Tekton Double Impacts

vitop,

When you asked me, I didn’t think you were serious because I stated I don’t have the DI’s. So, I can’t compare. After I get the Vaughn’s broken in I can comment on them if you or others desire. On paper, to me they look like what I’m looking for which is, besides all the HiFi qualities, that aliveness that you get only with full range drivers, speakers without crossovers. They are three way, but the midrange is a full range driver with only a Jantzen inductor as a first order rolloff before the full range upper midrange "shout". The Dukane plasma tweeter is rolled in with a high quality cap. That’s the only two parts in the "crossover". So, high hopes. You can find out more on his website if you wish.

mofojo,
I have the Lyngdorf TDAI- 2170 with all three modules. I would perhaps consider parting with it depending on how my auditions go with the Vaughn speakers being driven with it vs. the Pass XA30.8 vs the ZOTL40. The Lyngdorf is an incredible sounding integrated. Sound Science posts my review in his ads on Audiogon.

I think with these speakers though, the Lyngdorf may surpass both the Pass and the ZOTL gear and they will be up for sale instead. We'll see. Then perhaps I'll compare the winner (to my ears) to an SET.

I would also like to hear Kenny's thoughts on the Lyngdorf since he has SET's as well as an XA30.8 if I'm not mistaken.

Michael

Hey david ten,

I talked to Eric yesterday and the first pair of SI's, which are Ezra's set, have been shipped and will arrive this Wednesday.  Eric was extremely pleased about the performance of his new design.  I will be going to Ezra's home to hear them and as soon as I have a take on them I'll post a "field report" on what I hear.

@teajay   Thanks, Terry. Looking forward to your 'field report.' 

Charles, not at all do I mind.  I have really enjoyed the quality of the posts and individuals on this thread.  Never did I imagine this thread would take off as it did--and still going strong!  While there are many divergent opinions on gear we have associated with our DI's, one thing remains a constant--the DI's let you clearly experience the qualities of the gear you place upstream.  It's hard to not spend a good amount of time sharing one's experiences. 

Speaking of, I mentioned a few weeks ago I ventured into the world of valves.  I have been very happy indeed with my Marantz Reference SACD/integrated driving my DI's.  I find this gear to be very neutral top to bottom and extremely enjoyable to listen to for long hours at a stretch--never offensive yet not lacking in detail.  But I wanted to see what tubes might bring to the table.  I only considered intergrateds.  (Just not a multi-boxed kinda guy for various reasons)  Considered SET's and PP 's.  Now  don't cringe Charles/Mac/others, but settled on a Primaluna Dialogue HP that I picked up on this site.  I felt that this might be a bit less limiting on the wide variety of music I listen to.  I was also impressed with quality of the transformers and point to point construction.  And at 63# I can lift it! 

Remember how Julian Hirsch told us years ago that any properly operating amplifier sounds the same as the next.  Wow.  Wonder if he would have said that with a pair of DI's in his system.

So last night I was listening to the boxed set of Jacqueline Du Pre's EMI recodings, CD 7/Beethoven  Cello Sonatas.  I listened to this live recording over and over.  I like to sometimes describe what I hear in visual terms.  The Primaluna is certainly not a pastel watercolor painting.  Rather an oil painting--deep color saturation, detailed facial features with beautiful light on the subject. Very nice contrasts are evident between the subject and background of the painting.  Alright, enough of the visual analogy. 

My Marantz is a master of composure.  It never gets rattled when the musical waters get rough.  With the above CD you had a mid hall seat.  Musical crescendos were there but never with any edge.  With the Primaluna you are closer the the front of the hall.  So there is a bit more excitement. Dynamics are more startling.  But there's never a free lunch it seems.  On occasion the Primaluna would present a bit of an edge noted on the upper registers of the piano.  (Here begins the tube rolling--what 12AU7 driver will mitigate that edge?)

Honestly, what amp I prefer most is dictated more by the recording. Same goes for the option of triode vs. ulrtalinear.  But one thing for sure--the DI's make all the differences easily discerned.

@corelli   I've been very happy with Cryoset Gold Lion 12AU7s in my modified cj PV12L line stage.  Very neutral sound with great dynamics.  They seem to last forever (cryogenic treatment??)  Perhaps employing a Herbie's Audio Lab tube damper to each tube might be of benefit as well.