Tekton Double Impact & Comb Filtering


Like many of you, I have been pondering purchasing these speakers but am very curious about the unusual tweeter array. I asked the smartest speaker person that I know (he is a student of Sean Olive) about the design and below is what he had to say.   

"In theory it could work, but the driver spacing means that the crossover point would need to be very low.
He is using the SB acoustics tweeter which is 72mm in diameter, center to center on the outside opposing drivers is around 5.7 inches, which is about 2400Hz. This means that combing would stop between 1/4 to 1/2 of the wavelength (between 1200-600Hz) is where the outside tweeters should start playing nice with each other.
Since he is not using low enough crossover points he has created a comb filtering monster. Now while it's not the great point source that was promised, it's no worse than most line arrays and the combing will average itself out given enough listening distance.

The MTM spacing on the other hand is ridiculous. Hopefully he is cutting the top end off on one of those midrange drivers to avoid combing."

seanheis1
Charles1dad
As always on Audiogon you are clarion bell of clarity, common sense, good manners as well as many other positive attributes. And, as such I fully endorse your words. I also deeply respect how you listen and evaluate products and music. You are honest and fair.

It sickens me in certain threads the stupidity expressed; the illegitimate ranting vitriol against a audio product a person or persons has never heard. For no sound reason these members create out of thin air, based on nothing, a negative bias. Not only that, in doing so these members insult the Audiogon members who have purchased the product and report good sound, reviewers, as well as the designer who has labored to design a worthy product. This is a shame. The "Moderator(s)" on Audiogon ought to be ashamed of themselves to allow unwarranted attacks of product not actually bought or listened too. Instead, they delete responses to the dogged attacks because???? Oh, you fed the dogs in kind their own nonsense. You were as harsh as they were. Best, mikirob 

hifiman5:

Think that Eric's business model can be explained by considering the broad changes that have taken place in the cultural/musical/audio fields since the 1980s.

At this time there was a major shift in preference to visual over musical interest. All musical-related fields saw a downturn that affected certain areas first -- professionals in the field and retail establishments. At first, the tendency was for these areas to go high end -- there is still a small market for aficionados and these can be mined for a certain amount of time. Thus Fazioli pianos and Wilson speakers thrived.

The downturn has continued, however, and now it is impossible to find a grand piano dealer in most towns and hard-copy music and audio stores have gone the way of the dinosaur (yes, I know there are Best Buy stores but you know what they offer).

So, in this environment, Eric must offer a "budget" equivalent to high-end products at a fraction of the cost -- to attract new buyers who want the best but cannot (or will not) pay $30k.

This is exactly what he has done -- using the techniques described above. Here's my advice -- get your speakers from him ASAP as it will be difficult for Eric to justify the tremendous tensions and energy required for his business model over any length of time.

BTW, as a lifelong music historian, I can suggest that cultural shifts tend to move back towards musical preference in the mid parts of the century. SO, wait another 30 years or so and the broad picture might improve (LOL).

So, in this environment, Eric must offer a "budget" equivalent to high-end products at a fraction of the cost -- to attract new buyers who want the best but cannot (or will not) pay $30k.

I agree and I think that Tekton should be considered along with Magnepan, Spatial Audio, Ohm, Zu? and Vandersteen because all of these companies do something DIFFERENT and compete with speakers that are much more expensive when it comes to sound reproduction.  
Not sure why Devore speakers are being attacked? He makes good speakers, not for everyone, but they sound good.