2. speakers
  3. 169216-141823

My Experience With Tekton

I know this is a polarizing discussion point and was thus hesitant to share unless I could keep it objective, helpful, and concise

I have no intention to be inflammatory, sway anyone’s current opinion or beliefs

I merely want to share information in two specific areas, my results of product performance and my experience with the manufacturer

 

Background and reference point

I replaced a pair of Revel F36. The F36 is the upper end of Revel’s lowest tier floorstanding speakers and retails for $2,000 MSRP per pair

Took approx. 45 mins to unbox, level and connect

Like for like drop-in replacement, same location on the floor as the F36s, the listening position did not change, identical electronics and cables

We’ve all got our preferences, biases, different levels of experience, etc; but share the common limitation that we just don’t know what we don’t know

I’ve not heard a pair of 30K speakers but expect to someday and envy those that own them

In my VERY limited understanding, it’s near impossible to pinpoint how any specific system change will behave and perform across the board, contingent on the variances in electronics, set up and room. These three items alone (electronics, setup and room) make me think that while similar in nature, but at a critical listening level, each combination is unique and a different snowflake or fingerprint

 

Listening results

Product delivers as advertised

Meets or exceeds every performance expectation I had hoped for

After approx. 5 hours of listening over 3 days I tried to characterize the sound. The first thought was neutral, but that was understating what I was hearing. I eventually landed on natural or real. The voices and the instruments sound VERY real to me. This is as close as I have come with my electronics, setup and room to sensing that someone is singing to me or that someone or an entire band is playing for me

To date, each song that I’ve played, is the best version of that song that I have heard in a playback, and I’ve listened to all of them 100s and 100s of times

Some of the improvement was by a small margin, but most songs, 65% conservatively speaking, by a vast margin – night and day, game changing stuff

Chet Baker didn’t sound like a presentation from 1958, it sounded as fresh and real as a new recording with the benefits of 60 years of technology advancements. Exile on Main Street didn’t sound like a home recording from 1972 it sounded like 2022 with many layers of percussion, keyboards, horns and background vocals

Is the sound of this $5,000 pair of speakers comparable to the sound of a $30,000 pair of speakers? I don’t know, as mentioned I’ve not heard a pair of $30,000 speakers.

What I do know is the $5,000 pair of speakers, simply put is the best my system has sounded by a wide margin

Again in summary, it sounds real, like someone is singing to me

 

Experience with the manufacturer

I had hemmed and hawed for 2 or 3 months before placing my order. One day the website mentioned a future price increase but until mmdd you could still order at the current price

I called and spoke with Tammy and told her I wanted to lock in on the current price point but wasn’t sure what product or configuration I wanted

She built an open-ended order with current pricing and told me to contact her when I knew what I wanted

With work travel and other commitments it took me 4 months to finalize which speaker, Moab, which upgrades, beryllium tweeters and Cardas connectors, and what color, white

I was never pressured to make up my mind or that my window for the lower costs was going to expire

Since I was the one dragging my feet, I offered multiple times to pay for the product

Not once did they hint or take me up on my offer to pay in advance

They did not bill me until the product shipped

Once I had made all the config decisions, the build and delivery were again, as advertised

Tammy mentioned a 4–6-week supply chain delay with beryllium, that arrived within her estimated timeframe

Once the beryllium arrived, she said she was waiting on cabinets, eta 5-7 days, followed by build and paint, and shipping approx. 10 days after she received the cabinets

Within 2 weeks Tammy emailed my owner’s manual, unpacking instructions and told me to expect a call from the freight company within the next week

Freight company contacted me on that Fri and scheduled delivery for the very next Mon, Aug 30

The boxes arrived scuffed and with multiple impact points that dented the packing material

There are no blemishes or damage to either speaker cabinet, the packing and packaging worked as designed

Upon unpacking, I didn’t experience a heavy smell of paint or wood, if I put my nose to the cabinet, I could smell fresh paint

The cabinet finish or construction does not appear inferior to anything else in my inventory, KEF, Revel, Klipsch, Paradigm, Polk, and Elac – permission in advance to laugh

