2. speakers
  3. 136287-23122

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
kalali's avatar
kalali
1,977 posts
 
"They do drive them but I can turn volume ALL the way up and still could go louder."

I have no personal experience with Lore but given their spec of 98dB/1w/1m @ 8 ohms, you should be able to drive them very loud, e.g.,   98dB, with only a handful of watts in a reasonably sized room/listening distance. And assuming you're using the same source/cable/volume setting, your comparison with the B&W makes it even more intriguing. Something is not adding up, maybe the 98dB spec is bogus.
snapsc
685 posts
 
If you look up the specs on the audax gold tweeter, its rated at 94.5 db at 2.8 volts.  The legend B102 is rated at 92.4 db....so, maybe a single Lore is closer to 94 db than 98db.  Even so, if your look at the Madisound spec sheet, the tweeter tested at about 101db output at 5 volts (2-3 watts?)  So, how loud do you want the Lores to play??

Five years ago, if you look at the forums, people were having tweeter failures when they played the lores very loud, seemingly for home theater using home theater recievers....and then Tekton noted that their warranty did not cover burnt voice coils.

I have them in a 10,000 cubic foot room, and as I said, they sould great at 85db (peaks hitting 90db)...and I can easily turn them up louder to the point of being uncomfortable and unsafe for my hearing.

So, is the spec bogus....assuming one Lore measures 94 db, then two together would be 97db...which is within a measurement tolerance...so my view has been that this is a great sounding loudspeaker, fairly priced, super easy to drive with specs that are pretty close to correct.
wcc10 OP
119 posts
 
Yes, more info.First, in UL there definitely is more "umph" obviously due to 2x watts.Room is 22x15x8.5 with lots of furniture & a heavy carpet covering most of the wood floor. Doorway at end of room at direction speakers are pointing. They are towed in slightly.
Speakers are about 7.5 feet apart and about 5 feet from rear wall although there are 2 large pieces of furniture behind each, but still 2 feet from furniture.
Source is mostly older Oppo transport/SACD player or Marantz Trasnport. I do have a sub but don't use it.All cables with both Lore & B&W bookshelves are the same.Don't get me wrong they play louder than I'm comfortable with but mostly on UL setting. There is an obvious difference in depth of soundstage between Triode & UL but with Triode I can go to full volume with ease while wanting more. I don't expect the Lores to be as dynamic as the bookshelves but hoped for more.Am I expecting too much?

wcc10 OP
119 posts
 
jond, you mention "Gain." Could you please elaborate?
snapsc
685 posts
 
Dynamic is absolutely a word I would use to describe the Lores.  When you look through many of the threads and comments about high efficiency loudspeakers like the Tektons, Zu, Spatial Audio, etc.....you get a perspective of the different sound/presentation people get with Triodes, non triode tube versions, solid state amps, etc....usually, but not always, lots more "punch" and dynamics with solid state...but a somewhat less holographic sound...which can be partially offset with a tube preamp.

It sounds to me like you are at the point where trying a few different amps would be of value....and I'm pretty sure that being 5' out from the rear wall, you are losing low end....and by not using the sub you are losing some ambiance.
More to discover