AudioCircle
Audio/Video Gear and Systems => Critic's Circle (Equipment Reviews) => Speaker Reviews => Topic started by: PaulFolbrecht on 23 May 2011, 02:33 am
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I have owned a pair of Tekton Design Lores for over a month now. To cut to the chase, these are astoundingly good speakers for the money - as in, at $1,000 a pair, perhaps the best value in audiophile speakers I can think of.
The speaker is a bass-reflex floor-stander using some type of pro-audio-source 10" wideband driver (Eminence, I think) with a soft-dome tweeter. I don't recall the frequency-response specs offhand (more later) but, as would be expected from the design, it is in the "high-efficiency" category with a specified sensitivity 98 dB/W/m.
The speaker is very balanced, dynamic, coherent, and has excellent tone. There - that's the summary. In fact, I have around 25x their cost worth of source & electronics in front of them (retail price - not what I paid) and if I had to I could live with them as my last speaker in anything other than a huge room. I think this is due in part to how good they are and also in part to how good really good gear can sound through even modest speakers.
I suppose I need dissect the speakers sonically, as reviews do. Starting with the bass, the low-end is surprisingly extended AND tight. When I saw a picture of the Lore with the two very large bass ports, I admit the first thought I had was that this was going to be a one-note-bass speaker - not at all. And I have them only about 6" from the front wall (in a 16x20 room, with two large openings). The bass pitch definition is very good! I can follow jazz bass lines very easily. For rock, there is just "about" enough reach, but the sound is just a bit light (in this room). Of course, that is absolutely no surprise at all - for rock in my opinion you really need a -3 dB point around 30 Hz or better to get all the music. I would estimate the speaker's in-room -3 dB point to be in the 35-40 Hz range.
Of course, tuning a speaker for bass reach is a matter of math: driver parameters, cabinet type & size, cabinet tuning. I have only a rudimentary understanding of those things but I will say that the designer of this speaker made some very good decisions.
The midrange is very, very good, with the coherence one expects from a widebander but also the lack of peakiness that's still fairly rare. The Zu speakers share this same flat frequency response and very full tonality (and of course use a similar driver). In fact, I do think the Lore sounds quite a bit like the Zu speakers in the midrange. The overall tonal balance is a bit on the warm side.
I was expecting the excellent midrange but not necessarily the very impressive bass performance of this speaker. I also was not necessarily expecting to be as pleased with the treble as I am: it is *very* well-integrated, and delicate, with good extension but never sounding brash. I have to say I prefer the treble integration and overall sonics (certainly possibly just a matter of preference) over that of Zu (I have owned Druid & Definition Mk 2).
Of course the speaker also has the dynamics you'd expect from the design. It's quite dynamic, especially considering the size & driver complement. However, a design with, say, two 10" wideband drivers is quite a bit more dynamic!
What's most important is the overall flavor of a speaker, and this one is almost perfectly balanced and easy to listen to yet does excel in areas like detail and dynamics as well.
I am "between" main speakers now, but, honestly, this speaker is so freaking good - in absolute terms, not just "for the money" - I could live with it for good. In fact, it is seriously making me wonder what the point of far more expensive speakers is. (Please don't judge that statement harshly unless you've heard them!)
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Hi Paul
I just got my pair 3 days ago. My initial impressions pretty much mirror your comments.
I only have about 20 hrs on them. Do they change much with additional hours ?
I started out driving them with a 300b amp, and am now using a solid state amp.
Do you prefer any certain type of amp with these spkrs ?
zeke
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Thank you for the thorough writeup. I've been interested in Tekton for a while and wondered how the speakers soounded.
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Thanks for the write up Paul. :thumb:
After finding something like this, its amazing how far one has to go to replace the simple, coherent sound of a good wide-bander.
I'm a "speaker guy" and would rather my speaker error on the side of omission than comission. And IME it's always safer to "dumb down" on speakers and over do source/amplification.
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Great write-up Paul, my impressions mirror yours.
I've had my Lores for about 3 weeks and I have been extremely impressed with them. Tight, controlled, musical. They are just so easy to listen to. I drive them with a DIY 2A3 amp in a small room (12' x 13'). I also brought them over to a friend's and listened in his bigger room (~19' x 16') with a 100 watt tube amp and they sounded great in there as well.
