Love this format. Sound clips of three comparable speakers provide a great reference point. The Sound Shed is truly paying dividends in the investments. Congrats Ron!
Thinking probably need to break in more? Somehow I had different experience with this speaker. I had this Comete 40th for about a year now & love it. Yes it did a bit toward bright at the beginning. It needed to break in about a recommended 200 hours according to my dealer and Triangle. Yes it was quite long but it loosened up the woofer and improved the drivers integration and more balanced. The bass improved over time. I also did not find the tweeter harsh or sibilance in fact it was very smooth and very good in conveying delicate detail especially with a well recorded music and good quality cables. The sound was vivid and lively. The Comete paired well with tube integrated amplifier and good quality cabling. it improved everything. At the end of the day I think it matters of individual’s taste and gear matching as with any other speakers.:)
break in is not considered to be a real thing. what is most likely happening, is that you are getting used to the sound after weeks of listening. but dont take my word for it, do your own research
Yes! I appreciate your perspective more. I am tired of people recommending KEF speakers to everyone. I am not particularly fond of the KEF sound signature. And I am objectively wrong in saying this. Trying different speakers in the same room without bias is so informative, almost mind blowing. The KEF L60 didn't impress me at all. And I have a strong preference for single driver speakers.
I am on my second year as owner of the 40th Anniversary Triangle Comete speakers. I really like these speakers in almost every way. My sources are Vinyl via a Dual 721 turntable with Ortofon OM20 cart. PSAudio BHK Signature Preamp into PrimaLuna EVO 300 tube amp. My other favorite speaker is the ELAC Signature UBR62's. I routinely swap these back into my system after listening to the Triangles. LOVE the ELAC's as well. They are more well-behaved and solid....but the Triangles are just more exciting. Keep up the great work, BTW!
This is a revolutionary way to describe the sound of a speaker. Your viewers can follow your thoughts and verify it through the sound clips and understanding what you are describing. This takes away the subjective weight of using words or graphs as we have been accustomed to seeing from other reviewers. You should patent this method.
I own these and for low to medium volumes they excel, to much the tweeter tends to breakup (rated 90W). They are a mixed bag on paper and front ports have energy The tweeter for a horn is designed well,up top is never fatiguing just* and tone has great strengths. Also SET tube/SS class A amps are cream on my Comete 40th. Thank you Triangle.
Great format and teaching points on how to discern between equipment and how to best match my listening preference. This has been one of the best teaching format and looking forward for more reviews like this. Also, thank you for including the GR speaker into the mix as I’ve always wondered how’d they measured up. Very surprising.
Why the fudge do you not have 2 million subscribers? You have the best, most informative, honest reviews on the web. Even though I can’t afford most of the equipment you review, it’s still an amazing educational experience. Time for your subscribers to spread the word about your channel
A 27 minute speaker review might be part of the issue. I appreciate this guy's reviews but they could be 60% shorter and still get all the key points across.
Love how you’re incorporating sound clips with your observations. I, and other consumers, are always more interested in differences in sound than listening to any single component in isolation. Also, your recordings are fantastic! Hope to see tons more comparisons like this. Kudos!
I am an owner of Trianle Comete 40th anniversary and I think they sound amazing. Warm amp, sub in larger rooms and they make outstanding sound. Nothing here was said about soundstage, musicality, 3-dimensionality, analitic aspects, whether they are "emotionally" sounding. Only tonality was covered in this video, wchich is not everything. By the way: why the frequency range graph was only presented up from 200Hz? What about below? In Europe we are lucky - they cost around $ 1800-1900.😃
Those are good points. Speakers are all about personal preference. It depends on what you are looking for. However, he wasn't just comparing the speakers to each other, he was comparing them to a reference source. In other words, how a speaker should sound if it is not being coloured in some way. In all of those cases, the Triangles came out sounding the least accurate. As for musical, well thin sounding midrange is not musical to me. And emotional has no place in a review as that depends on the person listening. Soundstage is difficult to portray over UA-cam, but I did not hear it mentioned and probably should have been. You are obviously compensating for the speakers wth a warm amp and a sub, and thats fine. What matters is the end result. But I think the review is not to bash the speaker but to give an idea of what sound to expect when purchasing the Triangles. It's not about praise, it is about an accurate depiction of what the speaker can do, and I would say Ron does that better than a lot of reviewers out there.
I had a pair at home to test them. I'm not very experienced with upper end audio gear and am running Elac UBR62's at the moment. And they are really great for what they are and I don't even want to compare them quality wise. But the Triangles immediately grabbed my soul. I was so emotional touched from them that I cried quite a lot just from the sound alone. The way they stage, layer and place instruments and the singers spoke to me and now I crave for that. The whole sound philosophy so to speak. I'll get a pair the next weeks/months. Either before I move or after. PLUS they are oh so gorgeous looking. The blond oak in particular for me. The price here in Germany with 1500€ is also great.
@@boneseyyl1060 I am not bashing Ron's review *at all* and I appreciate his methods tremendously, but I can say that these same speakers in my smaller, untreated, very normal living space sound light years better than they do in the sample clips here. The midrange is in no way "thin", I don't have a sub, nor do I have "warm" components feeding them (I'm a class d user, which tends to be cold as ice if you're not careful) And no, I'm not listening to the samples on these speakers ;) I have no doubt the speakers sound thin in his space - the clips sound quite bad, indeed - but again, I can only state that this doesn't reflect how they sound in my space at all. My best guess is the room size and placement are the factors that make a difference here since those are the biggest factors in "real" life for all of us. Yes this room is "perfectly" treated but it's also HUGE and has unusually high ceilings. This *will* change the sound - and in some cases maybe not for the better. Consider these speakers are specced for rooms < 25 qm which is max 5x5m on square. Given he has them placed what looks like about 3m from the rear wall, I'm guessing the space is just too large and that explains why the Comete's sound like they are yelling from a cavern.
Aren’t these in the Santos Rosewood finish? I’ve had that finish and, in my system with Moonriver 404 Reference integrated amp, the Comete 40th sounded pretty good. Yes, they needed a sub, but the sound was clear and fairly musical.
Ron you deliver! Great review with real sound comparison. Even more happy that I jumped of the cliff in 2020 and listened to your review of Lundy’s Encores and then bought the kit from GR with upgraded parts and shipped all the way to Sweden. I love my speakers and sealed GR sub.
I think the Triangles would do better closer to the wall and looking at the horizontal off-axis, it seems the top end falls more in line and they're counting on an untreated environment. However, it does seem that Triangle has gone more in favor of lean bass recently.
The "bright" response in the 5K-15K range is nearly meaningless IMO. The signature differences we're all hearing that are meaningful are driven by the weak bottom end (partly from being so far away from any walls) and that sharp peak from ~500-1400hz. I think a lot of people look at a response plot and try to think of the entire range as having the same "meaning" but it just isn't true. The bulk of audio energy in music happens from ~40hz-4Khz. I wouldn't focus too much on the response of a speaker above 5K as we're not very sensitive to it and most of the energy up there is not what we think of when we think of "treble." It's more like the "air" on top of treble. It just needs to be present, it doesn't need to be particularly "flat" up there to sound fine. Takes young ears to hear much of anything above 10K anyway. A few dB of response variance right smack in the middle of soprano vocal and very common octaves on many instruments... THAT is going to sound problematic.
I would say 30Hz- 5kHz interval is the most important. Just measure your own voice in a regular speech and you’ll see that 2khz-5khz interval has the highest amplitude even if the fundamentals of human voices are approximately from 80Hz to 230 Hz. And still if frequencies from 6khz-10khz are +6dB in amplitude then you will perceive them very clearly as shrilly and fatiguing .
Ron, hands down for another great test. I’m a subscriber from the early hours and I like the path you walk today. Please keep up this fine work. Warm greetings from the Netherlands, Bram
100% Ron is a review beast. I still have to give the nod to his Salk Veracity review from years ago, as it's the vid that got me into both HiFi AND UA-cam HiFi channels. Speaking of which: RIP Salk Sound (Jim is fine, just the business is shuttered).
Thank you, someone is finally using the reference track to compare against the speakers. I wondered a while ago why people don’t do this. All of your observations were spot on to me.
