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Match Amp w/Tekton Design Lore

I recently purchased a pair of Tekton Design Lore speakers. I made this move because of all the reviews about how well they work with tubes. I'm using these with a variant of the YAQIN MC-100B Integrate. This unit has been upgrade with some "better" internals.My issue is, although the Tektons sound okay, they leave me somewhat underwhelmed. The Integrate puts out 60 watts per in UL & 30 watts per in Triode. It runs the speakers in Triode but I've found that the speakers need the higher wattage of UL. Being a 98 db efficiency speaker, I thought that even the 30 tube watts would drive the speakers with ease. They do drive them but I can turn volume ALL the way up and still could go louder. (I'm using KT 88 Gold Lion power tubes) Yes, I have enough hours on the speakers to break them in. I do not listen at ear drum breaking levels but it's just lacking in overall quality of sound. My B&W bookshelves sound great with this amp and they are much less efficient not to mention only a 6.5 inch main speaker.
So I guess I'm asking if anyone has experienced a need for these Lore speakers to be matched with a higher output amp? Sure, 30 tube watts drive them but, for me, leave something to be desired.
wcc10
jond's avatar
jond
5,914 posts
 
Gain is another word for volume essentially. And it sounds like gain isn't really the issue I may have slightly misread your initial post.
wcc10 OP
119 posts
 
Perhaps I have a different meaning for "dynamic" sound. For me that has always meant like a 3d sound stage. And this is what I get with the bookshelves. It is easier to place the different instruments in a 3 or 4 piece band dehind the speakers. The Lores produce somewhat of a "deep" soundstage but in comparison they are just "there." Not completely, but to some extent.And snapsc, bass is not an issue even without the sub. I should probably try it for ambience as you said. But to be honest, depending on the track, the Lores can get somewhat "boomy."
But I did discover something that helped a bunch!The MIT speaker cables I'm using have flex pin banana pins but they are somewhat thin. When inserted into the binding posts on the speakers, even when tighten completely down they can still be removed and even turned. To me this is not a good connection! So Instead of inserting the bananas into the posts the conventional way I inserted them into the eyelet on the post and screwed the nut down tight. Good connection and MUCH better sound! I was flabbergasted! It is so significant that I can say with confidence that it is not a figment of my imagination!Long post so time to play around with speaker placement, subwoofer, and eventually possibly amplifiers. I swore I'd never go back to solid state and I still feel that way. Fun hobby!
snapsc
682 posts
 
I like this post from Steve Guttenberg to describe dynamic. It’s not an exact definition but pretty good. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tWqcu1wR1sw


wcc10 OP
119 posts
 
I like that post and I can definitely relate to limiting myself to playing mostly music that sounds good on my system. I suppose we all are guilty on some level to be looking for the speaker or system that plays everything really great. I only hope when I find it I will be able to convince the wife that we need it!
snapsc
682 posts
 
@wcc10
I don't think there is any question that audio is like programming in that GIGO....so, given that... five years ago I was using a 10 year old $500 Sony CD player...I replaced it with a $500 Oppo 103...the differences in almost ever respect were shockingly better.  This year ( 5 years later) I replaced the Oppo 103 with an Oppo 205 expecting a modest improvement....wrong...the improvement was again shockingly better in terms of clarity, detail, space management, 3d sound stage, deep bass....and on and on...so, in addition to moving the speakers and the furniture, you might seriously consider a DAC upgrade...something from Audio Advisors that is returnable if it doesn't do the trick.

One more thing...the room is a key part of the overall sound and every loudspeaker couples with the room differently (hence your bookshelves sound different than the Lores).  Opinions are all over the map but I've always found that a room that is a little more live than dead delivers a sound that is more real than clinical....so, just for fun, you may try moving some of the furniture and doing other things to change the sound characteristics of the room....then at least you will know, even if you can't leave it that way.
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