Am I crazy to upgrade?

My only concern buying larger Tekton used would be all those drivers. I’d want them all to be working properly. Not sure how hard it is to determine that.

 

Everything you listed would be an  improvement over the Emotiva's.

I would no idea how to test them. I was thinking about a possible road trip to ensure their safe arrival with a detour to Tekton hq in Utah to pick up the subs and center. Perhaps the owner, Eric, could test them?

If you're going to pick them up new from the factory I would think quality control would test them for proper working order.

I'm buying the subs and center new. You'd think that would be enough spent to have the Ulfs tested. I would have to ask the man himself.

put a resistance meter on the L & R pins on the back and it should tell you if something's amiss. IDK what else you'd expect somebody to do to check the speakers?

Thanks! Do you think the Tekton 5.2 would be much of an improvement over the 7.2 B&W?

Sorry, can't offer an opinion on that. I've never heard that model B&W and I've never heard any Tekton speakers.

For surround processors, I like the Marantz a lot better than Anthem.  I think they give you better control (with advanced Audyssey only) as well as sound a lot better than the Emotiva. 

So, I hope you know the B&W sound you are coming from is going to sound very different from the Tekton's you are drooling over.  Best be prepared.

For that sort of outlay, you might fly Eric to your place. 

For upgrade strategy. Typically it is good to upgrade one component at a time. Speakers first. Then let them break in and then in light of what your system sounds like, go for the next step. Which could easily be any one of the support components.

 

one of the advantages of this approach is you get a big bump in performance and time to recover financially before the next upgrade.

I believe the concern the speakers are working if you are buying second hand “used”, then it’s best to demo before purchasing.  It doesn’t apply to brand new as the warranty is implied.

@mopowah - seems you are getting very large speakers, so my concern is over pressuring the room.  Is your space large? 

 

It would probably be a better idea to go with one of the different multichannel "packages" offered than mix/match on your own.

https://tektondesign.com/products/hi-fi-home-theater/theater-packages/

 

@Kennyc @deep_333 

+ 1 Those are huge. 

Also, what is the percentage of time used for home theater vs two channel stereo? 

Putting together a two channel system with a home theater is a very big compromise. They have different goals and one listens to them differently. If mostly home theater... I would definitely thing about a consistent package of speakers like @deep_333 recommended.

Also, I assume you're not married? Not sure I can imagine any woman would go along with those enormous speakers. 

My room space is 30' x 40'. In the process of divorce. :) I'm actually selling her SUV to pay for it all. :) She was never supportive of the hobby. Lol However, I have high pitched ceilings. So, having a fancy Atmos home theater is too much of a hassle. So my main focus is 2 channnel.

https://imgpile.com/p/O365ORE

My room space is 30’ x 40’. In the process of divorce. :) I’m actually selling her SUV to pay for it all. :) She was never supportive of the hobby. Lol However, I have high pitched ceilings. So, having a fancy Atmos home theater is too much of a hassle. So my main focus is 2 channnel.

Excellent room dimensions... you can get some serious sound without height channels in that room. 5 high quality baselayer speakers placed equidistant & mid to farfield along the perimeter of a circle (with listener at center) will provide a very immersive/enveloping sonic dome....when all five speakers have plenty of room to breathe. Once you get a taste of it, stereo would feel like a letdown.

Tektons in multichannel should be a force to reckon with. Good luck.

 

 

I love my tekton ulf.i have 2 sets one being the new ceramic.they are a bang for the buck speaker. You can read the reviews and it calls them giant killers. Not my words the reviewers.i do have a set of b&w matrix 800.they are good at what they do but can't get them anymore. I have run them with parasound jc1 sound good.also with michi m8 2kw in 4 ohms sound fantastic .if they don't have the beryllium speaker Eric at tekton can sell you 2 at his shop.they are direct replacement.with mini dsp you can get most speakers to get along.the customer service is great. I doubt anything wrong with the speakers but if there was he has all the parts at his shop and could fix it.enjoy your search and music is good therapy and will fill some of the recent voids in your life.

Save your $$ on the Tekton good at first hesr but drastingly missing the detail 

that the B&W  speakers have , and buy much better amps ,Emotiva good for the money but for sure BP not even midfi Highend , buy a coda 5.5 or #8

grest values and quality  rarely advertised but always on back order made in USA.

Love your plan.  Those speakers are special.  I agree with @erik_squires on Marantz.  He recommended Marantz to me and I am very happy.  

Talk to Brandon Wade at Apollo audio systems.  He owns Ulfs and also makes some nice high power SET amps that are perfect to drive them using a preamp out signal from your Marantz. then you put your 2 channel sound system into a second input on the amy (you'll have to ask Brandon to build you an amp with 2 inputs).

Jerry