@david_ten
Appreciate the explanation David. And you're right, I did have a hard time hearing a difference between my Oppo 205 and the Schiit Yggdrasil, until I worked through what to listen for.
Seems you know me rather well, because you're also right in that I do "love them" :)
Thanks!
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Hi Hal. Acquired skill. : ) Had I not, I would have come to a far harsher conclusion. And that would not have been fair.
Demos are, by their nature, conducted under constrained circumstances. I've learned to listen to aspects that help me better understand how the gear may work in my own system / room. Is it perfect? No. But has it been helpful in guiding me? Absolutely.
Even when I love what I'm hearing with a component in a dealer's system, I do the same. Why? Because their entire system is almost always different than mine. For example, when I demoed the Devore O/96s they were driven by Line Magnetic tubed gear. I had to factor the amplification out since I was not planning on tubed gear at that time (my son was a 1 year old then).
If you recall, you had a hard time hearing a difference between your Oppo 205 and the Schiit Yggdrasil, until you worked through what to listen for. It's similar, in that vein.
The Triton Ref is a good speaker. It would have outperformed the dealer's setup, had I set it up (all of course, subject to my preferences). If given the opportunity to have set them up in my system and room, with the gear of my choosing, even more so. After two demos, including the Triton Ones, and a Triton One vs the T Ref comparison, my assessment was the same. Just so those reading understand, I was actively considering the Ones and then the T Ref. My intent to purchase was serious.
As evident from a number of posts in this thread, my findings are consistent with others who have found similarly, all in (surely) very different systems and rooms.
To restate the ending of my first post: "Having said that, you may Love them! Others do." I know you do.
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david_ten - They are good speakers, but did not move or impress me (and I factored out the room, setup, and gear used). Hi David. You and I are typically "on the same page" with most things audio, so I'll preface my reply by stating I'm not looking or wanting any kind of debate. This is all in good spirit. To your point/statement, I'd just like to humbly submit that "factoring out" all of the items you mentioned is no easy task. I can't do that, but remain happy for you that you can. fleschler - I hope that the Triton(s) are available to hear at least once at the LA/Orange Audio show in June so that I can at least sample them.
I'll keep the hope alive that you can hear them. Best! |
I can understand the differences heard by owners and auditioners. My main system speaker has had 100s of reviews by owners/users over the past 25+ years deriding them as awful to lauding them as fantastic bargains. They are the Legacy Focus speakers. One way to make them sound awful is putting them in too small a room. Another way to make them sound terrible is NOT feeding them with a high current amplifier, tube or ss as they are a somewhat difficult load despite their high efficiency.
I hope that the Triton(s) are available to hear at least once at the LA/Orange Audio show in June so that I can at least sample them. |
I currently own Triton Reference speakers paired with PS Audio electronics and Transparent Audio cables. Previously, I owned Triton Ones and sampled them with 6 different quality integrated amps and three DAC’s, and I have really come to love the Triton sound and ease of use. The Triton Reference has a larger soundstage than the One with greater imaging and the best controlled bass I’ve personally heard from a loudspeaker. The midrange and treble are very precise and natural without being fatiguing.
I do prefer the sound of quality tube amps with these speakers and currently have Tungsram PCC88 tubes in my BHK pre-amp and amp. It sounds amazing with the Reference. These speakers are ultra efficient, and I would love to hear them with a quality SET tube amp.
The bass control is a huge bonus for matching the speakers to different sized rooms, plus I also use my reference system as a two channel home theatre so it’s nice to be able to turn the dial up for a more dynamic movie experience. Needless to say I’m a fan of the Reference. I haven’t heard a better speaker at this price point and they are easy to set up.
The biggest problem I’ve had with the Tritons is gear upgrading. Every time I buy a better DAC or amp, it reveals more detail and nuance with these speakers. That’s how I ended up with separates that retail for $24K and $8.5K speakers!
Hopefully you find this review helpful.
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You’re welcome, @ozzy
See my edit in my previous post regarding the radiator grills.
In answer to your question, yes, the grills (all) are on and the base is attached when boxed new. |
gdhal,
I understand now. Thanks.
ozzy
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stereo5,
Thanks for clearing that up. All the magazine pictures show them with the grills off.
When you buy them do they come with the grills already attached?
ozzy |
Hi ozzy.
