soloz2

Before I get into the impressions I'll say a little about the system and why I chose the components I did.

Source: Sig Rig audio output via an Auzentech X-Fi Prelude with OPA-627 op-amps and one of my own designed shield installed on the back of the card to block noise from the GFX fan. This is a great card, I know there are better cards available from a sound quality standpoint, but I game frequently so gaming performance is important for me as well. Also, if I'm sitting at my computer I'm most likely doing something other than just listening to music so the Prelude is good enough for my needs.
Interconnect is a one-of SA Reference series mini-RCA using solid silver conductors. It is actually not shielded, other than that inherent in the braid. I know computers are noisy, but I have never had a problem and the unshielded cable is more natural and dynamic sounding than a shielded cable so it stays.
Previous setup: TCA Gizmo amp powering a pair of AV123 ELT525M, which ended up as rear surrounds in my HT setup and my Onix Reference 1 MKII came to reside on my desk. This was a very nice setup, and I had planned on modding the Gizmo, however after having a loaner Virtue Audio Virtue Two with upgraded power supply I decided to start looking for an amp upgrade as the amp was really the weakest link in my chain.

I also wanted a speaker amp that had a capable headphone amp to de-clutter my desk so I started looking for either a headphone amp capable of driving speakers or a speaker amp capable of driving headphones, I soon found it difficult to find a reasonably price amp capable to excel at both. A couple capable amps that were the highlight of my search were the $600 Glow Amp One and the $1200 Peachtree Nova, but they were both more than I really wanted to spend knowing that I still had to purchase a pair of speakers.
On the speaker front, I wanted a pair of front-ported or sealed mini-monitors. There are not really that many front ported small speakers that are reasonably priced. I was drawn to the B&W 685 and the Usher S-520 as well as a few others, but kept coming back to needing to find an efficient speaker that would do well with a tube amp since most of the headphone/speaker amps I found were low powered. I looked long and hard for a used pair of B&W's as every time I've demoed a pair I've been impressed, but just couldn't seem to find a pair that was in excellent condition (remember I'll be sitting 2' away and looking at these speakers daily so they can't look like crap) without going for crazy prices. (by the time I started seriously looking at speakers I decided that $300 was my self-imposed limit)

After looking/reading/listening/researching I decided that I didn't have the money or need to spend several thousand on a computer setup, which is quite easy to do if you really start looking. I also decided that instead of giving myself a budget of even $1200 (the list price of just the speakers I was previously using with my computer) I decided that I was going to 'upgrade' my PC setup for $500 or less, a seriously tough job mind you.

During my search for small, efficient speakers I kept running into suggestions for single, full-range driver speakers. I looked at a couple options and considered building a pair of mini-Fonkens, but after some deliberations I decided to purchase a pair of Tekton Design 4.1 speakers. Info Here They came with a 30-day money back guarantee. I figured if I hated the 'sound' of single-driver speakers I could always return them and only be out shipping, where if I built them I'd be out time and likely a bit more than shipping. The speakers come in at $250 plus shipping. I got a semi-gloss black pair that are slightly custom as they are not textured like most Tekton speakers. Eric was very helpful and responded quickly to all my emails, I highly recommend shooting him an email if you have any questions or are interested in purchasing a pair of his speakers.

For the amp I found a nice Chinese tube amp imported by a Canadian company that skylab (head-fi) gave a good review (Link if you would like to read) and after contacting Musical Paradise I decided to order an MP-301 Link The amp uses two 6au6 and two 6v6 tubes for 5wpc output. The headphone output is on the rear of the amp, so not convenient, but it does the job and at $199 plus shipping it fit perfectly into the $500 price I set for myself. I did find that the amp sounded a tad dry with the stock Chinese tubes, but a nice NOS pair of matched RCA grey-glass tubes made a huge difference for a not-so-huge price. I tried a pair of RCa 6au6, which were again a noticeable improvement over the stock tubes, but settled on a pair of NOS Tung-Sol 6au6 that were less sucestable to noise (haven't found my favorite 6au6 for a reasonable price yet, so if you find a good matched pair of Mullards LMK!) Altogether, expect to spend another $50 for a good tube complement, you can spend more or less.

Impressions:

I'll be perfectly honest here, I haven't used the amp for headphones much at all so I won't say a whole lot about that. I think the main reason for this is that the headphone output is on the back of the amp and is a bit of a pain to reach the way my desk is currently setup. The speaker output is quite good though IMHO. Again, when I first received the Tekton speakers I hadn't received the Musical Paradise yet and decided to connect them to my Marantz SR7001 receiver (being extremely careful with the volume!) and I was less than impressed, however once I paired the speakers with the 5wpc tube MP-301 there was a total transformation. These speakers do so much right it's easy to overlook their shortcomings. They don't play low, and they get a bit congested on fast/heavy rock or big classical. But vocals sound natural, and smaller ensamble and jazz recordings sound simply fantastic.


*Not complete Yet*

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Please do not PM me general audio questions that should be asked on the open forum. I reserve the right to ignore your PM's.

Current Sound: SA tweaked Auzen X-Fi Prelude > SA Reference IC > Musical Paradise MP-301 6v6 tube amp> Tekton Designs 4.1 single driver loudspeakers

Feedback: Heatware Ebay

soloz2

reserved

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Please do not PM me general audio questions that should be asked on the open forum. I reserve the right to ignore your PM's.

Current Sound: SA tweaked Auzen X-Fi Prelude > SA Reference IC > Musical Paradise MP-301 6v6 tube amp> Tekton Designs 4.1 single driver loudspeakers

Feedback: Heatware Ebay

jarble

glad to see your review coming along

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My OIL Cooled folding garden ,The stinger club for those who want the best

OCN Speaker Club, because wasting your money on headphones, folding, and computers, just wasn't wasting it fast enough...

grip_racer

It's no surprise the tube amp sounded better. Not having negative feedback in the amp really helps. It's not as apparent with an average-sensitivity speaker, but on sensitive/detailed full-range, it makes a big difference.

Next, maybe put a TA2024 amp on it? Fostex sound great with high current amps to push through that long and changing impedence curve.

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Audio System:
Cigar Box CS4397 DAC (direct-out) ->
1. Dual-Mono Gainclone Amplifier -> Celestion F15 / Pinnacle AC400 / Advent AS2 / Bose 301 Series II (depending on the day )
2. 100w RMS Plate Amp, C/O @ 80hz -> Elemental Designs 9Kv.2 (vented, 23hz tuning)

noname

Sweet, im checking out that tube amp you have-
Im waiting patiently for the rest of your review

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#SPKRCLUB

soloz2

sorry... been busy... more later...

__________________
Please do not PM me general audio questions that should be asked on the open forum. I reserve the right to ignore your PM's.

Current Sound: SA tweaked Auzen X-Fi Prelude > SA Reference IC > Musical Paradise MP-301 6v6 tube amp> Tekton Designs 4.1 single driver loudspeakers

Feedback: Heatware Ebay

LukeG

Good review, although one thing. The tekton speakers are built from commercial parts, but if you added all the components and cabnits up, in the end, there mark up is low. Good company, have looked at them in the past, but I do not like full ranges.

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Sound system: ED 6T6 MTM, Pioneer 5.1 receiver, IXL 18 2.2, DIY towers LR and side, 2 Tactile subs, Yamaha HP-3 headphones

LoneRange

Im looking forward to the rest of your review

LoneRange

Hopefully you will be able to finish it soon