Tekton Double Impacts

Let me jump in on the Tekton Vs Goldenear discussion. I have owned a pair of GE Triton 2s for 4-5 years. Personally, I find my Maggie 3.7i's (when driven properly) superior in every possible way -- midrange, treble, coherency, soundstage, depth, ability to play loud and even bass. I have relegated the GE's to my video room. Every blue moon I pull them back into the music room for kicks, but I am lucky to last a hour with them before getting bothered by the midrange, body bass and lack of soundstage. They are not the speaker for me, but I say so knowing every listener has different preferences. Honestly 90% of speakers are not for me, and I know it. 

i have also heard the newer GE Tritons at the audio shows and they always remind me of mine.  Not the sound for me.

i have also heard the DIs five times (4 in Chicago and once at the LAAS). When set up properly in a large room with good tube gear and tons of space behind and around the speaker, they are absolutely freaking incredible. Definitely better in some ways than my Maggies, though still a tad boxy and not quite as refined. I have not heard the DI SE's but if they add to the refinement, then we have a real contender for best speaker for me under $10k. 

Let me reiterate that that I am in no way saying the DI is better than the GE. I am just saying I prefer them in every way that matters to me. Speakers are something that an audiophile has to hear for him or herself, and has to judge based upon their values and preferences. I dig soundstage, vocal purity, depth, natural tone and images floating outside any box. The DI's have "it".

thanks cardiffkook

I am going to listen to them, but what you are saying in no way surprises me. Eric makes one hell of a speaker. Supposedly the Triton Reference is much better than the previous Tritons but I suspected I would be giving up a lot from the Tektons.

@vitop Great that you have a few dealers where you can listen to the GE Refs. What’s nice about that is you’ll get to hear them in different rooms with different gear / systems.

I first auditioned the 2+ and the Ones. There really was a major difference between the 2+ (and I understand the + is an improvement over the 2s) and the Ones.

I then auditioned the Ones and the Ref more recently. Again, my biggest take away (given the so so system, and subpar setup and room - btw, exactly the same in both demos other than the change up of speaker) was that there was a significant step up from the Ones to the Ref, just like there was from the 2+ to the Ones. Despite the bad room and setup, etc. the differences in each speaker were very evident...which is really what I was looking to determine.

For me, my base line speaker with respect to GE would be the Ones. I obviously did not move forward with them. To my ears and preferences the Reference plays at a level where I would be open to bringing them into my home for a final audition.

As for which sound/performance you will prefer and be drawn to, only you can find out and answer. There is a ’house’ sound to the GE line due to the similar design, components and shared dna; as there probably is with Tekton (the DIs are the only Tektons I have heard, so I cannot say for sure).

It will be very interesting to learn your take on the GE Reference and your comparison to the Double Impacts.

I didn't care for the GE Triton Reference. 

That all important lower-mids just wasn't there, and I was pretty sure that no room could compensate for it. Perhaps EQ. Of course there are a ton of speakers that don't do lower-mids right. The DIs are not one of them. 

Thanks Evolvist. I appreciate it.

I have to take my hat off to teajay for bringing the Aric Audio amp to my attention and to Aric for making such an amazing sounding amp at such an affordable price. I only have about 30 minutes on it and I'm already in love with it. I'm running the JJ blue glass KT 88's in triode mode with NOS Amperex bugle boy 12AX7's. With the LTA MZ2 ( NOS TungSol oval plates with Gold Brand Sylvania 12AT7's) driving the Aric amp the sound is pure, fast, detailed, dynamic with even better imaging and larger soundstage than I'm used to. The background is pitch black, absolute silence. The mids are smooth and organic without excess bloom. Lower mids have more substance. The pristine highs have more surrounding them? Basically the music pours forth effortlessly in a realistic, lifelike manner. You might say I'm enjoying musical bliss. If the SE's bring forth even more sonic benefits I may never leave my listening room!

I heard the Tekton SE'S again tonight at Ezra's they  have really improved from Day one.
Guys if you can afford them I say go for it, they are definitely a step up,the bass is outstanding.
Ezra's system is way north of $150,000 not counting the speakers so keep that in mind.

Hey mac48025,

Congrats!  I totally agree with you regarding: 1) Your description of how Aric's amp, being driven by the Micro-ZOTL delivers beautiful music through the DI's.  It is by far the best combination I have heard on both the DI's and ULf's in my home.  2) Aric's a great guy and builds quality reference level gear and charges very reasonable prices.  

AricAudio really belongs on the short list of one of the great bargains in high-end audio on the market today.  

@aolprodj ,
hard to imagine the SE's are that much better than the upgraded DI's.   I find so much depth in the DI's that the leap from these the the SE's seems unreal.

