Tekton Design - New IRL Technology - Lifelike, Real, Immersive


Consider the last time you were in an airport, or walking down a busy street, and heard the sound of a real live instrument. Did you know the instrument was real before you saw it? If you are like me, you may have had many experiences walking in a crowded and noisy environment, but were still able to pick out the sound of a violin, or guitar, recognizing immediately that it was a real instrument. Now for a moment of honesty – how many times have you confused your stereo for the sound of a real instrument?

 

A couple of weeks ago I was invited by Tekton Design’s Eric Alexander to listen to his new patented recording and playback system, that he has dubbed “IRL” (In Real Life). Eric was excited and described an audio technology that seemed a little too good to be true. I tend to be a skeptic, and the more excited someone is about an idea, the more skeptical I become. That said, I obliged and visited Eric’s shop, and was completely blown away by what I heard.

 

IRL is a technology that could be the end of two-channel audio as we know it. In short, IRL produced the most lifelike, real, and immersive hifi experience I have ever had. Period. The music coming from an IRL playback system just sounds real. Eric played a demo reel of various sounds, like birds chirping, a train passing, and F-35 jets taking off from Hill Airforce Base. The sounds were absolutely lifelike, and sounded like they were coming from every angle! In the portion of the reel where birds were chirping, there is a Cessna flying overhead, and I looked up above me to see the Cessna. The F-35’s sound just like they are going overhead then into the distance, and the passing train sounded as if a locomotive was actually passing through the room! Incredible.

 

Music was even more impressive. Audiophiles always like to talk about separation between instruments, timbre, and imaging. IRL destroyed every concept I have about what “stereo imaging” could be. Musical instruments sound real, as if the player is really in the room. I know the hyperbole of many reviewers often claim that stereos can image like the musician is in the room, but this was next level. Close mike’d Piano’s sounded like they were right in front of me, and the timbre of different pianos was immediately distinguishable. Eric also recorded a jazz session with artists including Billy Drummond and John Hébert, and the experience was as close as I have heard to hearing the same thing in person.

 

From a technical standpoint, IRL records music using an array of four microphones, and plays back using four speakers (a 5.1 audio format can be used by omitting the center channel). The speakers are arrayed with two being to the front in normal stereo positioning, and two flanking to the left and right facing inwards at 90 degrees, and just slightly behind the listening position. From what I could tell, the system didn’t quite project a full 360-degree sound field (I don’t think I heard sounds directly behind me), but it was pretty close. I also don’t know if it could reproduce sounds directly behind the listener, but it wouldn’t surprise me if it could. The sounds that were both slightly behind and overhead were uncanny in their realism.

 

Maybe one of the most remarkable things about the demo was the equipment Eric was playing it on. It wasn’t special. We are talking Crown amplifiers, a 5.1 audio receiver, and an iMac. Not the equipment that audiophile dreams are made of. But despite all of that, this lowly equipment produced an audio experience I haven’t had with any stereo system, regardless of price.

 

I hope to write more about this in the upcoming months in Stereo Times after I get a couple more listening sessions in. For the time being, it suffices to say that I think this technology could be game changing. I know Eric has been running all kinds of people through his demo system: musicians, engineers, audiophiles. The feedback has been very consistent, from what he tells me – extremely positive. But, if you are curious and want to hear what is possible with IRL technology, give Eric a call. I am sure he’d invite and welcome you for a listen.

 

Be warned. You’ll may never be satisfied by your stereo rig again.

willrich47

As to the availability of the IRL technology, what equipment, etc. is needed to access this technology and when will consumers be able to do so?   

Post removed 

I had the privilege of visiting Eic's shop today.  I am a guitar player and recording artist and most of all a lifetime FAN of great sound and music.  I can recall special moments in life sitting in front of my first surround sound system in the 90s or standing second row sweat soaked at my favorite big hair band (these are memories stimulated and recalled through an experience of sound).  Today I witnessed IRL, something amazing that will reside in my memory forever.  It was REAL.  I closed my eyes and I was there!!  I was in the forest under a canopy of trees as the rain drizzled down around me and the storm hovered overhead.  I could pinpoint where sounds were coming from, where musicians stood, sound motion was passing me by, rising and falling as if I was there.  I could feel the emotion of the fiddle player and the phosphor bronze strings tensioned to perfect tune.  In our plastic world of digital enhancement and FAKE things made to appear and sound better through effects, I prefer the REAL thing.......close your eyes, slow your heart rate, and listen to the world around you.  Did I mention it sounds real!  IRL is real!

-KyLee Watson *Son of a Ghost*

Why will it be impossible for a new technology to do this?

I am alas! not able to afford it and even not able to listen to it...

Happily! My acoustically control room and my modest system give me a first taste of that if not for sure the whole thing...

Acoustic even if it is the first more important factor in audio does not replace electronic design advance in technology for sure...

Welcome to IRL...