In this review, we will be comparing Dymension DM40 and Triton Seven, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Definitive Technology and GoldenEar.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Definitive Dymension DM40 and GoldenEar Triton Seven first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Definitive Dymension DM40 | GoldenEar Triton Seven |
|---|
| Brand | Definitive Technology
United States · founded 1990 | GoldenEar
United States · founded 2010 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" 2 x Hard-Dome | Folded Ribbon |
|---|
| Woofer | 4 x 4.5" Polypropelene | 2 x 5.25" Polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-23 kHz | 29-35k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50-250 watts | 10-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 17.30kg / 38.1lbs | 14.55kg / 32lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 37.4" x 10.3" x 10"
950 x 261 x 255 mm | 40-1/2" x 10-1/2" x 14-1/2"
1029.0 x 267.0 x 369.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Definitive Dymension DM40 and GoldenEar Triton Seven speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
Definitive Dymension DM40 |
GoldenEar Triton Seven |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Average |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Dymension DM40 and Triton Seven are 2-way speakers.
Definitive Dymension DM40GoldenEar Triton Seven
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Definitive Dymension DM40 |
GoldenEar Triton Seven |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 4.5-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
Dymension DM40 features a 1" aluminum oxide 2 x Hard-Dome Tweeter and 4 x 4.5" Polypropelene Woofer. On the other hand, the Triton Seven features a " Folded Ribbon Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Polypropylene Woofer.
Frequency Response
Dymension DM40 has a frequency range of 55-23 kHz whereas Triton Seven has a frequency range of 29-35k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 29Hz, the Triton Seven can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Dymension DM40's min frequency of 55Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Dymension DM40 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Triton Seven which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Dymension DM40 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Dymension DM40 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Triton Seven's is rated at 89 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the GoldenEar Triton Seven a more sensitive speaker compared to Definitive Dymension DM40, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Triton Seven can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS, whereas Dymension DM40 has a max power handling value of 250 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Triton Seven.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Definitive Dymension DM40
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Dymension DM40 features 5-way Post type posts and Triton Seven has a 5-way Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Definitive Dymension DM40's Binding post terminals
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Definitive Dymension DM40's and GoldenEar Triton Seven's external dimensions. Definitive Dymension DM40 has external dimensions of 950 x 261 x 255 mm (37.4 x 10.3 x 10.0 in) whereas GoldenEar Triton Seven has external dimensions of 1029.0 x 267.0 x 369.0mm (40-1/2 x 10-1/2 x 14-1/2inch).
GoldenEar Triton Seven is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 6mm wider, 79mm taller and 114mm deeper than Definitive Dymension DM40.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Definitive Dymension DM40 is approximately 665.6cm2 / 103.2inch2 and base area of the GoldenEar Triton Seven is approximately 985.2cm2 / 152.7inch2. The Dymension DM40 requires 32% less surface area than the Triton Seven which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Definitive Dymension DM40 weighs 17.30kg / 38.1lbs and the GoldenEar Triton Seven weighs 14.55kg / 32lbs. This makes the Dymension DM40 19% heavier than the Triton Seven.
Here is a comparison of how Dymension DM40 and Triton Seven's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Definitive Dymension DM40
What's in the Box of Definitive Dymension DM40?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Dymension DM40:
- 4 Adjustable hard floor glides
- 4 Adjustable carpet spikes
What's in the Box of GoldenEar Triton Seven?
Here are the items that come with the Triton Seven:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- 4 Rubber feet (pre-installed)
- 4 Spikes
- 4 Locking nuts
- Owners Manual
 Number of Woofers |
4
vs
2
|
More woofers |
 Height |
950mm
vs
1029mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
665cm2
vs
985cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
250 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
29 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Passive Radiator |
dual 8-inch infrasonic planar sub-bass
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Price per pair* |
1798USD
vs
1998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Definitive Technology Dymension DM40 |
GoldenEar Triton Seven |
| Brand |
Definitive Technology |
GoldenEar |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
50-250 watts |
10-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55-23 kHz |
29-35k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
4 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
4.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropelene |
Polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
- |
| Tweeter Type |
2 x Hard-Dome |
Folded Ribbon |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
950.0mm (37.4") |
1029.0mm (40.5") |
| Width |
261.0mm (10.3") |
267.0mm (10.5") |
| Depth |
255.0mm (10") |
369.0mm (14.5") |
| Weight |
17.30kg (38.1lbs) |
14.55kg (32lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Passive Radiator |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Gloss Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: Definitive Dymension DM40 is the newer design, against a 2013 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | GoldenEar Triton Seven digs deeper - 29Hz against 55Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | GoldenEar Triton Seven is more sensitive (89dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | GoldenEar Triton Seven is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (250W vs 300W). |
| Size | depends | Definitive Dymension DM40 is easier to place; GoldenEar Triton Seven is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Ported vs Passive Radiator. |
| Price | B | GoldenEar Triton Seven is cheaper - $1,798 against $1,998, about 10% less. |
A Definitive Dymension DM40 B GoldenEar Triton Seven
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
GoldenEar Triton Seven is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Definitive Dymension DM40 if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 55Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, GoldenEar Triton Seven has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Definitive Dymension DM40 is the easier speaker to get right.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.