I also own Zu (Omen) and I agree that there are similarities especially in the mids. But it seems that everything I like about the Omens I get better from the Lores. I don't see a way for the Omens to make it back into my main rig.
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Hey guys. As some of you may have seen from my posts in Audiogon, and review of these speakers at audioreview.com, I was also "blown away" by the sound quality of these speakers. They literally do not offend in any way. I am driving mine with a pair of Quicksilver Mini Mites, and it has proven to be a great match! Source is a Cary CDP-1 cdp.
I also wanted to point out that I've been in touch with Eric, and he's just about ready to release his new design - which is dual 10" Eminance driver set MTM design. I've seen pictures of this speaker and it is rather impressive! This beast is 54" tall! :o The drivers are different. It will definitely play lower and this design will still be 98db efficient. I believe it is going to be in the $2,500-$3K range, but don't quote me on that. Look for that model to break wind soon.
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I was neglectful in not listing my system:
Analog: Basis Ovation TT, TriPlanar arm (an early one), Ortofon Rondo Red cartridge, Tom Evans Microgroove+Z phono preamp
Digital: Audio Note Kits DAC 3.1 fed by Mac Mini
Linestage: Tom Evans Vibe/Pulse (Lithos 7)
Amps: Audiopax Model 88 Stereo, Graaf GM20 (push-pull OTL), ModWright KWA-100SE. (All three amps are good matches with plenty of power. The ModWright is obviously overkill in terms of power but has about all the nuance, microdynamics, and smoothness of excellent low-power amps.)
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i wonder how much better these would sound if they and their amps didn't have to see any frequencies below 80hz, if they were actively crossed over to subwoofers. of course, the bass would likely be a lot better, too... :thumb:
doug s.
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Not that they are the same speakers but similar enough that I thought I'd pop in here...
I was a bit surprised when Sean from Zu recommended not cutting off the frequency response with my Soul Superflys, but leaving them to run full range and putting my subs' crossover at 40 Hz. So worth playing around with, since I would've recommended much the same as Doug S. before hearing that from Zu. Worth playing around with. I would certainly think crossing over at 80 would be a good idea if you are driving with a flea powered amp, to take some of the load off. But maybe not as much of a concern with more powerful amps? Not sure at what wattage with Lore or Zu's sensitivity it might be advisable to take the load off the amp. Certainly by the time you get up to the power of my Atma-sphere S-30s...
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i wonder how much better these would sound if they and their amps didn't have to see any frequencies below 80hz, if they were actively crossed over to subwoofers. of course, the bass would likely be a lot better, too... :thumb:
As with anytime you do this type of thing there would be tradeoffs. The negatives you would get are: decreased coherence (ESPECIALLY if you aren't doing really good time/phase correction) and the general discontinuity that results from disparate driver types/locations.
I've played around with such systems and for the most part I prefer one driver down to its limits of 35-40 Hz, which is all acoustic jazz requires to be full-bandwidth.
Unless you need really high SPLs to fill a large room, for example. Then, yeah, excursion and thus doppler distortion gets to be too much. There are few really good solutions for really large rooms!!
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Also, if you are going to xover at 80 Hz, no point at all in the large cabinet. Go with a monitor.
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Zeke, I have noticed some changes with break-in but nothing incredible. They sounded good right away. As for amps, I now prefer high-bandwidth SE amps myself (ruling out most 300Bs and anything with more power than that) as well as OTLs and even - gulp - solid-state.
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http://tektondesign.wordpress.com/
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hi paul,
when i first went w/active subwoofers, my full-range main speakers were rated -2db at 20hz. crossing them over at 70hz made them sound much better. and, the bass was also much better. using a quality x-over and making sure the subs were flanking the mains, w/the drivers in about the same plane, there were no downsides; everything got better. this has been my basic experience w/outboard active subwoofer systems...
i do agree w/benefits of using subs w/smaller mains, but since these lore's seem to sound so good, and are so efficient, and are so reasonably priced... :wink:
ymmv,
doug s.
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Doug,
That had been my previous experience as well, which is why Zu's advice surprised me. Haven't had a chance to try both ways in my system, but that is one of many comparison's on my to-do list.