Great video, Ron! Happy to see you again. To me, it looks like Triangle chose to use no baffle step compensation on this speaker to keep the overall sensitivity higher. Definitely would expect more for the relative cost.
@@Trebor-u4q and why would anyone assume they didn't apply it based on a single review? For goodness sake, anyone can easily find out how the speaker is actually designed. Nah - easier to just throw out phrases many people don't know, and criticize something you effectively know nothing about :D (not you - I hope that's obvious)
But does the trinagle comete sound bad,good ? Does a speaker only sound good if it sounds like a super flat studio monitor ? Dit you try all 3 speakers with an amp that has room correction and a mic the yamaha R-N1000A or the R-N2000A ? (digital in with yamahas)
but why would you want the speaker to sound good or bad? shouldn;t the music sound good or bad? would you rather listening to the music or the speaker? and this is the answer as to why we would want a super flat speaker. because it is not the job of the speaker to alter the music, it is the job of the studio to mix the music and the job of the speaker to play it
everything are preference tho, and even the most flat studio monitors all sounds different to each other. we buy speakers to simply enjoy music we like instead of criticising the recording good or bad
@@s0123-b3f speakers sound different because they measure different in some aspect, could be directivity, dispersion, resonances and what have you. yes everything is preference but some times we need to grow out of our preferences just because it is what we are used to. To my mind we should have at least one part of the audio chain as being "reference", transparent, flat in order to have a constant point of reference. and to my mind that part are the speakers. otherwise you start talking about amplifier pairings and cables and what have you. so if you have a transparent system that simply reproduces the music exactly as it was mixed then if you dont like it you can use tone controls or EQ. my point is, if a speaker is not flat it should state it clearly that this speaker does not accurately reproduce the music but artificially alters the frequency responce. it is simple as that.
Always great to have opinions and analysis. My personal experience with my 40th Comete's is different. To start I should say that in Europe these are available for €750, so I was cross shopping with different speakers, KEF LS50 Meta, Monitor Audio Gold 50, B&W 707S3, plus a couple of others I don't remember now. I auditioned them in my own (small) room, with an Aune DAC and NAD M10 amp. I listen almost all to classical music and often at moderate volume while I work. I sit only about 2m from the speakers. The tonality or the instruments is key for me - does the cello sound like it did when my sister was playing it to me at home when I was younger, etc. Also the dynamics at moderate volume - does the music still sing, or is it dull or flat. My experience was that the Triangle was the best at those areas. I could not adjust to the sound of the B&W's, the Monitor Audio was too bassy, the KEFs sounded flat unless I pumped in the power. I've since added the Triangle Thetis 300 subwoofer which fills out the sound nicely. Voices are so natural sounding I find it hard to reconcile it with your experience. Everyone is bias towards their own kit, and I've not heard the R3 Meta (which would be too big for my room and a different price point here), but around €1000 I would not find a more engaging, natural sounding speaker. For EDM I'd pick something else, but for classical, it's the one for me. Given my semi-nearfield setting, I tried active monitors from Adam Audio, EVE Audio, KRK, and Kali. Whilst I was blown away with the clarity, they just don't have the same musicality. Ultimately I want to enjoy my music, not analyze it.
Really dig the A/B:ing of the reference track combined with comparisons, A+ work! BTW, the GR Research was my favorite. Excellent sounding speaker, balanced all the way through the freq range and dark in comparison, but not too dark. I felt like I didn't lose too much information in the last sound clip, if that makes sense.
Wow…..really well done Ron. Discovered your channel and really enjoying your approach to reviews. Solid commentary , blended with data, and honest subjective and objective thoughts. Keep em coming! 😊
Here in Norway the triangle's are $1200 USD. The r3 are $2300 USD and the x-ls are not available. I think the US pricing on triangle is making them less competitive that what they really should be.
Hmm, not all speakers need to be located in the exact same position in the room to sound their best, also toe-in might need to be adjusted individually. Not sure how the Comete reacts on improvements in this regard, but in the end I‘d assume some/many/most? speakers for that price do not end up in the middle of the room. But yes, the 3 speakers sound very different indeed.
I like the A-B testing approach and the differences were obviously audible. I have to wonder why this review is out of step with virtually every other of the many reviews of the Komete 40th anniversary speakers?
I checked with GR Research, but I could not go through with it due to fears of harm to the beautiful looks of the Triangle speakers (the speaker drivers are not made to be removed, so removing them would, I believe, damage there beauty). So, I recalled that I had a Dirac license that I could give a 2nd try (I did not like the results on my first try). Wow, what a difference Dirac made. I will be loving these Triangle Comete speakers until I win the lottery.
Ron, I've seen your clips of the GR X-LS Encore's in your other video's, along with this one, and I'm struck by the similarity of the reference sound-clips to those reproduced in-room by the Encores. They sound pretty damned good.
It appears that you have the Santos Rosewood version. The Golden Oak's (shown in stock photo at 1:17) are a lighter brown. Thank you for the review, you may have saved me some hassle. I love the looks of this speaker but I think I'd like a more neutral response.
Great comparison video and excellent production as always. I hate to bring this up here but it sort of started with your original review... When do we get to see the in- depth review of your delivered Caladans? Anxiously awaiting a production update from Clayton!
Terrific review in a terrific review. In terms of natural sounding standmounts with strong bass performance, I am curious when you will review either the Dynaudio Evoke 10 or Dynaudio Contour 20i? As these are the two most balanced standmounts in the Dynaudio range and a sound which I am addicted to (when paired with a high current amplifier as they are low efficiency speakers).
Firstly, thanks for using a metal track, as it is something most reviewers are lacking in videos like this. It is important to include as it is a style that kinda throws everything at you at once, and one needs good speakers to listen to that type of music. Us gitar nerds like details too, and we like it fast and heavy. Is the Kef R3 also a reference speaker you use, or just something you added as it is popular. It might have been more interesting with a Meta version in the future. I agree that the encore and Kef sound alike, and I have been looking into having a Kef too as I feel they both have something in common, but a slight difference which are both welcome to my ears. I feel like the Encore is a bit more rounded at times, which kinda makes it slightly warm, and the Kef maybe has some more directness in the high mids and treble. Anyway, might be interesting with the Kef LS 50 meta as the body is more rounded, which they claim will give a better off-axis response, which could be great for when having guests and multiple listening positions. Anyway, still eagerly waiting for the Arendal's review?? :)
I bought the Comete about a year ago after I auditioned them at the store. The are much cheaper in Europe 1300€ a pair. Well, it ended bringing them back the next day. High frequent was too much for my taste. Now I own a pair of trinagle 40th duettos and the are a complete different story.❤
I had Cometes for about 2 years. I didn't find them bright at all, but thought they were not full enough in voices and had a bit nasal tone. They were foot-tapping and quick though. Imaging was wery good too.
Triangle Duette 40th Anniversary speaker didn't have any of those descriptions as you stated on the Comete, I found the balance of their tweeter and woofer in the Duette to be the most balanced speaker I have heard out of any Monitor. Also as we age, we tend to gravitate more toward higher frequency because you tend to loose those first when we age.. Ironically I found the KEF to be kind of subdued.. The Comete definitely have more going on in the high frequencies, but they are also using a horn tweeter, which I normally never like. With the Duette's the speaker seems more balanced but I agree with your assumptions, as this is a hobby of perceptions and opinions.. You like what you like..... is the saying I use... Plus the Triangles excel with Tubes, it tones down the extra liveliness of the Triangles. Nada on the X-LS they were a toss up for 2nd choice! ;) The KEF sounded the closest, but placement can be key, and different equipment matching is helpful with some speakers, I would definitely pair the Triangles with Tubes.