I called Mike from Audio Archon very nice guy, the DI SE were sold to Ezra , I have to wait maybe six weeks to audition them.i do have the Andra like Waltersalas got curious on this thread.And end up keeping the DI.Will see. I’ll check with Mike probably November. To see if the SE are available for auditions....

@vitop - I'm sure Eric is still pursuing the Mini Ulfberts.  He was talking about a model in-between either DI SE/Mini Ulfberts  or Mini Ulfberts and Ulfberts.  Nothing was really ironed out. I assumed, and maybe incorrectly that it would be more DI like at $7K range or more Ulfbert around the $10K range. It was in addition to, not in lieu of the mini Ulfbert unless I misunderstood him.  

Hey Everybody,

As I shared with Eric last week if anybody in the Chicago land area would like to hear the Ulfberht Speakers they are more then welcomed to my home to see/hear them.  I'm a very busy fellow, but I will make the time for a visit if you are interested in hearing these big guys.

Just contact me through AudioGon and I'll get back to you.

@mac48025  Congratulations on achieving your own musical nirvana and bliss. Looking forward to learning your detailed impressions once you have a few weeks with Aric's amp in your system.

@aolprodj   Given Ezra's system, how would you translate (extrapolate) the performance of the SEs to more pedestrian ones? Your thoughts on optimizing performance from these speakers with specific components? Thanks.

Since Aric Audio has come up so recently in this blog, I wanted to add my voice to the positive feedback Aric has been getting. Although I am not using the Tekton DI speakers (I did own several Tekton speakers in the past) I am presently using the Standard KT88 SET amp from Aric and it is a truly wonderful sounding amp, especially with NOS input tubes. The only thing even better than his amp is dealing with Aric. In my over 40 years in this hobby, I have never come across a more patient, accommodating, friendly, responsible and thorough business owner/manufacturer.  He is a true gift to the audio community. Thanks go to Terry London for turning us on to him. 

@ Mac48025- Tom, that’s great news! I’m glad to hear you’re enjoying the amp already. I really enjoy hearing people that are happy with my products, as I take a lot of pride and joy in building them! Let me know your thoughts once she’s had a chance to full break-in. Also, if you have the opportunity, the KT150 sounds very good in this design- it’s a bit "bigger" sounding than the 120’s, but has an extra splash of micro-detail at the top and bottom ends (making the midrange seem to have more space in between notes). I look forward to your assessment!

@Teajay- Thanks a lot Terry- I really appreciate the kind words you put out there. It means a great deal to hear, and furthers my ambition to build these. Now.....I’ve got to hear that MicroZotl and get this 6SN7 preamp out to you! Best wishes, Aric

Teajay thanks for the time we spoke, I can’t wait to add  the Double impact speakers to my collections.Hopefully this will be my final addittion.How far are you from downtown Chicago?

@teajay  Open the gates, and Rome will fall. : )

Hey david_ten,

Well, if "Rome" is going to fall, what better way then listening to great music!  My home is 30 miles from downtown Chicago.

Absolutely. I'd also add the two ww's. Toga party at teajay's, anyone? : )

One barn has been lit. So there is a word of caution amidst the joking.

Put me on the list if ever Teajay decided to schedule a listening sessions to his house.i live 35 minutes north of downtown Chicago..,

Teajay,

Please Include me on your Ulfbert session too. Northern suburbs guy. 

Absolutely. I'd also add the two ww's. Toga party at teajay's, anyone? : )

That's gross, dude. :-)

Hello All -

Double Impact SE update:

As most of you know the Double Impact SE is now complete and started shipping.

Size - confirmed it's approximately an 1" deeper than the standard version.  All other dimensions remain the same.

Price - Rather than having different price options for paint...your choice of piano gloss black or white finish or any German or Italian matched automotive paint color for $6500.

Lead-Time - At the moment Tekton is quoting 6-8 weeks lead time for the DI-SE.  Of course they will try to improve on this time if possible.

Feel free to call or e-mail with any other questions.

Cheers!
Mike
Audio Archon - dealer

Mike,
While at it, could you please share the drivers used in the SE?

Mike, for those of us without a dealer, do you know if the at home trial period holds with the SEs if you get them in one of the two base colors?

Thanks,
Chris

The reviews from RMAF are trickling in. Here's one from AVShowrooms/reports: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqCojmGgg_0

The Double Impacts are reported upon 7:00 min into the video. 

Hey, that's good coverage! Congrats @tektondesign !

People seem like they have to sound a little apologetic in this audio world, for owning $3k speakers, because mo-money = mo-better (or at least we psych ourselves up to hear that). If this guy was giving this speech in front of some police officers, he would crack, break down, and be like, "Man, okay, I really loved these speakers, but I don't want to lose my job. The chick is holding the weed, I swear! You heard her at the beginning of the video! I didn't inhale!"

