Tekton Design Double Impact Floorstanding Speaker Reviewed

Published On: March 20, 2017
Last Updated on: October 31, 2020
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Tekton Design Double Impact Floorstanding Speaker Reviewed

Tekton's new Double Impact speaker features a patented design that uses 11 drivers in a four-way configuration. Find out what Terry London thinks of the new speaker in this week's featured review.

Tekton Design Double Impact Floorstanding Speaker Reviewed

By Author: Terry London

Terry London has always had a great passion for music, especially jazz, and has amassed a collection of over 7,000 CDs covering the history of this uniquely American art form. Even in his teenage years, Terry developed a passion for auditioning different systems and components to see if they could come anywhere close to the sound of live music, and has for the last forty years had great fun and pleasure chasing this illusion in his two-channel home system.
Terry is a practitioner of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy by day, and runs the Chicago Institute for REBT. He has also authored nine books on this of type psychotherapy and education.

Tekton-DoubleImpact-225x250.jpgIn 2015 when I reviewed Tekton Design's wonderful Sigma OB loudspeakers, Eric Alexander, designer/CEO of Tekton Design, passionately and excitedly shared that he had come up with a revolutionary new design regarding how to replicate the sound of live music in the context of a box-enclosure speaker. He also shared that he would be applying for a U.S. patent to protect his proprietary design, and he promised that, when his patent was accepted and he built his first model, HomeTheaterReview.com would receive the first pair for review. Well, Alexander's U. S. patent #9247339 was issued on January 26, 2016, and he kept his word by sending us the first samples of the new Double Impact speaker, which retails for $3,000/pair (including shipping).

Because of my respect for Alexander's brilliance as a designer, I was quite intrigued and excited to see what his creative mind had come up with. I asked him if he would explain, in laymen terms, what the differences are in his new approach compared with other speaker designs. His response was, "I discerned that, when source masses (i.e., the musical instrument, orchestra, or human voice) and speaker masses do not align correctly, the overtones and harmonic content contained within the source must be skewed, diminished, damped, and lowered in the output in relation to the (algorithm) of the fundamental tone(s) contained in different musical instruments. Live music contains energy, electricity, and a dynamic component that loudspeakers have missed replicating because they are not based on the algorithms that support the fundamental harmonic content/structure of the instruments they are reproducing."

The Double Impact is a large floorstanding speaker that weighs 106 pounds and measures 54 inches high by 12 inches wide by 17.75 inches deep. It is a four-way design that uses a total of 11 drivers. Starting at the bottom of the front baffle, you'll find two 10-inch woofers. Located on the upper half of the front baffle is the proprietary polygon-oriented, 1.69-inch (43mm) triple-ring radiator high frequency array (a total of seven transducers). This array is flanked on the top and bottom by dual six-inch mid-bass drivers with four small ports on the sides. On the back of the Double Impact is one set of high-quality speaker wire terminals and two twin ports that vent the two 10-inch drivers. Its frequency range is 20 Hz to 30 kHz, with a sensitivity of 98.82 dB and an impedance of four ohms. Because of its four-ohm rating and very high sensitivity, you can drive this speaker to extremely loud levels (over 100 dB) with less than 10 watts. Yes, I said 10 watts!

As in all Tekton Design speakers, the overall build quality is at a high level of craftsmanship. The baffles and final assembly are done in-house by Alexander and his skilled Utah-based staff. My samples came in the standard soft-gloss-black finish with no front grille covers. For a reasonable up-charge, you can order different finishes and speaker grilles if you prefer. Wood finishes, car colors. Your choice for a fair but variable price.

In my 40 years of being an audiophile/music lover and my six years as a professional reviewer, I have only been shocked by a new piece of gear on two occasions. Last year, it was the Linear Tube Audio combo of the Micro-ZOTL preamplifier and ZOTL-40 single chassis amplifier, based on the patented design of David Berning. And now it's the groundbreaking Double Impact speaker. With his patented design, Alexander has brought to market one of the greatest musical speakers that you can purchase regardless of price--yet he's offering it for an unbelievably reasonable price. HomeTheaterReview.com publisher Jerry Del Colliano gave me an excellent term to describe the Double Impact Speaker: he refers to such a component as a "disruptive product" in that it so radically snaps the ratio of cost to performance that it skews the market to the point that it would be irrational to spend a lot of money for far less performance.

Tekton-DoubleImpact-woofers.jpgThe Hookup
The Double Impact speakers were shipped strapped to a wooden platform in a thick cardboard crate that was well padded internally to protect the speakers. Unpacking the speakers was a relatively easy task, but I would suggest that two people do the final lifting to put on the spikes and settle the speakers into position.

They went into my reference system in the same position as my Lawrence Audio Cello Speakers (spaced 10 feet apart with a very slight toe-in). This placement in my listening room turned out to be optimum for the Double Impacts.