I bought some B&W 706 bookshelf speakers and they are dull and lifeless and they cost me AU $2,400! I bought them for reference for my speaker building madness. They work well for basic bass, med and treble content. They are a great help and I couldn't do without reference speakers. But the 706s lack "breathiness" in the female voice sound (really badly) and the tone in the med sucks. My home built speakers absolutely flog them (hands down)! I just added my own personal touch to the copied sound, and increased about 5 khz a bit (on my built speakers). And of course I kept the 706s original. I bet the whole 3 speakers in this video would be better than my 706s. 😅
Well done. I want to emphasize that the question in the end is framed. Ultimately, the buyer will go to a showroom and sample a bunch of speakers. The preference for one speaker or another is subjective. I understand that you have the point of view of a reviewer.
i bought the cometes for 1100$ so im incredibly happy with em :), im more of a fan of the speakers coloring the music the most, and the amp coloring it the least
When we listen to the speakers compared to reference through our headphones, what are we listening to on your review ?. Are the speakers recorded in your room using microphones in order to produce your audio/video here on UA-cam?. Just trying to understand the process .....If it is using a mic, would results what we hear) be different for each speaker using a different mic ?.
Ron, do you think the rises in the responses, in the location were they are at, plus the higher sensitivity of this speaker would lend itself to better dynamics at low volume listening? Almost like a speaker with a built in loudness button? Seems like you'd have to turn up the R3 a little more to get equal levesl of dynamic range.
I know the optimal way to listen to these test clips is headphones but honestly I'm astonished by how well my own speaker flesh out all the differences. Everything you described Ron is there coming through loud and clear. Notable is that the bass energy is much better coming through the reference tracks (the actual track) overall the Encore is the most resolving and not at all missing much depth compared to the KEFs.
There appeared to be a narrow band in the 2 KHz range that was a distraction to the sound quality of the Comete's. I noticed it in the strings and some of the vocals. I also noticed the anemic bass punch. Now to see if your measurements reflect what I heard. Comment at 21 minutes.
Very interesting video. I have the Triangle Esprit Titus EZ and I think these are incredibly special speakers for their under £800 price point. They are dynamic, fast, yet textured and subtle and never fatiguing in my system. For their relatively diminutive size their bass is punchy and tight if not particularly extended. I've heard that speaker manufacturers sometimes produce a goldilocks speaker in a range of speakers where others in the range do not hit such heights. I think the Titus is such a speaker. I have tried several rival models up to £1000 (these include Dynaudio emit 20, Acoustic Energy ae500 and Sonus Faber Lumina ii) and none have equalled them. I was very therefore curious when I had the chance to pick up some Comete 40th for a ridiculously low used price. My findings? Pretty much the same as yours. An overly prominent treble and a woolly, light sounding bass that I put down to the lack of power in my amp (Denon pma 800ne). I sold them on at an even more ridiculous low price. I am now of the opinion that system synergy and in room performance are the key rather than saying that such and such a speaker is always the best performer.
I find this way of compairing speakers very revealing and interesting. But! In real life you simply do not place different sounding speakers in the exact same place. Every different sort of speaker always needs to be tuned to the room by moving them and angling them in order to find the subjectively best possible match with the actual room accoustics.
This is a contradicting argument in one paragraph.................... On the one hand. "...you simply do not place..." then On the other hand, "...find the subjectively best". See the problem? Acid Jazz, Funk & Brass 🔈🔉🔊
@@TriAmpMyFi Dont you understand what i mean? 🙂 In real life you always optimises the speakers placement in the room according to your own taste. Every centimeter and degree of angling makes a very big difference in the resulting sound percieved from the listening position.
@@JeyDeeSweden . Ya JD, I understand and I agree. It's a small thing. I can be pedantic. What I'm saying is the argument can't be backed up with conflicting statements (see above). The correct speaker methodology can't be both subjective AND absolute simultaneously. Get it? Try this. "We are not painting the wall the mandated color because we don't like it". This painting method does not get the desired result. It's doomed. Acid Jazz, Funk & Brass 🔈🔉🔊
@@TriAmpMyFi 😊This subject is clearly not for you. This is obviously very far above your capability to grasp. I am sorry, i can not help you to understand the actual reality better.
yes this seemed off to me too. And for the smart alec, yes you actually can measure the performance difference with different placements "objectively" using free apps on your phone. Further, NOTHING matters more in audio than one's subjective experience. Yes measurements can be informative, but the first prio is "do I like this". End of!
Calling out caveats makes for an honest review. Keep telling it like it is. Also I like the sound of the XLS encore! Would you be able to do a comparison between Technics SB-C700 and Kef R3 meta 🙌
Since the ports are super thin and plastic, it’s always made me wonder if just simply wrapping them in sound deadener or no would prevent some of those lower note vocals coming through. Meaning it’s exciting the tubed ports themselves instead of allowing the sound to escape due to a back wave.
X-LS Encore impressed. I think a speaker company would be wise to send you their new designs before putting them into production. And of course, pay you a consulting fee for your time and listening room expense.
Ron, Do you feel that different amplification would change the Triangle as proportional as the other speakers? Perhaps change the character of the Triangle. Also would a unique placement change your readings and observations? Thoughts ?
I ended up buying the Comete 40th's and my results are quite different than described here, but of course I had to play around with placement to get there - and that is not at all unusual ime. Compared to the placements shown here, I have them much closer together, closer to the side walls as well as rear wall and of course all of that affects how they sound. I admit I have no idea how you arrived at this placement, but for example, other reputable reviewers of these speakers noted they found the sweet spot about 1 meter from the rear wall - in your setup it looks more like 3m? That's an extraordinary difference. I don't have room to pull them out as from the walls as shown here nor even as far as the alleged 1m sweet spot, and that's fairly expected in the EU market where many, many people live in apartments with smaller rooms than the average American homescape. It is my understanding that Triangle (as well as Focal, possibly others) factor real world conditions into their designs. Considering these speakers are specced for rooms < 25 sq meters - how does the space you have compare? I don't know the details on your side, obvs, but I think it's safe to say that's a very large room, and what I note in the sound clips is that the Comete sounds like it's in a cavernous space that it just can't fill. I kinda have to suspect your room is just too large to do them justice. Heck, that visually delectable ceiling height alone is suspect :D Anyway, in my smaller room (ca. 18 qm) I find the Comete 40th's nothing short of delightful. They are fun and lively, but they also have a delicate sweetness about them which is an unusual combination ime. They are not "bright" or high end heavy, not at all fatiguing. The bass is clean and sufficient for my needs (without a sub), and the mids are pleasantly weighty without being tubby or too warm. They sound "right" to me, they put a smile on my face, I *really* dig them.
I have these speakers too and I ditto these comments Mine are in a smaller room 3 feet from the wall I appreciate this review but don’t care about graphs or measurements
Hi Ron, so comparing with the Borea BR08, do you believe the Borea is a more linear and true to the reference sound speaker? It's interesting if so, solo based on the fact that this is a speaker that is one or two steps "above" the Borea range.
If someone already owns a KEF R300 (older version of R3 meta) do you think it would be better to squeeze more value out of it by upgrading the crossover? Or would it be better to purchase an XLS Encore kit ? I’m debating between these two options.
I've had my R300's since R3's (non Meta) came out... purchased at reduced price from KEF USA Direct purging A-stock for new model release. Driving them with Parasound A21+. I've improved electronics and cabling upstream from amp (Pre-Amp; DDC; Power Filter; etc.) and have enjoyed the step improvements along the way. IMHO if willing to take the journey listen to what signal flow improvements can do! 🤔🤔🤔
I got a pair of triangle magellan duetto sw2, i like those speakers, but my problem is they are my first speakers. I pair them with a Rega Aethos and soon i will get denefrips pontus or venus i havent decided yet as of know i use a bluesound node n130.
I have had these since they came out and, whilst I love the sound for tracks without midrange, I find myself constantly fiddling with the positioning to counter the nasal mids. I can't get them just right without an EQ, then the EQ adds noise and I turn it off again. I've settled on blocking the ports and toeing the speakers to 6" past my shoulders. Arghh, but they look so good, grr.
GR Research is the best. I know those aren't the r3 metas but that's still an impressive win for the encores. Too bad they're tiny whimpy things and I need 15"s.
The great video I like the way you illustrate things. And to be honest, I thought in some cases, the kefs sounded the best of the three. I’m really curious if you’ve ever listened to PMCs and what you thought of them ?
