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

@jcarcopo  Congratulations on your speakers and being the very first one to do so!!! 

Do you have a feel for how many other units are in system, at this point in time?

Hopefully some of those folks will share their findings and impressions.

It would be terrific to get your impressions posted here as well.

@jcarcopo I’ve been following your findings with interest, not because of our ’bet’, but as a fellow enthusiast and since I am personally interested in the Encores / Ulfberths as a possible next step.

First, I’m not surprised with your impressions of the Benchmark amp in your system, as relayed via the Encores. For me, this isn’t a pairing I’d recommend for the SEs and by default, your Encores.

Second, a friendly caution that some of what you may be reporting on and experiencing is break-in related. For example, the HPA4 was a keeper but is now going back (as reported within a 48 hour period). I’m sure you are making the right decision for you, but I’m also confident in saying that you may also be experiencing some anomalies tied to break in of the speakers.

If you haven’t already done so, reaching out to owners of the SEs and Ulfberths privately to get their suggestions on ideal pairings may be helpful and a fun exercise.

For example, even though I haven’t heard the latest LTA pairing I have a strong gut feeling that @lancelock ’s pre and amp combo is a Fantastic one that may give you what you are looking for, despite the difference in watts (vs the NORDs). If I remember correctly, LTA offers return privileges.

As you consider your options, I strongly suggest a High Current amplifier and a well reviewed power supply /conditioner.

For example, the SR PowerCell 12 SE with the Galileo PC elevated my Pass XP-20 - XA-30.8 combo to a level where I likely would not have looked for another amp combo (had the PowerCell been in system first).

Shoot me a PM if you want to discuss more in person over the phone.

@jcarcopo  Thank you! Looking forward to your take on the DAC3, if you get it. 

If you are looking for other non-tube DACs with a preamp function (within budget), also consider the Metrum Adagio.

The new Auralic series are certainly worth exploring also.

@jcarcopo Any updates? DAC3? etc.

@gregb63 Can you share more about your Encores? Thanks.

Tom Vu from TriangleART and I were talking a few days ago and I told him how much I love my [Encore] speakers.

@waltersalas   and @olesno   Congratulations to both of you on your Tekton Design Encores.

Looking forward to hearing how they work out for each of you, especially the specific differences between the DIs, the SEs and the Encores.

@jcarcopo Congratulations on the Lyngdorf purchase!!!

@jcarcopo  What's nearfield for you? Can you share your Encore positioning, distances, etc.? Thanks.

@jcarcopo  Thanks! That helps. 

As @evolvist mentions, not quite as nearfield as I had expected.

I find moving away from the SEs really opens up the sweet spot. My closest seating position is similar to yours 8.5 feet apart and ~ 8.5 feet from the center point in the speaker plane. However, my speakers are more pulled out into the room and sit further from the side walls.

My preferred position is about 12.5 to 13 feet from the center point between the speakers, with the speakers nearly in line with my ears (but crossing behind them). My seating position is also higher than normal (but the speaker base is about 2 inches off the floor).

The delta between the Encores and SEs is going to be much more interesting to tease out.

@teajay  Any plans on reviewing the Encores and with a comparison to your Ulfberth based system? Thanks.

Here is Clement Perry's (Stereotimes) review of the Tekton Design Encores!

Congratulations to Eric Alexander.

http://v2.stereotimes.com/post/tekton-design-encore-loudspeaker/

An audio friend is attending RMAF and he visited the Tekton Room showcasing the Encores. If you want to take a look, I uploaded the photo to my systems page. It is the first picture.

Here's the link to my system page: https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/6658

Checking in to see if the Encore owners have new feedback or findings to report on based changes, tweaks, etc.?