The Black Box is a Low Frequency Resonator Array that works in conjunction with the Subwoofers, Atmospheres and FEQ X4 to solve bass node issues.
bdp24 - I updated my system description. These are the Rythmik F8 subs. They integrated really well. I'm still messing with the phase/delay. Rythmik explains on their website that with a vented main speaker (which the Impact Monitors are) it takes some time to get the phase/delay right - there are very slight audible differences with each setting change.
The REL was fine (not much to fault) but the Rythmik Servo drivers are even faster and musical. No overhang or bloat which isn't a "problem" with the REL just that the Rythmiks are noticeably better.
Thought I'd add my review of the Tekton Design Impact Monitors to my "blog"
REVIEW – TEKTON DESIGN IMPACT MONITORS
PRELIMINARIES
I’ve been reading a lot about Tekton Design’s Double Impact speakers. When a professional reviewer, Terry London, chimed-in a few months ago with his super positive review I started paying even more attention to what people were saying. I stalked the boards and asked a few questions mostly about listening distances and room sizes. I finally emailed Eric. He responded right away and when I called, Karma put Eric on the phone for a short conversation to confirm a few details. I decided on the upgraded Impact Monitors and since he had a pair in-stock Eric promised to ship the same day. I received the tracking number shortly after the call and had the speakers about 4 days later. They arrived well packed and without a scratch. The fit-and-finish of the standard cabinet is excellent. No complaints with communication, shipping speed or quality from me.
I spent considerable time figuring-out where to place the Impact Monitors in my room and what listening distance to use. My listening room is 25’ x 15’ x 10’. I ended-up with them 42” from the front wall and about 5' from the closest sidewall. My listening position is 8’ from the front baffles with the center tweeters at 43"which is ear height. They sit about 9' a part.
I ran them continuously for 5 days. The sound opened-up a little each day but I had a hell of a time getting the lower midrange and bass to sound right. No matter where I placed the speakers, or my REL subwoofer, the low-end sounded weird. It sounded thick/smeared and no way in the same league as the upper midrange and treble. I tried different speaker stands and spikes. I tried different cables. I added a Synergistic Research carbon XOT, which helped, but the sound in the low-end was simply screwed-up. I knew it wasn’t my sub because the problems occurred even with it turned-off. Finally, I remembered “the cheapest but most effective tweak”: tighten the mounting screws around the speaker cones! (Don’t over tighten them just make sure they are snug) Well, low and behold a screw on one of the 6.5” speaker cones was very loose and a couple of tweeter screws needed a few turns to completely secure them. With all the screws firmly in place the bottom octaves snapped in to focus - tight yet with plenty of texture and bloom.
I have a number of tube and solid-state amps that I tried with the Impact Monitors. I really enjoyed a 25 watt Class A amp with them but I ended-up preferring my 200 watt tube mono blocks. I readily admit the choice of amps is subjective so your mileage will obviously vary. Rest assured any quality amp will work well with the Impact Monitors. Even my flea-watt SET worked well. However, remember, in normal configuration, they are 4 ohms (8 ohms is optional) and are rated at 94db sensitivity.
My taste in music is mostly jazz, blue grass, country and rock. For instance, I listen to a lot of Gov’t Mule, Gregg Allman, Neil Young, Holly Cole, Shelby Lynne, Johnny Cash, Nickel Creek, Earl Scruggs, Led Zeppelin, Clark Terry, Oscar Peterson, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, etc. If I listen to classical music, it’s usually solo piano, cello or violin.
LISTENING
Even during the set-up period I could tell these speakers are special. If I were to describe their sound in one word it would be: “natural”. The tone is spot-on and they present a very coherent dynamic sound – much like good horn speakers. They don’t sound laid-back, forward or any other term – they just sound right. There are no overdone highs or lows. When a vocalist sings an “s” it doesn’t sound like a “z”. Bass guitars don’t sound like one note blobs. Violins don’t sound like nails on a chalkboard. As he claims in his ads, Eric has “captured the harmonic spectra of the music being played”.
They image as well as anything I’ve had in my listening room. Each performer is properly placed in the soundstage but they aren’t etched in stone – just like live music. Depth, width and height of the soundstage are excellent.
The Impact Monitors “only” play down to 40Hz or so. Based on your listening preferences, or room requirements, that may be low enough. I would avoid pushing them into corners or towards the front wall to augment their bass. Instead, as mentioned above, a subwoofer when properly set-up is a very viable solution if you want more bass. I realize you could buy a pair of Double Impacts or move even higher up the Tekton food-chain but space constraints, cost or even aesthetics in your room my prevent that.
Finally, I need to mention my extensive use of Synergistic Research (SR) equipment. The SR stuff has always had a significant impact on the sound in my system and that was especially true with the Tekton speakers. I listened for a while with the SR Atmosphere/FEQ turned off and the soundstage suffered. Not that the soundstage was bad but it REALLY shines with the SR technology engaged. I highly recommend you try SR with Tekton’s new tweeter array.
SUMMARY
Tekton Design’s Impact Monitors do very little, if anything wrong and enter the realm of unbelievable value when you consider their price of $1,800 ($2,100 with upgraded parts) delivered!
Breezer - The reason I got rid of my Shindo gear is I had too much money tied-up in my system. I had 3 boys heading towards college and I just couldn't justify it. If I had another zero behind my net worth I would have kept it!
Of all the Shindo equipment I had the Vosnee Romanee preamp is the piece that hurt the most to sell and the one I may own again some day. It does everything right. It sounds very real without being too warm or lush. The next piece would be the Shindo 301 turntable and cartridge. It was obviously a labor of love for Ken Shindo and when set-up correctly is probably one of the best tables in the world. The amps come in next. I thought they were very good but not world class like the preamps and turntable were.
One regret I have is that I didn't complete the Shindo system. I never sprung for a set of Shindo speakers. I had an opportunity to buy a pair at a "reasonable" price but didn't do it. Looking back I wish I had but those college tuition bills were calling........ Thanks for asking, take care.
I just want to clarify my comments on how the Synergistic Research (SR) Atmosphere/FEQ work. I still believe SR is manipulating the Schumann Resonance based on my previous experience with the Acoustic Revive and my own using/listening to their products. However, it should be made clear SR says they are using a multi-wave radio frequency (RF) generator not a Schumann Resonance generator. Whatever the case may be, I think these processes go in-hand which SR seems to allude to with this comment in their explanation of what's going on:
"In a nutshell, we discovered that during the day ambient RF is stronger while the Earth’s Schumann Resonance is weaker in relation to overpowering solar and man-made radio frequencies."
I've received emails from a fellow Audiogoner who wanted more and more details. At this point, I should bow-out and simply refer people to SR for further explanation. Thanks!