I agree with everything that you described while listening to these speakers, with the exception of the Triangles being sibilant. Could be my ears could be my headphones?
ok so...I admit I'm cheating a bit, since I'm listening to this on the first go using my every day speakers (very modestly priced elac dbr62s). Can anyone explain why my "local" speakers make the reference track sound much fuller than any of the recorded speakers do? Could this be a level matching thing or what? As from where I sit, my speakers are already meatier and bassier than any of these three! True, they lack a sense of "air" but if that comes at the expense of body I'm not sure I want it :/ yes yes I will dig out my headphones later for another go, but this is also a bit questionable to me and raises a basic question for our host: you say "which speakers sound most like the reference track" - but what are you using to determine what the reference track sounds like? I'm not trying to be facetious - it just popped into my head and it's kind of breaking my brain at the moment :D GREAT format regardless - I really value this sort of demonstration very much. Is it everything? no of course not - as you are demo'ing in a symmetrical room with good treatment and ideal speaker placement (or is it? if all speakers are placed in the same location for testing that seems questionable to me), whereas I would be listening in my tiny apartment with the speakers barely 50cm from the wall if I'm lucky. Still it's an interesting demo!
I had the Triangle EZ, and they ARE agressive and have a very distinct horn sound with vocals. I loved the awesome 3d sound stage it had, and the detail, but sold it after just a few weeks, as I couldn't stand the nasal sound it had on anything resembling a human voice.
NICE review. Even though all of these speakers are out of my price range, it was clear, the Encore's sounded the best and yes, I have a decent sound system on my computer. I could definitely hear the differences between the three speakers. The Triangles sounded hollow and 'reverby' with a crunchy high end, as the OP stated. The Kef was better. The Encore's, which are priced at $1300 for the pair were the best. The measurements back up the listening and it is a clear example of how you don't always get what you pay for, especially with speakers. While I am not overly familiar with Triangle, I wouldn't even think of paying that asking price they are asking for that speaker. As for KEF, I have been seeing them start to go down the road of a 'troll manufacturer' as they are getting greedy. This is most noted with their LS-50's and the meta version. I don't think they are anything special and certainly shouldn't be commanding the $1500+ for what performance they give. As it is, I find it hard to spend more than $640 for ANY bookshelf speakers, period. As it is, the higher in price you go, the less you get in terms of returns. The Law of Diminishing returns comes into play here. BUT, as I said, I really liked how this video was done and came along for the ride, and even though I can't afford the Encore speakers, those would be my choice as well. @New Record Day. One improvement I could recommend is to chain the audio clips of all three speakers in succession without talking between them, so one could get a more immediate comparison without delay in switching from speaker to speaker. Otherwise, nicely done!
I owned the Triangle Comete 40th anniversary and to be honest I struggled with them in all areas having had PMC tb2i for many years. They are very directional and require a 45 degree angle towing. Tonally they were very dark and were not easy to pair with amplifiers even-though the three solid-state amps I used were neutral. The audio lab 8300a matched the best, but Atoll IN200 signature had better dynamics as the speakers performed much better. My EL34 tube amp simply sounded very thick with them. The tweeters were very clear but bright and that made cymbals sound unnatural. Sonically, they changed quickly when moved farther from them. The mids were rich and the tweeters projected highs from within the horn so they were recessed, but I did improve this with kimber 4tc cable. In my opinion these are overrated with the Santos rosewood finish contributing to their appeal. By the way, if you install the metal rosegold cones with the metal discs and place them on their stand, you will gain more dynamics and speed. They scale up with better and more expensive amplifiers giving more dynamic and clarity. These were my experience with them and I am certain owners of these speakers have better pairing and get better results than I did.
First, love the use of comparison tracks. I wish more people did this in reviews. Second, I imagine the Cometes are quite fatiguing. They sound altogether too eager on treble.
Thanks for your hard work. Really appreciate how you AB with the reference recording. Your absolutely correct about the triangles sounding sibilant and bright. Not trying to offend you because I know you and Danny are tight... BUT the midrange on those XLS (especially when compared to the reference) is missing quite a bit in the midrange, I mean it's not even subtle... It kind of surprises me that you recommend Danny's products so much.. It makes your channel look quite biased..
What I noticed in Kef R3 reviews from all kind of different reviews is always the same phenomenon. I really like the sound but they feel 'far away' or if i would listen to them behind a really small invisible wall. Someone has insights what coudl cause that feeling of mine?
GR-Research and Buchardt sell speakers directly from manufacturer to end-users. By cuttting out the middle-man, they offer much higher quality products for the same retail price. It is almost undair to compare US$2,500 speakers from KEF and Triangle to those from GR-Research or Buchardt. I am surprised the Buchardt S400 Mk2 wasn't included in the test, because that, along with the GR-Research Encore, are the giant killers in this price category.
Hi, this format educates the audience, thank you. The way you describe the audio qualities is so nuanced and refined, it's a skill that comes from experience. 2 thumbs up! I'm a long time supporter of the XLS Encore (would never sell) and I've recently bought the PROAC Response DB1, and I would say that it's on par with the XLS Encore. They both have their strengths, both are warm, one with greater soundstage, and the other greater bass. I wonder why you have not reviewed any PROACs?
Hey Ron, with the current mess coming from Erin's Audio Corner/AudioScienceReview and Erik Alexander of Tekton, you might want to keep an eye on things. I know you can't address the stuff from 2019, but it appears Mr. Alexander is back at work going full lawsuit on other reviewers who don't think his speakers are unassailable. I'm guessing you are aware of this, but I figured it didn't hurt to try and get it on your radar if you weren't.
Do real-time level-matched switching between speakers please if you really want us to notice the differences. The auditory memory is only a few seconds so unless it's a really bad issue it gets muddled having to sit thru the (informative) pep talks.
Dude during the sound clips there was more talk than sound 😂. It would have been nice to hear all three back to back with no commentary and with longer sound clips…just a suggestion. However I do agree that the Triangles, in this case, sounded the least like the master.
Love this format. Sound clips of three comparable speakers provide a great reference point. The Sound Shed is truly paying dividends in the investments. Congrats Ron!
Thanks man!
@@Newrecordday2013 Please compare Encore with LGK 2.1. I like the measurements of 2.1 compared to 2.4
Thinking probably need to break in more?
Somehow I had different experience with this speaker. I had this Comete 40th for about a year now & love it. Yes it did a bit toward bright at the beginning. It needed to break in about a recommended 200 hours according to my dealer and Triangle. Yes it was quite long but it loosened up the woofer and improved the drivers integration and more balanced. The bass improved over time.
I also did not find the tweeter harsh or sibilance in fact it was very smooth and very good in conveying delicate detail especially with a well recorded music and good quality cables. The sound was vivid and lively.
The Comete paired well with tube integrated amplifier and good quality cabling. it improved everything.
At the end of the day I think it matters of individual’s taste and gear matching as with any other speakers.:)
break in is not considered to be a real thing. what is most likely happening, is that you are getting used to the sound after weeks of listening. but dont take my word for it, do your own research
Yes! I appreciate your perspective more. I am tired of people recommending KEF speakers to everyone. I am not particularly fond of the KEF sound signature. And I am objectively wrong in saying this. Trying different speakers in the same room without bias is so informative, almost mind blowing. The KEF L60 didn't impress me at all. And I have a strong preference for single driver speakers.
I am on my second year as owner of the 40th Anniversary Triangle Comete speakers. I really like these speakers in almost every way. My sources are Vinyl via a Dual 721 turntable with Ortofon OM20 cart. PSAudio BHK Signature Preamp into PrimaLuna EVO 300 tube amp. My other favorite speaker is the ELAC Signature UBR62's. I routinely swap these back into my system after listening to the Triangles. LOVE the ELAC's as well. They are more well-behaved and solid....but the Triangles are just more exciting. Keep up the great work, BTW!
Do the elacs have a recessed midrange? How exactly do they sound different? I’m tempted to try a pair against my Triangle Titus
This is a revolutionary way to describe the sound of a speaker. Your viewers can follow your thoughts and verify it through the sound clips and understanding what you are describing. This takes away the subjective weight of using words or graphs as we have been accustomed to seeing from other reviewers. You should patent this method.