My system's upstream gear is composed of an MBL 1621 CD transport, Concert Fidelity-040 hybrid DAC, Audio Tube Linear Micro-ZOTL preamp and ZOTL-40 amplifier, Running Springs Dmitri power conditioner, MG Cable reference silver and copper wiring, and Harmonix Studio Master power cords. This gear sits on a Tomo rack by Krolo Design.

Tekton-DoubleImpact-top.jpgPerformance
When I auditioned the beautifully recorded big band album by Bill Holman called Brilliant Corners: The Music of Thelonious Monk (JVC), I immediately became aware of two great virtues of the Double Impact's performance. First, it has the transient speed and velocity of a horn speaker. When Holman's band let it rip on Monk's famous jazz classic "Straight-No Chaser," these speakers totally captured the sense of "aliveness" you get when a live big band really is burning/churning at full tilt. Secondly, the Double Impact is so transparent that I could easily hear all the little details (micro-dynamics) against a non-existent black background. However, none of this came across in an analytical or what I refer to as a "Hi-Fi" sound. Along with this transient speed/pop/aliveness was the ability to pressurize my large listening space with taut/powerful bass that rocked my room. I did not need a subwoofer to get the lowest bass frequencies in my music selections.

My next audition was Bob Marley's Legend (Island), which has both live concert recordings and studio sessions. This great music revealed another sonic trait of the Double Impact: its ability to create the illusion of real music through my reference system. The expression often used to describe the soundstaging abilities of a speaker is, "Are the players here, or are you there?" A great speaker has the ability to reproduce either experience based on how the performance was recorded. The Double Impact seemed to disappear like a great ribbon, AMT, electrostatic, or planar design in the way it re-created the height, width, and depth of the soundstage. However, unlike many of those types of speakers that reproduce distorted and unrealistic-sized images--along with not having a very accurate placement of the individual players within the soundstage--this speaker nailed all of these parameters with great precision and ease. The space between Marley and his band was rendered in a totally natural way. Each player was accurate in their size and had great palpability/three-dimensional "meat on the bones" presence. With the live concert recordings, I got the band along with the ambience of the venue, which gave the illusion that I was there in the stadium. On the other hand, if the song was recorded in the studio in a direct way with very little reflections of the room acoustics being recorded in the mix, the illusion was as if the players were in my room.

Next up was The Tenor Scene (Prestige) by my all-time-favorite tenor saxophonist, Johnny Griffin. One of the most important qualities to me when listening to a speaker is whether or not it can reproduce the tonality/timbres of different instruments in a clean/pure way that delivers the color and beauty of the artist's way of playing that instrument. The Double Impact is neither cold nor warm in its overall tonal perspective. It truly is a conduit. If you drive it with the right upstream gear, you will experience a liquidity with gorgeous tonal colors. To go along with the accurate reproduction of tonality/colors is extreme high-end extension, with decay trails that sparkle and have the delicacy and air found in real music. I heard Mr. Griffin in Chicago on many occasions, and this speaker did justice to the tone/color of his tenor saxophone when I heard him in his live performances.

My final selection was Keith Jarrett's highly acclaimed solo piano recording The Melody at Night, With You (ECM), which he recorded in his home studio. Both the way Jarrett played this series of beautiful ballads and how he intimately recorded his performance allow you to feel like you are sitting with him in the middle of the night as he plays his heart out. The Double Impact captured all the nuances (micro-details) of Jarrett's Steinway piano, regardless of how soft his playing was--along with all the slightest decays coming from the Steinway's sounding board. That's another great strength of this speaker: even when played at low volume levels, you do not lose the pace/feeling and micro-dynamics of the music, unlike other speakers that have to be played at a much higher sound level to get them to perform in their "sweet spot."

The Downside
The only concerns I have about the Double Impact speaker involve its large size and the amount of lower bass frequency that it produces. If you have a rather small listening space, the Double Impact might be somewhat overwhelming in physical appearance. With its ability to produce thunderous, deep, and powerful bass frequencies, it could overload a small room sonically. Tekton Design has a smaller version of the Double Impact for those with tighter listening spaces.

You can drive the Double Bass with virtually any electronics; however, keep in mind that this is a reference-level transducer that offers complete transparency and clarity. So garbage in, garbage out. However, even if you start with entry-level electronics, the speaker will sound good--then you can build around it for years to get to its ultimate sonic potential.

Comparison and Competition
Because the Double Impact speaker has such an unfair advantage compared with any speaker that I know about in its price range, I decided to jump up to speakers that cost thousands of dollars more to compare their performance. The Acoustic Zen Crescendo Mk2, which retails for $22,000/pair, has been one of my favorite high-end speakers over the last five years. It is great at rendering very natural timbres and tonality, along with excellent soundstaging. Its bass performance is extended but comes nowhere close to the Double Impact's more accurate and tighter bass response. Where the Double Impact really pulls ahead is its overall transient speed and sense of "aliveness" that I don't experience with the Acoustic Zen speaker.

