Tektron TK2A3SI-REF
[ musicbix.it review ]
3 watt today ... it's really crazy?
People often ask me, "but isn’t your website an online magazine?".
I reply, " No, absolutely not."
We are a magazine that does reviews of equipment, we are an informational site maintained by fans
who have taken the task of pointing to the audiophile community, records, books of music and hi-fi
equipment that we consider interesting.
Now, you do not read true criticism or impressions from listening to a certain components even.
Everything is patently obvious, and encourage you to read the brochure from the "scratch" .
The fact is that, in my opinion - seriously - you do not even find information on how to match the
component and often there is forgotten to mention that the inter - action of the whole environment
takes an important part in playback and the notes don’t describe really an individual component.
Almost by accident a while ago when I was reading an on-line magazine 6moons international,
thanks to its reviewers around the globe, I found an Italian company producing tube amps ;)
http://musicboxit.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/tk1.jpg?w=450
This is all about the new Italian company called Tektron - Italia.
At The Rome Audio Show 2008, I had a pleasure to meet Attilio Caccamo , the friendly owner of the
Tektron. Short conversation with him helped me to understand why this dynamic Italian company has
more recognition abroad than in their own country. I really am more and more puzzled by this national
scene full of internal contradictions.
Few months passed and Attilio send me a his Tektron integrated TK2A3SI-REF with the comment :
" it will surprise you."
He was going to intrigue me and I must say that he really was successful!
Connecting to the power this lovely amplifier made of precious wood, glass ampoules and a highly
polished copper plate in place of my standard integrated IPA 100 R, which in comparison seemed
immediately look almost clumsy in his humble industrial brushed aluminium appearance.
Having only around 3 watts on hand made me smile. I thought that I would soon be off to try all this
home build by some of my audio club friends horn or high efficiency speakers, to provide very high
sensitivity, but this did not happen.
http://musicboxit.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/tk3.jpg
Since few months my system has got some very special guests, a Harbeth LS5/12A (which would
have been impossible to fly with only 3 watts given their sensitivity 81.5 db) and the HEOLO, the
floor standing speakers of 88,5dB sensitivity which I would call .... chameleon! Never heard a speaker
so easy to drive and so easy going with everything you would like to connect to them.... even with
only 3 watts in a very acoustically treated , measuring 25 squared meters room ! I spent next 2 weeks
in the company of this beautiful , sound making jewel .I didn’t even want to give it back , so much I
liked its sound .I had been completely “ kidnapped “ with his extreme musicality. Same power cables
as always (Audience Conductor), the same signal cable (Dromos EOS) themselves, but precious
power cables (Audio Class). Nothing had changed in the chain since just the amplification ... but that
sweet sound. I've always been in love with the voice of VT10Y (1.5 watts) listened to with a Fostex +
TW, I dreamed one day to replicate it with a valve less critical as 2A3, which also works in Tektron,
but I always missed the courage. Choosing monitors wasn’t difficult, so I missed also few occasions.
In the journey of an audiophile there are many obstacles. They make a lot of mistakes, you often
change direction, but there comes a moment when you finally understand what your ideal sound is.
At this point, you must choose whether to continue playing for fun, like many audiophiles do, or stop
and enjoy your new point of arrival, which is not necessarily full of watts and frequency extension by
the meaning of meeting perfectly datasheets.
In my case, I prefer an extreme refinement in an area of so called "sweetspot". I am not going to make
secret the fact I am listening to many voice recordings, both male and female and many string quartets.
I like that kind of search particularly. I fall in love unconditionally with a songwriter named Howe
Gelb. All this to tell you that full responsibility for that laying actually on Tektron amp with which
I have been listening to this music for the very 1st time. Needless to say that when you are dealing with
a subject really interesting, all tests pass in the second floor, each parameter gives way to notes, those
notes that make a sweet female voice even more sensual and alive, and the male more meaty and low.
With H.E.O.L.O. capable to capture truly thrilling soundstage, Gelb sits between the speakers playing
that particular melody with brilliant timing. His finely reproduced guitar seems to be less precise than
I am used to hear with my standard set up, but definitely more persuasive.
I am usually listening with the light switched off. I must confess that the glow of the 2A3 valves is
lovely, the object in dim light returns a very attractive old style charm that adds that extra touch to
reproduction itself - already really good. I tried to shift presentation up and get rid off that trace of
mellow sound by swapping cables ( Drome Eos for a Bullet Plug Express6). The message became
stronger and little more focused. It also took a grip over the mid-bass in the way that remains to me a
miracle to me , showing almost perfect blend between Tektron amp and HEOLO speaker units.
Rava's trumpet in “The man I love “ [Gershwin’s Album TATI ] changes from one colour slightly
brass polished to a gleam almost blinding. This amp responds very well to the character of cable used
giving an amazing chance to voice sound nuances up to particular taste. Attilio told me as well it is
also very dependent on the type of the valves used.
I wish I had enough time to go through more of my records. I keep thinking about all that wonders I
might discover. A beautiful LIVE AT BLUES ALLEY recording by Eva Cassidy, became a really
hard one to be forgotten ! I understand that the comparison with my standard set up is quite out of the
wisdom, but I guarantee you that I spent so much time trying to understand what is better comparing
two different approaches. Maybe it would be better instead of making any comparison just to allow it
naturally flow and takes place in tour mind exactly as it is , without any classification. Today I can
only say that if I had a medium-high sensitivity speaker, I would say for example 90db/1W/1mt I
would not ignore a chance of trying and comparing between a solid state amp of very fine grade and
a "midget" from a few watts camp. All would make me lean towards the Tektron or for Norma
depending on the size of the room and the type of approach I have toward music.
Conclusions
If you love your sound to be persuasive, never tiring and at the same time offering the correct dynamic
attack, if you have a speaker that is not a mini-monitor with sensitivity from hell, if you listen to music
and I left out the quirks audiophile ..... then do everything to listen to the sound of this little gem!
A little side note
The amp came to me with 2A3 valves marked Fivre, the drivers and the rectifier were RCA 6SN7 and
Sylvania 5931 (5U4). The front on / of switch is for filaments only. After 30sec. you can turn the
standby knob to provide power to the circuit. This way you will remove stress from your valves and
make their life long and more happy.
Biasing is really easy thing to do thanks to the two elementary milliammeters, one for each power
tube, placed next to the processors.
I've calibrated all once and it never changed.
The connections are really good, an excellent WBT for the power outputs and for the three RCA
inputs.
In my experience, considering the price of the device, the only discordant note the knobs are really
cheap, should be replaced with something more aesthetically objectionable (wooden?) And maybe you
could add a delay circuit for the ignition , which is now at hand.
Could I also ask for remote volume .... I confess I'm a lazy bum!