Great in-depth review. I love how you back up your impressions with explanation. Well done Ron!
I own these and for low to medium volumes they excel, to much the tweeter tends to breakup (rated 90W). They are a mixed bag on paper and front ports have energy The tweeter for a horn is designed well,up top is never fatiguing just* and tone has great strengths. Also SET tube/SS class A amps are cream on my Comete 40th. Thank you Triangle.
Great format and teaching points on how to discern between equipment and how to best match my listening preference. This has been one of the best teaching format and looking forward for more reviews like this. Also, thank you for including the GR speaker into the mix as I’ve always wondered how’d they measured up. Very surprising.
Glad it was helpful!
Why the fudge do you not have 2 million subscribers? You have the best, most informative, honest reviews on the web. Even though I can’t afford most of the equipment you review, it’s still an amazing educational experience. Time for your subscribers to spread the word about your channel
Ah man! That’s so kind! Thanks!
A 27 minute speaker review might be part of the issue. I appreciate this guy's reviews but they could be 60% shorter and still get all the key points across.
You can hear why the R3 Meta is an easy recommendation, honest with a little color, like a well-edited photo...
Excellent format, keep it up! You, Sir, gained a subscriber.
This review format is the best I've ever seen. Super informative. Please continue to do these.
Thanks, will do!
Love how you’re incorporating sound clips with your observations. I, and other consumers, are always more interested in differences in sound than listening to any single component in isolation. Also, your recordings are fantastic! Hope to see tons more comparisons like this. Kudos!
I am an owner of Trianle Comete 40th anniversary and I think they sound amazing. Warm amp, sub in larger rooms and they make outstanding sound. Nothing here was said about soundstage, musicality, 3-dimensionality, analitic aspects, whether they are "emotionally" sounding. Only tonality was covered in this video, wchich is not everything. By the way: why the frequency range graph was only presented up from 200Hz? What about below? In Europe we are lucky - they cost around $ 1800-1900.😃
Those are good points. Speakers are all about personal preference. It depends on what you are looking for. However, he wasn't just comparing the speakers to each other, he was comparing them to a reference source. In other words, how a speaker should sound if it is not being coloured in some way. In all of those cases, the Triangles came out sounding the least accurate. As for musical, well thin sounding midrange is not musical to me. And emotional has no place in a review as that depends on the person listening. Soundstage is difficult to portray over UA-cam, but I did not hear it mentioned and probably should have been.
You are obviously compensating for the speakers wth a warm amp and a sub, and thats fine. What matters is the end result. But I think the review is not to bash the speaker but to give an idea of what sound to expect when purchasing the Triangles. It's not about praise, it is about an accurate depiction of what the speaker can do, and I would say Ron does that better than a lot of reviewers out there.
I had a pair at home to test them. I'm not very experienced with upper end audio gear and am running Elac UBR62's at the moment. And they are really great for what they are and I don't even want to compare them quality wise. But the Triangles immediately grabbed my soul. I was so emotional touched from them that I cried quite a lot just from the sound alone. The way they stage, layer and place instruments and the singers spoke to me and now I crave for that. The whole sound philosophy so to speak.
I'll get a pair the next weeks/months. Either before I move or after.
PLUS they are oh so gorgeous looking. The blond oak in particular for me. The price here in Germany with 1500€ is also great.
The frequency starting with 200 Hz is because under that you basically measuring the room more than the speakers.
@@boneseyyl1060 I am not bashing Ron's review *at all* and I appreciate his methods tremendously, but I can say that these same speakers in my smaller, untreated, very normal living space sound light years better than they do in the sample clips here. The midrange is in no way "thin", I don't have a sub, nor do I have "warm" components feeding them (I'm a class d user, which tends to be cold as ice if you're not careful) And no, I'm not listening to the samples on these speakers ;)
I have no doubt the speakers sound thin in his space - the clips sound quite bad, indeed - but again, I can only state that this doesn't reflect how they sound in my space at all. My best guess is the room size and placement are the factors that make a difference here since those are the biggest factors in "real" life for all of us. Yes this room is "perfectly" treated but it's also HUGE and has unusually high ceilings. This *will* change the sound - and in some cases maybe not for the better. Consider these speakers are specced for rooms < 25 qm which is max 5x5m on square. Given he has them placed what looks like about 3m from the rear wall, I'm guessing the space is just too large and that explains why the Comete's sound like they are yelling from a cavern.
Great review as always, Ron! Please review the Holo Cyan2 soooon!!!
Aren’t these in the Santos Rosewood finish? I’ve had that finish and, in my system with Moonriver 404 Reference integrated amp, the Comete 40th sounded pretty good. Yes, they needed a sub, but the sound was clear and fairly musical.
Ron you deliver! Great review with real sound comparison. Even more happy that I jumped of the cliff in 2020 and listened to your review of Lundy’s Encores and then bought the kit from GR with upgraded parts and shipped all the way to Sweden. I love my speakers and sealed GR sub.
Rock on!
I think the Triangles would do better closer to the wall and looking at the horizontal off-axis, it seems the top end falls more in line and they're counting on an untreated environment. However, it does seem that Triangle has gone more in favor of lean bass recently.
X-LS Encore sounded best with my new cheap Fiio JT1 headphones. Kef sounded nice but polite. Triangle sounded thin with tinnitus-evoking highs.
The "bright" response in the 5K-15K range is nearly meaningless IMO. The signature differences we're all hearing that are meaningful are driven by the weak bottom end (partly from being so far away from any walls) and that sharp peak from ~500-1400hz. I think a lot of people look at a response plot and try to think of the entire range as having the same "meaning" but it just isn't true. The bulk of audio energy in music happens from ~40hz-4Khz. I wouldn't focus too much on the response of a speaker above 5K as we're not very sensitive to it and most of the energy up there is not what we think of when we think of "treble." It's more like the "air" on top of treble. It just needs to be present, it doesn't need to be particularly "flat" up there to sound fine. Takes young ears to hear much of anything above 10K anyway.
A few dB of response variance right smack in the middle of soprano vocal and very common octaves on many instruments... THAT is going to sound problematic.
I would say 30Hz- 5kHz interval is the most important. Just measure your own voice in a regular speech and you’ll see that 2khz-5khz interval has the highest amplitude even if the fundamentals of human voices are approximately from 80Hz to 230 Hz. And still if frequencies from 6khz-10khz are +6dB in amplitude then you will perceive them very clearly as shrilly and fatiguing .
Ron, hands down for another great test. I’m a subscriber from the early hours and I like the path you walk today. Please keep up this fine work. Warm greetings from the Netherlands, Bram
Thanks 👍
Probably the best speaker review ever, great format, spot on comparisons. Top quality.
Wow thanks!
I second this. Yep good work NRD
100% Ron is a review beast. I still have to give the nod to his Salk Veracity review from years ago, as it's the vid that got me into both HiFi AND UA-cam HiFi channels. Speaking of which: RIP Salk Sound (Jim is fine, just the business is shuttered).
Thank you, someone is finally using the reference track to compare against the speakers. I wondered a while ago why people don’t do this. All of your observations were spot on to me.
Great video, Ron! Happy to see you again.
To me, it looks like Triangle chose to use no baffle step compensation on this speaker to keep the overall sensitivity higher. Definitely would expect more for the relative cost.
What on earth is "baffle step compensation"?
@@Trebor-u4q and why would anyone assume they didn't apply it based on a single review? For goodness sake, anyone can easily find out how the speaker is actually designed. Nah - easier to just throw out phrases many people don't know, and criticize something you effectively know nothing about :D (not you - I hope that's obvious)
Great comparisons especially with the reference music. Thanks for sharing.