Enjoy the journey and happy listening

Respectfully


stevewharton
393 responses Add your response
ursm's avatar
ursm
11 posts
 
I don't own a Tekton speaker nor did I ever hear one (unfortunately), but I read a lot of threads here on Audiogon, on Tekton  and on many other subjects. What surprises me ist the kind of furor in a discussion about preferences.
I do appreciate sarcasm, jokes (hopefully always funny ones) and passion. That's what I also encounter in the many posts by Millercarbon, on many themes, lately about his (and others') Tektons. Millercarbon is reporting about a work in progress, as you can see easily in his profile with many pictures. I really like his insights, recommendations, experience - and I take them as such. It's not the Bible (for those who are Believers), for me it's a public journal about an ongoing and neverending journey in the world of audio gear and music.

As I am European (Swiss), I probably have an extra sense for diversity and tolerance. There are so many cultures here that make life colourful and, yes, often difficult and even painful. So what? We who like and love this audio hobby are privileged anyway: no war, no hunger, no existential problems.

So why not just listen to the tales of those who want to tell about an experience? If and when I'm bored I just skip this post, and no offence to the poster. And if I think I know better (or have point to add) and want to be part of the discussion, I just give my statement backed on my experience and on facts.

So: Read, listen, learn, enjoy - be it from Millercarbon (a witty guy who seems grumpy sometimes but always is knowledgeable) or be it from the OP of this thread.

Enjoy what you have and stay curious. End of sermon. :)

millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Good one ursm. Viewing from outside you put your finger right on it. Americans preen and pose about diversity but you will surely notice the ones who do this the most never seem to have quite the same zeal when it comes to diversity of thought. Being Swiss of course the very existence of your country is due in large part to being famously neutral and independent, so it stands to reason I guess.

If you ever do get the chance to hear Tekton I hope it is with good electronics. They are open, dynamic, and remarkably transparent.
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,911 posts
 
Somebody has to launder the Gold….
stevewharton OP
111 posts
 

MIA and AWOL, nope just working my day job

The feedback has been off the charts and covers the gamut, that speaks to the diversity of our community

Most of it constructive and tasteful, some if it with enough vim and vigor to mistake this for a contact sport not a listening hobby

I’m not here, or qualified, to imply or assert that the Moabs (or any speaker) is in the same ballpark as a 30k or $300 speaker and can only speak to my personal experience

If I’m in any form complicit in proliferating or perpetuating any falsehoods about the product or manufacturer, it was done so without malice or intent to mislead

Some great references and a few that will stick with me. As one person posted they’ve heard 30k speakers underperform because the entry level electronics that’s driving them can’t render the playback capabilities of the speaker. I’m confident that Tektons would exhibit the same results under those conditions. Another posted that Tektons sounds like listening from a front row seat at a concert and their preferred brand sounds like listening from the stage – that’s a brilliant description and something I’d like to experience

A couple of my personal favs – sell the fleet and get the 30k speaker, big LOL moment for me and a wake-up call to gift a few pairs of the hand me downs

That my feeble post could be confused as a burner account for MC, I’m rather flattered. MC has already forgotten more about audio than I will ever know

Our common ground of music reproduction is what brings us together, but the diversity of our individual experiences is the strength of this community

I’m here to celebrate our differences and learn vicariously through our many esteemed and very qualified members, e.g. product designers, audio engineers, musicians many that have recorded at a professional level, published product reviewers/critics, EE, etc

Many thanks to all that have responded with their value add .02 cents

All the best and enjoy the journey

aberyclark
1,355 posts
 
1. What about the Tekton- free speech posts mention early on in this thread. Did I miss some controversy about Tektons owners and free speech. Please fill me in. 
2. Zu and Tekton seem to be similar in nature with their speaker offerings, Zu threads are never as polarizing as Tekton threads. Why is that?
gratefuleric
112 posts
 
I have had my Tekton DI's with an RSL sub for two years and continue to be awed by the sound with my Peachtree Nova 300 paired to that set up. 
Good choice!
middlemass
917 posts
 
"That my feeble post could be confused as a burner account for MC, I’m rather flattered. MC has already forgotten more about audio than I will ever know"

+1
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,468 posts
 
I've been sitting on the stage for many years, and can tell you that's the worst seat in the house.  I've had the piccolo/flute in my ears for too many of them.
corelli
976 posts
 
@aberyclark   I think the word "disruptive" was used to describe the DI's several years ago.  My, that was a bit prophetic.

