Tekton M-Lore Speaker Review

[mlsstl]

Tekton's speakers always remind me of the one scene in the movie "Ruthless People" where Judge Reinhold is working as a stereo salesman and pushing the "Dominator" speaker with it's 30" woofer on a young dude. "And when you die, they can bury you in it."

 

[Head_Unit]

"Masarati"
The color does look interesting though. The FFF looks like a cheapsh!te piece of insulation pulled out of a rubbish tip...

 

[Tell]

Not that I'm even remotely interested in buying anything from Tekton, but I am still very curious of how their trypophobia speakers measure, if that tweeter array actually work as advertised or if it's a confused phase party.

 

[Buckchester]

Not that I'm even remotely interested in buying anything from Tekton, but I am still very curious of how their trypophobia speakers measure, if that tweeter array actually work as advertised or if it's a confused phase party.

If they measured well the measurements would be out there somewhere. Look at how he attacked Erin, he knew the measurements would likely be a mess because he doesn’t know how to make a speaker. Dude’s a charlatan. They are a dime a dozen in this ridiculous industry.

 

[aschen]

I get targeted ads from tekton on social media every now and then. Just that same guy talking usually. He in no way has improved his demeanor or shows any sort of humilty post debacle. The internet being the internet, somebody usually calls it out in the associated comments.

They could sell state of the art floor standers for 500$ and I dont think I could buy a pair out of principle.

 

[Arindal]

I am still very curious of how their trypophobia speakers measure, if that tweeter array actually work as advertised or if it's a confused phase party.

I am usually pretty reserved when it comes to predicting sound quality based on specs or even measurements, but I see no way this military cemetery of tweeters would turn out to work as intended. A ´Phase party´ might in theory be avoidable, if only one of the tweeters is playing higher frequencies. But how could this tweeter array play lower frequencies?

 

[mps]

Not that I'm even remotely interested in buying anything from Tekton, but I am still very curious of how their trypophobia speakers measure, if that tweeter array actually work as advertised or if it's a confused phase party.

Tekton Design Impact Monitor loudspeaker Measurements | Stereophile.com

Sidebar 3: Measurements I used DRA Labs' MLSSA system and a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone to measure the Tekton Design Impact Monitor's frequency response in the farfield, and an Earthworks QTC-40 for the nearfield responses. My estimate of the Impact's sensitivity was 87.5dB(B)/2.83V/m...

www.stereophile.com

 

[Matt_Holland]

Tekton Design Impact Monitor loudspeaker Measurements | Stereophile.com

Sidebar 3: Measurements I used DRA Labs' MLSSA system and a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone to measure the Tekton Design Impact Monitor's frequency response in the farfield, and an Earthworks QTC-40 for the nearfield responses. My estimate of the Impact's sensitivity was 87.5dB(B)/2.83V/m...

www.stereophile.com

To be fair the measurements for that model are not horrible.

 

[Roland68]

I am usually pretty reserved when it comes to predicting sound quality based on specs or even measurements, but I see no way this military cemetery of tweeters would turn out to work as intended. A ´Phase party´ might in theory be avoidable, if only one of the tweeters is playing higher frequencies. But how could this tweeter array play lower frequencies?

Essentially, the surface area of the tweeters is added together, but the excursion remains limited.
You could compare it to a small planar radiator, but with large external dimensions and little effective area (and extremely little excursion).
The frequency response and crossover frequency are naturally shifted significantly downwards, but due to the lack of excursion, either frequency response or/and volume are reduced.
And there are, of course, several disadvantages.

This isn't a new concept, and I've seen similar approaches several times in the 80s and 90s, but nothing that has proven itself.
I'd love to hear one of these speakers, but that would probably be very difficult in Germany/the EU.

 

[Tell]

Tekton Design Impact Monitor loudspeaker Measurements | Stereophile.com

Sidebar 3: Measurements I used DRA Labs' MLSSA system and a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone to measure the Tekton Design Impact Monitor's frequency response in the farfield, and an Earthworks QTC-40 for the nearfield responses. My estimate of the Impact's sensitivity was 87.5dB(B)/2.83V/m...

www.stereophile.com

Oh there we have some, thank you!

To be fair the measurements for that model are not horrible.

Not terrible no, but they have some funky stuff going on.

 

[Arindal]

To be fair the measurements for that model are not horrible.

On-axis response and horizontal directivity look surprisingly good indeed. But for a tall, slim array that is not particularly difficult to achieve.

To judge the product from lab point of view, vertical directivity, overall or particularly windows´ directivity index as well as distortion at higher SPL would be of interest. The former looks already funky.

The frequency response and crossover frequency are naturally shifted significantly downwards, but due to the lack of excursion, either frequency response or/and volume are reduced.

Or distortion or other side effects of using a tweeter in midrange bands, will occur. I am surprised to see they seemingly use standard tweeter domes for this array. Maybe I am missing something, but there usually is a reason why these are not operated well below their resonance frequency. And the fact they produce some midrange to achieve a flat anechoic response, usually does not mean it will sound good.

Interestingly, other manufacturers employing a similar midrange array around the tweeter, such as Neuron, Monacor or Elac, use dedicated ultra-compact midrange drivers for this purpose.

 

[Matt_Holland]

Interestingly, other manufacturers employing a similar midrange array around the tweeter, such as Neuron, Monacor or Elac, use dedicated ultra-compact midrange drivers for this purpose.

Yes. Also Genelec with the 8381A and Monitor Audio’s Hyphn.

