B&W 683S2 vs Golden Ear Triton 7 Need Speaker Help

[irv.chan]

Hey All,

I'm relatively new in terms of getting into the audio world.

I'm looking at getting a new 5.1 system. Likely 80/20 for movies/music. I have a 14x14 room with an opening to the main floor from half walls to my left. Will use a Pioneer Elite SC-79.

I have auditioned several speakers (Paradigm Monitor9's, Def Tech BP 8060ST, Monitor Silver Towers) and the top two considerations are the B&W 683 S2 and Golden Ear Triton 7's and their respective centers (HTM61 S2 & Super Center XL). For rears, I am going to use a pair of spare Klipsch bipole's from a friend. I am looking at purchasing either an SVS or PSA sub in the near future.

So the Triton 7's will be about $300 more for the Towers + Center than the 683 S2's.
I keep waffling back and forth between the two. I think the Triton 7's have a smoother upper end and slightly wider soundstage. I feel the 683's have more detail, transparency (especially in vocals) and bass. I also thought the center was slightly more pronounced during dialog for the HTM61 vs the Super Center XL (but it could have been a bad setup at the audition).

Wouldn't mind some additional input/experience from everyone.

Thanks!

 

[Cos]

In my experience the Triton 7s tend to be a little sensitive to positioning. If you have a chance, go to avsforum and there is an excellent interview with Sandy Gross where he talks about this more in detail.

With the side sub-bass radiators do need a little room (i.e. jamming them at the corners of each wall, can make the bass sound a little "boomy")

Sandy's Description on placement "A very wide spread, with the speakers toed-in directly toward your listening position."

I found the level of detail to be excellent and the bass extension surprising for a speaker this small and lacking the integrated subs of the T3 / T2 / T1s

I have not heard the 683S2, so can not give you an accurate comparison.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

So the Triton 7's will be about $300 more for the Towers + Center than the 683 S2's.

I feel the 683's have more detail, transparency (especially in vocals) and bass. I also thought the center was slightly more pronounced...

It seems you preferred the B&W and it's $300 cheaper. Sounds like a win-win.

I assume these are the only 2 options you have locally?

Your room is relatively small @ 14 x 14, which means very limited placement. You might be able to do without a dedicated subwoofer if you have towers with built-in LFE/Subwoofer inputs.

What is your total budget for all speakers and subwoofer?

 

[irv.chan]

In my experience the Triton 7s tend to be a little sensitive to positioning. If you have a chance, go to avsforum and there is an excellent interview with Sandy Gross where he talks about this more in detail.

With the side sub-bass radiators do need a little room (i.e. jamming them at the corners of each wall, can make the bass sound a little "boomy")

Sandy's Description on placement "A very wide spread, with the speakers toed-in directly toward your listening position."

I found the level of detail to be excellent and the bass extension surprising for a speaker this small and lacking the integrated subs of the T3 / T2 / T1s

I have not heard the 683S2, so can not give you an accurate comparison.

Do you think there should be a concern about build and durability? As the 683's are approx. 60lbs while the Tritons are only 32 lbs.
And have you had any experience with the center channels? What's your take for the centers and HT use?

It seems you preferred the B&W and it's $300 cheaper. Sounds like a win-win.

I assume these are the only 2 options you have locally?

Your room is relatively small @ 14 x 14, which means very limited placement. You might be able to do without a dedicated subwoofer if you have towers with built-in LFE/Subwoofer inputs.

What is your total budget for all speakers and subwoofer?

Well I have auditioned Monitor, Paradigm, Klipsch, Focal as well as a few others. Unfortunately, there is not any KEF dealers by me, so I can't audition them. The Triton 7's and 683 S2 still remain the top of my considerations with a budget of ~$2,000 to ~$2,500 CAD. I really like them both, but in different ways. That's why I'm just looking for additional input/experience from others. The 683 + HTM61 is approx $2,200 and the Tritons + Super center XL are approx $2,500.

For subwoofer, I have budgeted about $1,400 and I have been eyeing out the PSA XS30se.

 

[Cos]

Do you think there should be a concern about build and durability? As the 683's are approx. 60lbs while the Tritons are only 32 lbs.
And have you had any experience with the center channels? What's your take for the centers and HT use?



Well I have auditioned Monitor, Paradigm, Klipsch, Focal as well as a few others. Unfortunately, there is not any KEF dealers by me, so I can't audition them. The Triton 7's and 683 S2 still remain the top of my considerations with a budget of ~$2,000 to ~$2,500 CAD. I really like them both, but in different ways. That's why I'm just looking for additional input/experience from others. The 683 + HTM61 is approx $2,200 and the Tritons + Super center XL are approx $2,500.