Anyway, these cats on the video were laughing at some really unfunny stuff, so they must have been high in Colorado. Good for them!

I'll go next year and get medicinal, too. :-)

Thanks Evolvist. Orders are being taken now for the Double Impact SE's so get your orders in now to mitigate the wait for delivery. If you don't have a dealer in your area call my assistant Karma and she'll get you in the queue.

If we're lucky we'll have the SE page up later on today (probably without an image).

Regarding the "trial period"... it's a yes for now.

Regarding the "drivers" we're using in the SE... it's off the table and is not a topic for discussion. Building a great performing loudspeaker is like designing a 'torque curve' on a racing engine. Every conceivable part is on the table, the camshaft, pistons, fuel delivery system, etc... and most importantly... it's a secret since you have competitors. I'll pick and choose and narrow it down to ones that lend themselves to the design and I just might change or tweak it on the fly down the road.

The gentleman that purchased our RMAF show pair of Double Impacts told me he was purchasing them because they were the best sounding speakers at the show. I've had others tell me this too. Best sound...?! I don't know. Last weekend I experienced something I've never experienced at another audio show. This was, watching the same people coming back to the room over and over again, and people coming in telling me they'd been told by others they had to come hear this room. Folks really had their discernment hats on and they were enamored with the sound.

Personally, I have to say that in the audiophile attribute of 'REALISM' I did not hear better performing speakers than the original Double Impact and the Impact Monitor's. The mid-range was as close to perfect as it gets and the human voice was so real in the room it was like the singer was standing before you. In my opinion, the $58K Wilson Alexia was really really close in my estimation and was the best contender I found.   

Eric Alexander - audio designer 

Btw, my DI SEs are on order in high gloss piano black.  Does anybody know if the midrange, tweeters, and 6" woofers are in a separate enclosure from the two 10" woofers?  Do you think outboard crossovers will be offered in the future?

They are in separate enclosures - gotta be this way. 

Jason Victor Serinus of Stereophile - here's his take on the Impact Monitors: https://www.stereophile.com/content/jvs-runs-out-clever-titles-day-three-continues 

I received a pair of Double Impact two weeks ago. I have been listening to MUSIC for hours  without any sign of fatigue and must qualify my experience with the DI as delightful.
I am 74 years old and started this hobby at the age of 9. Yes, thank god i have "normal hearing" with a rather small decline beginning at 12k hz.
my dedicated music room is 14x22x8. Concrete floor 3 concrete block sides and one double wall with with high density insulation, no windows only one 3ft door. Thin carpet ASC tube traps and GIK absotion and reflection panels.
dedicated electrical circuit.
my history of speakers owned is long, my last 4 speakers in the last 10 years are : Kharma 3.2 fe, Magnepan 20.1, Avalon Time and currently Raidho c3.1., prior among others I had Quads I perceive the midrange of the DIs comparable to the Quads.

i found many good and enjoyable qualities in my various speakers, I also found that I have been experiencing the rule or law of diminishing returns and that the DI opened for me "The law of maximizing return".

ill skip the tech comment of  using the audiophile vocabulary and simply say that IMO the DI give me all the musical pleasure that I have hoped for, I truly could not care less about the cabinet as I listen to my music in my cave most of the time with the lights out.

my electronics consist of Constellation Centaur and Constellation Virgo II preamp, Esoteric K03X sacs DAC, All Nordost Valhalla cabling, etc. Every quality or character of these devices I can hear through the DIs

what I am looking for right now is the equivalent of Tekton in cables and the rest of electronics. I have been following this forum and feel optimistic that this group may help me find what I'm looking for.

I will be ordering the Tekton DI SE to compare in my room and keep one of the two DI. Then, I will exit the merry go round.


, 

manati, Consider Cerious Technologies cabling, there's a thread on Agon with many selling costlier cables for these graphene CTs.

Thanks for your input klh007. The brand had caught my attention a few days ago. With your suggestion my interest is up and I intend to contact Cerious hoping they have a home trial arrangement.

It's of no concern to me, but Tekton's first explanation of why they won't release information regarding the speaker driver type doesn't make total sense.  If a competitor wanted to learn about the speaker and its drivers, they would just buy a pair and take them apart.  The second explanation makes sense though, if drivers are going to be changed over time, purchasers may prefer the newer or original driver better and wish they had the other.   

Manati,
I will second giving the Cerious cables a try. I find them to be a great match with the DI's. Congrats on your new speakers and the musical enjoyment they bring. 

Tom

+1 Jetter,
You beat me to it. I was waiting for the SE version myself and thought the price as well as the parts used should align with my $$$, and not just the sound, considering it is priced twice as much as the standard SE.  The explanation doesn't make sense to me as well.  If I am a speaker designer and want to copy it, I would just buy a pair, take them apart to capture as much as I can and resell it or something. Perhaps the enclosure should be made such that no one can open it to peek at the parts used - now that would make more sense.