I just can’t see how Tekton can use a ring of tweeters to operate low enough in frequency for them to effectively become a midrange. Maybe they are able to stretch down to 500-600Hz? But the central dedicated tweeter will also need to cross low to avoid lobing with the ring tweeters.

He’s found a unique approach for sure.

 

[Arindal]

I just can’t see how Tekton can use a ring of tweeters to operate low enough in frequency for them to effectively become a midrange.

Every speaker designer who has accidentally bypassed a high-pass filter, or mixed up tweeter and midrange output, can confirm that many tweeter domes actually produce astonishing amount of output SPL for the octave below their resonance frequency (some even lower). It just comes with a bunch of unwanted side effects such as increased distortion, and usually sounds horrifying. Have met a speaker designer who used to comment on such sound character describing it as ´now it finally sounds like a piezo tweeter!´.

 

[DanielT]

Or distortion or other side effects of using a tweeter in midrange bands, will occur. I am surprised to see they seemingly use standard tweeter domes for this array. Maybe I am missing something, but there usually is a reason why these are not operated well below their resonance frequency. And the fact they produce some midrange to achieve a flat anechoic response, usually does not mean it will sound good.

Very strange. Why not 3-4 inch dedicated midrange drivers instead? The idea of arrays of midrange drivers is otherwise interesting in itself.

What I think Tekton misses with the Tekton Design Impact Monitor in addition to using a dedicated midrange driver is creating a speaker that really has the specified 94dB sensitivity vs My estimate of the Impact's sensitivity was 87.5dB(B)/2.83V/m,...

Tekton Design Impact Monitor loudspeaker Measurements | Stereophile.com

Sidebar 3: Measurements I used DRA Labs' MLSSA system and a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone to measure the Tekton Design Impact Monitor's frequency response in the farfield, and an Earthworks QTC-40 for the nearfield responses. My estimate of the Impact's sensitivity was 87.5dB(B)/2.83V/m...

www.stereophile.com

Plus preferably an 8 Ohm speaker, with a easy load for an amp. I'm mainly thinking of low powered SET. I'm not a tube dude, but there are some who pay large sums of money for SETs. They should be willing to open up their big wallets for suitable speakers for their tube amp. Then the question is how big the demand is for that type of speaker? Many people want such speakers (it's fun to have speakers that have high sensitivity), but are also willing to pay a decent amount for them.

In any case, suggestions about such speakers pops up here on ASR every now and then anyway. When that happens; there will be few, if any suggestions. At least 94 dB sensitivity, measures well, easy amp load speakers that is.
(Heco Direkt plus possibly some JBL model are the only ones I can think of.)

 

[Matt_Holland]

Very strange. Why not 3-4 inch dedicated midrange drivers instead? The idea of arrays of midrange drivers is otherwise interesting in itself.

There are also many small “full-range” drivers available in the 1” range. Maybe enough of such a driver would give the required SPL to match the rest of the system.

 

[Arindal]

Why not 3-4 inch dedicated midrange drivers instead?

Most of cone drivers in this diameter class are marketed as midwoofers or fullrange units, which usually implies low sensitivity (for the sake of reaching lower bass bands) and increasing inductivity. The number of compact, efficient, array-capable, true midrange drivers is surprisingly limited, and most of them come with a hefty price tag. Tweeter domes, in contrary, can be loud and dirt cheap at the same time.

The only unit that I recall being excellent while meeting the demands:

FaitalPro 4FE 44, pretty popular for compact sound reinforcement, slim line arrays and satellites. 60 bucks a piece.

There are also many small “full-range” drivers available in the 1” range. Maybe enough of such a driver would give the required SPL to match the rest of the system.

These usually offer a particularly low efficiency in order to cover a wider frequency range, and on top come with low impedance and restricted max SPL in their sweet spot freq bands (500-2,000Hz) due to thermal limitations. Stacking a few would not really help max SPL, and you cannot drive up the sensitivity indefinitely by having them in parallel mode, as impedance falls below reasonable minimum for most amplifiers.

 

[cavedriver]

As previously noted in this thread, Monitor Audio has a statement speaker, the $99,000 Hyphn, that uses an array of 6 ~2" custom midrange drivers that look a bit like BMR's. Whether the use of a wide, smooth-radiating flat driver works here to avoid coherence issues I don't know. As far as load, note that the complete speaker only has an efficiency of 86 dB with a load of 3.5 ohms, so definitely not the same objectives as the Tekton. I would love to play around with the Monitors in a big room, though, given their 800 W RMS continuous power handling...

Hyphn | Uncompromising Performance | Monitor Audio

Discover the uncompromising performance of Monitor Audio’s Hyphn, delivering exceptional transparency, scale and precision across every note.

www.monitoraudio.com

 

[Vladimir Filevski]

Not that I'm even remotely interested in buying anything from Tekton, but I am still very curious of how their trypophobia speakers measure, if that tweeter array actually work as advertised or if it's a confused phase party.

Actually, the tweeter array is working very good (there are measurements in Stereophile, etc.)... but it can work much better if they ditch tweeters with big flanges and use tweeters with small flanges (like ScanSpeak D3004/602200 or Peerless DQ25SC16), or use "naked tweeters" (like Peerless QC25SC65) - all grouped tighter around the center tweeter.

 

[Everett T]

Wonder if the rumor is true that Danny is going to be designing a line of speakers for REL? He started it but didn't state which REL or Real he was referencing? He can now lower the stock in the 4 drivers he has bins of

 

[Arindal]

the tweeter array is working very good (there are measurements in Stereophile, etc.).

Somehow I doubt that...

Model called MoabBe, Vertical listening window, Source: Stereophile