Focal 1028BE2's or Tekton Moab Towers


Hi - I'm fairly new to the hobby, I've always really enjoyed listening to music but at home was more focused on Home Theater.  Over the last several years I've shifted my focus to 2 channel listening, upgraded my amp, pre and DAC/Streamer. 

Currently I have Focal 1028BE's, a Primaluna Evo 400 integrated amp, REL TI9, Lumin D2 with Sbooster upgrade.  I stream Tidal 99 % of the time and on rare occasion will pop in a CD.  I've also had HAF create some filters in Roon as well.
At times my gear sounds really, really good, other times, specifically with Rock and poor recordings it can be bright, harsh, fatiguing.  Prior to the Primaluna I had a Parasound A21 and P6 combo.  My room is large, man cave, finished basement, open except for the staircase that splits up the room.  It's a shared space, HT, sectional couch, Pool Table, arcade games with an office tucked in the corner.  Acoustic drop ceilings are 8 feet, flooring is vinyl / blank style, area rug in the seating area, leather sectional couch.  I sit around 12 feet from the towers, the sectional splits up the space, there is another 20 feet or so of open space behind the sectional.  I can't really room treat, that's the one spot my very understanding wife won't let me go.

So, I've seen a lot of posts about Tekton and Moab's with commentary that they are less fatiguing, easy to drive speakers that punch far above their weight class, are great with Rock.  Negatives I've read are size, they are huge, fit and finish isn't up to the same standard as other manufacturers.  Some have stated they didn't get a full, robust sound that most describe, saying the speakers are thin, not very cohesive. 

I chose the 1028's because they punched above their weight, with the trickle down effect offering some of the features in the Utopia series along with Focal's reputation for building and designing everything in house.  I got the 1028's last year, several audiophiles said Focal had taken them out of the line up and with them gone the jump to get the BE tweeter and W Cone in the Focal line up was a big one price wise with the 1028 and 1038's being discontinued.  I also read they are one of the largest speaker / driver suppliers to other manufactures.  Common sense would tell me Focal's should be a better speaker.  Reviews I've read rave about Tekton's and specifically seem to reference the Moab's as being the best speaker in returns to diminishing returns in the line.

I'm a novice, just stayed at a Holiday in Express last night, would I be crazy to sell my Focal's and buy the Moab's or would it take my sometimes great sounding set up to a sounds great with everything?
mm1tt77
I've never heard the tektons, but I agree, the reviews and enthusiasm speak for themselves. People want to play like there's some conspiracy that makes all these people love their speakers...

Honestly, I think you should give them a shot. If you can't tame that brightness in the focals and aren't listening to music you like because of the speakers, something is wrong and you should address it. Isn't enjoying your favorite music the whole point??  Everything I've read suggests the tektons are good on all genres and are especially fun for rock. 

And although you clearly need to be careful, even warnings like the above suggest the return process will work out for you if you don't love them. Wish I could demo them with you...
@mm1tt77,
Before you change speakers, try some Audio Envy speaker cables in your system and check if that brings out the balance you are looking for. If that does not work you can return them for a full refund and then take the next steps.
In reference to the last paragraph of your original post, if you are still seriously considering this move, please consult a trained psychiatrist.
mm1tt77, 
I've heard several Focal Audio speakers but not your specific model.  I've heard the Tekton Double Impact (DI) and the DI SE model. These are solidly good sounding speakers. By all accounts the Moabs is a clear step upward in terms of sound quality. It true then the Moabs must sound quite impressive. 

I found the DI to have an engaging and natural rendition of vocal and instrumental tone quality without etched sound or exaggerated upper frequency emphasis.  If the Moabs are superior to the already good DI (In this regard) this is noteworthy. I suspect that the that the Moab would mate very well with your tube amplifier (Based on my hearing the DIs with a tube amplifier).

I can understand your interest in the Moab and believe that it's worth pursuing.  I do not  think you'll be disappointed. 
Charles 
If you want to know about Tektons, just read one of the many threads on them. Lots of hand holding going on there.....:-)