I use Cerious GE cables with my Tekton DIs and I like it a lot.

He should booby trap them😜

@manati - "...my electronics consist of Constellation Centaur and Constellation Virgo II preamp, Esoteric K03X sacs DAC, All Nordost Valhalla cabling, etc."

Wow!! I know the DIs are crazy values based on their price v. performance but its truly remarkable the DIs are even remotely on the same level as your equipment! Congrats and thanks for sharing.

mofojo
Not a bad idea. The cabinets are large. He could trap quite a few boobies in them.

I recomend Blue Jean cables over anything else. I've had the usually suspects in my system, but there's nothing quite like the sound of unsullied music hitting my speakers (or at least as uncolored as copper gives you). 

It all comes down to personal taste, though. There probably isn't a right or wrong answer. 

I guess I have a different take on the drivers used in the SE's. I love my DI's and ordered the SE's without knowing what specific drivers are being used but instead based my purchase on teajay's and Mikes sonic assessment of them. My only concern is how they sound as its all about the music for me. Ive heard some extremely expensive speakers with some of the most exotic drivers availability that sounded sterile to me whereas the DI's have rather simple drivers and they are some of the most musical speakers I've heard. I understand that many want to know the specifics of the speakers they're purchasing and I don't think the SE's drivers will remain secret for long as someone will eventually dissect them to determine their identity. To be honest my knowledge of drivers isn't significant enough to base my purchase decision on them, instead I trust in Eric's innate ability to bring forth the realism in music with his driver choices. I'm not implying that my take on this matter is superior, I just wanted to share the perspective I'm coming from......i.e. the technically ignorant perspective 😉

Like others here I use the Cerious Tech Graphene Extreme speaker cables with my DI's and in my opinion the CT GE cables are a high value in the same way the DI's are. I sold off my 4K speaker cables after trying the $649 CT GE's and will never shop for cables again.

"Where's the beef ?" is the colloquism that comes to mind as the prevailing counter-argument.  😂 

Look, if you purchased DIs direct from Eric you avoided dealer markup by buying direct, but with the DIs SE you don't as they are are a dealer marked up product.  The sonic improvement likley does justify this added expense irrespective of the actual cost increases relative to performance for dealer markup, but IMHO and humble opinion,  and I am unanimous in this,  he should jack the price of the DI's up $1,500 because that would allow me to sell my DIs for more money so I can recoup enough money to justify some of this added expense.  One hand washes the other.  Lol 😂  Just saying... 

Mac:
My thought process is similar to yours (which should scare you).

If the sound is there, that's all that matters to me. I have seen some food dishes made with some of the very best and most expensive ingredients money can buy and sometimes they were meh, sometimes they were sublime and sometimes I downright did not like them.

The same is true of less expensive ingredients. It depends on how you cool it, the combination of ingredients and how you season it.

In other words, when paying for a great tasting meal, sometimes the most important parts are not the ingredients, but the knowledge of the chef. It it tastes better than a meal with better ingredients, I submit you would still choose that one because you like it better.

I think the same is true with the Tektons. First, not all companies want the same markup for their components. Some good components are inherently cheaper ti buy because the companies sell for less markup. So Eric may be getting good components that just simply cost less. He makes that decision with his ears.

And his tweeter array seems to have the right stuff to the point that it beats most other speakers with very expensive tweeters and midranges. It is the secret recipe and his trademark. 

If it sounds better, it is worth more to me. If it sounds better and is even cheaper, I'm not really going to look a gift horse in the mouth and wonder why there aren't more expensive parts in it to push up my cost.

The explanation given by Tekton makes it seem like the drivers used in the SE's or his designs play a "major" role than his patent.  Why write a white paper on that patent but won't disclose drivers used in his speakers. Are the drivers more important than his patent that renders all speakers obsolete? Even Magico with expensive custom in-house drivers do disclose their drivers as well as some of the materials used in designing them.

Seems the drivers don’t play that big of role to the sound of the tweeter array as does the crossover and wiring of each tweeter.  I’m guessing he can get very good sound out of many different drivers as long as they fall within certain frequency parameters.  Personally, I would like to see a version of the DIs with powered woofers (Rythmik?) and even higher quality caps in the crossover such as Jupiters. 

That's my understanding also sbayne. Using low mass drivers to deliver sound with much greater speed and control is the main emphasis of the patent, not the drivers themselves. 

Powered subs in the DI's? You must like bass 😛 That's a scary but cool thought.  I'm sure it would be interesting hearing the likes of Jupiter or Duelund caps but I imagine Eric would have incorporated them in the Ulfbehrts or SE as the PMD line is his "cost is no object" line.......or maybe he is, as I have no idea what caps are in them!