Regarding the voicing of the Tekton line--I would not describe them as front row--not at all.  When my DI's replaced my Magnepan 1.7's, one of the first things I noted was the wonderful sense of space and accurate soundstage these speakers created.  Granted, mine are well off the front wall.  I would suggest that what I hear places my about 25% off the front row--if that makes sense.  A very nice balance.  Of note, my Electron SE's which have to live 2 feet off the front wall in a secondary system, still manage to create very nice hall ambience.  But my seat moved up a few rows.  Still very impressive performance so close to the front wall.
coys21
62 posts
 
@aberyclark I think the free speech comments likely stem from a since-deleted thread here (or two) that had Tekton’s founder posting some comments that were interpreted by some as ‘don’t make negative comments about my product or else’.
While I find suspect the overly-repeated claims by some here that seem to say Tektons are the only speaker to buy, I’ve never heard Tektons, so pass no judgement on their sound. 
A google of things like “Tekton Design and lawsuit” or “Tekton New Record Day” show some… odd things. Odd things, the veracity of which I have no idea. 
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
I have also heard Pendragon XL, another good one. On Podiums with Bel Canto SET amp a VPI and they were impressive. Now Brandon has upgraded crossovers similar to mine, and with the other stuff he has planned really looking forward to hearing them again at the upcoming Chuctoberfest. I can only imagine DI with the larger array are somewhere between Pendragon and Moab. Anywhere in that area is a darn good neighborhood to be in.
aberyclark
1,355 posts
 
Oh boy I just googled. It’s like an audiophile soap opera
corelli
976 posts
 
Not really.  You just need to discern the soap from the opera.
fleschler
2,008 posts
 
p05129 I 100% agree that comparing a floor standing speaker at under $5,000 2021 dollars is NOT necessarily going to be a superior sounding (certainly not superior constructed) speaker than many $30,000+ speakers.   I like my Legacy Focus speakers that are nearly 30 years old and worth about $2500 (the least expensive component in my system).  I suspect they very favorably compare to MOABs.  They do NOT compare to many high end speakers I've heard.  Maybe more enjoyable than Wilson, B&Ws and Magicos I've heard (dozens) for musical satisfaction.  But, I've heard top Von Schweikert and my friends YG Sonja 2.3s sound superior to my Focus.  The price difference is enormous.  From what I've read, the Tektons are probably similar to my Focus for musical enjoyment at relatively low cost.   Not comparable to many high end speakers except enjoyment.  There is a difference is quality of reproduction which is what I'm getting at.
three_easy_payments's avatar
three_easy_payments
2,097 posts
 
Let’s stop being ridiculous. We must know as fact that people are trading in $30K speakers for Tektons and they provide $250,000 of performance. If this weren’t true then Tekton wouldn’t be allowed to make this claim in their advertising.

https://i.postimg.cc/xjbzX05n/Tekton.jpg
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,911 posts
 
Coldest beer in town…. Yawn….

Post removed 
peter_s
1,335 posts
 
I have seen few accounts of direct comparisons between Tekton‘s and high-end speakers. Maybe that’s what casts doubt on some of the statements. I have spent time comparing the double impact SE to Avalon Eidelon diamonds. I was impressed with the Tektons. They had a wider soundstage and very nice mid range, but in comparison to the Avalon’s their base was a little loose and there was a loss of delicacy at the upper end of the spectrum. I saw trade offs between the two, and it seemed to be mostly a lateral move, with a slight tip of hand to the Avalon’s. Pretty impressive given the price difference. I would like to see more direct comparisons, derived from extensive listening, in these discussions.
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Martin Colloms calls the Eidolon Diamond, "A genuine landmark in speaker system design and my strong recommendation remains in place." 
https://www.hificritic.com/uploads/2/8/8/0/28808909/contributor-colloms-mc2.pdf Not too shabby for a $3k speaker. Oh wait, that's the Double Impact SE. The one that is a lateral move from "a genuine landmark".  

