Tekton Moab, McGary Audio SA-2 Integrated Amplifier, Exogal Comet DAC and Ion Power DAC, Anticables

I like speakers with dark wood finishes. My friend Sphere loves speakers painted red. My partner “bb” prefers blue ones that match her room. Tekton Design makes speakers in these and many other colors and finishes. Tekton speakers, though, also have many tweeters, which gives them a distinctive look.

I always get happy seeing Tekton Design’s principal Eric Alexander. I’ve reviewed two of his speakers (the Pendragon and the Impact Monitors), and I am a fan of Eric’s "tweeter arrays;” they deliver a precise and seamless midband that must be heard to be appreciated. It's not that looks don't matter—they do—but visual tastes are personal, and sound matters more.

At CAF, I got to hear Eric’s latest: the $4500/pair Moab, which, powered by the attention-grabbing McGary Audio SA-2 stereo tube amplifier, made smooth, vivid sound.

I admit to being distracted by the beauty and features (and the $7985 price tag) of the red SA-2. The red and silver McGary is handmaid in Gainesville, Virginia. It is all hand-wired, point to point, and, is supposedly filled with fancy parts. The McGary website says the SA-2 puts out 80Wpc, but it does not mention tube type. The amp I saw appeared to be sporting KT-88s. The amp I saw also had this big beautiful knob which the user can use to adjust the amount of global negative feedback applied to the circuit. This feedback-adjusting knob is right upfront - not hiding on the back. To me this is a big deal because most audiophiles do not understand what feedback actually does (both positively and negatively) to the sound of a power amplifier. Most audiophiles have no idea what flower-like beauties are often sacrificed at the altar of low THD specs. Therefore, I wish more amps came with a knob like this.

The McGary SA-2 comes with a lifetime warranty, excluding vacuum tubes of course; those are warrantied for 90-days.

I wish more amps looked this stylish and came with a big knob and a warranty like this.

The SA-2 received it analogue signal from a $3500 Exogal Comet DAC and a loom of Anticables.

When the McGary amp was out of the system, the Tekton Moabs were powered by the Exogal Ion Power DAC.

COMMENTS
Bogolu Haranath's picture

May be HR could review the McGary Audio SA-2 stereo amp? ......... The Tekton Moab speakers may be too big for HR's listening room :-) .........

Bogolu Haranath's picture

There is a video with audio posted on Tekton website of Moab speakers RMAF 2019 :-) ........

invaderzim's picture

"most audiophiles do not understand what feedback actually does (both positively and negatively) to the sound of a power amplifier."

So few people realize that if you change one thing in an amplifier circuit you are almost always changing something else at the same time. That is why designing amps is a mix of art and science.

Ortofan's picture

... observe how their products are handmaid [sic] in Gainesville, Virginia, would he entitle the trip report "The Handmaid's Tale"?

Regarding the comment that "flower-like beauties are often sacrificed at the altar of low THD specs", why doesn't HR just admit that he enjoys heaping helpings of second harmonic sauce?

Bogolu Haranath's picture

May be 'flower-children' like those types of audio components? :-) .........

Bogolu Haranath's picture

HR could also subtitle it as 'Viginia is also for tube lovers' :-) .......

Bogolu Haranath's picture

conrad-johnson is also located in Virginia :-) ........

"It just sounds right" :-) .........

Bogolu Haranath's picture

Cary Audiio CAD-805RS (reviewed by Stereophile) tube mono-block amps also offer feedback controls ....... Bob Carver Corporation also offers tube amps with feedback controls .......... CH Precision offers solid state amps with feedback controls (reviewed by Stereophile) :-) ...........

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