Tri-Art Audio Open 5 open, baffle speaker.

On my extended speaker hunt I have found a speaker that has surprised me specially for the price range. The tri-Art Audio Open 5 speaker $7500 Can$. 

I have gone a very meandering way in speaker ownership the last ten years. Living Voice Avatar2 (wonderfully musical), Tekton lore (ok for the price), Omega SAM (best soundstage I've heard), LaScala (supper fun still miss them), Spendor D9.2's (most disappointing speaker I have owned). ADS L901 ( smooth, enjoyable over the long term but vintage). I demoed prior Focal Kantas and Sopra's 2,  few Sonus Faber's, new LaScala's and Cornwall's, Something made of granite can't recall the brand. Now enter the Open 5's and a total chance buy. 

The Tri-Art Open 5's are a three way 5 driver open baffle speaker. With remote crossovers. They are made from Bamboo ply. They use a 5 driver compliment; a 18" sub bass, 15" mid bass, 8" mid range, 1" soft dome tweeter and a supper tweeter. I really like the control on the crossover that allows you to attenuate the low end to help in room integration. this allows you to adjust the bass level to tailor the room and distance from wall, helps with tone as well. The also use a clamping system to attach the drivers to the baffle that interesting. Reason for the wood around the rear of the drivers. 

Nominal Impedance: Single Input 8 Ω

Sensitivity: 94 dB SPL (1W/1M)

Volume Matching: Crossover Only

Frequency Range: 27 – 40,000 Hz

5 Open (Pair) with crossover (triartaudio.com)

I've had them for a few weeks now and I'm very presently surprised at how much better then the Spendor's they are for half the cost. They play lower, have better dynamics, smoother response, much better tone, equally detailed, much faster. they are more neutral then the Spendor's and most box speakers I've tried. Soundstage is excellent in depth and width. as a friend of mine said they are very neutral and true to live.  As my first OB I'm shocked at the bass out of these did not expect that.  

The Open 5 is really a great speaker it does so much right. And looks amazing, much better in person. I recommend anyone looking for an almost full range OB that integrates fairly easy to have a look at this Canadian company based in Hamilton Ont.  They have 3 OB's in their line the open 3, open 4 and open 5 getting larger as they go. Open 3 starts at $3100 Can$ I'm betting these with a sub would be a great entry point for a new audiophile. 

 

Cheers 

Glen  

All Specifications

Design: Open Baffle

Nominal Impedance: Single Input 8 Ω

Recommended Amplifiers: 25 Up to 150 Watts RMS

Sensitivity: 94 dB SPL (1W/1M)

Volume Matching: Crossover Only

Frequency Range: 27 – 40,000 Hz

Driver Details

Total Drivers: Five

Input 1:

1″ Fabric Dome Tweeter (13,000 Hz and up) 20 Watts

8″ Full Range Paper Cone Cloth Edge

Super Tweeter (40,000 Hz)

Input 2:

Up to 150 Watts

Two Paper Cone Cloth Edge Woofers

Top 15″: 30-100Hz @ 1st Order 6dB Slope

Bottom 18″: 27-50Hz @ 1st Order 6 dB Slope

Crossover Details (Optional)

Inputs: 2

Adjustable Volume Control for Full Range Speaker Section: Crossover Only

Outputs: 3

Cables: Set of 0.5-meter jumper cables with banana plugs.

Output 1 (Full Range)

100-Watt Attenuator

47-Ohm Resistor

100 Hz Single Cap Filter

Output 2 (Bass)

Single open-air inductor filter 100Hz @ 1st Order 6 dB Slope

Output 3 (Sub Bass)

Single open-air inductor filter 50 Hz @ 1st Order 6 dB Slope

Mode: Floor Standing

Finish: Bamboo Laminate Soaked in Hemp Oil

Stands: Bamboo Stand with 4 Brass-Collared, Bronze Spikes with Bamboo Spike Cups

Dimensions

H: 62.0″ (157.48cm) W: 19″ (48.26cm) D: 16.25″ (41.27cm)