Imagine the BH. Epic. Epic. Epic.

Thanks for the tip. Freaking epic. 
peter_s
1,335 posts
 
I didn’t mean to fuel the highly charged “argument”, just to provide a comparative datapoint. Darn!  Attitude influences credibility!
missioncoonery
1,220 posts
 
Peter..your post is as credible as the build quality of Tekton ...comparing Avalon to Tekton ?shame on you.
three_easy_payments's avatar
three_easy_payments
2,097 posts
 
@peter_s   Don't apologize.  This is very helpful having actual comparative data points between speakers by real consumers and listeners.

We need more pieces of thoughtful, calm, reflective thought like yours:

They had a wider soundstage and very nice mid range, but in comparison to the Avalon’s their base was a little loose and there was a loss of delicacy at the upper end of the spectrum. I saw trade offs between the two, and it seemed to be mostly a lateral move, with a slight tip of hand to the Avalon’s.

and less sensational blather like this:

Freaking epic.


peter_s
1,335 posts
 
@missioncoonery Surely you are joking!  If not, shame on you for sticking to preconceived notions about outcome rather than acknowledging impressions from an actual, thoughtful comparison (performed over multiple days).  I still preferred the avalons, but it was notable the sound quality achieved by this much less expensive speaker and the fact that the assessment largely focused on trade offs (with a final win for the Avalon’s).  Made me wonder about the higher up models of Tektons. 
missioncoonery
1,220 posts
 
Ive owned many Avolon speakers over the years and have heard Tekton more than once...for you to use those two makers in the same sentence is silly at best.....its like saying Mexico paid for the wall...come on, stop the bullsheet
three_easy_payments's avatar
three_easy_payments
2,097 posts
 
@peter_s Is one of the very rare posters with more 30 posts (other than a notable exception of the poster with more than 10,500 posts - freaking epic!) to endorse Tektons as punching very much above their price, so I respect his views quite a bit. In fact his reflections are substantially more compelling in favor of Tekton than pretty much anyone else I’ve read so far, including the OP of this thread.

I really would like to read more accounts such as his but sadly they are few and far between, especially amongst posters with more than 30 posts. I’ve read quite a number of reflections from those with around 1,000 posts who indicate that Tektons are worth what they cost or even slightly more - which makes reasonable "market sense" to me. Claims of technology being "freaking epic" (words my 11-yr old son formerly used before he matured into a 14-yr old) and performance at a $250K level for only $12K are simply off-putting. Tekton is the only brand I’ve ever read in hifi audio to resort to such an obnoxious ad campaign which essentially treats as consumers as idiots.
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Imagine the BH. Epic. Epic. Epic.

Got it? It is the BH that is freaking epic. Only thing more freaking epic than the BH is, rent free.

waltersalas's avatar
waltersalas
952 posts
 

I have owned three pairs of Tekton speakers--the Double Impacts, the Double Impact SEs, and the Encores--and even though I have since moved on from the Encores, I found the Tekton speakers to sound incredibly good at their price point and the Encores in particular to sound outstanding. I did an extensive comparison of the Double Impacts and Daedalus Ulysses speakers a few years ago, and found that each speaker had characteristics that I preferred over the other, which is pretty impressive considering the difference in price and pedigree.

While I, too, find the hype surrounding Tektons to be offputting and the occasional interjection of the designer in these forum discussions to be ill-advised at best, it must also be said that attack on the speakers and their owners--as we see in missioncoonery's attack on peter_s just above--is equally obnoxious The facts are that missioncoonery was trolling Tekton long before he actually heard the speakers if, in fact, he has ever heard them. The evidence is in his own posting history, if anyone wants to verify these claims. I have no idea what bone he may have to pick with Tekton and do not really care, but I do know his disparaging of peter_s is pretty typical and typically strange.