Time Stamps:
00:00 Start
01:04 General
03:31 Impressions
06:53 Sound Clips
20:08 Straight Lines
23:33 Measurements
26:12 Final Thoughts
But does the trinagle comete sound bad,good ? Does a speaker only sound good if it sounds like a super flat studio monitor ? Dit you try all 3 speakers with an amp that has room correction and a mic the yamaha R-N1000A or the R-N2000A ? (digital in with yamahas)
but why would you want the speaker to sound good or bad? shouldn;t the music sound good or bad? would you rather listening to the music or the speaker? and this is the answer as to why we would want a super flat speaker. because it is not the job of the speaker to alter the music, it is the job of the studio to mix the music and the job of the speaker to play it
everything are preference tho, and even the most flat studio monitors all sounds different to each other. we buy speakers to simply enjoy music we like instead of criticising the recording good or bad
@@s0123-b3f speakers sound different because they measure different in some aspect, could be directivity, dispersion, resonances and what have you. yes everything is preference but some times we need to grow out of our preferences just because it is what we are used to. To my mind we should have at least one part of the audio chain as being "reference", transparent, flat in order to have a constant point of reference. and to my mind that part are the speakers. otherwise you start talking about amplifier pairings and cables and what have you. so if you have a transparent system that simply reproduces the music exactly as it was mixed then if you dont like it you can use tone controls or EQ. my point is, if a speaker is not flat it should state it clearly that this speaker does not accurately reproduce the music but artificially alters the frequency responce. it is simple as that.
Always great to have opinions and analysis. My personal experience with my 40th Comete's is different. To start I should say that in Europe these are available for €750, so I was cross shopping with different speakers, KEF LS50 Meta, Monitor Audio Gold 50, B&W 707S3, plus a couple of others I don't remember now. I auditioned them in my own (small) room, with an Aune DAC and NAD M10 amp. I listen almost all to classical music and often at moderate volume while I work. I sit only about 2m from the speakers. The tonality or the instruments is key for me - does the cello sound like it did when my sister was playing it to me at home when I was younger, etc. Also the dynamics at moderate volume - does the music still sing, or is it dull or flat.
My experience was that the Triangle was the best at those areas. I could not adjust to the sound of the B&W's, the Monitor Audio was too bassy, the KEFs sounded flat unless I pumped in the power. I've since added the Triangle Thetis 300 subwoofer which fills out the sound nicely. Voices are so natural sounding I find it hard to reconcile it with your experience. Everyone is bias towards their own kit, and I've not heard the R3 Meta (which would be too big for my room and a different price point here), but around €1000 I would not find a more engaging, natural sounding speaker. For EDM I'd pick something else, but for classical, it's the one for me.
Given my semi-nearfield setting, I tried active monitors from Adam Audio, EVE Audio, KRK, and Kali. Whilst I was blown away with the clarity, they just don't have the same musicality. Ultimately I want to enjoy my music, not analyze it.
THANKS RON 🤗FOR SHARING THIS AND MAKING GOOD USE OF YOUR NEW ROOM 💚💚💚
Really dig the A/B:ing of the reference track combined with comparisons, A+ work! BTW, the GR Research was my favorite. Excellent sounding speaker, balanced all the way through the freq range and dark in comparison, but not too dark. I felt like I didn't lose too much information in the last sound clip, if that makes sense.
Wow…..really well done Ron. Discovered your channel and really enjoying your approach to reviews. Solid commentary , blended with data, and honest subjective and objective thoughts. Keep em coming! 😊
Much appreciated!
Here in Norway the triangle's are $1200 USD.
The r3 are $2300 USD and the x-ls are not available.
I think the US pricing on triangle is making them less competitive that what they really should be.
This review is a prime example of how UA-cam audio clips, when well done, can be useful tools in hearing Relative differences in sound quality.
Wow, thanks!
this is by far the best reviewing format on youtube for me, I do follow nearly every hifi reviewer
Ah that’s great to hear!
Hmm, not all speakers need to be located in the exact same position in the room to sound their best, also toe-in might need to be adjusted individually. Not sure how the Comete reacts on improvements in this regard, but in the end I‘d assume some/many/most? speakers for that price do not end up in the middle of the room.
But yes, the 3 speakers sound very different indeed.
Great to see you Ron ! Your absence had some of us a bit worried. Whew ! 😅 Now back to NRD …🙏🏼🔊🎶😁
I like the A-B testing approach and the differences were obviously audible. I have to wonder why this review is out of step with virtually every other of the many reviews of the Komete 40th anniversary speakers?
This gives me a reason to send my Comete speakers to GR Research for a checkup. Thanks
Danny would relish the opportunity. Think you have found the right time and place to do so. He is a character. I had met him in person.
I checked with GR Research, but I could not go through with it due to fears of harm to the beautiful looks of the Triangle speakers (the speaker drivers are not made to be removed, so removing them would, I believe, damage there beauty). So, I recalled that I had a Dirac license that I could give a 2nd try (I did not like the results on my first try). Wow, what a difference Dirac made. I will be loving these Triangle Comete speakers until I win the lottery.
Ron, I've seen your clips of the GR X-LS Encore's in your other video's, along with this one, and I'm struck by the similarity of the reference sound-clips to those reproduced in-room by the Encores. They sound pretty damned good.
Great review and information given here. I do wish we could hear the 3 speakers back to back to really hear the differences a bit.
It appears that you have the Santos Rosewood version. The Golden Oak's (shown in stock photo at 1:17) are a lighter brown.
Thank you for the review, you may have saved me some hassle. I love the looks of this speaker but I think I'd like a more neutral response.
Great comparison video and excellent production as always. I hate to bring this up here but it sort of started with your original review... When do we get to see the in- depth review of your delivered Caladans? Anxiously awaiting a production update from Clayton!
Terrific review in a terrific review. In terms of natural sounding standmounts with strong bass performance, I am curious when you will review either the Dynaudio Evoke 10 or Dynaudio Contour 20i? As these are the two most balanced standmounts in the Dynaudio range and a sound which I am addicted to (when paired with a high current amplifier as they are low efficiency speakers).
Looking good, man ! =) Nice to see ya. Good format ..and valuable comparisons. =)
The Triangle sounds closer to the recording. ..to me.... has the same Hi-Fr detail.. the other 2 don't have the same presence.. That's interesting.
Brilliant review, Ron, one of your best!
Thank you kindly!
Firstly, thanks for using a metal track, as it is something most reviewers are lacking in videos like this. It is important to include as it is a style that kinda throws everything at you at once, and one needs good speakers to listen to that type of music. Us gitar nerds like details too, and we like it fast and heavy.
Is the Kef R3 also a reference speaker you use, or just something you added as it is popular. It might have been more interesting with a Meta version in the future. I agree that the encore and Kef sound alike, and I have been looking into having a Kef too as I feel they both have something in common, but a slight difference which are both welcome to my ears. I feel like the Encore is a bit more rounded at times, which kinda makes it slightly warm, and the Kef maybe has some more directness in the high mids and treble. Anyway, might be interesting with the Kef LS 50 meta as the body is more rounded, which they claim will give a better off-axis response, which could be great for when having guests and multiple listening positions.
Anyway, still eagerly waiting for the Arendal's review?? :)
I bought the Comete about a year ago after I auditioned them at the store. The are much cheaper in Europe 1300€ a pair. Well, it ended bringing them back the next day. High frequent was too much for my taste. Now I own a pair of trinagle 40th duettos and the are a complete different story.❤
I had Cometes for about 2 years. I didn't find them bright at all, but thought they were not full enough in voices and had a bit nasal tone. They were foot-tapping and quick though. Imaging was wery good too.
So you exchanged a €1300 speaker for a €6000 speaker and thought it was better?
@@hanskiiiid I had the nasal experience too, but moving them about 5 cm closer to the side walls fixed it (in my room)
Triangle Duette 40th Anniversary speaker didn't have any of those descriptions as you stated on the Comete, I found the balance of their tweeter and woofer in the Duette to be the most balanced speaker I have heard out of any Monitor. Also as we age, we tend to gravitate more toward higher frequency because you tend to loose those first when we age.. Ironically I found the KEF to be kind of subdued.. The Comete definitely have more going on in the high frequencies, but they are also using a horn tweeter, which I normally never like. With the Duette's the speaker seems more balanced but I agree with your assumptions, as this is a hobby of perceptions and opinions.. You like what you like..... is the saying I use... Plus the Triangles excel with Tubes, it tones down the extra liveliness of the Triangles. Nada on the X-LS they were a toss up for 2nd choice! ;) The KEF sounded the closest, but placement can be key, and different equipment matching is helpful with some speakers, I would definitely pair the Triangles with Tubes.
please explain through what speaker or equipment you record the reference track.