The next speaker that I have enough experience with to compare with the Double Impact is the YG Acoustics Carmel 2, which retails for $24,300/pair. In virtually every important parameter--soundstaging, bass extension, overall dynamics, and clarity--the much more expensive YG Acoustics Carmel 2 was significantly eclipsed by the Double Impact's performance.

Other competitors priced right around the $3,000/pair range include the powered GoldenEar Triton Two+, the powered Definitive BP9080x, the MartinLogan Motion 60XT, the RBH Signature SV-6500, and the Paradigm Prestige 75F.

Conclusion
As I stated at the beginning of this review, I was and still am totally amazed at what Eric Alexander has achieved in his new revolutionary patented design that led to the creation of the Double Impact speaker. I want to be very clear that the Double Impact is not just a great speaker at its very reasonable price. Rather, it is a reference-level speaker that will compete and actually out-class the performance of some other speakers costing thousands of dollars more, from some of the most trusted names in speakers.

The Double Impact offers all of the attributes that you would be listening for in a beautiful-sounding speaker, such as clarity, bass extension, rendering of space and location of instruments in a realistic manner, beautiful tonality/timbres, and air/extension in the high frequencies. But this speaker adds something else that's difficult for me to put in words. There is a sense of "aliveness" that you hear in the music being played in real time that I have never experienced in other speaker designs. It allows you to connect to the music in an intimate/emotional way that is quite enchanting. That you can get all this for $3,000 is quite mind blowing.

For more than five years now, I have owned the Lawrence Audio Cello speakers, retail cost $18,000. They have been my reference speakers in my big system. I still love them, and they are great speakers; however, I go where my ears take me. Because of my experience with the Double Impact speakers, I have ordered a pair in a special finish and some internal upgrades that Alexander insists will take this speaker to an even higher level of performance. Yes, the basic Double Impact speakers outperformed my Cellos in ways I already explained in this review. Stay tuned for another review in which I share what a pair of upgraded Double Impacts has to offer over the basic ones I've covered here.

Additional Resources

  • James Bigger
    2023-01-12 19:12:37

    I'm a little late in reading this review (well, a lot) but would like to ask a question. You mentioned that a smaller room might benefit from a different version of the Double Impact but didn't spell out what a 'smaller' room might be. Could you offer some examples of 'smaller' as opposed to 'larger' rooms so as to have a handle on what I have. Cubic feet? LxWxH? Maybe a general idea?

  • Eric Jackson
    2022-01-12 12:35:40

    I have the DI monitors driven by a Peachtree Nova 300 and supplemented with a RSL Speedwoofer and the sound is stunning in a smaller package. No problem producing sparkling and fat 105db sound levels in my 16x30 room Looking forward to your review on the upgraded DI's

  • Chris
    2021-08-01 18:04:42

    Did you have the YG speakers on hand to a/b against the tekton speakers or were you going on memory from past listening experience. It was not clear in the article if the competitor speakers were on hand for comparison.

  • Bill Goldsmith
    2020-11-05 20:12:44

    Hi Terry, Great review of the Double Impacts! I am considering the Double Impacts. My concern is that I sit 7 feet from my speakers. Given the height of the speakers and the tweeter, am I too close for this size speaker and would I be better off going with the Electron SEs? Thanks in advance.

  • Stella Peña Osorio
    2020-09-30 23:44:33

    Very nice speakers.

  • Javan Pohl
    2019-01-31 00:08:03

    Only one of them is a tweeter (the one in the middle, I assume)--the rest are "midrange" drivers, I believe. Then you have the upper woofers and the lower woofers (not sure if they count as "sub-woofers".)

  • Serg
    2018-12-15 16:43:03

    Mustangs and Camaros handle very well these days; are you sure you want to make this ignorant analogy?

  • King Trance
    2018-10-27 10:06:30

    Did you ever do that SE review and comparison Terry?

  • King Trance
    2018-10-27 10:02:15

    Did you read what Hector said? He appreciates them.

  • snowpuppy77
    2018-05-21 01:59:37

    Terry, Was surprised that you did not mention Aurum Cantus V7F as competition for this speaker. Does the Aurum Cantus V7F have the same level of sound quality as the Tekton Double Impacts? The Aurum Cantus V7F sure seems to have better build quality.

  • TBGC
    2018-05-12 17:39:43

    Well Hector if all you car about is how fast you can go in a straight line and can not appreciate the finer qualities of a great car then you should get your Mustang or Camaro.