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I have been listening to my Lore's for only 2 evenings, so I know they are not close to breaking in. My previous speakers were 20 year old Madisound MDY3, small monitors with Dynaudio drivers. These were supplemented by a Dayton Titanic 10 sub. Sonographe amp and AVA 4i tube hybrid pre-amp. Sourced with an NEC CDROM drive and an ACK DAC 2.0.
The Dynaudios are very detailed and throw a great sound stage, side to side, and front to back. Run full range, they need a LOT of power to come alive. Nearly holographic with the right music. But....missing whatever dynamic is necessary to make music sound live. I have another system with BK 16 Fostex horns and another Titanic sub. Lively, great midrange, and a good "boogie factor". I use a 9 watt Norh tube amp with this.
I wanted to bring the "bounce" my horns have to the detail of the Dynaudio. Hence, the Lore purchase. So far....
The Lore's are shockingly detailed. I have heard things on familiar recordings that I haven't heard before. I think the Dynaudio high end may roll off quite a bit compared to the Audax tweeter in the Lore. After all, the fairly complicated crossover is 20 years old. Maybe the caps are tired....
The Lore has very articulate bass. It has been amusing, these first 10 hours, listening to bass improve. Breakin doesn't seem to be a linear process, but the low end is much better now, and I expect it will be adequate. The sub went lower, but blurred the bass region. I suspect running the Dynaudios full range makes integration more difficult.
Midrange detail of the Lore is good and seems to very well express what is on the recording. Last nite I listened to the newest Amos Lee and Ray LaMontagne. The vocals sounded a bit "honky". Having broken in the Fostex drivers in the BK16, I know "honky" when I hear it. I thought the Lores were having a breakin moment. But I followed those guys with an Emmy Lou Harris disc. No honk there at all. So, the recordings must be the culprit.
At this point the Lore doesn't throw the sound stage that the Dynaudios did. But they are mighty fine speakers and have an effortless open presentation. making music. I will continue to break my Lores in and play with placement to the extent that I can. Kudos to Mr. Alexander.
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You want to blow your mind for cheap? Here's what to do:
1. Remove the tweeter from the box and use a piece of hardwood to replug the hole. Mount the tweeter on a small baffle or support and put it on top of the speaker. You don't need a box...like the KatzMeow and Uruz...just a dead baffle or L brackets.
2. Felt all around the tweeter and all around the main driver. And also the top of the box in front of the tweeter.
3. Move the tweeter back to where it is time aligned with the main driver. You can do this by listening.....it will be pretty obvious where the best place is. Problably further back then you think.
4. Damp the frame of the main driver with EAR SD40AL (available from Percy Audio). Put Magnapads on the back of the magnets on the woofers (also available from Percy Audio).
5. Put the capacitor for the tweeter on top of the cabinet (damped).....and later when you have some money...change the cap to a better type.
6. Hardwire the speaker.....or use the binding posts as wire to wire clamps.
Putting the tweeter on top of the box, time aligning and felting will make the speaker image amazingly better. Much cleaner and clearer as well, as the high frequencies are now arriving before the lows and messing things up.
Damping the frame and magnet of the woofer will make the sound clearer, cleaner and more natural.
Hardwiring will make the speaker more detailed, more dynamic and way more pure and natural sounding.
Upgrading the coupling cap on the tweeter will make the highs more pure and real....more extended sounding too.
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Thanks for the formal review, Paul. I concur with your assessment for sure. Have had mine since early April. I was previously using Hornshoppe Horns with a subwoofer and find the Lores so much richer in tone, detail, frequency extension, delicacy, and pretty much anything else you could say. I suppose you might give up just the slightest bit of coherency compared to a true single driver, but you get so so much more in the trade. Not even a question. I unhesitatingly recommend it.
That said, I feel it necessary to emphasize that placement is key. I just today found the bass magic. I had been using a subwoofer to support bass frequencies. Turns out I needed the Lores closer to the front wall in order to get adequate bass reinforcement. Now the subwoofer isn't necessary except below 35hz (basically, only a tiny bit of music and any movies I want to watch on the system). Distance to sidewalls and toe-in are also sensitive on the soundstaging and imaging front. I don't find them extremely finicky, but you can't just put them anywhere and expect everything they can do.
