Article Type: Review
Category: SET integrated amplifier / speaker standing
Wrote : DM
Source: audiofil.net
http://www.audiofil.net/hifi_item.asp?NewsID=355
translation from Croatian
Esoteric story
I must admit that I was not thrilled with the idea of reviewing audio system based on the SET (SingleEnded Triode) integrated amplifier and speakers with a highly sensitive wide-band driver. That match
however should help them ( regarding their characteristics ) to become a kind of natural partners.
There is a lot of the (subjective) reasons why this is like that, no matter what the attitude is. I am aware
well that I might open one of the many audiophile Pandora’s boxes. I noticed that I am on the same
pole here with Mr. Paul McGowan – the boss of famous U.S. A. PS Audio company and great
authority when it comes to hi-fi and audio industry in general. More I am thinking about this topic
more I am sure that I source a lot from his series of publications under meaningful title “Tubes vs.
Transistors - Why I design with solid state exclusively”. I fully agree with him, and from my point of
view, despite the fact that I had the opportunity to listen to many very well designed audio systems
that are functioning truly excellent. Such as for example a combination of legendary Unison Research
Simply Two integrated and Dino speakers from our designer Drazen Kokanovic, which witnessed
many times different presentations ,than when it came to listening more complex scores through it
became quickly obvious that system has limitations. Simple, small jazz ensembles, baroque settings,
chamber music, vocals ... those all sound almost perfectly, but when you play large orchestral music
with all its dynamic and volume, then you are no longer in a right shoes. I'm not saying that I have
never heard that on valve based amplifier or they can not meet these essential requirements. But if they
did , they hadn’t belong to the SET category, and the prices were astronomical to me, and the vast
majority was completely unaffordable. Also a lot of (subjective again )comments can be done about
full range units, regardless their all theoretical advantages (and disadvantages!). It especially applies to
their restricted abilities to play both extremes of audible spectrum and sonic consequences when it
comes to playback of more complex music samples. But I finally gave up and accepted proposition to
review combination of integrated Tektron TKECLL800S-I amplifier with Hoyt-Bedford full range
speakers.
Italian-American COMBINATION !
Italian company Tektron from Cattani in Sicily was founded in 1990 and was primarily focused on
restoration and sale of antique radios. Further they expanded the business to sell valves and other
accessories for these radios and vacuum tube amps, and finally started offering their own complete
amplifier designs. They supply vast range of integrated ,stereo and mono valve based amps (including
kit variants) , using exclusively single ended topology. The tested model codes TK ECLL800 S –I and
represents family of SET amplifiers with 7.5 watts of power per channel. It is based on combination of
carefully paired and very exotic triode/tetrode ECLL800 and 6C4 rectifier tubes. Every single amp of
any model in an offer is made by hands, in a real production manufactory, where exceptional attention
is paid to every detail. Isolated, manually wound transformers that greatly affect the performance of
SET amplifiers, "point-to-point" topology without a single printed circuit board, the selection of only
the best possible components , such as Auricap capacitors. All wooden enclosures are beautifully
designed and build with typical Italian taste and traditional premium quality finish . Of course, the
entire parts-production process takes place in the south of Italy under the vigilant watch of company
Master mind Mr. Attilio Caccamo. The amplifier provides 3 line RCA inputs.
The man behind the Hoyt-Bedford brand is Mr. Louis Chochos - founder and owner of the legendary
American company Omega Loudspeakers. His minimalist concept is based on a single broadband
speaker unit that is in charge with the full frequency range, thus avoiding usual weakness belonging to
conventional multi-way design e.x (drivers - crossover interference , many elements in signal, etc.)
During more than 20 years of experience with constructing speakers he claims that now ,he developed
design almost reaching perfection, with more than half of the time spent on the development of its own
speaker units - as he says the most important component of his speakers. Hoyt-Bedford driver consists
two concentric membranes from a specially treated paper with foam suspension and ferrite magnet
system with wooden ballast. Tested Type 2 is a standalone model with high efficiency of 97 dB
declared and a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. With such a technical specifications it should be, at least
theoretically, a good partner for SET amplifiers. Bass-reflex port is located on the bottom surface of
the cabinet and is directed toward the substrate, with 3 pronged system for fine response tuning on the
front of the speakers. Rated frequency ranges from 38 Hz to 18 kHz, and if the bass-reflex port closes
associated "cues" that are supplied with the speakers. It is standard practice between manufacturers to
design ported boxes with response of 50 Hz - 18 kHz. Personally I do not support such a solutions to
control bass (various sponges, balls, etc.) with bass-reflex structure because it is known for its negative
effect for a dynamic. So ,to make compromise as minimal as possible they rather put whole attention
to cabinet design to fight it back. They are made from MDF and the front and rear panels are further
enhanced. Internally best working diffusion and damping materials had been employed. Finish quality
is very high and boxes are hand veneered to finest standards. Phenolic sheets are used between veneer
and the MDF base. It is not surprising then they comes with 10-year warranty on the cabinet and the
final finish.
Golden Midrange !