  • Hector Guzman
    2018-05-09 10:41:37

    I kind of agree with you, best sounding speaker is the best speaker. :) But I want a nice looking speakers that matches the rest of furnitures. Why people drive Ferrari/Porsche when you can beat them with turbo charged Mustang or Camaro, etc. Same idea. But DI is one of speaker I wish to have, I live way too far and not ideal for me, and shipping cost is a nightmare.

  • Jim DeWoskin
    2018-04-11 21:22:10

    I'm missing something. Will someone explain what makes this a 4 way speaker? And why so many tweeters? Thanks. JD

  • Giordano Klar
    2018-03-23 08:08:43

    <blockquote><b><i>Lets face it, you'd NEVER see B&W, Sonus Faber, Paradigm, or Focal, caught dead using drivers that look anything like these."</blockquote></b></i> Yes, because they're using inefficient drivers that "look good" but don't produce the dynamics that a folded paper surround produces. So <b>obviously</b> they're going to look different. The Tekton Double Impact uses super-efficient pro drivers that are designed for and used in <b>live sound reproduction.</b> That's why they sound so good. I buy speakers for their <b>sound</b> not their looks.

  • Mike702
    2018-03-22 16:36:04

    I'm wondering about opinions of speakers in this price range mainly for stereo music. I'm into rock of all sorts (including unplugged, metal, 70's, 80's), R & B, jazz, acoustic guitar, big band, and occasional piano music. I also love live music. I've done some research and have found a lot of interest in Golden ear T2+ and Tekton DI in this price range as well as Maggies 1.7i, ML ESL, Motion 40 and 60XT. Most of them claim to have "outclassed others in their price range" reviews but they all directly compete $ wise so im not sure what to make of that. I'm currently auditioning Klipsch rf7iii, because I can't find reviews on them. I find that they are pretty detailed, they can be bright, good bass and decent slam. I'm using a Marantz receiver (125w rms 2ch driven) to demo the gear and haven't jumped into prepro / separate amps yet. I do listen at high volumes occasionally but not most of the time. What's a good recommendation in your opinion?

  • lampim
    2018-02-09 19:36:36

    Much of it is cryptic technobabble marketing wank which I really hate. Their website is jam packed with it. I think it does more to discredit them vs help them but that's just me. Let facts, figures, measurements, reviews, etc speak for your products! Anyway, my understanding of the patent is that they're using multiple smaller drivers that have less overall mass (and also multiple voicecoils) to collectively act as 1 larger driver. So basically all those multiple tweeters aren't really tweeters. The only tweeter is the middle one, the rest play at some range below it. This allows the upper midrange to be more accurate due to the reduced moving mass. Maybe he's afraid if he just says that, people will copy his idea... idk. but I have a set of DI's coming next week so I'll see if they live up to the hype.

  • goob
    2018-01-31 20:07:54

    Hi Terry, I see your review of the Ulfberhts. I didn't see a Double Impact SE review. Is that still in the works? Gary

  • 1BusyDad
    2017-12-26 15:36:35

    Thank you! Happy Holidays and Happy 2018 with your new DI's!

  • John Phillips
    2017-12-24 21:20:25

    Tom - I'm glad you've had that experience but mine has been different. No idea why.

  • Tom Baker
    2017-12-24 07:45:38

    John I've emailed Eric (President of the company) at Tekton constantly over the past couple of weeks and he emails me back each time within a day. I've never asked for him... it's just that he handles much of the customer inquiries. This is great customer service in my opinion.

  • Tom Baker
    2017-12-24 07:40:49

    About to purchase my own set of DI's and from everything that I've read they are not bright and are as neutral as a speaker can be. Edit... there a couple of good reviews on YouTube.

  • Giordano Klar
    2017-12-22 11:24:35

    It's obvious why this speaker sounds so great. It uses <b>Pro Audio drivers</b>, not Home Audio drivers. Pro Audio drivers are designed for live performances. They are very "tight" and "fast" and efficient. I've been building my own speakers for years using these kind of drivers. Though I prefer a polyimide horn driver (B&C DE250) for the top end, rather than the dome tweeters used in the Double Impact. I will never build with Home Audio drivers again. They simply don't have the dynamics of a Pro Audio driver. <b>https://www.parts-express.com/cat/professional-audio-guitar-speakers/192</b> .

  • Raymond Ma
    2017-12-19 06:18:31

    I am thinking of buying the Double Impacts, can you enlighten me of the following questions, regarding tonal balance which is very important to me, do they sound completely neutral, or slight warm and musical or slightly cold and analytical? Do they have forward or recessed mid-range? Are they sonically coherent with seamless blending of bass, mid-range and high frequency, and last can they play loud like concert hall level? Is it worth extra $3500 to go for the SE version with Scan drivers. Sorry for all these questions . Thank you and hope you can give me some answers.

