Electron SE

8 reviews for Electron SE

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1. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Scott Gibson – March 31, 2026

   This will be a long-winded review – have a seat.

   I want to start by saying if you are reading this, you are in the right place.

   What you seek you will find – something much different than what you have seen.

   No Chinese made vinyl covered crap with sharp corners that looks like an Ikea bookshelf.

   No ill-cross overed harshness or hype.

   Now my story – I have been building up my system over the last few years after a hiatus from audiophile world. I grew up in the 80s and , mostly due to funds, was an old skool Cerwin Vega 12 owner – the big heavy black speakers with the telltale red woofer rings, and driven by a Onkyo MOSFET amp and separate preamp. Used to do a lot of my own wiring back in the days – even to guitar amps and got shocked pretty bad.

   I have played in amateur bands since I was 15yo ( played Judas Priest covers at the high school prom) , been in a published punk band and have played lead guitar, bass , drums and even sang a little. So, I am no stranger to music and how it sounds live.

   Wanting that live sound and something made in the USA I was of course directed towards Klipsch and eventually bought a beautiful pair of walnut Heresy IVs. I paired these with a Rotel RB 1552 MK11 amp , a SCHITT Kara F preamp ( the one ASR gave a thumbs up on ) and a SCHITT Bifros2 2/64 being fed by a Cambridge dedicated cd transport ( no onboard dac). Of course, I also supplied a couple of thousand of dollars in cabling from Audioquest, Nordost and DH Labs .

   Everything sounded pretty cool, but there were some things about the sound I didn’t like. Cymbals, in particular, could have a harsh sound – kind of like the cheap-ass cymbals they give away in one of those Pearl starter kits lol. Anyways, suspecting distortion was to play, I first replaced my Rotel amp with a McIntosh MC 152 amp – a huge improvement all around, but there was still harshness that I suspected was from having those large horns in a 12×10 room even with sound treatment on all walls.

   I started the long journey of looking at speakers again. I thought a tower would be nice as I liked the airy feeling of the B&W 602s I have downstairs in the home theater as mains. I listen to death metal primarily ( fav band is Cannibal Corpse), so I didn’t want to give up the bass from the 12” woofer on the Heresy’s – which left me looking at 8 inch woofers being about the max on towers. I looked at a lot – maybe 100 and didn’t like they all seemed to be made with vinyl – not even veneer like my Heresy’s. Also, the towers that fit my bill of an 8 inch or larger woofer, no horns and a decent sensitivity ( Heresy are 99db and a lot of towers I saw were like only 86db) and not a huge watt rating. I can’t be pumping 50w into a giant tower in this space which is what a lot of the 400w rated towers would need to get the bass moving. The closest I found was Martin Logan F200 at about 6k a pair shipped. But even at that price, they were vinyl covered Chinese made cookie cutter junk. Not what I really wanted after having the nice walnut speakers. Yeah, looks aren’t the most important by far, but they do matter since I have eyeballs along with earballs.

   I am also wanting to use USA made parts as much as possible, so I started searching for USA made speakers – and other than Klipsch there was Wilson audio and Tekton that were suggested as high-end speakers made in the USA. Wilson audio is waaaaay overpriced so I looked at Tekton and was pleasantly surprised at what I found.

   Not only did they have a mid tower that met my space and power needs, they let you choose custom options like the color, wiring and tweeters, etc. You ain’t getting that at Crotchfield….

   Now bring in Eric. Its been since the 80’s when I used to shop at BSR in Burbank that I had a tech actually talk to me about my setup and tune a speaker to my needs. Eric talked to me about my system ( he looked up the specs for all my equipment even), my room, what I don’t like about the Heresy’s and what I do like. I even threw a couple curveballs halfway through the bill when I decided to upgrade to the SE and add the BE tweeter – and he took that in stride and without complaint.

   In the end, he designed a bespoke speaker that is better than anything I could have bought off the shelf and fit my system perfectly.

   Fast forward to receiving them ( about 5 weeks including my changes). They are way nicer in person…. The paint is like real furniture paint like the “good ol days”. There are NO SEAMS. Let me be clear – compared to my B&W downstairs these look a league above. The B&W could give you a paper cut from the sharp corners lol – all of the corners on this cabinet are ROUNDED. Its details like this that just speak class. These are like a piece of furniture – finally I am proud to replace the walnut speakers with these. They look that good.

   Now the sound.. Eric called me the day before delivery AND they day of to talk to me about how to position them ( a little past my ears in the triangle of love) and after one day only of breaking them in for a few hours I am blown away. Now don’t get me wrong, the Heresy’s are bitchin’ speakers and fun – but these are way more precise. ALL OF THE HARSHNESS is gone – soundstage is WAY TALLER ( likely due to it being a 4’ tower) and spacious. The BE tweeter lets me hear the stick clanking on the bell like a real cymbal and that wonderful Zildjian hiss I love is there when available. I am pulling out albums I haven’t played for years just to hear them on these speakers. Its that much of a difference. Bass guitar lines – the 4 way speakers with the added mid bass really let you hear that nice twang of a live bass where the player is close to overloading their woofer its going in and out so far. If I hadn’t played bass myself live I might not have known this was missing, but it was until now. I thought maybe the mics couldn’t pick it up , but apparently its just my speakers couldn’t resolve it. Amazing. Vocals are super clear – I could hear breaths in between lines on a few albums that I have listed to 100’s of times and never heard before. And the Heresy’s are known for being detailed and sensitive. Not compared to the Electron SE’s they aren’t!