Excellent review
Well done and informative.
Thank you!
I bought some B&W 706 bookshelf speakers and they are dull and lifeless and they cost me AU $2,400! I bought them for reference for my speaker building madness. They work well for basic bass, med and treble content. They are a great help and I couldn't do without reference speakers. But the 706s lack "breathiness" in the female voice sound (really badly) and the tone in the med sucks. My home built speakers absolutely flog them (hands down)! I just added my own personal touch to the copied sound, and increased about 5 khz a bit (on my built speakers). And of course I kept the 706s original. I bet the whole 3 speakers in this video would be better than my 706s. 😅
Well done. I want to emphasize that the question in the end is framed. Ultimately, the buyer will go to a showroom and sample a bunch of speakers. The preference for one speaker or another is subjective. I understand that you have the point of view of a reviewer.
What speaker was the reference?
i bought the cometes for 1100$ so im incredibly happy with em :), im more of a fan of the speakers coloring the music the most, and the amp coloring it the least
Almost everything you played sounded amazing through my diy mtm monitors... ❤️
When we listen to the speakers compared to reference through our headphones, what are we listening to on your review ?. Are the speakers recorded in your room using microphones in order to produce your audio/video here on UA-cam?. Just trying to understand the process .....If it is using a mic, would results what we hear) be different for each speaker using a different mic ?.
Ron, do you think the rises in the responses, in the location were they are at, plus the higher sensitivity of this speaker would lend itself to better dynamics at low volume listening? Almost like a speaker with a built in loudness button?
Seems like you'd have to turn up the R3 a little more to get equal levesl of dynamic range.
Hi, Ron. What is your take on the speaker at a third of that price -which is the list price in Spain? Sometimes even cheaper on certain days.
Great setup and comparison. The selection of songs is very limited though, when all your differences are either enough meaty and with body or not.
I know the optimal way to listen to these test clips is headphones but honestly I'm astonished by how well my own speaker flesh out all the differences. Everything you described Ron is there coming through loud and clear. Notable is that the bass energy is much better coming through the reference tracks (the actual track) overall the Encore is the most resolving and not at all missing much depth compared to the KEFs.
There appeared to be a narrow band in the 2 KHz range that was a distraction to the sound quality of the Comete's. I noticed it in the strings and some of the vocals. I also noticed the anemic bass punch. Now to see if your measurements reflect what I heard. Comment at 21 minutes.
Very interesting video. I have the Triangle Esprit Titus EZ and I think these are incredibly special speakers for their under £800 price point. They are dynamic, fast, yet textured and subtle and never fatiguing in my system. For their relatively diminutive size their bass is punchy and tight if not particularly extended.
I've heard that speaker manufacturers sometimes produce a goldilocks speaker in a range of speakers where others in the range do not hit such heights. I think the Titus is such a speaker. I have tried several rival models up to £1000 (these include Dynaudio emit 20, Acoustic Energy ae500 and Sonus Faber Lumina ii) and none have equalled them.
I was very therefore curious when I had the chance to pick up some Comete 40th for a ridiculously low used price. My findings? Pretty much the same as yours. An overly prominent treble and a woolly, light sounding bass that I put down to the lack of power in my amp (Denon pma 800ne). I sold them on at an even more ridiculous low price. I am now of the opinion that system synergy and in room performance are the key rather than saying that such and such a speaker is always the best performer.
I find this way of compairing speakers very revealing and interesting. But! In real life you simply do not place different sounding speakers in the exact same place. Every different sort of speaker always needs to be tuned to the room by moving them and angling them in order to find the subjectively best possible match with the actual room accoustics.
This is a contradicting argument in one paragraph....................
On the one hand. "...you simply do not place..." then
On the other hand, "...find the subjectively best". See the problem?
Acid Jazz, Funk & Brass 🔈🔉🔊
@@TriAmpMyFi
Dont you understand what i mean? 🙂 In real life you always optimises the speakers placement in the room according to your own taste. Every centimeter and degree of angling makes a very big difference in the resulting sound percieved from the listening position.
@@JeyDeeSweden
. Ya JD, I understand and I agree. It's a small thing. I can be pedantic. What I'm saying is the argument can't be backed up with conflicting statements (see above).
The correct speaker methodology can't be both subjective AND absolute simultaneously. Get it? Try this. "We are not painting the wall the mandated color because we don't like it". This painting method does not get the desired result. It's doomed.
Acid Jazz, Funk & Brass 🔈🔉🔊
@@TriAmpMyFi
😊This subject is clearly not for you. This is obviously very far above your capability to grasp. I am sorry, i can not help you to understand the actual reality better.
yes this seemed off to me too.
And for the smart alec, yes you actually can measure the performance difference with different placements "objectively" using free apps on your phone. Further, NOTHING matters more in audio than one's subjective experience. Yes measurements can be informative, but the first prio is "do I like this". End of!
Calling out caveats makes for an honest review. Keep telling it like it is. Also I like the sound of the XLS encore!
Would you be able to do a comparison between Technics SB-C700 and Kef R3 meta 🙌
Since the ports are super thin and plastic, it’s always made me wonder if just simply wrapping them in sound deadener or no would prevent some of those lower note vocals coming through. Meaning it’s exciting the tubed ports themselves instead of allowing the sound to escape due to a back wave.
I have the Comete 40th and i like them. Before i had the KEF R300 and to me they sound aluminium, not natural. It's personal taste.
Who are the performers of the test tracks?
X-LS Encore impressed. I think a speaker company would be wise to send you their new designs before putting them into production. And of course, pay you a consulting fee for your time and listening room expense.
Hi Ron, great and informative video. Just a thought, how do you avoid copyright strikes?
Thanks Jim! I use a royalty free music service for the clips
What is the source from the sound from the “ reference” speakers
Ron, Do you feel that different amplification would change the Triangle as proportional as the other speakers? Perhaps change the character of the Triangle. Also would a unique placement change your readings and observations?
Thoughts ?
I ended up buying the Comete 40th's and my results are quite different than described here, but of course I had to play around with placement to get there - and that is not at all unusual ime. Compared to the placements shown here, I have them much closer together, closer to the side walls as well as rear wall and of course all of that affects how they sound. I admit I have no idea how you arrived at this placement, but for example, other reputable reviewers of these speakers noted they found the sweet spot about 1 meter from the rear wall - in your setup it looks more like 3m? That's an extraordinary difference.
I don't have room to pull them out as from the walls as shown here nor even as far as the alleged 1m sweet spot, and that's fairly expected in the EU market where many, many people live in apartments with smaller rooms than the average American homescape. It is my understanding that Triangle (as well as Focal, possibly others) factor real world conditions into their designs. Considering these speakers are specced for rooms < 25 sq meters - how does the space you have compare? I don't know the details on your side, obvs, but I think it's safe to say that's a very large room, and what I note in the sound clips is that the Comete sounds like it's in a cavernous space that it just can't fill. I kinda have to suspect your room is just too large to do them justice. Heck, that visually delectable ceiling height alone is suspect :D
Anyway, in my smaller room (ca. 18 qm) I find the Comete 40th's nothing short of delightful. They are fun and lively, but they also have a delicate sweetness about them which is an unusual combination ime. They are not "bright" or high end heavy, not at all fatiguing. The bass is clean and sufficient for my needs (without a sub), and the mids are pleasantly weighty without being tubby or too warm. They sound "right" to me, they put a smile on my face, I *really* dig them.
I have these speakers too and I ditto these comments
Mine are in a smaller room 3 feet from the wall
I appreciate this review but don’t care about graphs or measurements
Hi Ron, so comparing with the Borea BR08, do you believe the Borea is a more linear and true to the reference sound speaker? It's interesting if so, solo based on the fact that this is a speaker that is one or two steps "above" the Borea range.
If someone already owns a KEF R300 (older version of R3 meta) do you think it would be better to squeeze more value out of it by upgrading the crossover? Or would it be better to purchase an XLS Encore kit ? I’m debating between these two options.