I am well aware that a certain member here has pushed the Tekton hype into the stratosphere and that same member also happens to be, um, pretty polarizing in his posts, but that does not change the fact that the speakers I have actually heard, bought, and spent time optimizing in my system, have all been very good to excellent.


lpretiring
463 posts
 
@waltersalas
Some very well thought out review of Tekton forum history here on Agon, and IMHO extremely accurate.
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Stratosphere only? Dang. Was shooting for ionosphere. Can you at least give me mesosphere?
Post removed 
mozartfan
2,143 posts
 

lpretiring303 posts09-12-2021 12:47pm@waltersalas
Some very well thought out review of Tekton forum history here on Agon, and IMHO extremely accurate.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Gracias for at least telling us
**IMHO**
2 cents anda  opinion will not get you a  Starbucks coffee..
hehe
mozartfan
2,143 posts
 
millercarbon10,864 posts09-12-2021 1:29pmStratosphere only? Dang. Was shooting for ionosphere. Can you at least give me mesosphere?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My WBers are out of the Milky Way, Hows dem cookies for ya

haha
Midrange only,. Bass/Highs,, well I guess these Tektonics beat my WBers in that department. 
three_easy_payments's avatar
three_easy_payments
2,097 posts
 
The promotion of Tekton is infinitely better served by posters such as @peter_s and @waltersalas who bring measured reflections to the table, coming across much more thoughtfully, balanced, and mature than those who maintain the expression "freaking epic" and "rent free" in their vernacular. Over the top hyperbole and child-like antics keep the brand well below the rhizosphere. Eric should being coaching someone to keep a lid on things and allow a few adults in the room to offer a more productive voice. The P&L will be grateful.


three_easy_payments's avatar
three_easy_payments
2,097 posts
 
Got it? It is the BH that is freaking epic. Only thing more freaking epic than the BH is, rent free.

Rent free - getting all agitated because "freaking epic" was misappropriated and having to make a qualifying post.  lol  The irony is palpable.
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,911 posts
 
Peter appears to have a well sorted system, a fellow  Quad owner . Chaser of the holy grail as am I. Nice vinyl collection. IF he decides to cast aside the genius of Peter Walker for a guy who calls customers “ a liar “, who am I to say he has it wrong ?

I get an employee discount at Virgin Orbit, more than happy to help send Albert on a ride…

I am told, “ you can see Russia from there”
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
How nice and reassuring to know we have our own little panel qualified to pass judgment on who is and who is not worthy. Where would we be without these golden-eared sages?

Let me be the first to express just how unbelievably relieved I am to know you all are out there watching out for us all, telling us who and what to believe. Where would we be without you?

Seriously. That’s a question. Not being capable of thinking for myself I need your guidance. On everything. Where would we be without you??
three_easy_payments's avatar
three_easy_payments
2,097 posts
 
The world isn’t composed of equally credible people - this is a fact. We are all free to decide whose opinions we value the most. I listed mine and gave a basis of why. Whether you like it or not every single person who frequents this forum are making his/her own judgements. My listing of who have the most credible opinions and offer the most relevant perspectives has zero nexus towards whether I believe you can think for yourself.

Sorry that you feel threatened and obviously believing that I'm somehow diluting your message, as evidenced by your defensive response above.
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
I Very much appreciated the opinion and thoughtful perspective from @peter_s, @waltersalas and @three_easy_payments. Definitely a sense of maturity and reason. I believe that the Tekton speakers are a very solid and quite worthy competitor in their market segment.

They should be judged on their sonic merit which they have legitimately earned. There needs to be a distinction between a product's performance  and the frequent hyping from forum members who many just do not respect or like. These are two different issues and in my opinion should not be intertwined.
Charles
philbarone's avatar
philbarone
57 posts
 
Forget about the speakers for a moment.  With the service and rudeness I experienced from Eric, not to mention the 3 1/2 month wait, that was enough for me to unload them. Damn, what an uptight guy.  And I thought the speakers were no big whoop. Buy um, just make sure you try um first and there's plenty of used ones on the market cheap.  
Post removed 
three_easy_payments's avatar
three_easy_payments
2,097 posts
 
Avoid the 3 1/2 month wait and just buy these that couldn’t be more than just a few months old. They are decked out in upgraded grills, crossovers, and hardwood feet. Not sure why he needs to upgrade so quickly.