For warming up test I selected Sonny Rollins’ classic album Saxophone Colossus reissued in 192/24
format. It turned out with the sound I was exactly expecting from this combination, and what is highly
regarded by such a system supporters and such a concept followers. I would characterise it as a very
smooth, but not meaning too euphonic or, as some would like to say – musical. Which usually means
slightly veiled small deficiencies (primarily resolution and detail). That is why the saxophone and
piano sounded timber spot on correct and accurate, without any artificial warm traces which valves
based designs sometimes use to serve. I noticed that the sound of cymbals came actually to my ears
more rather as their response delayed in an air, however slightly curved, and double bass, especially in
its lower registers also. So sometimes on the bass rich tracks it can be seen as a slight lack of the
integrity in overall sound presentation. However if that’s the amp or either speakers issue I don’t
know. I suppose this could be related to the previously mentioned limitations of full range transducers
if connected to small power amplifiers ,like Tektron here.
Next to come was a female vocal samples. Here I got Sara K. on Whiter Shade of Pale from the
album What Matters. Her voice is presented here in perfectly recognisable way. With right timber
,colour and resolution – giving exact articulation. Very smooth and without smallest trace of harsh. It
becomes obvious here , according to the midrange forte being listened to on this combination, why
single ended amps have so many fans around. This is possibly the best what can happen in the
marriage of flea powered beauties with full range muscle. Next came Diana Krall's album The Girl in
the Other Room. For vocals I can say all the same as for the previous material . With the piano image
however that ,had been created with unbelievable precision and three dimensionality. Both piano and
bass had full volume that reflects their natural proportions. But for imaging we need to say that it is
hard to get any further – it is just magnificent.
Now it is the time to say that the all game began with proper positioning of the speakers. Some are
easy going some are not. Those wasn’t that easy. I started with approx. 2 meters distance from each
other , then worked out the horizontal and vertical axes, trying to follow the rule of an equilateral
triangle, etc. That have proved to be very challenging for this particular accommodation. It was really
difficult, almost impossible to find the optimal ratio where the best points are laying to get well
balanced frequency response (especially the bass), and get speakers completely disappearing and faded
with perfectly enhanced image. That is possible that in a different environment, in an acoustically
different room from where the test was done – one can achieve other results and not struggle the same
way I did, but whatever it is true or not is now a hypothetical question.
Anyway, potential interested customers should take care of it and listen to them in their own space
(and with its own amplification). But progress and results achieved with them on the end (ended up on
some 160 cm from the rear, and 70 cm from the side walls) prove that it was well worth to go for.
Soundstage became larger and more tangible, and rather deepened as well. It also got wider with a
perspective better pronounced. Bass has also got something to volume, fullness and leanness.
Occasionally it jumped even lover when that notes were there , giving a dose of positive surprise, as
had not being heard there before.
On the end, with some classical material e.x. - Altra Follie by Jordi Savall system sounded clean and
present , with articulation perfectly polished and with a lot of air and just a modest attack on strings
audible. So, to summarise components prove to be much better prepared to deal with demanding
classical music material than I was originally expecting and there weren’t any significant problems for
matching the combination reviewed.
In Different environment !
Somehow I got into the feeling that Tektron TKECLL800S-I and Hoyt-Bedford Type 2 speakers are
not quite as ideal partners at it might be believed Also as it had been delivered for review by the same
distributor as a pair and more than that ,they came with the cables which remains in the same trader
portfolio to be used during test ( Harmonic Technology Program - Magic Link Two Interconnect and
Pro-9 Reference speaker cables ).I am concern that carefully matching with high-quality devices is a
must. I was confident with Tektron, after all I liked what it showed. But for Hoyt-Bedford Type 2
speakers I decided to try them with an Audio Analogue Maestro mkII integrated I already had on the
hand. This is completely different beast being a solid state machine and holding whooping with 150
watts per channel (into 8 ohms) it represented completely different universe when compared to SET.
It appeared immediately That HBT-2 are more power hungry than their efficiency chart might suggest.
Sound with AA amp was more rounded ,better defined and much richer with layers , especially in a
bass register. It changed the game completely and speakers started to present another character, with a
tad of toughness and a bit of sharpness ,but became much more open , however the charm they got
with Tektron and smoothness of the presence gone.
Definitely with another (maybe more efficient - like horns, perhaps a different impedance, etc.)
speakers Tektron’s SET could achieve greater synergy, and consequently better sonic results. I am
saying this taking from personal experience, not in referral to theory of pairing SET amplifiers and
high efficiency loudspeakers per se.. For example: by combining eg Unison Research small tube
integrated amplifier and speakers from Triangle catalogue with nominally higher sensitivity , one
should get in theory, nor in practice, better match. It was not however a bad combination - far from it,
but some different combinations could delivery much better results as well.
Tastes are different
To all those who read this review I would like to clarify that I am not so keen on the tested
combination. However, I hope it is clear to them Why? (especially for those who know me), and after
what I already pointed in the preface. Simply, as the English says, "This is not my cup of tea." .
But my neighbour for instance would be in an audiophile heaven having such a sound in his room.
So ,courses for horses – there is not such a thing on that Planet which suits everyone same well.
Please bare in mind , all music lovers , supporters of SET amps as well as Solid States enthusiasts.
All have to be checked and always matched in the way to suit your own preferences. It is a great fun to
make all these challenges and a big part of this hobby. But aside hobbies, personal preferences and
countless combinations, all those who love the sound and advocates are thus conceived audio system,
I can only recommend listening to it. Maybe one day one will find his winning combination!