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Good thread and perfect timing. I'm [almost] ready to purchase my next set of speakers and had forgotten about these guys. I took a good look at their website last night and was very impressed. The new design that was mentioned earlier just got added to my short-list 8)
Thanks for posting!
Slush
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And Tekton offers a slightly smaller, less efficient, rated down to 38 Hz versus 30 Hz, version for $650!
Anyone know off hand how much Eric charges for veneers, grills?
(Someday I'll need to replace the speakers in my 3rd system, in the living room, and these certainly be a step up and allow me to shop for a cute/little T-amp and throw in a Squeeze Box for some WAF.)
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I believe that veneer was another $300 or so. Might vary depending on the veneer. Mine are the basic satin black. Finish is pretty decent. And they sort of fade into the background, if a big black box can do so.
After seeing some of the photos of veneered Lores....I wish.
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The M-Lore is about the same size as my current living room speakers (that are black with oak texture). The living room is roughly 4000 cu. ft. plus a number of openings, so room filling sound is important which these high efficiency designs help with. As this is my 3rd system I can do without really deep bass.
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My walnut veneer was $250, but prices go up from there, depending on the materials cost for the veneer. He will do several primary colors other than black for the base price. High gloss automotive quality paint is also available in a lot more color variety, and I believe this was $300 extra.
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Mr. F (or anyone else who has heard both):
How would you compare these to the Audio Note kit 3's that you reviewed over at Audioasylum?
I like the sound of the audio note factory speakers i've heard but the price makes me wince.
Thanks, mk
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Good luck trying to get a pair of speakers from Tekton.
I've been waiting since September last year (have now given up).
Spoke to Eric Alexander directly, was promised they would be finished in 4-6 weeks.
Then was promised January, then February. When I sent him an email asking if he was every going to deliver my speakers I got quite a nasty email back saying he had personal problems and that was much more important then his business!
I replied he probably could be a bit more diplomatic with his customers.
I got a contrite email apologising and he said my speakers would be done "soon".
In March I got an email saying they should be ready anytime now.
It's now mid-April....................................
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I placed an order with Eric for the standard black Lore model with grilles in early January; they arrived a couple of weeks ago. I will post a review within a couple when I hit the 50 hour mark but let me say that the Lore is very special loudspeaker, and I'm glad I hung in there.
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(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=80053)
Tekton Lore Review
So, here is the thing about the Tekton Lore; it is a really fine loudspeaker. It easily creates the illusion of live music transported into your living space. And to think that it does this for only $1200, including grills, delivered to your home, amazing! Oh, and did I mention that you don’t have to have $5k of electronics driving them to make them sound good, which makes them even better. I’m using a Parasound 2100 preamp into a Crown XLS 2000 Drivecore amplifier all connected with Blue Jeans cables.
I placed an order with Eric in January and the Lores arrived in April. The Lore fit and finish is first class. I know that others have suggested that the Tekton finish is good, but nothing special. Let me say, having worked in the metals/automotive manufacturing world that the cabinet carpentry is very well done and the paint job is top notch. The black color is of an eggshell sheen and unlike a piano finish, doesn’t show fingerprints or dust. The overall speaker look is understated in a very classy way…it doesn’t scream, “hey, look at me”, but when you take the time to look, you will see just how nice it is. The grilles are well made and function easily with push points, not magnets. They don’t buzz or rattle when the Lores play loud, and like the cabinets, they are understated. The binding posts are red and black, quite solid and put a firm grip on banana plugs if you choose to use them.
I should mention that when they arrived, they were double boxed for maximum protection. The outer box is made of a thick cardboard, the inner box is made up of about 10 pieces of 2” thick Styrofoam that are assembled in a way that protects the transducers and the cabinet. Therefore, I strongly recommend that you take a sharpie marker and label the Styrofoam sections so that you know exactly where they go if/when the time ever comes that the Lores have to go back into their boxes…in fact, taking a few pictures wouldn’t hurt either. Needless to say, the packing is first class as well.
Eric told me that the mids and highs would be pretty good right out of the box, they were. He also said that somewhere in the 30-50 hour range, they would start to come into their own and that the low end would really start to get deep, it did. He also said that if I liked them at this point, they would keep improving until somewhere in the 100-200 hour mark…but if I didn’t like them by 50, I probably wouldn’t like them at 200. No problem, by 50 hours, I just couldn’t believe how good they sounded.
