Floorstanding loudspeakers — Tekton Design ULFBERHT 15

The Ulfberht 15 is a four-way Tekton Design tower at USD 10,000 per pair. It develops the Ulfberht with two purpose-engineered 15-inch subwoofers and an additional midrange array, and it is the taller of the two Ulfberht models. A ready-to-ship black pair has also been offered by Tekton for USD 10,000 delivered.

Key specs that matter

Its drivers comprise a beryllium high-frequency tweeter, a patented 15-dome hybrid MTM high-frequency array, a 14-dome hybrid midrange matrix array with 26 mm domes under a pending patent, four 6.5-inch overtone and harmonic mid-bass transducers and two 15-inch subwoofers. Frequency response is 20 Hz to 30 kHz, sensitivity is 98 dB at 2.83 V and 1 m, impedance is 4 ohms and power handling is 1,000 W. The cabinet measures about 2,051 x 406 x 432 mm, and each speaker weighs about 104.3 kg.

Engineering and use context

Where the standard Ulfberht uses one fifteen-dome array for the high frequencies, the Ulfberht 15 adds a separate array of small domes for the midrange, so both the midrange and treble come from groups of small radiators. This extends the multi-dome idea of US Patent 9247339 down into the midrange. A single beryllium tweeter is also included, alongside the arrays. The two 15-inch drivers are engineered specifically for this model and handle the lowest octaves, with the mid-bass units bridging the gap to the midrange array. Although the cabinet is taller, it is about 2 kg lighter than the standard Ulfberht. Counting all elements, each speaker carries 36 drive units - two subwoofers, four mid-bass drivers, fourteen midrange domes, fifteen high-frequency domes and the beryllium tweeter.

Pairing

The high sensitivity allows moderate amplifiers to reach high levels, and its power reserve suits powerful solid-state amplifiers. The low impedance calls for amplifiers that handle such loads. At over 2 m tall, the speakers need a large, high-ceilinged room well beyond 20 m2, and the large woofers make a subwoofer unnecessary. The price difference from the standard Ulfberht is USD 1,000 per pair at the current sale price.

Alternatives

The Tekton Design Ulfberht uses two 12-inch woofers, four 7-inch mid-bass drivers and a 15-dome array in a cabinet about 1.96 m tall, with 97 dB sensitivity, at USD 9,000 per pair.