Stereophile review of the $30,000 tekton speakers


We have had many discussions/arguments over tekton speakers in the past, mainly involving a couple posters who thought their $4000 tektons sounded better than the highest price Wilson’s and other high budget speakers.

In the latest Stereophile magazine, they did a review of the $30,000 tekton’s. In this Steteophile issue, they rate these $30,000 tekton’s as class B. When you look at the other speakers that are in the class B section, you will notice most of these speakers range in price from $5000-$8000. So it looks like you have to spend $30,000 on a pair of tekton’s to equal a pair of $5000 Klipsch Forte IV’s sound quality. 
If I compare these $30,000 class B tekton’s, to some of the class A speakers, there are some class A speakers for 1/2 the price (Dutch & Dutch 8C, Goldenear triton reference), or other class A speakers that are cheaper (Magico A5, Kef blade 2).

 

 

p05129

@dayglow yup, and the underlying dig is that 5 out of 10 audiophiles who like me would still choose to spend $50K on B&Ws instead of $8K on Tektons are audiophools of the highest order given the obvious cost savings for a "superior" speaker. The arrogance and ignorance are truly breathtaking, borderline narcissism actually. One thing I want to share with the community about my eventual choice of speaker after my extensive auditions is that I ended up buying the 804 D4s for less than $12K new from the dealer. It ended up being one of the few speakers that didn't overload my room. The other speaker I had narrowed down the choices to was the YG Acoustics Vantage 3 at $50K. It was a toss up paired with the Gryphon amp I bought between the 804 and Vantage sonically speaking for my ears, the lows and highs are more resolved with the Vantage but the 804 has a more substantial midrange, and for my musical tastes it was a better fit. The D4 version of the 804 is on another sonic planet from the D3 and at the time I purchased it was one of the very best values in hifi for speakers, of course just my opinion lol.

Speakers all pretty much do the same thing. People choose what they like and how much to pay based on whatever it is that matters to them. Ginormous speakers that cost less than other less humongous designs certainly will have a niche. That’s Tekton. Take ‘em or leave em. Just like any others. The arguments about what’s better are really pretty silly. Unless you got something to sell that is.

 

 

Sorry but speakers differ a lot by their design... Then you are wrong...

And yes you are right acoustics principle used in speakers/room relation makes all of them all equally possible choices of source to be located in a room.

😊

Some speakers are better by design but not ideal for all room and listenings habits and location...

Some other speakers not better than most by design could be the better for you in your acoustic set of constraints and in the Budget S.Q. /price ratio...

No speakers beat their room...

Most designer insist  less on this important point because nevermind the design any speakers must be installed in the right conditions to be optimally driven...

 

The thing is it’s fine to spend 50k or more on speakers IF it is in your budget, not everyone can afford that. So people tend to look for best bang for buck. It’s not necessarily that someone is looking for a $5-$10k speaker that would blow away $100k speakers BUT if it comes anywhere  close to the performance, they are happy with that.  I have absolutely no experience with Tekton but with all the talk I have heard would be very interested to audition them although in my area of Canada the only way would be to just outright buy them. As far as the looks go I can’t say I am a fan of the Tektons either but if they offered great sound for the money I would overlook that. Another speaker that kind of reminds me of this was the old Dunlavy speaker line. Never heard them either but kind of reminded me of what someone would have built in their basement but they got rave reviews.

@kairosman    Congrats on the B&W 804 D4. The build quality and fit and finish is exceptional for $14k, only the YG Talus might be its equal. FWIW at Axpona last year the Seawave Acoustic AM 23(large monitor) at $20k had stunning sound with exceptional build/parts quality.

@arnold_h       Speakers are the most flawed of all components. When building a system the electronics will mostly determine the potential of the speaker. An example is a Polk L600 at $3k with Burmester electronics will likely out perform a Magico A3 $15k with a budget integrated amp. My point is to many Audiophiles spend to much on speakers and skimp on electronics.

I am sorry but you are not even wrong here...😊

I think most people spend too much money period and skip acoustics/psychoacoustics  experiments and understanding in the optimization of any piece of gear in a room ...Acoustics concepts are not panels on a wall ...

Ask mike lavigne which matter the most his dedicated room or an amplifier or a dac or a turntable or even a speakers upgrade ...

 

Speakers are the most flawed of all components. When building a system the electronics will mostly determine the potential of the speaker. An example is a Polk L600 at $3k with Burmester electronics will likely out perform a Magico A3 $15k with a budget integrated amp. My point is to many Audiophiles spend to much on speakers and skimp on electronics.