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649774659-tekton-design-2-10-perfect-set-upgraded-crossovers-gri...
buddyboy1
106 posts
 
His wife doesn't like fire engine red speakers :>)
tony1954's avatar
tony1954
1,036 posts
 
"Wow this is more entertaining than Looney Tunes on Saturday morning as a 5 year old..."    

Any one want to guess who plays Foghorn Leghorn?
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,911 posts
 
@charles1dad Your normally astute thought and commentary just a bit off the mark here in asking us and potential customers to ignore the dude who runs the company.  In the deleted thread, he threatened legal action broadly saying at one point  “ this isn’t over “.

He also staked out his view that dissent was from “ card carrying Democrats “. Well that is just stupid, short sighted and ignorant - pretty much the drivel we are subjected to by team sycophant and Albert. Yes the thread was deleted. Essential parts preserved. There is this cool thing called screen capture. I await the letter from his attorney. Somehow, i suspect it must have been sent to the MyPillow dude  for legal advice…

Just Hilarious 


tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,911 posts
 
Perhaps we can call it the Audio Evangelical Trinity

Sonic performance / Value

and

Hype ( see also * )

and

The firm, sole proprietor, whatever….

of course, that leaves out the delicate subject of hypocrisy about the sourcing of components from the PRC *
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
@tomic601,
I wasn’t aware of that thread and probably was deleted before I stumbled upon it. I’m just suggesting the demeanor and online personally of certain forum posters can be criticized separately from assessment/judgement of an audio product. Disdain for certain posters shouldn’t carry over to dismissing the actual audio component they relentlessly hype.
Charles
missioncoonery
1,220 posts
 
Yep,it was quite eye opening having an owner of a company threatening users on this site and trying to intimidate them....for me what was even more revealing was he was asked several times by me and others  how his company tested the product for sensitivity ratings and what 50k to 100k speakers were tested to support his claims...no answers to that but he still kept chiming in with threats......outstanding owner! 
mozartfan
2,143 posts
 
asked several times by me and others how his company tested the product for sensitivity ratings

EVERY single lab making midwoofers/tweeters are fudging the sensitivity numbers,,ever since I alerted the audiophile community about how EXTREMELY important and super duper critical was sens db ratings...Seas has their **FlagShip* Crescendo tweeter at 92db sens. My tech tested it, says its no more than 87db,,I tested it, its really not more than 83db, IF THAT.. 1/2 the sens of theie old Flagship the Millennium. 
I do not trust any  labs sens #'s. 
As for charts,,hahahah , big lie there too.

The only speaker I have found accurate on high sens ratings are wide bands,, some are true, while some are fudged.
. Like Voxativ,, claim 95db on their AC1A,
,My tests show its not more than 83db sens,,IF THAT!
Buyer beware is all I have to say.
Sensitivity is everything in a speaker True real sens,, not fake, hyped numbers.
If a wide band is not at the very least, a  true 91db, I'm not  interested. 

mozartfan
2,143 posts
 
WOW 94 db sens. 
Even if its close to 94db, I'd say it should sound pretty good.
+ I love the fact has paprus fabric cone wmidwofers.
waittt, now i see
94db at 
2.8 v/m,,,hummm, 
I prefer rto see sens as 1 meter, as is normal,...something fishy about the specs.
Besides why 7 tweets per channel???

1 pure Be/Nd tweet from DavidLouis under $200 pair... beats 7 OK tweets.
I just dont see the need for 7 tweets.

How much are these guys anyway?

https://www.stereophile.com/content/tekton-design-impact-monitor-loudspeaker-specifications

ozzy62's avatar
ozzy62
3,130 posts
 
Besides why 7 tweets per channel???

1 pure Be/Nd tweet from DavidLouis under $200 pair... beats 7 OK tweets.
I just dont see the need for 7 tweets.

Talk about being late to the party. If you are going to play, you have to keep up....
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