   I couldn’t be happier with the product or the service. Top notch class act.

   If you read this far, then you have a passion for music like I do and want something new, different and heck , just better than what you have seen for thousands more at retailers. You cannot buy a better speaker at twice the price, trust me. I would say these speakers would retail at over 10k . I am a consultant and know most retail is marked up more than double the wholesale price. These are priced at a more wholesale price due to getting them direct from the maker with no additional markup / overhead.

   Tekton has a customer for life. 😊

   
2. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Ben Hanson – September 2, 2023

   I purchased the Electron SE with central Be tweeters. These are really phenomenal speakers, especially for the price. Midrange clarity and realness is incredible. They are genuinely full range, I don’t feel the need to add a sub (not the case for Paradigm Persona 3F towers I have in another space). I couldn’t be happier, 10/10.

3. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Richard Rangel – July 31, 2022

   Beautiful white finish Electron SE with single Beryllium tweeter.
   Magical stuff. After auditioning in my room some great brands like B&W 804 D3, Kii Three Audio, Klipsch, Magnepan,
   Martin Logan, including a couple of other Tekton models, the quest is over. These Electron SE speakers deliver the sound I have been dreaming of getting. Thanks, Eric.

4. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Ken Ketsenburg (verified owner) – January 2, 2022

   The journey of acquiring my Electron SE’s began while purchasing a pre-owned couch my wife wanted. I noticed the owner of the house was a little into Audio. After a bit of questions his wife suggested we head downstairs and see the real items.
   We did and there were two sets of speakers with one being something called Tekton Design the other I do not remember. Never heard of TD before and was enthralled with the story behind the design of the speakers and their unique speaker presentation. I began the due diligence of research wherever I could find it – You Tube videos, Forums, Reviews of other TD speakers, and I was hooked!

   My system of 25+ years (kids, college and weddings prove to require a lot of money) was Acurus A250, Acurus L10 pre amp, ADS L1590-II tower speakers with a California Audio Lab Mark II CD player and a Audioengine B1 Bluetooth receiver.

   The replacement began with a new Parasound P6 pre, then the Parasound 23+ amp and those two alone opened the door to improved sound. But the speakers were the weakest point.

   I finally got the green light to order the TD Electron SE’s – the message was they are the same size as the ADS L1590’s and we can get them painted the color the Mrs would like and they were on sale (always a good trump card). Once I heard the “FINE do what you want” the order was placed. Electron SE’s (no Be) and the color the wife wanted.

   Fast forward to the listening after the short break in period – WOW!!

   The music became alive! The sound was full and open. The highs presented themselves in a crisp and balanced “I am here too” sound. The bass was and still is solid and warm. Not overpowering, not cold or wanting to dominate. The mids – o my! Vocals and percussion were right there with the highs and lows. In fact, the vocals created a whole new experience. My wife had mentioned “they sound like they are right there in the room”. Crisp without being sharp, clean without removing subtle background sounds and solid deep end without being obnoxious is what I had noticed first and still do!!

   I tried everything I had listened to before and the sound was like a bright and exciting clear spring day after a muted winter. Chris Botti’s Live in Boston was a rebirth with the new system. His trumpet, the drummer, his guests – wow – and the soundstage was huge and deep! Even Classical music is alive and warm!

   My favorite first listen for my guests are Donald Byrd – Slow Drag, Adele – Easy on Me, Pink Floyd – Goodbye Blue Sky and Jamey Johnson – That Lonesome Song. The responses from my friends and family are: “holy cow!” “That sounds so real and clear!” “I am hearing things I never heard before” (always a fun experiment) and “Incredible”.

   I can listen to the Electron SE’s for hours without becoming fatigued. My musical interests have expanded, and I am very pleased with the Electron SE’s. As with any disease I started wondering what the Double Impact would sound like and what if I provide an amp for each speaker….. maybe later but for now I am extremely pleased with the set up and sound. BTW – hat tip to Ben’s review from March 4th regarding Parasound and the Electron SE. The pic shows the Electrons, the Parasounds are on the other side of the wall on the right.

   Enjoy!

   
5. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Robert Williamson – July 19, 2021

   I got my Electron SEs with Be tweeter upgrade with a high gloss gray finish in January of 2021. They were to replace my Wilson Watt puppy 5.1s that lost a tweeter (and the pandemic made it almost impossible to replace). Sadly, the SEs took longer to get than the new tweeters for the Watt Puppies, but now I have a A/B comparison.

   I am using, arguably, horrible source equipment for the speakers, as I decided to try the new Sonos amp with them. I have not tried my more reference like equipment (e.g. Krell monoblocks), so forgive me if the review is tainted in that respect, but part of the appeal of the Electrons was their stated sensitivity – so why not see what a little class D amp can do with 98.8 dB of sensitivity.