The Lores sound great with regular CD’s… and with DVD audio, they sound even better. They are captivating, they are commanding and they make you want to listen to music…over and over. They highs are very articulate and detailed; they don’t bite and they aren’t harsh. The mids are revealing, sweet and smooth. They have impact. The bass goes very deep, but more importantly, you can tell a standup bass, from a bass guitar from a kick drum. And you can easily hear the detail of individual notes; there is no boom, boom, thump, thump mud here, just beautiful music. The soundstage is an appropriate height, width and depth and varies by how good the mix is on the source. And as mentioned above, the vertical and horizontal dispersion is very, very good which allows for a 2-3 people wide prime seating area with all the other listening positions being pretty darn good as well.
Even though my room is quite large, the Lores can play very, very loud with less than 20 watts per channel. Although they sound amazing when they are playing loud, they sound pretty darn good when playing at a low/medium level. Crazy as it may sound, they also sound pretty good when I’m in another room as well. And I have to say that when people have stopped by to listen, they stay a lot longer than they had planned and always comment that the music just sounds so darn real.
What I’ve noticed in the forums is that so often, when comparing really good products, it comes down to nuances and personal taste and not glaring weaknesses. As of now, I’m at the 60 hour mark and the Lores keep sounding better and better. So much so, that I’ve decided leave them in my living room and call my search compete.
My conclusion is that if you want a loudspeaker that looks great, is very musical and has impact and if you want a loudspeaker that is easy to drive, easy to set up and won’t break the bank then you should put the Lores on your short list. If you decide to give them a try, I very much doubt that you will be sending them back; as I said earlier, the Lores are very special.
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Hi, can anyone who has the tekton lores please measure the port size and lengh for me .cheers
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I added some damping to the cabinet, around the main driver, with Evercoat pads. Approximate 8 x 8 inches behind driver and 6 x 6 inches above and on both sides. Under the fiberglass, of course. Added self stick felt to the inside of driver "legs", covered the back of the magnet with felt (leaving vent open), and then used Evercoat strips on outside of "legs". Filled gap between magnet and frame with a Mortite fillet. Also added small pieces of Evercoat to the brace below crossover and on both sides of tweeter. Left the tweeter alone. The frame looks like it would break up reflected sound waves.
There was an substantial improvement to imaging and definition. The speaker just seems "faster". The old saw "a veil was lifted" is appropriate, but trite. About $45 for materials, and a couple hours of time.
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I auditioned Tekton Lores late this past January in my home. I meticulously repacked them in the original containers and returned them in mint condition within two weeks via UPS (at my expense). I am STILL waiting for my money back. So much for the 30-day "risk free" in home audition.
When I called Paul he confirmed receipt of the retuned Lores, said he made a mistake, and he would send me a check. That was in February. I pretty much have written it off. That's a thousand bucks my favorite charity won't get (plus about $130 for return shipping).
Buyer beware...
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EDIT
I meant I talked directly to Eric (not Paul).
should have proof read :oops: -Paul's a guy I just spoke with on the phone that has nothing to do with Tekton - guess that's why I typed "Paul"
Anyway - be careful with these small, newish startups. They may or may not be in business long enough to issue refunds on returns. Cost me a thousand bucks plus return shipping to "audition" these speakers. :(
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EDIT
I meant I talked directly to Eric (not Paul).
should have proof read :oops: -Paul's a guy I just spoke with on the phone that has nothing to do with Tekton - guess that's why I typed "Paul"
Anyway - be careful with these small, newish startups. They may or may not be in business long enough to issue refunds on returns. Cost me a thousand bucks plus return shipping to "audition" these speakers. :(
I had a much less painful experience that involved grills for a pair of M-Lores. Paid for them upfront ( $50) but never received them. The M-Lores did arrive within 6 weeks however. After numerous e-mails, texts and phone calls, I finally blew it off. I figured if I ever ordered another set of Tekton speakers, I'd request a credit. But my interest here has waned. Stories like yours add to the waning. Too bad as these are excellent products are their various price points. Looks like the overall business model needs a major revamping however. I've seen this a lot over the years in this hobby. Talented designers with zero business sense. If I were you, I'd request they send the speakers back. At least you could sell them privately and recoup something. In your case there's just too much money involved to simply blow it off like I did with the $50 grill debacle.
