Considering the New Tekton Design Encores? AND Owners Group - Experiences/Questions

To all Encore owners... What speaker cables are you using and are you using Tube or solid state power sources.

I have a pair of Encores and the last thing I need to complete my system is to see whether I stick with my 10 gauge OFC copper wire or venture on. I understand Eric recommends Mogami and a few others swear by Silversmith Fidelium.

I switch up powers sources between a Coda CSIB integrated and what I am currently using a Line Magnetic 845 Premium tube amp.

Trying to digest all these posts is difficult at best. So much information.Thanks though.

My issue is trying to decide on which to Order??? As a Rock and Roll person only. Pink Floyd, Rush, YES, AC/DC etc. MOAB with BE upgrade or Encore. Eric has stated that he would recommend MOAB with BE. Very Large Room, Wont go all into my system (digital Red book CD's and Qobuz) power,  Pass x250.8 most likely using class A power even at 90 db. Eric stated that the Encores are tilted towards classical, orchestral, etc where the MOAB's are more R&R oriented. He mentioned that he is working on a R&R Encore setup with different Woofers, that he would add. I will explore that conversation with him on Monday, tomorrow.   If anyone can help me with this decision, or at least make me smarter, more informed, please let me know. Very much appreciated. Robert TN

I'm looking for some guidance as I'm looking to get back into the hobby after taking a 3 year break. Encores are on my radar now since I really enjoyed the Tekton's DI speakers paired with a Line Magnetic LM508ia.

Knowing multiple subs (DBA) help smooth out room mode issues, and that Tekton offers an Encore monitor, does a monitor/multiple sub system stand a chance of competing with the full range Encore? On a related topic, would a full range Encore in a horizontal bi-amped configuration make sense (tubes on top, SS on bottom using miniDSP SHD digital crossover/Dirac Live)? As MC points out, is the more simple approach, a Raven Osprey with high passed mains in sub out mode that offloads the LF burden, the better KISS strategy? GR research has a high passed RCA connector, so most any lower watt tube amps could be relieved of reproducing the lowest frequencies is my guess. Dirac Live would probably help integrate with subs.

Tektons respond well to Parasound power for R&R, but I don't want to give up the tube driven midrange sound that comes with less power. Bi-amping or monitor encore/subs configs seem like an obvious path to explore. 

Brody

@brotw

I bought the Impact monitors (3 of them for L/C/R) and loved them... best midrange I’ve ever heard in my house (In this house I’ve had MartinLogan, Maggie 2.6, B&W’s) I placed the L+R on top of my 15" HSU sealed subs... as shown here:

and for 90-95% of music, the combo shined...

but try as I might, I simply couldn’t get the gap between the mains (running full range with my BAT tube preamp, or HighPass crossed over with my Bryston) to blend "perfectly"** with the subs.

** perfectly = not distracting on specific tracks, like "You Look Good to Me" by the Oscar Peterson Trio - the acoustic/upright bass, with bow or plucked, just didn’t sound "as good as it could be" and my visit to Capital Audio fest proved it to me - I asked for that song on any system taking requests. Granted, for $2200 the Impact Monitors are awesome. And if you already have subs a total no brainer, espcially if you listen to only Rock, EDM, etc. But if acoustic bass is on the menu.... you may end up doing what I did or just go straight to "step 2"

I called up Eric Alexander at Tekton and told him what I wrote above and that I wanted to upgrade to a floor stander, but my 7’ height meant many of the full towers were out for me...

Well, turns out he had a pet project (which he may offer as a retail model) called a "Half Ulfberht" kinda half of one of these, but instead of an MTM tweeter array it’s a 7 ring like the monitors I loved. Sold. my basement listening room now looks like this:

And I am not bothering with bi-amping, the Buckeye Amps (Purifi based) class-D monoblocks I run are so good on their own, especially when fed by the tube powered Balanced Audio Technology pre-amp (I love my Bryston, but the BAT is even sweeter) but these came with 4 binding posts for bi-wiring, you can ask for bi-amping at time of checkout. Better yet, email them and ask for a callback from Eric, explain your needs - he’s been super responsive with many of us.

PS: I just looked up the Encore monitors... $3990... my Half Ulfberht’s were < $1000 more that those monitors. What you give up with this "half size" configuration vs. the "real/full Ulfberht" I linked to above: (1) sensitivity goes down by 3 (still 95-96dB @ 1w) and resistance goes from 4 to 8ohms, (2) power handling goes from 1kw to 500w.

PPS: and my subs?  yeah, still connected, but instead of @ 80hz, they take over only < 30hz and only seem to help on EDM/movies at this point. The bass from the Ulfberhts is quite good on their own.