Not true, however, I understand the dealers apprehension in wanting (or not wanting) to remove the grills. There is a flyer (obtainable by emailing Golden Ear, or you can PM me) and the procedure itself is doable by a "lay person". However, it involves lying the speaker on its back, removing screws from the underside of the base and *carefully" lifting/pulling the grill forward. Personally, I wish it were a bit easier.
That said, of course you realize there are plenty of photos of the drivers, readily and widely available. Still, I agree with you that it would be nice if the grill could be *easily* removed.
But if the grill is removed correctly and the speaker is handled properly there wouldn’t be any kind of damage.
EDIT:
Note there is no Golden Ear published literature as to how to remove the side radiator panel grills. I posted a procedure and pictures on the Golden Ear forum. This is much more easily accomplished. I would recommend doing this (removing them). Why? Because when you see the quality of the workmanship, not just the radiators, it is rather convincing. |
Ozzy........................
They can be removed but not very easily. You need to remove the base of the speaker and remove 2 screws on the bottom of the grill. It then slides up and off.. The speakers sound much better with the grills on however and they were voiced that way. I have not heard anything about damaging the drivers. I think because it takes a lot of time to remove them, the dealer gave it the brush off. I am a very curious type of guy, but I havben't taken the grills off mine. The speakers are too heavy for 1 person to move so I am content the way it |
I was told by the dealer that the grills for the Reference were not to be removed and he refused to remove them.
He says there was some sort of flyer from Goldenear that damage to the grills and or the speaker would result if they were removed.
To you owners of these speakers is that true? I wanted to see the drivers that are used up close.
ozzy
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Hi @kjl1065
First of all, welcome to the forum! As you're probably gleaning already, there are a lot of opinions here. I'm a Golden Ear Triton Reference owner and prior Golden Ear Triton One owner, so naturally I would recommend them.
You should know that this particular forum doesn't give much love for Golden Ear, for whatever reason. If you head over to the Golden Ear forum, you can read about all the positives.
Of course, your could also read the scores of professional publications and hundreds if not thousands of satisfied customer testimonials.
Obviously you would want to hear the speaker first hand (or first ear?). But like any other piece of gear (speaker or otherwise), only so much credence can be given to a dealer audition.
Also worth keeping in mind is that there is flexibility on the pricing. Lastly, if you are near or around zip 11520 I'll invite you to listen. I'm a member of an audio club and have listened to perhaps as many as 15 different quality speaker pairs (I'm a two channel stereo listener only), the most expensive of which was a $200K pair of alta statement towers, where the T1s could basically fit inside its cabinet. Suffice it to say in my view/opinion I'm not missing anything and am perfectly content with my T Refs.
Something else to note for the folks who can't get past the price difference between T1 and TR.... The T Refs are stunningly beautiful. Yes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but there is no comparison from both a sound and physical appearance perspective when evaluating T1 to TR.
Best of luck. |
I've also heard them for more than a few minutes. I thought the Triton 1s were more tolerable, but didn't care for them either. All the Triton speakers I auditioned were bright and fatiguing compared to the likes of B&W, Focal, and Revel, and I never considered those brands to be warm by any sense of the word.
The Triton 1s and Refs were in a well damped, theater-like room (though there was no screen) of approximately 18 x 26'. Each wall was lined with carpet. All speakers were driven by SS Mac gear. The other speakers I heard in that room were Revel Salon 2s. They were much less strident in the upper midrange, and far more balanced, but again, not warm by any stretch.
From all the polarized consumer accounts I've read, they seem to be a sort of a love or hate speaker brand, not unlike Klipsch. Some folks love them, which is why I'd still encourage you to seek out an audition.
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stereo5, there’s no doubt they are great speakers as they should be for their price and I think your McIntosh tube preamp and the McIntosh amplifier combination are giving them that “warmth” and musicality that I felt they lacked during my short audition. You have hit the right synergy formula and I’m sure they sound excellent.
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@arafiq....................................
No, not laughing all the time, only when someone heard them for a few minutes, draws conclusions based on that, then tells another person in the forum who is interested in them that they aren't that great. You do that person a great disservice.
