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Which Budget Speakers, Tekton or Omega?

I have a $2500 budget and haven’t had any luck finding the right floorstander in the local hifi shops, so am seeking advice from owners of internet-direct speakers.

I have an all tube system with a 30W triode EL34 amp. My system is in the living room, 12’ x 16’ x 8.' Speakers can be a maximum height of about 40 inches.
   Most important to me is a realistic laid-back presentation with open, transparent sonics. For example, I really like the KEF sound. I listen to 90% Classical, but also take my Led Zeppelin very seriously.
I have a sensitivity to high frequencies (hyperacusis), so there must be a smooth and natural top-end. And I’m done with metal tweeters since I haven’t found any that work for me.

There have been many Tekton threads, so I’m familar with some of their models, but I’m very intrigued by the Omega’s. Can anybody share their experiences with the Omega line or offer advice on floorstanders within my budget? I’m open to used or demos.

128x128lowrider57
kalali's avatar
kalali
1,645 posts
 
ihor, just out of curiosity, do you have any subwoofers paired with your SAM? And/or, are you placing them near room boundaries to load the bass? I heard them in a smaller room than yours, placed about 3’ into the room, and the bass was tight but quite thin and the driver sounded confused an could not resolve complex passages particularly at louder listening levels. We switched them with a pair of Revel F206s in the same exact set up and the same passages were incredibly more coherent and simply excellent.  Not exactly apples to apples but just as FYI.
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57 OP
3,018 posts
 
Doesn't a concentric driver actually consist of two separate drivers sort of in the same frame with a crossover too? The Omega is just one driver covering the whole range with no crossover.
Right you are. It's a two-way speaker system with a driver and a horn in the center of the cone. This is the design used by KEF and Tannoy.
Here's what I don't understand about the Omega design. From their website...
- Full-range 6.5" driver with felt diffraction ring and 25mm voice coil
- One-piece whizzer / dustcap assembly
- Dual cone with twin rolled edge surround

Is this simply a different design that accomplishes the same result as a concentric?

seikosha
205 posts
 
I guess I would say a concentric is a design that attempts to do what a Single Driver speaker does.  The 6.5" Omega speaker is just a single speaker providing everything that a tweeter and woofer do.  The Whizzer cone (which is just part of that single speaker) is used in an attempt to direct the higher frequencies.

I really enjoy my Omegas, ( I have both their Alnico and RS5 models), but I'd be hesitant in recommending them to people who play a lot of loud complex music unless they have subs.  Omega also offers the High Output models to address these limitations, but I have very limited experience with them so I can't attest to their success.

These speakers are very direct and immediate sounding and don't hide anything.  For me, they sound significantly better with tubes (haven't heard First Watt designs but hear that's a good match) and can really demonstrate differences in amplifiers and upstream components.
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57 OP
3,018 posts
 
Thank you @seikosha , you've provided me with a complete explanation.

And thanks to @ihor and
@jmolsberg for your listening impressions.

From the website...
The new 8" driver is an improvement over the very popular 8" driver of the past. The sound is like the RS5 on steroids. Very fast and dynamic, and able to handle complex music.

sbrownnw
652 posts
 
I really liked my Tekton 6.5t monitors.  Great midrange with right amount of punch about 12" from wall.  I tried their mini lores, too laid back for me.  I upgraded to ProAc Studio 148s and have not looked back.  There is a pair of the 148s for sale now.  Unfortunately, both of these models are no longer made.
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