   I did upgrade the source into the Sonos amp to include some Schiit Audio DACs driven by high rez digital sources and alike, but I also listen using the built-in streaming services in the Sonos device. I have not hooked up a turntable yet to the speakers, so all sources have been digital.

   Bottom line, yes they are fantastic. Toe them in, and move the speakers around if the sound isn’t awesome. Get your ears at tweeter level. I am still fine tuning, but the listening room is challenging in that the main area is 24’ x 24’ and there are large openings in some walls. Despite the large challenging space and small amplifier, these speakers do very well.

   Surprisingly, as compared to my upgraded / refurbished Watt Puppy 5.1’s, the tonality is quite similar in the room. Perhaps they are both quite neutral and revealing. The Electrons beat out the older Watt Puppies with better detail, especially in the mid to high frequencies. I hear details with the Electrons that I don’t hear in any of my other reference speakers or even some top end headphones (B&W, EV, Hifiman, Sennheiser, Cambridge Audio, Focal, etc.).

   In addition to the detail and resolution, the speakers’ presence is quite impressive. When I listen to EDM, the room shakes, but in a very tight and controlled manner. It’s uncanny. Friends who come over and listen are blown away by the power and control. All that being driven a 125W at 8 ohm class D Sonos amplifier. Crazy.

   What next? I want to drive these with tubes and big monoblocks. I am too lazy to drag my Krell amps up the stairs to these speakers, but it will happen. I also want to try these bad boys with vinyl. But for now, the sound is so satisfying that I just want to sit and listen to them versus goofing around with additional equipment. And isn’t that really what matters? Listening to music? That’s what these speakers do to you, they demand that you just sit down and listen and you get rewarded with amazing detail and involvement.

   
6. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   walt – March 15, 2021

   huge fan!!!! love my Electron SE speakers, purchased a set in white with BE tweeter upgrade.fast, smooth and great soundstage. versatile speakers as well,I use as my front mains for my surround sound. handle anything I hit them with. like most I have had many speakers over the past years.The Electron SE’s are my favorite to date. exceptional value for the amount of performance and sound quality you receive. A SPECIAL thanks and shout out to Eric and Tammy.

7. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Ben – March 4, 2021

   Excellent speakers. I had high expectations for the midrange given the tweeter array, and I must say it delivered. What surprised me was how nice the highs are. The bass is great too, but in my former living room it was a bit tricky to place the speakers because of the bass output (there was a concrete wall behind the speakers; this isn’t a knock on the Tektons). I was actually thinking of selling the speakers because I couldn’t get them to sound right. I’m so glad I didn’t, though! Once I got into a better listening room, the speakers changed dramatically — I guess the importance of room acoustics can’t be understated. And to be fair, no speakers sounded good in that living room.

   For equipment, I’ve tried Schiit Aegir monoblocks, an Adcom GFA-555 II, and a Parasound A23+. Overall, I liked the Parasound the most. The Schiit Aegirs sounded way too lean – not enough bass or midbass, and midrange felt a like it lost steam at high volumes. Interestingly enough, a single Aegir sounded much better than two Aegirs, which I suspect is due to the monoblocks not liking a 4 ohm load. If you’re one of the other Electron owners (like Jeff in the other review), I’d encourage you to experiment with one Aegir in stereo instead of two as monoblocks. Your mileage may vary, but for me it was quite a difference.

   As much as I like Schiit gear, I found the Parasound A23+ to be a better match – clearer mids and better bass while retaining some of the warmness of the Aegir. I do want to give the Schiit another listen in my new listening room, which may change my opinion of this combination. The Adcom was hooked up to see how much power these things can take, and they certainly can make the house shake.

   My father is a lifelong audiophile and when he heard these speakers, he said “these are the clearest speakers I’ve ever heard.” They’re fantastic, especially when you consider the low price you pay for the customer service, build quality, and customization options offered.

   
8. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Jeff Fayle – February 21, 2021

   Love my Electron SE’s! Fast, firm bass from the dual 8″ woofers that with the 5″ mid bass drivers, integrates beautifully with some of the most detailed and lifelike midrange reproduction I’ve heard from any speaker at this price point and beyond. Then there are the nice smooth, extended and detailed highs to put the icing on the cake. Then there are the dynamic punch and speed with a spacious wide and deep soundstage and excellent tonal color reproduction. I’ve had mine for about 6 months now and every time I sit down to listen I am mesmerized by the sound. In my room, which is 19’x13’x8′, they sound HUGE and absolutely lifelike. I simply could not be any happier with my choice. Wonderful speakers and a bargain at their price. I bought my first component system at the age of 14 in 1969, so I have owned more speakers and audio equipment over the years than I can remember. The Electron SE’s have been my most satisfying speaker purchase ever. I power them with both tubes(PrimaLuna EVO 100), as well as my AVA Vision SET 400 SS amp at times. I also pair them with Schiit Aegir power amps from time to time. All of these combinations sound wonderful. The Electron SE’s will give you what you feed them. I am a very happy owner!