Golden Ear Triton One Review on Soundandvision.com

[Cos]

I was at my dealer last week when I picked up a second sub for my bedroom and I have the Golden Ear Triton Ones on my short list of speaker choices for my HT Man Cave.

The were supposed to be out in June and due to flood at their warehouse in China they were delayed, but here are the first reviews and I am hoping to demo them within the next 30 days to compare against the RBH sx8300r's

GoldenEar Technology Triton One Speaker | Sound & Vision

First formal review is in

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

SX-8300/R vs. Triton One?

I was looking at the Triton One measurement. The 100Hz-10kHz FR looked pretty sweet. But what happened between 10Hz-15kHz? There's like a +6dB at 15kHz. It'll probably still sound great. But I suspect some people will already hear a very bright and forward sound after they see that +6dB peak. Bias and all.

I would take the SX-8300 (standard version) over the Triton One.

Wait, so you're not getting the SX-8300 and trading me for my big red pair of speakers?

Everybody knows Philharmonic is better than both of them. Come on, man.

 

[slipperybidness]

SX-8300/R vs. Triton One?

I was looking at the Triton One measurement. The 100Hz-10kHz FR looked pretty sweet. But what happened between 10Hz-15kHz? There's like a +6dB at 15kHz. It'll probably still sound great. But I suspect some people will already hear a very bright and forward sound after they see that +6dB peak. Bias and all.

I would take the SX-8300 (standard version) over the Triton One.

Wait, so you're not getting the SX-8300 and trading me for my big red pair of speakers?

Everybody knows Philharmonic is better than both of them. Come on, man.

Yeah, I tend to agree when I see the measurements. Going by memory, those look pretty dang close to the measurements on the Triton 2.

However, in my room the Triton 2 don't come off as bright by any means.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Yeah, I tend to agree when I see the measurements. Going by memory, those look pretty dang close to the measurements on the Triton 2.

However, in my room the Triton 2 don't come off as bright by any means.

I never thought GE or DT were bright or forward either. Probably because I don't hear the measurements.

 

[gene]

WE heard these speakers at the last CEDIA show. Definitely a lot of top end energy and I am sure a lot of folks would like that. Personally my wife and I thought their bookshelf speaker was the most tonally balanced.

 

[Cos]

WE heard these speakers at the last CEDIA show. Definitely a lot of top end energy and I am sure a lot of folks would like that. Personally my wife and I thought their bookshelf speaker was the most tonally balanced.

My first pair of Golden Ear were the Aon 2, and I was extremely pleased with the quality of sound out of such tiny speakers. Their HVFR is their biggest selling point when I picked those up.

I originally was just going to do inexpensive two channel sound, but then got a good deal on the Aon 3's, so just went full boat on 7.1 now 7.2 in my Bedroom which I know is overkill in a 18x15 area with cathedral ceilings.

I started to listen to more music when I picked up the GEs which is why I am interested in changing out my HT area with the 1s. That being said, I have not had a chance to demo them out yet, so nothing is in stone.

Let me just add, cathedral ceilings are terrible or 7.2 and took a lot of trial and error to get it to sound right.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

WE heard these speakers at the last CEDIA show. Definitely a lot of top end energy and I am sure a lot of folks would like that. Personally my wife and I thought their bookshelf speaker was the most tonally balanced.

Looking at the graphs it seems like the speaker is oriented both in price and sound profile towards Generation X

 

[slipperybidness]

I never thought GE or DT were bright or forward either. Probably because I don't hear the measurements.

Well, to be honest, I have been to a lot of loud rock concerts and have worked in industry for a decade, so I'm probably not the best to judge the high end response. In fact, I'm curious as to whether a bumped up response from 10-20kHz is actually a benefit to my ears (measurements be damned ).

I think the real strong points of the Tritons is the imaging and soundstage. The speakers seem to just disappear in-room and the imaging says that I really don't need a center channel. I use the 50C as my center, and that is certainly the weak-point in my system. Of course, good bass response for 2 channel music is another highlight of the Tritons, as is the fact that they are a fairly easy load to drive.

Overall, I think I tend to prefer the Philharmonitors, but of course you need a sub with those.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Looking at the graphs it seems like the speaker is oriented both in price and sound profile towards Generation X

Generation X? Hey, that's me you're talking about here.

To me, it is flat where it counts, which is 100Hz-12kHz. Not much music is above 12kHz anyway.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Well, to be honest, I have been to a lot of loud rock concerts and have worked in industry for a decade, so I'm probably not the best to judge the high end response. In fact, I'm curious as to whether a bumped up response from 10-20kHz is actually a benefit to my ears (measurements be damned ).

I think the real strong points of the Tritons is the imaging and soundstage. The speakers seem to just disappear in-room and the imaging says that I really don't need a center channel. I use the 50C as my center, and that is certainly the weak-point in my system. Of course, good bass response for 2 channel music is another highlight of the Tritons, as is the fact that they are a fairly easy load to drive.

Overall, I think I tend to prefer the Philharmonitors, but of course you need a sub with those.

I've done one of those online hearing tests about a year ago. I think I could hear to about 16kHz.

But bottom line is, if they sound great, then that is what counts. Measurements are done to guide the engineers/designers. But in the end, the speakers have to sound great. That is the bottom line, not the measurements.

