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.

benmeadows

I too went for value over looks, Crites Type B.  They are the size of Cornwalls with better crossovers and cabinests(birch plywood.  They are not braced internally. I have seen finished examples are quite good looking.

I  chose these for efficiency.   This was also a cost savings as i built the system. It took many things to wring out better sound.  

I would do two things.  Buy 2 subs.  They don't have to be big.  Once again, placing them can be difficult.  I got lucky.  This will make your mains sound much better.  Subs should also help stereo imaging. 

Second, I would isolate the speakers.  I used $30 springs.

I would say in all likelihood the change would be very good.

My wife about had a cow when she came home and found the KEF Reference 5’s. I can only imagine her reaction to a set of bright Blue DI’s in the living room!

Nothing touches them for the $$ invested,

+1 heard a pair of Tektons at an audio show.  They sounded full, clear, with satisfying reach and definition to the frequency extremes.  Sonics that punch way above their price point.

@benmeadows , What you noticed is true with any conventional loudspeaker. They are much more prone to room interaction and placement issues than dipoles like the Magneplanar. Dipoles have limited dispersion. They do not radiate any sound to the sides, up or down. This limits the number and volume of early reflections making placement much less critical.

I would have preferred adding subwoofers and a two way crossover to the Magneplanars than switching to Tektons. Forgetting about how they sound, Tektons are inexpensive loudspeakers made with inexpensive parts and inexpensive construction.