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Tekton M-Lore Speaker Review

Rate this speaker:

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 297 59.8%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 178 35.8%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 15 3.0%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 7 1.4%

  • Total voters
    497
I can almost think the DIY look is part of the cult appeal.
 
It is pretty clear what drivers are used in this loudspeaker. Looks like an off the shelf Eminence Alpha-8A and a cheap dome tweeter. I doubt the crossover is anything more than a handful of passive components (e.g. 5 or less). This is a piss poor excuse for a commercial speaker, and I cast my vote accordingly. Yet another disappointment from this brand...
 
Zu Audio has made a business from awkward, bad measuring speakers too. I think it's just something we are not going to understand here.
 
Not coincidentally, I think both Tekton and Zu are supposed to work well with tube amps. Perhaps that's a distant early warning :facepalm:
 
Peerless BC25TG15-04 seems to be an excellent tweeter option for a budget DIY speaker. I hadn't used with the 8 inch Eminence Alpha8 (which seems to be the bass driver in the Tekton M-Lore speakers), but there are plenty of other suitable bass, bass/mids that can work well with that tweeter.:)


Isn't the rule of thumb to double up the FS on the tweeter plus a steep (24 dB?) filter, there you have the lowest crossover point?
The FS for the Dayton rst28f is 710 Hz and Dayton themselves state: Frequency Response 1,400 - 20,000 Hz....so that rule of thumb can probably work relatively well...or? However, I have seen others say that you should have a little more headroom and raise the crossover a bit more. In any case, the most important thing is to get a good FR and a dispersion you like, after that you can worry about distortion. That's how it is for me anyway.:)
That is if it's not too damn noticeable distortion to begin with, but then I'm talking about a lot of distortion. For example, amp clipping. Think high volume on an old lousy car stereo that is pushed hard. The kind that to the ears is really unpleasant distortion.o_O Okay that was a bit OT, but still.:)
Yes that's true. Usually you can safely cross double the fs frequency, but sometimes you have to consider frequency response distortion and how steep the filter is.

Some tweeters especially peerless may have low fs but still don't like low crossover, mostly duy to very high distortion. One peerless tweeter that was happy in low frequency was coundum dome
 
Peerless BC25TG15-04 seems to be an excellent tweeter option for a budget DIY speaker. I hadn't used with the 8 inch Eminence Alpha8 (which seems to be the bass driver in the Tekton M-Lore speakers)
That's the whole point :) It's utterly unsuited for the task. Just get a Seas or Peerless tweeter with an fs <800 Hz. Should work much better and doesn't even have to be that much more expensive.

Also the Eminence woofer BTW. For that budget (or even less) there are plenty of other more modern woofers out there, much better suited for this kind of setup.
 
Not coincidentally, I think both Tekton and Zu are supposed to work well with tube amps. Perhaps that's a distant early warning :facepalm:
Yes, of course, they are designed to work with SET amps. Single eEnded Triode amps have a cult following. Their characteristics are very low output, 6-8 watts with bloom in the bass, strong vocals and sweet rolled off highs. Some claim a good SET setup has a 3d soundstage like no other. The tubes are typically 2A3, 300b and others.

SET does not measure well. The SET sound appeals to a certain music lover that likes a sound that is tailored to their peculiar taste. I liken it to the “stoned” audiophile. There are few speakers that perform very well on 8 watts. Zu speakers are not cheap even though their performance is questionable.
 
Zu speakers are not cheap even though their performance is questionable.
That's very tactful. I've heard descriptions likening them to a sonic buzz saw. Maybe the SET mushes over that :facepalm:
 
I liken it to the “stoned” audiophile.
Present company excluded, of course. LOL.

I've often said that the two most effective tweaks are EQ in the signal and THC in the listener.
 
it is a crime how ugly this speaker is
It would be fine if it served a purpose. I haven't seen evidence of that yet.

edit: an *audible* or functional purpose, that is.
 
Tekton are the guys offering the "ring of tweeters" speakers. Would be interesting to see how one of those would fare on the Klippel. Not very well, I suspect, but worth a try.