For subwoofer, I have budgeted about $1,400 and I have been eyeing out the PSA XS30se.

I would not worry about the build quality of the cabinets on the Golden Ear Triton 7s. While I am not a super huge fan of the plastic tops, (They are even on my 5k(List) Triton 1s. I will never fault the build quality of the Cabinet. If you look on their website they are very careful in the way they designed their cabinets.

If I didn't purchase the T1s I would have gotten the SuperCenter XL Center. I am holding out until Q1 next year because rumor is that they are coming out with a larger center chanel model my speakers. the SuperCenter XL should work quite nicely with the 7s

I hope to get Sandy to spill the beans on what's planned for next year as I am going to an event at another dealer which is sponsored by Golden Ear and Sony tomorrow and he is supposed to be there.

As far as price, you should be able to get a 15% discount on the GE speakers as most dealers will work with you on pricing.

Every review I have read has been positive on the center channel. I had the Paradigm Studio CC-690 and that was an awesome Center Channel IMO as I was able to sell it for almost the exact price I paid for it 1.5 years later.

 

[Acoustat]

I would take your CDs an DVD back in and re-audition these two.
The B&W's do not have near the frequency spanse particularly in the bass
which may not be an issue if you get that sub.

Did you audition with your library or theirs?
It's best to do both. I always take Barbara Streisands One Voice CD
and Neil Diamond Serenade to audition voice.
Another CD for dynamics in percussion response, bass, brass, piano and silence
though silence is more equipment oriented. Then when in your environment
And set up, it all works together with major bases accounted for.

I vote for a 2nd audition

 

[slipperybidness]

I would not worry about the build quality of the cabinets on the Golden Ear Triton 7s. While I am not a super huge fan of the plastic tops, (They are even on my 5k(List) Triton 1s. I will never fault the build quality of the Cabinet. If you look on their website they are very careful in the way they designed their cabinets.

If I didn't purchase the T1s I would have gotten the SuperCenter XL Center. I am holding out until Q1 next year because rumor is that they are coming out with a larger center chanel model my speakers. the SuperCenter XL should work quite nicely with the 7s

I hope to get Sandy to spill the beans on what's planned for next year as I am going to an event at another dealer which is sponsored by Golden Ear and Sony tomorrow and he is supposed to be there.

As far as price, you should be able to get a 15% discount on the GE speakers as most dealers will work with you on pricing.

Every review I have read has been positive on the center channel. I had the Paradigm Studio CC-690 and that was an awesome Center Channel IMO as I was able to sell it for almost the exact price I paid for it 1.5 years later.

I guess I missed that you bought the T1!

What's the word on these? How is the bass? I'm assuming still need a S/W for movies?

I have the T2, I think they are great at 2 Ch without a sub.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I guess I missed that you bought the T1!

What's the word on these? How is the bass? I'm assuming still need a S/W for movies?

I have the T2, I think they are great at 2 Ch without a sub.

I'm thinking the Triton One probably has the equivalent of 3 x 6.5" subwoofers, which might be equivalent to a 10" subwoofer. So a pair of Triton One might be equivalent to dual 10" subwoofers. Now that may seem small, but in the usual smaller rooms like 15' x 18', dual 10" subwoofers could shake the walls like an earthquake for movies.

I think in terms of bass output, the Triton One may be equivalent to the RBH SX-6300, which has 3 x 6.5" subwoofers.

The RBH SX-8300 has the equivalent of dual 10" subs, so a pair of SX-8300 may have the equivalent of four 10" subs.

The Trion Two probably has the equivalent of 2 x 6.5" subwoofers, which might be equivalent to a single 8" subwoofer. That definitely seem small, but for smaller rooms like 15' x 15', dual 8" subwoofers might also shake the walls like an earthquake.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Do you think there should be a concern about build and durability? As the 683's are approx. 60lbs while the Tritons are only 32 lbs.
And have you had any experience with the center channels? What's your take for the centers and HT use?

Well I have auditioned Monitor, Paradigm, Klipsch, Focal as well as a few others. Unfortunately, there is not any KEF dealers by me, so I can't audition them. The Triton 7's and 683 S2 still remain the top of my considerations with a budget of ~$2,000 to ~$2,500 CAD. I really like them both, but in different ways. That's why I'm just looking for additional input/experience from others. The 683 + HTM61 is approx $2,200 and the Tritons + Super center XL are approx $2,500.

For subwoofer, I have budgeted about $1,400 and I have been eyeing out the PSA XS30se.

