@jtcf I've also been curious about the Zu Audio speakers. I like that company. I think they also care about what they do, and probably do it very well. Good luck in your journey.
There's No Question
I get it. There has been a LOT of hype about Tekton speakers. I also understand why some guys have been disappointed with them. Allow me to qualify for both categories by saying I bought into the hype. I found some of the hype to be real, but I know there are better, or at least more convenient solutions to audio bliss.
I bought my Double Impact speakers after reading and watching every available review. I had been an owner of Magneplanar 1.7i for a couple of years, loved them very much, and there is still a place in my heart for them. I still think they are some of the best sounding speakers you can buy at a very reasonable price. But after well over 2000 hours over two years (and I am not exaggerating), I really needed some bass in my life. The Maggs only do 40hz, which is almost enough for some applications. Naturally a speaker claiming to comfortably accommodate down to 20hz was appealing for this guy. I think it is fair to say that almost no speaker manufacturer claims very far below 30kz.
I make a decent living but am not wealthy. I had noticed the Double Impact speakers as a "hype" ad in a magazine I read, then started really reading the reviews and getting interested. It has always been my goal to build the best sounding system for the least amount of money possible. I am pretty sure most audio enthusiasts and music lovers can at least identify with that. We all started somewhere.
I realize this is an expensive hobby, and the sky is no limit for how much you can get carried away with spending.
The point of me writing now is to inform the naysayers as well as the potential buyers/dreamers about a process. I won't lie. It's an extremely painful process.
I think it is an important reminder that you can take a million dollars worth of equipment, set it up in a room, and it can sound like absolute garbage. It should also be pointed out that less expensive equipment, set up with great attention, can sound significantly better than that million dollars worth of equipment that was set up poorly.
That said, I bought some Tekton Double Impacts with some upgrades. I can tell you that in two different listening rooms my experience has varied from wanting to smash them to pieces with the earliest available sledgehammer, to utmost enjoyment to the point of truly wondering if it could get better, to "YES! That's it!" And back again.
I thought the Magneplanars were difficult to position, and had similar experiences. But after three years of ownership, I can tell you with absolute certainty that the Double Impact speakers are NOT for the newb. They are very, very hard to position optimally. When you get it right you know it down to your toes. When it's OK, you shop for other speakers. When it's bad, there is no measurement for your buyer's remorse.
I really think some people on this forum have been unfair to Tekton. Alexander is good at making speakers. He may not have been born a business man, but he really made some special (not for beginners) speakers. I have found some tweaks and methods that work for me. I have literally built my current listening room around these speakers. Are there better? Sure. More expensive by a long, long, way, but sure. Bang for the buck is in abundance, but only if you have the patience to study about things like parametric wave patterns in relation to your seated position, sound treatments, invest in some better amplification, position, reposition and repeat 30,000 (exaggeration, but not by much) times. The results really can be extraordinary. But you will definitely work for the dollars you save.
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I love my DIs. I make no wild claims about them sounding better than $20,000 speakers (for one thing, I’ve never heard $20k speakers), but I do think they sound better than a couple of $5k speakers I’ve auditioned. They’re definitely a good value. They did take some experimentation with placement to dial them in, and room treatment was (of course) helpful. Overall, though, I didn’t experience the same degree of struggle as the OP. I’m guessing a healthy dose of luck was involved. :) |
I’ve heard the DI’s and the MOAB at shows and I think they are quite good for their price. The sound is full, well balanced, smooth and quite dynamic (alive). The new Source 10 by Mo-Fi is another lively sounding speaker near the price of DI’s. All of the Zu speakers I’ve heard are extremely dynamic and lively sounding. But, to my ears, they sound to brittle and harsh—exciting at first, but they become tiring. I can see how the liveliness can conquer any shortcomings for some people because most modern speakers these days sound dead and unengaging. |
@benmeadows If you are going dual purpose, good sound AND fine furniture, then Tekton is not for you.
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@carlsbad2 For sure. My philosophy about the hobby has more to do with sound than looks. But I also have to admit that my room, though not large, is based on symmetry of sound, i.e. stereo. I am guilty of wanting my room to be fairly distraction-free because I want to listen critically without distraction. It makes me feel good. There is enough in this world/lifetime to make us not feel so good. For me, a left-biased sound is super distracting and never fails to put me back to work, no matter how transparent, full, or whatever. So there is an asthetic involved. I genuinely do not care if a speaker is sexy. I want the sound to be sexy, but I also don't want my room treatments to be pillows and eggshell foam. So I have to admit I care about looks, and I cannot judge someone else because they like pretty equipment. I also very much enjoy pretty equipment to the extent that it doesn't interfere with the sound. For the record, these speakers disappear better than you would expect while listening. But just looking at them such an idea is next to impossible in probably anybody's mind. |
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