Some people like speakers that are flat all the way to 20kHz. Some people like speakers that are flat only to 10kHz, but taper down after 10kHz. And some people like speakers that are a little hot above 10kHz. Just like some people prefer the extra heat in their bass. There's no wrong way to eat your Reeses Pieces.

The one thing I never liked about DT and GE is that the built-in sub has a built-in amp. Back when I had the DT BP7000SC, I wished that the built-in sub could be externally actively bi-amped like RBH towers.

So that is why I am going "back" to my Generation X roots , but this time I am doing it the way I always wanted - towers with crystal clear sound and kick-a$$ woofers that can be externally actively bi-amped -- RBH towers.

 

[Cos]

Looking at the graphs it seems like the speaker is oriented both in price and sound profile towards Generation X

Seriously?

The same reviewers of the Revel B&W etc.. are reviewing this on the reputable sites, did they suddenly all go GEN X

 

[shadyJ]

The peak in the upper teens wouldn't be that bad, depending on what you are listening too. They will probably give them a bit more sparkle or 'air' or whatever. If the peak was lower than that in frequency, I would say stay away from them. My preference would be to get a couple subs and some bookshelf speakers at that price. Some Ascend Sierra 2s and a couple Rythmik F15HPs would be good and cost less. You also have the option of placing the subs where they will perform the best instead of being forced under the speakers. I think they look nicer too.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

The peak in the upper teens wouldn't be that bad, depending on what you are listening too. They will probably give them a bit more sparkle or 'air' or whatever. If the peak was lower than that in frequency, I would say stay away from them.

Exactly. A +6dB peak @ 15 kHz is hardly a concern in real life.

There is a good reason the "listening window" is from 200Hz-10kHz, not 15kHz.

My preference would be to get a couple subs and some bookshelf speakers at that price...You also have the option of placing the subs where they will perform the best instead of being forced under the speakers. I think they look nicer too.

Well, aesthetics is pure preference. A lot of people find big towers much better looking than little bookshelf speakers and subs. And placing the subs in their best spots could mean in the middle of the room or behind the couch or some odd places. Not very good for aesthetics or wife acceptance.

And having 2 built-in subs on both sides of the room would smooth out the bass response. Most people place one sub on each side of their rooms anyways. If the best placement is in the middle of the room or behind their couch, most people would still place their subs on each side of their rooms. It may be a slight "compromise", but most people would rather do that for the sake of aesthetic, room limitation, wife acceptance, etc.

I love the idea of having towers with built-in subs, but only if the amp is external -- like the RBH SX-8300 or SX-T2.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Seriously?

The same reviewers of the Revel B&W etc.. are reviewing this on the reputable sites, did they suddenly all go GEN X

I don't take offense to that statement. I love being Generation X. It sounds like X-Men. Cool.

Generation X only cares about great sound. Measurements are good and all, but great sound is what it all comes down to.

So what do they call the generation of the 2000s? Generation Y? For YouTube?

 

[Cos]

Exactly. A +6dB peak @ 15 kHz is hardly a concern in real life.

There is a good reason the "listening window" is from 200Hz-10kHz, not 15kHz.




Well, aesthetics is pure preference. A lot of people find big towers much better looking than little bookshelf speakers and subs. And placing the subs in their best spots could mean in the middle of the room or behind the couch or some odd places. Not very good for aesthetics or wife acceptance.

And having 2 built-in subs on both sides of the room would smooth out the bass response. Most people place one sub on each side of the their rooms anyways. If the best placement is in the middle of the room or behind their couch, most people would still place their subs on each side of the their rooms. It may be a slight "compromise", but most people would rather do that for the sake of aesthetic, room limitation, wife acceptance, etc.

I love the idea of having towers with built-in subs, but only if the amp is external -- like the RBH SX-8300 or SX-T2.

I agree to have the amp external would be a benefit, but at least GE is doing a lot to try and eliminate and noise

"All elements of the electronic circuit topology—from the speaker inputs on the back of the cabinet through the high-resolution DSP and electronic crossovers to the 1,600-watt subwoofer amplifier—are balanced in order to reduce as much induced noise as possible. Rather than a single, large power supply, the Triton One’s sub amp “utilizes many small, separate power supplies for each circuit section to provide isolation, so there is little opportunity for coupling through the power supplies.”

At the end of the day I am going to reserve any final judgments until I can actually audition the speakers, which should be in the next few weeks.

 

[PENG]

Well, aesthetics is pure preference.

Yes, but those are exceptionally ugly. WAF score will be in the -ve territory. I would take any RBH, Phil, well just about anything else over those regardless of how good they sound..

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Yes, but those are exceptionally ugly. WAF score will be in the -ve territory. I would take any RBH, Phil, well just about anything else over those regardless of how good they sound..

Ouch.

DT and GE sure have some fans.

Generation X.
Ugly.
Bright.

It's no wonder I sold all my DT and went crazy with speakers.

These were my speakers back then:

 

[Cos]

Yes, but those are exceptionally ugly. WAF score will be in the -ve territory. I would take any RBH, Phil, well just about anything else over those regardless of how good they sound..

No they are not WAF Friendly, but look fine with the sock on it: I would not display those without the cloth cover lol

 

[slipperybidness]

No they are not WAF Friendly, but look fine with the sock on it: I would not display those without the cloth cover lol

To be fair, the GEs do have a nice design that tends to de-emphasize their size. They could just about disappear in a darkened room.

Personally, I like the under-stated aesthetics on the GEs. It's kind of like the sleeper sports cars.