Is there a RBH dealer near you? The SX-6300 (MSRP $2,750, 25% discount would be ~ $2K) may have the equivalent bass output of the Golden-Ear Triton One (or Triton Two?).

 

[Cos]

One thing I will never do, is fault your knowledge about Hi-Fi AcuDefTechGuy, as you are one of the main go to guys I look to for feedback. You have probably forgot more than I know, but I believe that your comparison on subwoofers on the T1 and 6300 is not an accurate comparison by any means. I say this because I have demo’d the 8300s against the T1s when I made my purchase. Granted it was a week before and an hour out of my way when I made the comparison

http://www.avsforum.com/forum/138-avs-forum-podcasts/1725474-sandy-gross-speakers.html

Sandy goes into detail on how the T1s Build and the significantly improved implementation of the integrated Subs.

I don't think that is an accurate comparison.

 

[slipperybidness]

You know, the T2 is pretty dang good, especially at the price. In fact, the price on the T2 has increased $500 since I bought mine!

But dang, at the price of the T1, you are getting into the high-end territory. I can't help but think that there are better out there for the price of the T1. I admit that I have not heard the T1 yet. Guess I need to pay a visit to the local dealer.

Another way to put it is that the T2 may be at the sweet spot for price to performance. And, honestly if the T7 were on the market at the time I made my purchase, I probly would have went T7 with a separate sub or 2.

 

[cpp]

I know we enjoy our T2's.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

One thing I will never do, is fault your knowledge about Hi-Fi AcuDefTechGuy, as you are one of the main go to guys I look to for feedback. You have probably forgot more than I know, but I believe that your comparison on subwoofers on the T1 and 6300 is not an accurate comparison by any means. I say this because I have demo’d the 8300s against the T1s when I made my purchase. Granted it was a week before and an hour out of my way when I made the comparison

http://www.avsforum.com/forum/138-avs-forum-podcasts/1725474-sandy-gross-speakers.html

Sandy goes into detail on how the T1s Build and the significantly improved implementation of the integrated Subs.

I don't think that is an accurate comparison.

Well, I may be wrong. The Triton-1 has the 5"x9" rectangular woofer (45 sq. in. x 3 = 135 sq. in.) vs. the round 6.5" woofer (33.2 sq. in. x 3 = 100 sq. in.). But the cabinet volume of the SX-6300 is larger by 400 cubic inch. The Triton-1 has a cabinet volume of about 5,100 cubic inch, the SX-6300 has a cabinet volume of about 5,500 cubic inch.

The RBH SX-8300 has the 8" woofers (50 sq. in. x 3 = 150 sq. in.) and 8,900 cubic inch of cabinet volume, which seem a lot more than the Triton-1.

So perhaps the Triton-1's bass output may be more than the SX-6300, but less than the SX-8300.

Also when you auditioned, the SX-8300 was not actively bi-amped with LFE so you couldn't increase the bass.

 

[Cos]

You know, the T2 is pretty dang good, especially at the price. In fact, the price on the T2 has increased $500 since I bought mine!

But dang, at the price of the T1, you are getting into the high-end territory. I can't help but think that there are better out there for the price of the T1. I admit that I have not heard the T1 yet. Guess I need to pay a visit to the local dealer.

Another way to put it is that the T2 may be at the sweet spot for price to performance. And, honestly if the T7 were on the market at the time I made my purchase, I probly would have went T7 with a separate sub or 2.

My suggestion is to take a demo of the T1s before you make that judgement . I also agree the T7s with an external sub is a great setup. The design of the subwoofers on the T1 is a fairly significant upgrade from the T2s.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

You know, the T2 is pretty dang good, especially at the price. In fact, the price on the T2 has increased $500 since I bought mine!

But dang, at the price of the T1, you are getting into the high-end territory. I can't help but think that there are better out there for the price of the T1. I admit that I have not heard the T1 yet. Guess I need to pay a visit to the local dealer.

Another way to put it is that the T2 may be at the sweet spot for price to performance. And, honestly if the T7 were on the market at the time I made my purchase, I probly would have went T7 with a separate sub or 2.

I've compared the Revel Salon2 vs Studio2, B&W 800D vs 802D, Definitive Technology BP7000 vs BP7001. Within the same line of speakers, the only thing I could discern was the bass output. It didn't matter that the Salon2 had an extra midrange driver over the Studio2 to me.

So I think it's safe to say that the Triton One sounds pretty close to the other speakers in the lineup (which means great sounding), except it has more bass. I'm sure someone will say, "But you didn't hear this one particular speaker". Well, after a while, you do get the feeling that you don't really need to.

I can say the same about the RBH SX-6300 vs SX-8300; the difference is really in the bass output.