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@schubert
Not too sure about that. Sandy Gross LOVES Classical Music and demonstrated them with Classical at RMAF. I wasn’t really paying attention to the music as I already had them at home. I spent most of my time making small talk with Sandy. I will say that "Witches Brew" sounds incredible on my T refs. |
If they excel on rock I'll wager 90% of those who listen to 90% Classical
would be not care much for them .
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I heard them at a dealer when Sandy Gross came to explain his design philosophy and provide a demo. I must agree that top to bottom balance was wonderful, but to my ears there just wasn't enough "there" there. I was also underwhelmed by Mr. Gross's knowledge of engineering/physics etc.... |
@stereo5 Then you must be laughing all the time. Because most people form their opinions by listening to audio equipment at dealer showrooms only. Very few of us have the luxury of auditioning at home, and that too a large floorstander.
BTW, at the hifi dealer showroom (not the home theater one), I listened to the GE Reference for close to 30-45 minutes (I was off that day). I also listened to Proacs and Sonus Fabers during the same session. To my ears, and admittedly in a dealer showroom for a short period of time, the Sonus Fabers sounded much better. It is entirely possible that they sound stupendous in your setup, no doubt. But the OP was asking for opinions from folks who have listened to them. And I gave him mine. No need to be condescending toward other posters if you disagree. |
I have the Triton Reference and Triton Ones in 2 separate systems. The Triton Reference is similar to the Triton One except you get more of everything. Bass is extremely deep articulate and powerful. Mids and highs are neutral, not too bright and not too warm. Like Goldilocks said, just right. They are NOT and were NOT designed as home theater speakers. Anyone who says that is talking out their behind.
I laugh when someone says they heard it at the dealers showroom for a few minutes and draw their conclusions. There is a lot of technology in the speakers for a very reasonable amount of money. They excel on Rock which is 90% of my listening, but also sound great on Jazz and Classical. Listen to some good Blues music and you will be hooked. I believe every reviewer who has reviewed them has given them glowing recommendations. Are they the next best thing to sliced bread? Certainly not! The imaging and soundstage the speakers create is wonderful. In my system, I get wall to wall sound and pinpoint imaging. I can pick out the player on stage, exactly where they are standing. I have owned 8 different pairs of speakers over the last 15 years or so and these speakers never, ever gave me buyers remorse or made me second guess my decision.
Don't believe what the other poster said, you don't need tube amps to make them sound their best. Where do these people who don't own them get that crap from? I am driving mine with a 150wpc McIntosh power amp and a Mac tube preamp and they sound great. I get hours and hours of listening pleasure without fatigue.
That is my take on them. |
I have listened to them on two different occasions. Once at a hifi audio shop, and then once at a home theatre type dealer setup. I walked away pretty unimpressed on both occasions. I didn't find them engaging at all. The bass is good but they just don't have the refinement that you would expect from a speaker in this price range.
I feel they are a great 'compromise' speaker in the sense that they perform reasonably well in a media room assuming double duty for movies and 2 channel audio. But in that case, I feel the T1s provide a better bang for the buck @ $5000. |
@kalali Agreed. I suggest tube amplification as an essential pairing and to audition with the same. |
I’ve heard them paired with Marantz top level amplifiers, I think they were the PM10, and the sounded extremely dynamic but a tad too sterile to my ears. Incredible bass response and top to bottom balance but not as engaging for me. They may and probably will sound very different with different amplifiers.
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@kjl1065 These things are so very personal and uniquely individual that I'm coming to the conclusion that our feedback is essentially meaningless when generalized (as with the case of your open ended question). I'm not saying that our feedback isn't correct or doesn't apply or isn't valid...it's more about how would you or could you know???
This goes without saying and of course is as obvious as obvious is....listen to them! All that matters is what you think and how they make you feel and relate to your music.
I demoed them at a dealer in a poorly setup room and with okay gear. They are good speakers, but did not move or impress me (and I factored out the room, setup, and gear used). I'm with @ozzy in his assessment.
Having said that, you may Love them! Others do. All the best!
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kjl1065,
I heard them at a dealer showroom. With the standard dealer la-la music they played fine.
Unfortunately I brought some hi rez music that I am familiar with on a usb flash drive and the dumb dealer could not get it to play longer than 15-30 seconds at a time using there store computer and $$$ streaming system...
But, from what I could tell the speakers sounded ok, not in class A as the mags seem to want to place them in. They do advertise heavily in those magazines...
ozzy
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