small tube amps I can definitely appreciate the appeal of a good high powered SS amp. As teajay stated there's no right or wrong, just personal preferences. 

I personally don't know how the DI's stack up to $20-30k speakers as I've never owned speakers in that stratosphere but I trust the opinions of those here that have. I do know that after many years of owning many very good speakers the DI's are my favorite. I'd say they are my forever speakers, but the DI SE's might be in my future :)

Not to put words in his mouth, but I honestly think that zero fidelity just played it safe. Would have been too big a backlash from people that a $3k speaker was better than some $30k speakers, so he added that and saved himself a lot of "you don't know what you are talking about" and people calling him a homer. He said in about as strong terms as he could without offending the "expensive speakers are inherently better" crowd. Just my opinion though.

imo:  feeding the DI's  with more Current or  higher watt  amps is not about the Necessity, for playing music at a  higher or a  louder level. 

the extra current gives the DI's more of a sense of "Realism"  in which  i don't  feel that lower watt (SET etc..)  amps  can not achieve!

the higher current (quality) amps make it  apparent  especially  while listening to instruments such as a piano or horns and drums  and so forth. the Music just sounds  more  Real and Faithful!

i heard the DI's  with both a lower watt  amp and a higher current amp and its a Night and Day difference in the Music Presentation  or Realism  in MY experience!   (impact, soundstage, air etc..)  

the DI's are  speakers that offer great flexibility, in terms  of  matching  with a low watt amp or higher current  no doubt about that!


My summary:

low watt amps= Clark Kent  
  (Mild-mannered man)


Higher current (quality) amps= Superman 
(you know the story...)


Cheers.....




 


   



    

I would have to totally disagree with a night and day difference between high pwr amps and low pwr amps with the DI's.

I have probably used more different amps in comparison than anyone else that I know of,the 1.4 watts from the MZ2S to 700 watts class d from the ps audio mono's.

I have found the differences in power to mainly effect the bass presentation with tighter and dryer bass when using higher pwr SS amps.The speakers definitely need enough pwr to be convincing and that could most definitely differ with room size,volume levels,types of music.

I have used 24 different amps with the Di speaker and I will be trying out the benchmark ahb2 this week,on loan from a local friend.

I have played the piano the majority of my life and I definitely know what's convincing and what Isn't and I base the sound of other instruments from live music.

Now if you where talking about any of the Zu audio speakers I would definitely agree with you,they do need some pwr to give them some shove or the music sounds like it's stuck in the box.

The good news is there isn't a right way or wrong way and It's up to the individual to decide.

Kenny.

Only 24 different amps with the DI’s Kenny? Slacker! :)

I’m on amp #5 with the DI’s with #6 arriving Tuesday and #7 in a couple of weeks.....both SET amps. Fun, fun, fun!

As always it comes down to perspective and personal preference.

If dynamics and tighter, controlled bass is realism to you then high powered amps would probably be preferred. If tone, timbre and texture provides realism to you then SET amps are hard to beat in that regard. I’m not implying SS can’t do tone, timbre or texture well I’ve just never heard one do it as well as a SET. The same goes for tube amps with dynamic slam and bass, they can do it quite well but I’ve not heard one that could match a good high powered SS amp. Having said all of that, just because I haven’t heard something doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.

As Kenny stated.....no right or way way. It’s all good and it's all fun.