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Tekton DI Monitors

Finally got to see the measurements for the Double Impact monitors. I’m a little disappointed.

https://www.stereophile.com/content/tekton-design-impact-monitor-loudspeaker-measurements

This woofer - tweeter - woofer configuration is similar to the style named after the esteemed Joseph D’Appolito. Done well this configuration functions like a single large woofer in terms of dispersion. Less floor and ceiling bounce yield better detail at the listening position. 

Interestingly, the Audiogon craze of criticizing the tweeter array for possible comb filtering is not what I’m sad about. In fact the array appears to be the least of the issues. Look at figure 4. The horizontal plots are superbly clean. Any comb filtering from the tweeter array would be displayed here, and it’s not. Those critics going nuts about the array’s poor performance can apologize for their uninformed criticism right now.

The problem is really the vertical response. It is terrible. Here we do have evidence of comb filtering! See the plot closest to the viewer in figure 5? See the regularly occurring hills and valleys completely absent from figure 4? That my friends is comb filtering. However it’s not coming from the tweeter array, but from the two widely placed woofers. There’s also a great deal of hash above 5kHz on this same plot. This makes me so very very sad.

Part of this is fixable. As Dr. D’Appolito discovered, the designer should have used a higher order crossover slope, which would have taken care of the hash above 5 kHz. However the comb filtering below this is not easily remedied. The issue has to do with how far away the two woofers are from each other. They are so far, and cut in so high that they can’t help but interfere with each other and this woofer to woofer distance is ultimately controlled by the size of the tweeter array.

Should you buy this speaker? I think you should listen to it. See how it sounds to you as you move around your listening space. If you find yourself enamored of the mid-treble resolution and detail, I would encourage you to listen to other Tekton designs that don’t attempt a D’Appolito design, because I'm afraid that the main benefit of this type of design, narrow mid-woofer dispersion, is lost.  A simpler 2-way would avoid these issues and be as good at detail and resolution 
erik_squires

Showing 4 responses by corelli

corelli
386 posts
 
I noted the same issue.  But honestly, I never listen outside the sweet spot.  Even if I am outside that spot in the horizontal plane it totally destroys the sound stage/imaging for me with the DI's or any other speaker for that matter.  So for me it is a total non issue. 

For more mobile listeners, this will be a consideration.  I'll just never understand how this would be a priority for the vast majority of critical listeners however. 
corelli
386 posts
 
roberjerman,
I'm sure you speakers are better than mine and I'm glad you are able to fully enjoy them while walking about the room.
Me, I'd never seriously listen to ANY speaker that way--yours included.


corelli
386 posts
 
Have to agree with teajay on this point---the amount of nit picking that goes on towards Tekton is ridiculous and often by critics that have never even heard the speaker in question.
Yea, you are so right.  Tekton needs to place a warning of their site about only listening in the sweet spot. REALLY.  And so should every other manufacturer.  Never heard a speaker that did not change it's response and imaging as you wander about your room.
And now we need a warning that multiple tweeter speakers blow up. Brother.  I'll never blow a tweeter on my DI's.  In fact, this is the most composed speaker I have heard when played loudly.  No strain whatsoever.  Tell ya what--I'll be the first one to tell you if there is a failure.  Just don't hold your breathe.
corelli
386 posts
 
I don’t disagree in part. It’s personal preference in how one prefers to listen. For those on the move when they listen, the Tekton monitor may hot be the best choice. For those that listen in the sweet spot it’s a non-issue. I just resent how some make such ridiculous suggestions that are directed at Tekton when may other speakers suffer similar problems.
There is always give and take when a designer makes a choice. Some speakers that offer wide sweet spots may not image as precisely as the Tektons do in the sweet spot. Obviously we all have our preferences.
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