  • 1BusyDad
    2017-12-14 00:15:18

    Terry, Would you describe the Tekton DI as a "warm" sounding speaker? I'm very interested in taking the plunge, but "bright" speakers tend to be fatiguing. I know this is a subjective matter, but for comparison purposes I am currently listening to Vandersteen II Signatures. Thank you!

  • SRR126
    2017-12-12 14:07:09

    Not convinced that you read and understood what was being patented - claims are sequential and dependent.

  • Prerich
    2017-11-15 18:38:36

    I tried to win a pair.....I guess I didn't win :(. Who was the luck winner anyway!!!!!????

  • John Phillips
    2017-11-06 22:27:29

    Thanks - I've emailed Tekton a couple of times with a few pre-purchase questions but have yet to hear back. I really want to give these a spin but support is a big issue for me.

  • TMAC
    2017-10-28 16:34:12

    Is there a thinner center available that can go behind my micro perf screen? That seems to always be the issue with most of the speaker lines I look at. Unuseable centers.

  • Justin
    2017-10-27 15:38:49

    In a world where everyone is about using finer materials for speaker cones, from precious metals, to Flax seed to poly coated paper cones, it is a little surprising to see a speaker company use raw Papyrus for the speaker cone material. With that being said most speaker cones are made of paper and just coated for extra rigidity. Seeing the raw papyrus material on these speakers reminds me of speakers of the 80's (as far as looks) and feels like the fit an finish is lacking. I'm sure I am wrong but I cannot be the only person taken back by this. Then to see The Double Impact PMD for $20k with coated speaker cones makes things more confusing.

  • HJC001
    2017-10-21 13:28:41

    sir, folded paper sorrounds have a legitimate purpose--any well read "audiophile" knows this. i urge you to explore that. also, removing material for insetting has more negative than positive effects on sound reproduction, i've often read. good luck, sir, keeping your money attached to your wallet. ;)

  • HJC001
    2017-10-21 13:22:34

    right at the period of " . . . 1990s Porshce." i was able to visualize what you meant. yup.

  • HJC001
    2017-10-21 13:20:30

    LOL!!!! "non-audio hobby" LOL!!! 100% agree. still LOLing!!!

  • HJC001
    2017-10-21 13:09:03

    update? :)

  • HJC001
    2017-10-21 13:08:32

    ditto!!! update, please, htr!

  • HJC001
    2017-10-21 13:06:46

    i check my Disqus updates, so it'd be nice to read a bit more of how teh sound develops in your system. thanks, and enjoy the music!

  • Michael McFarlane
    2017-10-20 15:47:44

    That would add mass, which nullifies the design objective.

  • Michael Dean
    2017-10-13 20:52:37

    I was fortunate enough to hear a pair of these about a month ago. They sounded amazing!! If I could, I'd get a pair in a heartbeat.

  • RN2013
    2017-09-24 14:51:19

    Terry, I don't want to ask a "which is better question" but more of a comparision question regarding the DI's compared to other types of speakers you have heard. Panel speakers are well thought of because of their huge soundstage and ability to disappear even though they may not have lifelike dynamics. Open baffles also have the huge soundstage and great dynamics but are hard to place. The best box loudspeakers can sound excellent in all regards but never completely "escape the box". In your review, you compared the DIs to some very good box speakers...can you give us a little more feeling about how the DIs sound in reation to panel and open baffle speaker you have heard. Have the DIs escaped the box and therefore able to give us the best of panel, open baffle and box speakers combined? Thanks for your thoughts.

  • John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmid
    2017-09-12 10:05:14

    I read the whole thing. The guy patented the idea drivers with a measurable mass is a good idea in loudspeakers, but spun it in so much purple prose about instrument mass mattering that the patent office granted it. It is an absolutely indefensible patent. The patent as written could be applied to every single loudspeaker ever designed by finding something that resonates within the frequency range of one of the drivers that has a similar mass to the driver (since the patent spells out it can be up to 200% difference). Since it applies to all speakers ever made no one in their right mind would ever bring suit with it as it would surely be thrown out. Think about it for even a second and his claims are absurd. For a woofer intended to play 80Hz he could claim anywhere from the air mass of a contrabassoon (napkin math puts it at 12 grams) to the mass of the drum heads and air in a bass drum (napkin math says about a kilogram). So any multi-driver speaker that has a woofer with a moving mass between 12 grams and a kilogram are technically violating his patent. That is pretty much all of them. The same can be applied to high frequencies. The mass of air in a flute is somewhere in the neighborhood of 0.1 grams. The mass of a cymbal is upwards of a kilogram. Once again we see every multi-driver loudspeaker ever manufactured could run afoul of this patent, and that is before we apply his "up to 200%" difference claim. It is a marketing patent. He seriously tried to make the claim that crossovers were somehow included in the patent by drawing parallels between frequency and movie frame rate. Total horseshit. Good on him, though... he got the patent. The speakers probably sound great, but not because of the patent.