I've had my R300's since R3's (non Meta) came out... purchased at reduced price from KEF USA Direct purging A-stock for new model release. Driving them with Parasound A21+. I've improved electronics and cabling upstream from amp (Pre-Amp; DDC; Power Filter; etc.) and have enjoyed the step improvements along the way. IMHO if willing to take the journey listen to what signal flow improvements can do! 🤔🤔🤔
I got a pair of triangle magellan duetto sw2, i like those speakers, but my problem is they are my first speakers. I pair them with a Rega Aethos and soon i will get denefrips pontus or venus i havent decided yet as of know i use a bluesound node n130.
I have had these since they came out and, whilst I love the sound for tracks without midrange, I find myself constantly fiddling with the positioning to counter the nasal mids. I can't get them just right without an EQ, then the EQ adds noise and I turn it off again. I've settled on blocking the ports and toeing the speakers to 6" past my shoulders. Arghh, but they look so good, grr.
NRD speaks the truth.
That’s always indeed the aim.
Great content brother I'm in the process of building a set of encores what ample for would you recommend?
GR Research is the best. I know those aren't the r3 metas but that's still an impressive win for the encores. Too bad they're tiny whimpy things and I need 15"s.
The great video I like the way you illustrate things. And to be honest, I thought in some cases, the kefs sounded the best of the three.
I’m really curious if you’ve ever listened to PMCs and what you thought of them ?
I agree with everything that you described while listening to these speakers, with the exception of the Triangles being sibilant. Could be my ears could be my headphones?
ok so...I admit I'm cheating a bit, since I'm listening to this on the first go using my every day speakers (very modestly priced elac dbr62s). Can anyone explain why my "local" speakers make the reference track sound much fuller than any of the recorded speakers do? Could this be a level matching thing or what? As from where I sit, my speakers are already meatier and bassier than any of these three! True, they lack a sense of "air" but if that comes at the expense of body I'm not sure I want it :/
yes yes I will dig out my headphones later for another go, but this is also a bit questionable to me and raises a basic question for our host: you say "which speakers sound most like the reference track" - but what are you using to determine what the reference track sounds like? I'm not trying to be facetious - it just popped into my head and it's kind of breaking my brain at the moment :D
GREAT format regardless - I really value this sort of demonstration very much. Is it everything? no of course not - as you are demo'ing in a symmetrical room with good treatment and ideal speaker placement (or is it? if all speakers are placed in the same location for testing that seems questionable to me), whereas I would be listening in my tiny apartment with the speakers barely 50cm from the wall if I'm lucky. Still it's an interesting demo!
I had the Triangle EZ, and they ARE agressive and have a very distinct horn sound with vocals. I loved the awesome 3d sound stage it had, and the detail, but sold it after just a few weeks, as I couldn't stand the nasal sound it had on anything resembling a human voice.
hey NRD guy. Since I'm a moron, what is the reference track source?
NICE review. Even though all of these speakers are out of my price range, it was clear, the Encore's sounded the best and yes, I have a decent sound system on my computer. I could definitely hear the differences between the three speakers. The Triangles sounded hollow and 'reverby' with a crunchy high end, as the OP stated. The Kef was better. The Encore's, which are priced at $1300 for the pair were the best. The measurements back up the listening and it is a clear example of how you don't always get what you pay for, especially with speakers. While I am not overly familiar with Triangle, I wouldn't even think of paying that asking price they are asking for that speaker. As for KEF, I have been seeing them start to go down the road of a 'troll manufacturer' as they are getting greedy. This is most noted with their LS-50's and the meta version. I don't think they are anything special and certainly shouldn't be commanding the $1500+ for what performance they give. As it is, I find it hard to spend more than $640 for ANY bookshelf speakers, period. As it is, the higher in price you go, the less you get in terms of returns. The Law of Diminishing returns comes into play here. BUT, as I said, I really liked how this video was done and came along for the ride, and even though I can't afford the Encore speakers, those would be my choice as well. @New Record Day. One improvement I could recommend is to chain the audio clips of all three speakers in succession without talking between them, so one could get a more immediate comparison without delay in switching from speaker to speaker. Otherwise, nicely done!
For me New Record Day is back on track! what a great review! Thanks Ron, you reminded me why I began on this Audio Adventure.
Great to hear!
I owned the Triangle Comete 40th anniversary and to be honest I struggled with them in all areas having had PMC tb2i for many years. They are very directional and require a 45 degree angle towing. Tonally they were very dark and were not easy to pair with amplifiers even-though the three solid-state amps I used were neutral. The audio lab 8300a matched the best, but Atoll IN200 signature had better dynamics as the speakers performed much better. My EL34 tube amp simply sounded very thick with them.
The tweeters were very clear but bright and that made cymbals sound unnatural. Sonically, they changed quickly when moved farther from them. The mids were rich and the tweeters projected highs from within the horn so they were recessed, but I did improve this with kimber 4tc cable.
In my opinion these are overrated with the Santos rosewood finish contributing to their appeal. By the way, if you install the metal rosegold cones with the metal discs and place them on their stand, you will gain more dynamics and speed. They scale up with better and more expensive amplifiers giving more dynamic and clarity.
These were my experience with them and I am certain owners of these speakers have better pairing and get better results than I did.
First, love the use of comparison tracks. I wish more people did this in reviews. Second, I imagine the Cometes are quite fatiguing. They sound altogether too eager on treble.
Triangle Comete EZ could be bought for $800 very often in Europe before they got discontinued.
Thanks for your hard work. Really appreciate how you AB with the reference recording. Your absolutely correct about the triangles sounding sibilant and bright. Not trying to offend you because I know you and Danny are tight... BUT the midrange on those XLS (especially when compared to the reference) is missing quite a bit in the midrange, I mean it's not even subtle... It kind of surprises me that you recommend Danny's products so much.. It makes your channel look quite biased..
What I noticed in Kef R3 reviews from all kind of different reviews is always the same phenomenon. I really like the sound but they feel 'far away' or if i would listen to them behind a really small invisible wall. Someone has insights what coudl cause that feeling of mine?
GR-Research and Buchardt sell speakers directly from manufacturer to end-users. By cuttting out the middle-man, they offer much higher quality products for the same retail price. It is almost undair to compare US$2,500 speakers from KEF and Triangle to those from GR-Research or Buchardt. I am surprised the Buchardt S400 Mk2 wasn't included in the test, because that, along with the GR-Research Encore, are the giant killers in this price category.
Yep the encores sound amazing
I don't find triangles aggressive at all; just a wonderful soundstage
How old are your ears? That could explain why you don’t find them aggressive?
Hi, this format educates the audience, thank you. The way you describe the audio qualities is so nuanced and refined, it's a skill that comes from experience. 2 thumbs up! I'm a long time supporter of the XLS Encore (would never sell) and I've recently bought the PROAC Response DB1, and I would say that it's on par with the XLS Encore. They both have their strengths, both are warm, one with greater soundstage, and the other greater bass. I wonder why you have not reviewed any PROACs?
You're very welcome! I’ll check out the proacs.
Ive always heard that Triangles had a hot top end. Most reviewers said they sounded best when used with warmer amps or tube amps.
Hey Ron, with the current mess coming from Erin's Audio Corner/AudioScienceReview and Erik Alexander of Tekton, you might want to keep an eye on things. I know you can't address the stuff from 2019, but it appears Mr. Alexander is back at work going full lawsuit on other reviewers who don't think his speakers are unassailable. I'm guessing you are aware of this, but I figured it didn't hurt to try and get it on your radar if you weren't.
I’m aware of it. Thanks!
Do real-time level-matched switching between speakers please if you really want us to notice the differences. The auditory memory is only a few seconds so unless it's a really bad issue it gets muddled having to sit thru the (informative) pep talks.
How do you think these speakers pair well with my Pyle PDA29BU.5 amplifier?
Buttery highs, velvety mids with deep and meaningful bass.
2500 dollar speakers with a Pyle 😮
@@Newrecordday2013 Haha, very good.
Dude during the sound clips there was more talk than sound 😂. It would have been nice to hear all three back to back with no commentary and with longer sound clips…just a suggestion. However I do agree that the Triangles, in this case, sounded the least like the master.