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Tekton Impact Monitors

Hi All,
I'm relatively new to Audiogon but have trolled the discussions for a few months. I have been listening to Spendor LS3/5As driven by a Quad 34/306 combination since the late 1980's and decided that it was finally time to upgrade my speakers. I love the Spendors but they are very limited in dynamics and scale. I auditioned the SVS Ultra Bookshelf speakers and while they brought some additional scale they simply didn't have the sweet midrange that I can't live without. I listened to some open baffle speakers (Emerald Physics) and loved them, but their size and need for space worried me, and I found them less satisfying at moderate and low volumes, where I do a fair bit of listening. I was fascinated by all the discussion regarding Tekton speakers and was considering getting a pair of Enzo 2.7s, but after a short discussion with Eric I followed his recommendation of the Impact Monitor with upgrade. They have the 7 tweeter array and a pair of 6.5" woofers and are rear-ported. I use a pair of SVS subs (the sealed variety). The Impact Monitors are simply amazing. The midrange is oh-so-sweet (very similar to my Spendors, but with more air) and the detail, even at low and moderate listening levels, is superb. The imaging is even better than my Spendors managed and the scale is huge and is much more music-appropriate. My system is really quite modest but now when I walk into my listening room (doubles as our living room - thankfully my wife appreciates Hi-Fi) I get the audio-show feeling of "being there". I have a Denon DP59L turntable with a DL110 HO moving coil cartridge running through an Emotiva XPS-1 phono preamp and the Tektons are absolutely incredible with classic rock on vinyl. I'm not sure how Eric managed it, but these speakers are superb, even with my 30 year old Quad electronics. I believe they are basically the top 24" of the Double Impacts, but are rear-ported rather than front ported. I can heartily recommend them and Eric and his team are great to work with. I'm not sure how many other Impact Monitors are out there since the pair I have are S/N 0005 and 0006!  
ky1mag
sbayne's avatar
sbayne
324 posts
 
@snapsc - It’s funny you ask that!  How the new Diana Krall album was recorded has been driving me crazy! At times, her piano sits in the right channel with the keyboard running front to back.  On other cuts it stretches from the right channel all the way to the left channel.  On yet another cut it’s front and center and extends back.  What is going?  I finally realized they are either moving the piano, the mic or both.  So I guess that’s your answer. The Impact Monitors always tell me what’s going on. The tone and texture of the piano is spot-on. Years ago I had a pair of Magnepan IIIcs in a much bigger room.  The presentation was “bigger” as in sure size but the problem was the lower midrange and bass. I don’t remember from the Maggie’s getting the weight of the piano in the lower registers that I get now.  

As to break-in, put over a hundred hours on them before making any decisions.  But that’s true for any speaker. 
lula
175 posts
 
Anyone compare the Impact Monitors with Harbeth SHL5s or the new Legacy Calibre....I realize the latter 2 speakers are way more expensive.
stfoth
435 posts
 
Black Friday specials in the house (grills tbd).  These are interesting.  I was a huge skeptic after reading the raving "fanboy" reviews and the marketing bluster.  I'll report back after I get them broken in, but they sure are fun to listen to.  Only about 30 hours in.  First $.02.

Unless they take a sharp turn, I don't think that they render the entire industry obsolete or that they kill every $15-20k "giant," but there is definitely something special about them.  The "one more song" and "turn it up a little" intangibles are there.  Right now, the bass is flubby and the highs are a little gritty, even as there is a big, fast, live sound overall that I've rarely, if ever, heard on anything that wasn't bigger and more expensive.  Slightly thin in the lower mids on some music.  Give an impression of space--almost like adding a hint of 'verb.  Oddly, both delicate and a little crude; detailed, yet a bit unrefined.  "Twinkly" and "sparkly," but without fatigue-I-ness or excessive sibilance.  Could listen to these things all day long (and have for two days).  Female voices often forward.  Male voices often recessed.  Maybe like an Omega RS5-based speaker and a smaller, older model Wilson had a bastard child.  So far, glad I caved and ordered them.

I'll guess that these may not satisfy the specs-are-the-bible crowd, but, for the I want to enjoy what I'm hearing crowd, definitely, definitely worth a try in or around the price range.  I know...new toy, but I'm really a little surprised.
sbayne's avatar
sbayne
324 posts
 
@stfoth - Thanks for your "First $.02"!  Great line: "Maybe like an Omega RS5-based speaker and a smaller, older model Wilson had a bastard child. So far, glad I caved and ordered them."  Ha,ha but I know exactly what you mean!
sbayne's avatar
sbayne
324 posts
 
Based on discussions on the Double Impact thread I tried some Iso-Pucks (made by IsoAcoustics) under my Impact Monitors. The improvement in sound quality was immediately noticeable! They are very well made and reasonably priced at $120 for a set of four. 
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