  • Jared Crandall
    2017-08-18 21:30:24

    I've had the double-impacts and the respective center for a few weeks now. I came from kef ls50 (L/R) with reference 2c center. The L/R channels are clearly much fuller, well fleshed out, have much less (or no) distortion at higher volumes, and create a wall of sound rather than a wall of soundstage--the only way i know how to describe the experience. The reference 2c center is a really, really good speaker, although I think the double-impact center beats it in the same way that i described the LS50s being beat out. I do think the reference 2c had a smaller sound but it didn't have a slight boxy sound like the center impact. In my experience the speaker boxes that have less dampening tend to create a box resonance that results in a "boxy" sound. The impact has a little bit of this boxy noise during vocal presentations but not enough for me to get the reference 2c, even if the two speakers were the same price. I am at the early stages of breaking in the double-impacts and I am more than happy with the sound regardless if I get more gains from break in. Ultimately, these tekton speakers have done extremely well, are highly sensitive (easy to run), dynamic, very smooth, very transparent, and have a very open/vast soundstage. I am sticking with tekton design going forward.

  • Jared Crandall
    2017-07-26 03:20:23

    Thanks!

  • Brad Hall
    2017-07-26 03:20:08

    Well, any update??? :)

  • Brad Hall
    2017-07-26 03:19:33

    If the SVS are for HT as well, I don't care how good the DI's are, you want a sub, and you have about the best.

  • Jared Crandall
    2017-07-18 13:29:03

    ..

  • Jared Crandall
    2017-07-11 01:52:39

    Wow! Thanks for the response. I've been loving your reviews over the years and am glad to get a personal response. Thanks!

  • Terry London
    2017-07-11 01:44:11

    Hi Jared, I would recommend selling off your SVS and going with DI's.

  • Jared Crandall
    2017-07-10 20:38:18

    I have SVS pb-16 ultra. Would you recommend I get the Impact Monitors (DI without 10 inch drivers), or sell the pb-16 and just get Double Impact towers?

  • Sharkimedes
    2017-06-24 21:27:19

    David, Tekton uses Drivers custom made by Eminence. No cheap Chinese stuff at all. The tweeters are SB acoustics and retail for 57.00 each. Sorry you don't like the looks. maybe a non audio hobby, something visual like painting would be better for you. I own the double impacts and they are one hell of a deal! and look awesome.

  • Robert Hall
    2017-06-11 12:58:22

    Did the internal upgraded speakers come? Will we be hearing the good news soon?

  • vitop
    2017-06-05 17:05:00

    Well, after listening to these I ordered a complete home theater setup. I absolutely can not wait to get these in my home. I definitely recommend finding some to listen to. I listened to quite a few speakers before settling on these. Some I liked and some I did not. You should listen to them yourself if you can.

  • vitop
    2017-06-05 16:59:55

    Thank You Terry. I have been speaking with Eric for a while about a set of speakers for Home Theater as well as music and was finally able to listen to a set of Double Impact speakers and compare them to the Legacy Audio line of speakers. I ended up buying a set of speakers from Tekton. I just don't know if a speaker is even made that sounds better for the money. If so, I have not heard it. I brought along a movie with dialog that I do not consider to be the clearest dialog on purpose. I heard it the clearest with these speakers. They resolved it better than anything I had heard and made the voices sound the most natural. The Double Impacts had not even been broken in yet so I think if anything they should get better. I can not wait to get my speakers. Thanks for the review which gave me the curiosity to find a set to listen to.

  • Clay Fincher
    2017-05-24 18:12:26

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/48a0fa979efbbed5160dcb7da35170f327d36c81bb5b0065f12e9b7c425843f8.jpg I would like to hear these speakers. They remind me of the Monty Python multi eyed monster.

  • Terry London
    2017-05-19 15:16:52

    Hey vitop, I have heard both speakers, not on movie dialog, but on vocals and I don't believe the Paradigm speaker out performed the DI's on clarity/transparency/micro-details. I did not hear them side by side in the same system, however this is the best I can provide for you.

  • vitop
    2017-05-19 05:08:50

    Terry The Paradigm Persona speakers are so far the best I have heard for dialog clarity in movies. Have you been able to compare the Double Impacts in this regard?

  • Ben
    2017-05-08 18:33:55

    Anyone know which drivers are used in the DI ? How they sound vs a Salk Song 3A (or similar) ? I was struck reading the Salk descriptions that emphasize the driver (and size) on each model. Accuton, RAAL, Satori etc. Tekton DI has lots of drivers (as do some of the higher end models from Nola and many others) but not much detail on which are used. You get the feeling that more is better as the higher end models definitely add more. Just trying to make sense of it. I know there's more to speaker design then mounting drivers to solid cabinets.

