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Tekton Double Impact SE vs Kef R7 Meta

Hello everyone, I’m looking for some help with my eventual upgrade path. I currently have a pair of Kef Q350 being powered by a Willsenton R8. I enjoy the clarity, detail, and instrument separation of the Kef’s, but they can be a bit polite. Soundstage is great as well, tonal balance is good as well. I’ve been looking at the R7 metas figuring they have similar sound characteristics as the Q350s just with more refinement and overall better sound, but I realize the Willsenton might be a bit underpowered (especially in triode mode) to really make them sing. Tekton is a name that keeps coming up in my research. I realize they can be a bit of a controversial choice do to some of the issues they’ve had with reviewers. All I really am concerned with is, how do they actually sound. I really want to keep that clarity that the KEFs have. We listen primarily to rock, metal, and electronic music. My room is rather large. It’s a 19’x 39’ great room (living room, dining room, and kitchen. 
 

I’d like to hear from people that have had experience with either of these speakers with similar amplification and what their thoughts are. I’m also open to other speaker suggestions. Thank you!

dstryker77
zlone
1,355 posts
 

I have owned a couple pairs of KEF’s and I really enjoy their sound. Given your choices for heavier music, I am questioning the move to another KEF speaker based purely on your amplifier. My feeling is you will be missing out, and probably already are, on quite a bit without also upgrading your amp to something with higher current capabilities.

Both speakers are 4 ohm impedance, playing metal and electronic through those with a 40 watt tube amp will sound okay, but you would be much better off with a high current solid state amp fronted by a tube preamp, assuming you really want tubes.

howardlee's avatar
howardlee
169 posts
 

I have R7 Metas and love them, also find the price difficult to beat.  The titanium (hued) ones are gorgeous with the red drivers. They are 4 ohm speakers.  I run them off a Pass INT-60,  so with the 4 ohm load (and they go down to 3) you figure that 60 watts should now be double that.  I get room-filling volume at 2/3 output.  So there.  Maybe sounds as though your amp might not be the ideal match, but they are great speakers with exceptional clarity and dispersion.

mswale
382 posts
 

Listened to a few sets of KEF's and Tekton. For me the KEF's sound great top to bottom. They have a good balance. Tekton can sound hollow, lifeless, not like a full range speaker. For me they are just missing something. Like there is a big hole in the frequency range. But they do play loud, and have deep bass. 

devinplombier
1,675 posts
 

Tekton is the modern-day Kabuki speaker - you know, those Technics and Kenwood speakers from the 70s, stuffed to the gills with drivers. All that's missing are the silver knobs.

buellrider97's avatar
buellrider97
950 posts
 

@mswale , interesting conclusion, which models did you try ? BTW nice vinyl collection. FWIT some years back I took my wife to see the Foo Fighters. She asked who’s that, I said Nirvana, she said who’s that. I said just come with me. She was jumping up and down and sang the whole trip home. 😆 I have a pair of Double Impacts on Townshend Podiums powered by 180 wpc tube monos , it sounds pretty good and I certainly don’t need subs. I get yelled at when I crank up Tool and I’m on Black Sabbath restriction. Cheers , Mike B. 

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