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Tekton speakers with Ribbon / AMT ??

Anyone out there have any Tekton speakers with either ribbon or AMT tweeter?? Uruz owners perhaps?

I have finally decided to order a pair of Encore loudspeakers. Upgrading from the Double Impacts. 

I've been back and forth as to which speaker to order. Encore vs. Moab. vs Ulfberht......Well, I had a chance to talk to Eric at Tekton the other day. I asked about Beryllium tweeter on the Encore and he certainly can make that happen. At that time, he brought up the idea of using a ribbon tweeter.  I have seen zero examples of his larger speakers with that tweeter installed. He seemed very confident in the ability to integrate it into the design. I enjoyed the enthusiasm, so much so that it prompted me to go for it. Experimental blood in my veins I guess. 

That being said, I am curious if there are other individuals out there with Tekton speakers with ribbon tweeters?  and what their take might be. Impressions? Downsides? Yes, I realize the standard design is fantastic. But I'm a tinkerer at heart. Willing to try things unseen, unheard assuming the risk isnt too much. 

Eric said he could use two different brand drivers. Fountek, and Mundorf. Both very linear responses. Both something he felt very east to integrate into the current design. Mundorf being the bees knees, but at an additional cost. 


So, bottom line,  I gave him the green light to go to crazy and use the Mundorf driver and see what kinda unique loudspeaker he could create.  

Also, side note.....I guess a true ribbon tweeter is not exactly AMT?? Casually interchangeable terms? Not exactly sure the specifics as to why thy aren't the same.  

But I'm so damm curious how he can integrate this into his current Encore design that I'm willing to try it out. 

audiophile adventure proceeds
128x128whacky
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
The most experienced person with these I know is teajay, and he talked me out of the Be tweeter. Not that it took much. One of the many beauties of the design is the organic continuity of using the same driver over so much of the range. Essentially everything from the midbass on up is done with the same driver. If a Be tweeter is used that will be a different sonic signature and so as teajay said better to be all cloth.  

I would only consider the Be tweeter if using it across the whole MTM array. Eric swears doing that with an Ulf and you have a speaker as good as any in the world. But again that is using Be across the whole MTM array, not just the one tweeter. He may be right but its beyond my budget. But you can try it and let me know!
whacky's avatar
whacky OP
53 posts
 
I had that same conversation a week or so back. Great talk. Hard to disagree with the logic in his argument. Combined with his experience, that makes for one healthy recommendation.

That being said, plenty of anecdotal experience from many individuals with the Be tweeter who seem very, very happy with their decision. That has plenty of merit in my book as well. 

I didn't even know the ribbon/amt was an option going into the phone conversation. It was Eric who suggested it. Is he a passionate man about his craft? Absolutely. Is he trying to sell me a product? Sure. But I also don't think he would blindly offer up something that he didnt feel would be amazing in the end. And I trust his ability to create something great. Thats good enough for me.


Now admittedly, I am not an audiophile/speaker reviewer with years of experience. Nor am I someone who would be characterized as a pathologically discerning listener or critic. Just someone who enjoys the process, and loves trying new things. For better or worse. 



If this doesn't work out, or I end up hating the design/sound/experience, I will gladly be the first to own up to it (said no audiophile ever), and I'll move onto something else. 


Also.... the full Be tweeter array...woah. Even my desire to try something new has some limits with the pocketbook. 

millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Never say never, but from everything I have seen you're never gonna be hating it. Whatever you get, you're gonna be slapping yourself its so good. What he's done with that MTM array is taking things to another level. So can you do even better with better drivers? Sure. But the majority of the magic is there in the MTM array.
whacky's avatar
whacky OP
53 posts
 
No doubt that array is magic. I’m very excited to experience it compared to the double impacts, which I already think are excellent. 
oldhvymec
5,101 posts
 
I want to see Eric build a planar system.
A small planar driver like neo 3s, 8s, or 10s (10" are not my favorite)

I could see if the drivers were available, with a reliable supply chain it would be doable.  I know the problem for the most part is cost.

I just saw the drivers I been using, for 12 years or so, BG neo 3, 8. 10, double in price, DOUBLE. WHY? Stupidity, when people are that greedy, you got to call them the way you see them. GREEDY.  The company changes hands and some corporate, mastermind does that. Doubles the price. Nothing doubles in price, and survives. That's called ringing out the consumer. 

I've seen AMT from 40.00 USD to over 2000.00 a pair. I heard there are a few at over 5K a pair.

AMT ribbons/planars, are sure great sounding, you won't be sorry, but be aware most ribbon/planar/amt stuff can be brighter. How ever you want to handle that.. They are not soft domes..

Regards
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