  • Brandon Eberhart
    2017-04-14 22:39:49

    This things look flat-out EVIL. Love it. Like they are daring you to crank them up. While I'd probably cover the faces as I always do, I really like the design. Also, they sound amazing. (Not literally, as I haven't heard them, but based on Terry's review.)

  • Tom Daigle
    2017-04-04 11:30:25

    Lol this guy is like the old saying "always one in every crowd" his idea of good looking must be only his choice of gear, nothing else measures up? Me thinks his over inflated ego and opinion has only one good point, on his head! Like saying if it's not a Ferrari then it must be inferior, I'm thinking he obviously just likes to admire what he thinks is good writing.

  • classicwatch.com
    2017-03-30 00:37:24

    The amp was 8-10 years old when I got it. I think I paid around $250 for it circa 1982 which was a lot of money then, but doable, even for a teenager.

  • Pedro A Colon
    2017-03-30 00:26:06

    How can you even afford McIntosh when you still in high school?

  • Tube-O-holic
    2017-03-28 03:00:29

    I can also attest to the quality of sound the Tekton speaker line possess mainly because so many of my customers swear by them. So many people with so many of the same brand of loudspeaker tells me something really good is going on with them. When I suggest people try them out with our amplifiers I never have to worry about that recommendation. It is an added plus that they are indeed economical as well.

  • F Mike Hadley
    2017-03-24 21:15:31

    Hi, Would anybody know how the DI would compare with the Wilson Audio Sabrina.

  • classicwatch.com
    2017-03-24 13:54:12

    Ha ha. One of the MC2100s I've had since high school (over 30 years now) and I added the second and run as mono, one per channel. Both have been recently serviced and still sound pretty darn good.

  • Andy Rothman
    2017-03-24 00:41:42

    amazing.. with mcintosh what i grew up with...unreal

  • jerrydel
    2017-03-23 23:49:31

    At 98 dB - they will ROCK for home theater even on a puny receiver.

  • John Phillips
    2017-03-23 19:29:57

    I noted your review did not include any movie soundtrack evaluations. Would you recommend these for HT use? Also, at 106 pounds each, the return shipping for these would be substantial. I think that needs to be covered in a truly free in-home trial.

  • classicwatch.com
    2017-03-23 17:00:36

    Thanks! Unfortunately for me 5 1/2 feet puts them almost them the middle of listening space. That's probably my only complaint with them, is that they do require being a fair distance from a back wall, otherwise the highs get drowned out.

  • HJC001
    2017-03-23 15:26:08

    Does laminating paper pulp cones with hydrophobic compounds fix that?

  • Terry London
    2017-03-23 03:10:27

    Hi Reginald, Here is the clarification of what Tekton has decided to produce now regarding an upgrade path for the DI's. 1) The basic/standard Double Impact can be upgraded with the following: Cardas inputs, internal wiring, Clarty Caps on the tweeter section, oversized Jantzen coil on the woofer section- cost $300.00. Add $500.00 for custom paint job or $1000.00 for wood veneer finish. 2) The extreme version of the Double Impact, called the SE is not the same speaker nor does it use the same parts. It will only be sold through retail dealers with a price that will be estimated for now to be in the $6000.00 to $10000.00 range. Remember, the pair I reviewed are the basic model with no upgrades and they still significantly out performed my $18000.00 reference speakers. The pair I ordered are the SE model, so it will be fascinating to see how much better/different they will sound compared to what to the basic model. So, stay tuned for my review on the SE and the comparison to the model in this review.

  • Terry London
    2017-03-23 02:41:35

    Hi classicwatch, The back of the Double Impact is five and a half feet off the front wall and six feet from the side walls. In my acoustic space they perform wonderfully setup this way.

  • Reginald Vandelay
    2017-03-22 20:08:49

    Terry, Would you be willing to share more specifically what internal upgrades you made to the ones you have ordered for yourself?

  • classicwatch.com
    2017-03-22 19:09:37

    As a PSA this is my setup...I listen to music all day in the office, so I figured that's where they should go! https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/93acfb6a5c0bd5e1b516d68b3bc7e02c9bc2c88dca7c3e430b4cf533ef2d80db.jpg

  • Timothy Sorrentino
    2017-03-22 18:48:00

    Re: Paper cones. Good ones are really good but expensive to produce! Unfortunately they are hygroscopic so they do not do well in the tropics. The cones are light weight and have very smooth response in band and OUT of band as well, allowing for less intrusive crossover designs. Compared to say Kevlar that has nasty out of band resonances that must be dealt with in the design and unfortunately those peaks can still be heard!

  • Timothy Sorrentino
    2017-03-22 18:12:19

    Hey I glanced at the patent referred to in this article and another one regarding a capacitor-less crossover. Would someone want to elucidate on exactly what is patented here in this speaker and what it entails?

