We get a lot of emails and PMs here at HomeTheaterReview from readers who want us to help them pick between two products they're currently eyeing. And since the release of GoldenEar's flagship Triton Reference back in 2017, more than a few of those questions have involved a choice between that behemoth and the Triton One. Not an easy choice, mind you. Do you go with the go-big-or-go-home thunderbeast in the Reference, or the somewhat smaller but significantly more affordable and undeniably still awesome One? And is the gorgeously finished medite monocoque cabinet of the Reference worth the extra expense over the One's big black sock? These aren't easy questions to answer, especially when you factor price into the equation.
One way or another, that conversation changes today, though. GoldenEar has announced that its new Triton One.R is now shipping for $2999 each--a $500 premium over the original Triton One, but a solid $1,250 less than the Reference. Like the Reference, the One.R now sports a gorgeous monocoque cabinet. And its drivers, crossovers, DSP, internal wiring, etc. have all been upgraded over the One, in keeping with the improvements made in the design of the Reference.
In other words, think of it less as an upgraded Triton One and more of a Triton Reference that's been shrunk down to the size of the original One.
Does that help? Maybe not, but our own Dennis Burger has a pair in now, and will be working to finish his review as quickly as possible. Stay tuned!
Full details directly from GoldenEar Technology:
GoldenEar Technology is pleased to announce the introduction of the new Triton One.R. This extraordinary new reference quality loudspeaker is a smaller, less expensive follow up to the Triton Reference, which has had a remarkable response in the marketplace from both music and hifi enthusiasts as well as the press and reviewers from around the world, who have bestowed upon it innumerable Speaker-of-the-Year and Product-of-the-Year awards. It will be shown at CES at the Venetian Suite 29-221. It is shipping now!
The goal of the Triton One.R project was to bring the advanced technology, luxurious cosmetics and state-of-the-art performance of the flagship Triton Reference into a more compact and less expensive speaker. Its monocoque cabinet is constructed of multi-density medite, engineered with the goal of making it as non-resonant and inert as possible, thus eliminating extraneous vibration that could detract from the pure sound of the drivers. To do this, an elaborate system combining bracing and damping pads, optimized with the use of an accelerometer-generated cumulative spectral decay analysis, is utilized. The baffle is as narrow as possible, minimizing diffraction issues, which is effective in helping to make the cabinet disappear, both sonically and visually. The sides of the speaker are not parallel, in order to minimize internal reflections, which again, purifies the sound. Similarly, the separate, internal enclosure that houses the upper bass/midrange drivers is designed with no parallel walls, for the same purpose. The chamber is filled with an inert mixture of Dacron and long fiber wool in order to critically dampen it. We have an integral built-in high-powered subwoofer in order to better integrate it with the rest of the loudspeaker. Also, utilizing its 56-bit DSP gives us the ability to dramatically flatten and extend the low frequency response (much deeper than achievable in an enclosure this size with a passive bass section), as well as to enable us to achieve near ideal blending of the bass section with the rest of the system, especially in terms of phase response.
There are three newly designed racetrack shaped active subwoofer drivers on the front of the cabinet, which have special polymer impregnated nomex cones, in order to minimize cone breakup when strongly driven. Huge magnet structures are utilized in order to better control cone movement and improve transient response. There are four quadratic planar infrasonic radiators. They extend the low frequency response and are inertially balanced (two on each side) in order to minimize cabinet movement, resulting in clearer, more detailed sound. The High Velocity Folded Ribbon tweeter, the same as used in the Triton Reference, is a new design that incorporates 50% more neodymium magnet material than previous units, for higher efficiency and greater control. The folded ribbon technology combines improved impedance coupling to the air of horn drivers (for greater efficiency), with the superior transient response and lack of coloration of ribbon drivers, and the dispersion of dome drivers. The two 5.25" upper bass/midrange drivers are also new, incorporating a special formulation of polypropylene, which combines superior internal damping with a high speed of transmission through the cone (Young's Modulus). A new focused field magnet structure, developed for the Triton Reference, has been incorporated for improved control. A unique "balanced" crossover, with a floating configuration, places components on both sides of the drivers, which has an improvement in sound quality that cannot be measured but can be clearly heard. Very high-quality bridging capacitors, as used in the Triton Reference, are also used. New internal speaker wire, which has a unique twist, as in the Triton Reference, is used with an advanced new topology. Careful attention in the development process is paid to critical measurements, conducted in our own large-scale anechoic chamber, as well as long listening and voicing sessions in the listening room, with all kinds of music. Voicing has been painstakingly worked on to mirror that of the Triton Reference.
The gorgeous cabinet is painstakingly finished in hand-rubbed piano black lacquer. It presents itself as an exquisite, sleek, ultra-high-performance lifestyle loudspeaker that delivers extraordinary sound quality comparable with speakers selling for many times the Triton One.R's remarkably affordable $2999 US/each price. The Triton One.R is shipping now.
Triton One.R Specifications
Speaker Dimensions:
Frequency Response: 13 Hz - 35 kHz | Efficiency: 92 dB | Nominal Impedance: Compatible with 8 ohms
Driver Complement:
Rec. Amplification:
Built-In Subwoofer Power Amplifier:
Power Requirements/Consumption:
GoldenEar will also feature at CES the DigitalAktiv 3 (DA 3), which has been honored and named a CES 2019 Innovation Award Honoree. The DA 3, which debuted at CEDIA, is a high-end, self-powered, biamped, wireless streaming bookshelf loudspeaker which features Google Chromecast based connectivity as well as WISA. It allows a listener to have a superb complete audio system that delivers extraordinary sound quality comparable to a fine component system, with just two gorgeous compact loudspeakers. The DA 3 can be used singly, or as a stereo pair, and enables multi-room systems if desired. Shipment is expected late 2nd quarter.
Additional Resources
• Visit the GoldenEar Technology website for more product information.
•GoldenEar Triton Reference Speaker Is Now Available at HomeTheaterReview.com.
• GoldenEar Technology Triton Reference Loudspeaker Reviewed at HomeTheaterReview.com.
