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Former Tekton owners: What have you moved on to?

I owned the Tekton Lore Reference for about a year and a half and they were great for the price. I ran them with a 50w tube integrated and it was a nice combo. For $750 I had no complaints except perhaps that the paint was cracking on one of the rounded corners. I ended up buying a pair of Gallo CL-2 for an office system on closeout direct from Gallo for $390/pair. After they were broken in I found myself listening to them more than the Tektons after awhile. I was getting addicted to the CDT tweeter.

Based on that experience I ordered the CL-3 refurbished for $650/pair shipped (crazy steal) and they were on a different level than both of the above. Sonically, one defining moment for me was listening to Joni Mitchell, Both Sides Now. (I think the Track was You’re My Thrill. )
During the intro there is a brief flute soli. With the Tektons it sounded like a really nice flute section that was very homogenous sounding and blended. With the Gallos I could hear each individual flute player and their unique tones and vibrato. The bass was also deeper and tighter on the gallos and the imaging was just amazingly holographic and wide and deep.

I know the timing of this is interesting as the Tekton hype train seems to be at full tilt right now with some of his higher models and I am curious to hear them. The 2 things that would give me serious pause and keep me from moving up the Tekton line are 1) the size and aesthetics 2) The very much "in your face" house sound that can get tiring to me.  Just wondering what others have moved on to from Tekton and what they heard that moved them in that direction.
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david_ten
5,480 posts
 
@clarinetmonster2  Good thread topic. Speaking for myself, it is always great to learn and grow my knowledge base. Very helpful with downstream decisions and choices.

 @mikirob   I auditioned and demoed the SHL5+ and both of Devore's: the O/93s and O/96s. All three are lovely speakers. And I would be happy owning any or all of them. : )

Having had the Double Impacts with the upgrade package, to my ears (and memory) and preferences the DIs outperform all three at least in ways that I value and prefer. The 96s clearly beat the 93s. They were well setup and run with premium Line Magnetic gear. For it me, it was a toss up between the 96s and 5+ (also run with good gear [Bricasti/Pass] and in a well setup room). Different speakers in not so subtle ways. For me, the 40.2s would be the correct target, but I did not get audition them.
cordobaman's avatar
cordobaman
30 posts
 
I had tried the Electron, but ended up returning them before the trial period ended, they were to replace my (vintage now?) B&O Penta's. In the end I preferred the Penta's smoother/more even range of sound, so I could not justify the $2750 for the Electron. To be fair, the Electrons were definitely clearer, but the B&O have better tone IMO.  Call it familiarity bias if you like. I guess my old speakers replaced the Tektons?
clarinetmonster2's avatar
clarinetmonster2 OP
201 posts
 
david_ten

"Having had the Double Impacts" Do you still own the DI's or something else? That statement sounds like past tense.
david_ten
5,480 posts
 
I still own them, but have upgraded to the Special Edition Double Impacts.
clarinetmonster2's avatar
clarinetmonster2 OP
201 posts
 
Ah ok. Those are more than twice the price and It's not entirely clear to some, why that is. I'm sure they sound great, but what exactly are the upgrades over the standard model?
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