Also, this brings to mind that almost all the speakers I've seen measured and reviewed here seem to be point source designs, or, in the case of center channels, MTMs. I think it would be good to see a few line sources reviewed as well. Maybe one of the classic Infinity Kappas, for instance, or anything else out there like, for example, the Don Keele CBT24 line array.

image_mini


I think they would make a great review subject if a member has one they could send to Amir.
 
Imho this is definitely an entry level product with all its components strictly on a budget as low a possible.
BC25 is a world reference in low cost tweeters and is not designed to be crossed below 3khz.
The 8' woofer is typical of low cost pa speakers an good enough for garage speakers.
No need for sophistication at the hassle free xover kept as simple as possible, hence high enough to use the tweeter as practically a super tweeter.
Whats the use and expected performance? Simply play significanly louder than other hifi entry level floor standing design. Colored but loud sound. Not sophisticated but effective, especially for not so demandong musical programs and listeners...
 
One ugly speaker in measurements and looks.

That woofer center dust cover is huge relative to the overall diameter. Is voice coil really that wide?
 
Tekton are the guys offering the "ring of tweeters" speakers. Would be interesting to see how one of those would fare on the Klippel. Not very well, I suspect, but worth a try.

Also, this brings to mind that almost all the speakers I've seen measured and reviewed here seem to be point source designs, or, in the case of center channels, MTMs. I think it would be good to see a few line sources reviewed as well. Maybe one of the classic Infinity Kappas, for instance, or anything else out there like, for example, the Don Keele CBT24 line array.

image_mini


I think they would make a great review subject if a member has one they could send to Amir.
Amir reviewed a Jbl line array I believe it did very well.
 
One ugly speaker in measurements and looks.

That woofer center dust cover is huge relative to the overall diameter. Is voice coil really that wide?
Not really,1.5" that's why the reduced power rating (compared with the bigger,nicer Eminence ones with 3" or bigger coils)
 
One ugly speaker in measurements and looks.

That woofer center dust cover is huge relative to the overall diameter. Is voice coil really that wide?
1.5" or 2" is usual in this category to allow 150-200w of power handling.
 
Off axis is horrible but look at the on axis response
And why would anyone care these days that we know sound power is as important as direct sound?
 

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......mmmmh, I'm wondering if that sort of EQ is such a good idea. The port tuning of the box is 47Hz or so. Boosting below the tuning with 6dB? I think it's not a good idea. My first idea would be a high pass with a Q of around 1.3-1.5. As long as you boost on the tuning frequency, you gain level from the port and as long as the diameter is large enough, it works well. The high-pass function also reduces the excursion below the tuning. Below the tuning frequency, the cabinet is more or less open and only the suspension of the driver controls the cone - not very linear and dangerous for the driver.
good point. This eq gives more or less the same result.
filters_eq_full.jpg

The hole at 180Hz is a strong standing wave mode in the tall cabinet.......I would never put more energy into such a resonance.

That's possible. Why do you think we do not see it on the measurement of the woofer? i see a broad dip but I would expect it to be higher Q if it is a resonance.

Adding boost at the low end to get maximum level, but with the very sharp roll-off, is something that I would not do on a speaker, as it adds ringing....can end up with boomy bass. But I learned the taste of bottom end is different in the US.

For people that use a DSP, they will correct to a target at the listening position. For people that don't, the roll-off effect depends a lot on the room and where they are located.
Since the distorsion is really bad in this speaker, I think that most people who cross with a sub to get it under control. Crossing at 80 Hz would make it good up to 86dB SPL.

I usually listen at low volume so for me trading bass extension for max spl is worth it. As always, it depends what you want to do with it.

To take out the 600-700Hz thing is OK. Without simulation it (Tolvan, The Edge), I would say, it's an effect of the cabinet shape, with the woofer hanging on top of the box. Could be also the edge resonance of the woofer, but as I did not see distortion going up, it should be the cabinet.
+1

And thanks, super useful factual feedback.
 
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