Tekton Design's new THE PERFECT SET equals "goosebumps time"

Teajay: 
You recently gave a glowing review of the NSMT model 50 “Jamaica”. They are similar in size and cost, and both have dual front ports.  Which has better timbral accuracy and balance? Is there one that is less forward sounding? Would you pick both over the Tekton impact Monitor for a small 12x14x8 ft room being driven by an 8 wpc SEP (Coincident Dynamo)? 

Thank you Teajay for your extended comparison of the Perfect SET and NSMT Model 50 — greatly appreciated! 

My wife and I moved into a wonderful townhouse 1 year ago, and about 6 months ago after quite a bit of deliberation, 
I purchase a Coincident Dynamo SE 8 wpc SEP and Klipsch Heresy III speakers for a 2nd system, in my den/library.  I chose the Heresy for what it could offer in a small dual purpose room — they can be positioned close to the wall, their horn tweeter has controlled dispersion  which limits its interaction with the room and therefore the need for room treatments, and they have a somewhat limited bass response (58 Hz +\- 4 dB),  to avoid overloading the room. And they look very nice in the room, in a special blond cherry veneer.  All well and good — I’m just not in love with the sound unfortunately. The bass — while well defined — is inadequate. They do sound better with a subwoofer and at higher volume — not ideal in that we live in a townhouse and the room is abutting our neighbor, and I don’t need to worsen my hearing loss with high SPLs. Also, I think I now know of the horn coloration of which you allude to. 

Like oldschoolsound, I live in a rural area and have not heard Tekton speakers. 
I guess I am not a true/dedicated audiophile like oldschoolsound — I am not inclined to use this space solely as listening room, and I am not particularly interested in adorning the room with acoustic treatments. I am a music lover though — and want to be drawn to the space to listen for extended periods without fatigue,  to escape, to feel the emotional impact of the music , for the music to sound live.  While the dynamic response of a speaker is critically important I think to achieve this alive quality — and the Heresys have this in spades — I’m not convinced that the horn tweeter provides a natural sound. Actually, I am okay with some coloration and loss of resolution if it allows me to connect more with the music, and it helps bad recordings sound better. 

Based on on your description, the size of the room, and aesthetic considerations including my aversion to room treatments— the Jamaica is probably a better fit for me. 

Thanks again Teajay. 

Hey Mikirob—
I have the stock tubes supplied with the amp, and have been thinking about upgrading them, so I would appreciate some recommendations. I was under the impression that the EL34 tubes were Tung Sol, but they are not clearly labeled as such. Considering that the amp ( my first tube amplifier) was only $1500, spending $500 or so in tube upgrades would be worthwhile.  I asked Israel Blume if I could put in a KT77 — an EL34 equivalent — and he advised against. Thinking about Mullard or Tung Sol EL34s, and the Russian 6H9C (black base) , a 6SL7 equivalent that Dick Olsher liked with this amp in TAS review last June.  Which tubes are you using? Best, Dave

I should upgrade the tubes before selling off the Klipsch Heresys. 

Mapman, 
Wow— I have been looking at them, but was actually thinking of them for my main system — which doesn’t make a lot of sense, because they would be replacing another 2 way standmount with a beryllium tweeter (Focal Electra 1007 Be). Read some great comments from an audio show. Are they rear ported?  Do you think they would sound okay within a foot of the front wall?  Thank you for the suggestion!!!

I had previously read a stellar review of the Carrera 7 Be by John Richardson with Part-Time Audiophile 

Clio09: Thank you very much for your input. I had also considered Aerial 5T’s for my den, but I really wanted to experiment with a high efficiency speaker and tube rolling. My main system (balanced) is comprised of an Audio evidence Research Reference 3 tube preamp, Audio Research PH-7 phonostage, Audio Research 100.2 solid state amp, VPI Classic turntable,  Bryston CD player, and afore mentioned Focal 1007 Be standmounts with a REL T9i subwoofer.  Very musical system that I think might compete with a system twice my cost.  Got the Audio Research gear used on Audiogon. 

If I decide to part ways with the Klipsch Heresys, I think the Fritz Carrera with it’s benign impedance curve would be to my liking. I live in Rapid City SD. I like the business model where boutique manufacturers sell to the consumer, allowing for a home trial. Yes, one can go to an audio show ( and Rocky Mountain Audio Fest in Denver has been on my bucket list for a number of years), but one still doesn’t know how a given speaker will sound in one’s own home.  At any rate, I think the Fritz Carrera with it’s benign impedance curve would be my first choice if the Klipsch Heresys don’t work out. 

Oldschoolsound: I was awestruck by the generosity of your response. Audiogon is a great forum — particularly I think for those of us living “in the Styx” with limited access to high end audio. Yes there are trolls on the website and some snarky comments, but all in all I have benefited from frequenting this forum over the past 10 years or so. You provided me with a wealth of history and good ideas. Thank you! I suspect you may be a Midwesterner like myself. I am going to try some tube rolling, possibly elevating the Heresys, and trying some more attractive room treatments before giving up on the Heresys. Again, many thanks for your kind, most generous input. 

I have historically preferred high end 2 way standmount speakers.  They disappear in the room, throw a big soundstage, and offer high value IMHO. For the type of music I listen to, a lower frequency of 40 Hz is all I require. The Fritz Carrera caught my attention roughly 3-4 months ago based on highly positive reviews by attendees at an audio show ( Capital Audio Fest I believe), and it’s solid base extension to 35-40 Hz. That they are sold direct by the manufacturer with very high quality parts and the offering of a home audition before committal, and learning that they have a smooth/benign impedance curve that allows for lower wattage tube amplification, only heightens my interest.  Yes, with stands they are almost double the cost of new Heresy IIIs, BUT they are less than half the cost of the Joseph Audio Pulsar — a similar highly desirable speaker that also has a SEAS driver, similar frequency response and benign/smooth impedance. 

I had wondered when you might weigh in Wolf haha. As I mentioned above, my critique of the Heresy was premature.  The stock Chinese tubes that came with the Coincident Dynamo 34 SE mk2 are casting a somewhat bright sound with these speakers I think, and that is something I can modify to suit my taste. One of the reasons I wanted to try a tube amp in the first place. My system currently lacks the warm lush saturated midrange that I heard in the late 70s-early 80s at a dedicated audio store in Rapid City that unfortunately ceased to exist many moon ago. There I heard large Klipsch speakers being driven by Mcintosh tube gear playing Sheffield Track records — a very memorable sound.  If I can create that midrange of yore with my current system, I can live with the 58 Hz extension— or buckle and get a small 8” subwoofer.  

By the way, I like the fat/squatty profile of the Heresy — and it was another reason I chose it: I don’t have to worry about my dog or a future grandchild knocking it over. 

I will private message you. Didn’t mean to hijack this thread. Thanks  Dave