  • classicwatch.com
    2017-03-22 17:13:46

    Hi Terry, how far away from a wall have you placed yours? I've found them to be rather sensitive to this. If you get them too close, the bass drowns out the high frequencies, in a muddied sort of way. I've found that the closest they can be is about 8". Curious how you set yours up.

  • classicwatch.com
    2017-03-22 17:10:18

    That's probably what keeps the costs down. I actually like the look of them, like something out of a 1990s Porsche. Perhaps he'll reserve the better looks for the upgraded edition....and you can always put grills on.

  • malcolm
    2017-03-22 15:13:47

    Gentleman. First time posting,if I cross a line, I am sure someone will advise. I own 3 Tekton Speakers, including a custom made Studio Monitor using Revelator Paper Cones. The other two are a Sigma OB as well as the Pendragon. All are very good but very different. Each easily represents near or best value in their price, application class. I have owned, or still own, products from over 10 manufacturers within the same price class, none of which compare with the Tekton Products. No I have no association with Eric or any member of Tekton. Once you listen,considerations of looks, or paper cones, will be a non issue.

  • Tom Daigle
    2017-03-22 01:30:41

    You know the Klipsch kornerhorns bass driver are of similar design and material, are you saying that those are cheap to? just because they may not look like your boutique speakers that you paid way too much for just so you're over inflated ego can feel better about yourself doesn't mean there better!! So just because you spent way too much money for what you perceive is great sound doesn't mean someone can't do it for less money and sound better ! Maybe you should look into it before opening your mouth !

  • Andy Rothman
    2017-03-21 19:26:14

    omg..these cosmetic and cone comments are so so pathetic but comical. ive had 2 pairs of tekton speakers for over 5 years. huhhhh,no disintegration? whoa lol.. the double impacts are ABOUT THE SOUND. go get your beautiful speakers kef,legacy etc...ive had the double impacts for 6 months. the best sounding loud speaker at any price for home listening. the proof is in the listening..not the looks...omg poor poor people..im sorry to be so cruel..its so beyond dumb..i wouldnt care if the impacts looked like a garbage can..who would care if you love music and sound? again so sorry to be cruel..im just grateful my level of consciousness is in the awareness if what is important:THE SOUND. andy rothman [email protected]

  • David Hakimi
    2017-03-21 15:17:47

    Terry, I'm simply offering constructive criticism. I'm the first to admit that the Tektons do sound amazing, and punch well above their weight, from a price perspective. But I can say with certainty that a lot of people share my viewpoint. If you Google the term "PA replacement woofer" you see 100 Chinese variations of the ugly paper drivers, with folded paper surrounds (vs durable Butyl rubber) that look just like the ones Tekton uses. Lets face it, you'd NEVER see B&W, Sonus Faber, Paradigm, or Focal, caught dead using drivers that look anything like these. Most audiophiles have money, and a nice looking gear, in a nice looking room... so the last thing they want is a big boxy MDF speaker that looks like it was made by a car audio installer in a fairly primitive shop. I get it, that's partially how he keeps the pricing down. However, I for one, would already own a pair of them, if they looked just a little bit better cosmetically. Unfortunately, I passed on them due to the lacking cosmetics. At the very least he could cut a recess bevel and inset the woofers flush, etc. The Devil is in the details, and that point seems lost on him.

  • Terry London
    2017-03-21 06:13:02

    Hakimi & hk2000 Both you guys are amazing to me to me with you comments: 1) Some of the finest drivers made on the market are composed of paper materials for their sound qualities. 2) The bass drivers that Tekton uses in the Double Impact Speaker are highly regarded and far from "cheap" therefore are very dependable. 3) The standard Double Impact Speaker is a relatively attractive looking, for a charge of around $300.00 you can get a better looking paint finish that makes them even sharper looking. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, however I don't see the bass drivers as being butt ugly or cheap looking. Finally, you both missed the major point of my review, which is this speaker is an amazing break through, both in price and in it's world class reference level performance comapred to anything on today's market!

  • Terry London
    2017-03-21 05:59:37

    Hi benhump, Yes, I have heard their speakers. The Tekton Sigma OB competes with there speakers at a much lower price. However, the Double Impact Speakers perform on a much higher level sonicly then the M3 Speaker.

  • Ben
    2017-03-21 01:12:52

    Terry have you had any experience with the Spatial products ? The M3's looked appealing as well.

  • David Hakimi
    2017-03-20 16:42:26

    What's with the UGLY paper cones??? Ive heard Tekton Pendragons, and yes they sounded amazing. But never can bring myself to buy a pair because the woofers just look so cheap and ugly. Why cant he source better looking drivers???? The Seas Pendragons look much better, for this reason.

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