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I have considered calling him again for at least a partial refund or the speakers back. I am actually kind of sympathetic to him though. My brother ran his own small business for a while. It is difficult to get new small businesses going until they are profitable. No doubt Eric is a decent man and probably works exhausting hours. Since I give far more money to my favorite charities - I just wrote this one off.
It's too bad since I actually was favorably impressed with the speakers. I was considering auditioning the Pendragons instead, but when I never received my money back on the first set of returns, I wasn't going to risk it with the Pendragons. As much as I liked the Lores, I probably would have kept the Pendragons though.
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I know this is an oooold topic but I felt as though Tekton was left with no defenders and an update seemed appropos. As some of you may know Eric Alexander (he is Tekton Design) went through a very difficult time a few years ago dealing with family issues for which details can be found in older posts on his blog. Time has improved his circumstances and now, near the end of 2016, he is up and running with a good head of steam. Several new products have been developed & many new reviews have solidified his standing as a solid speaker designer worth considering.
I had been following his progress for some time and when he offered his OB Sigma speakers he had been developing for some years at a considerable discount to "get them out there" I immediately ordered a pair. Nearly a month in now I have to say I am quite impressed! These are an open baffle design with a couple of twists & details can be found on his website. As a very experienced dipole listener (over 17 years with Apogee Duetta Signatures) I can attest to the blessings and shortcomings of a dipole speaker setup. These Sigmas are a remarkable effort in retaining the virtues of OB's while significantly nullifying the few vices. He has, of course, retained his Lore line (with further developments), his Pendragons which have also met with considerable acclaim, the "all out" 1812's and others. Check him out...I think he and Tekton are here to stay.
I'll be adding a full review of the OB Sigmas here at A.C. soon.
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I know this is an oooold topic but I felt as though Tekton was left with no defenders and an update seemed appropos. As some of you may know Eric Alexander (he is Tekton Design) went through a very difficult time a few years ago dealing with family issues for which details can be found in older posts on his blog. Time has improved his circumstances and now, near the end of 2016, he is up and running with a good head of steam. Several new products have been developed & many new reviews have solidified his standing as a solid speaker designer worth considering.
I had been following his progress for some time and when he offered his OB Sigma speakers he had been developing for some years at a considerable discount to "get them out there" I immediately ordered a pair. Nearly a month in now I have to say I am quite impressed! These are an open baffle design with a couple of twists & details can be found on his website. As a very experienced dipole listener (over 17 years with Apogee Duetta Signatures) I can attest to the blessings and shortcomings of a dipole speaker setup. These Sigmas are a remarkable effort in retaining the virtues of OB's while significantly nullifying the few vices. He has, of course, retained his Lore line (with further developments), his Pendragons which have also met with considerable acclaim, the "all out" 1812's and others. Check him out...I think he and Tekton are here to stay.
I'll be adding a full review of the OB Sigmas here at A.C. soon.
Personal problems do not give someone a right to rob people of their hard earned money. We all suffer through hard times, I have but I did not swindle anyone. There is no reason to trust this guy.
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Agreed...but then I rather doubt your children have ever been kidnapped. I would only say that those that have been shortchanged might find sayisfaction in reconnecting with Eric at Techton now. He has had several posts regarding backlogged issues on his blog. Jus' sayin'...
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Yeah, I better set the record straight on those grills I mentioned. Eric e-mailed me out of the blue well over a year ago and asked me if I still wanted the grills. So low and behold, I was still on the books. I'd sold the M-Lores, but the friend I sold them to expressed interest. They arrived about a week later and added a VERY nice visual touch to the M-Lore. My friend was extremely happy. The grills add a great deal of richness to the basic appearance of the M-Lore. So bottom line, it appears Eric may indeed have his house in order. I still recommend the M-Lore today as the a speaker of choice for those on a budget......especially tube lovers on a budget. It's an easy load, efficient and plays all genres....and more importantly, it's musically involving.
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So the man slipped, but his integrity isn't in question. Glad it worked out for you & your friend who bought the Lore's
If you can comment, how would you describe the ZU sound in contrast to the Teton?