In this review, we will be comparing T66 and Triton Three+, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by GoldenEar.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of GoldenEar T66 and GoldenEar Triton Three+ first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | GoldenEar T66 | GoldenEar Triton Three+ |
|---|
| Brand | GoldenEar
United States · founded 2010 | GoldenEar
United States · founded 2010 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | Folded Ribbon | High-Velocity Folded Ribbon |
|---|
| Midrange | 2 x 4.5" | 4.5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5 x 9" | 5" Polymer |
|---|
| Frequency response | 29-25k Hz | 21-35k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | — | 20-400 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 27.22kg / 59.9lbs | 20.45kg / 45lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 49-7/16" x 11-13/16" x 17"
1255.7 x 300.0 x 431.8mm | 44-1/2" x 11-5/8" x 17-9/16"
1131.0 x 296.0 x 447.0mm |
|---|
T66 and Triton Three+ are members of GoldenEar's Triton series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
GoldenEar Triton Series
History
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both T66 and Triton Three+ are 3-way speakers.
GoldenEar T66GoldenEar Triton Three+
MidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
GoldenEar T66 |
GoldenEar Triton Three+ |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
2 x 4.5-inch |
1 x 4.5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5 x 9-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
T66 features a " Folded Ribbon Tweeter, a 4.5" Midrange and 2 x 5 x 9" Woofer. On the other hand, the Triton Three+ features a " High-Velocity Folded Ribbon Tweeter, a 4.5" Midrange and 1 x 5" Polymer Woofer.
Frequency Response
T66 has a frequency range of 29-25k Hz whereas Triton Three+ has a frequency range of 21-35k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 21Hz, the Triton Three+ can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the T66's min frequency of 29Hz.
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
T66 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Triton Three+ 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 T66 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. T66 sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the Triton Three+'s is rated at 90 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the GoldenEar T66 a more sensitive speaker compared to GoldenEar Triton Three+, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
T66 features 5-Way post type posts and Triton Three+ has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
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 GoldenEar T66's and GoldenEar Triton Three+'s external dimensions. GoldenEar T66 has external dimensions of 1255.7 x 300.0 x 431.8mm () whereas GoldenEar Triton Three+ has external dimensions of 1131.0 x 296.0 x 447.0mm (44-1/2 x 11-5/8 x 17-9/16inch).
GoldenEar Triton Three+ is 4mm narrower and 124.7mm shorter than GoldenEar T66 but it is also 15.2mm deeper.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Near-identical footprints. GoldenEar Triton Three+ is 15mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. GoldenEar T66 is 125mm taller.
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 GoldenEar T66 is approximately 1295.4cm2 / 200.8inch2 and base area of the GoldenEar Triton Three+ is approximately 1323.1cm2 / 205.1inch2. The T66 requires 2% less surface area than the Triton Three+ 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 GoldenEar T66 weighs 27.22kg / 59.9lbs and the GoldenEar Triton Three+ weighs 20.45kg / 45lbs. This makes the T66 33% heavier than the Triton Three+.
Here is a comparison of how T66 and Triton Three+'s weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of GoldenEar Triton Three+?
Here are the items that come with the Triton Three+:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- 9-feet AC power cord
- Base
- 4 Rubber feet (pre-installed on base)
- 4 Spikes
- 4 Locking nuts
- 4 Screws
- 4 Washers
- Owners Manual
 Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
5 x 9 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
 Base Surface Area |
1295cm2
vs
1323cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
21 Hz
vs
29 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Passive Radiator |
two 6-3/4-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Height |
1131mm
vs
1255mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
GoldenEar T66 |
GoldenEar Triton Three+ |
| Brand |
GoldenEar |
GoldenEar |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
29-25k Hz |
21-35k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5 x 9" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Polymer |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Tweeter Type |
Folded Ribbon |
High-Velocity Folded Ribbon |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
4.5" |
4.5" |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1255.7mm (49.4") |
1131.0mm (44.5") |
| Width |
300.0mm (11.8") |
296.0mm (11.7") |
| Depth |
431.8mm (17") |
447.0mm (17.6") |
| Weight |
27.22kg (59.9lbs) |
20.45kg (45lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Passive Radiator |
| Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black |
Gloss Black |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Siblings in GoldenEar's Triton series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | GoldenEar Triton Three+ digs deeper - 21Hz against 29Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (91dB vs 90dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | GoldenEar Triton Three+ is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
A GoldenEar T66 B GoldenEar Triton Three+
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 Three+ has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 29Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, GoldenEar Triton Three+ is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.