In this review, we will be comparing Reference 3 Meta and Triton One.R, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from KEF and GoldenEar. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF Reference 3 Meta and GoldenEar Triton One.R first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the KEF Reference 3 Meta and GoldenEar Triton One.R 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KEF Reference 3 Meta and GoldenEar Triton One.R compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both Reference 3 Meta and Triton One.R are 3-way speakers.
Driver |
KEF Reference 3 Meta |
GoldenEar Triton One.R |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
-inch
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5-inch |
1 x 5.25-inch |
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
Reference 3 Meta features a 1" aluminium dome with MAT Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" aluminium cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 450Hz and 2100Hz. On the other hand, the Triton One.R features a " High-Velocity Folded Ribbon Tweeter , a 5.25" Midrange and 1 x 5" Polymer Woofer .
Frequency Response
Reference 3 Meta has a frequency range of 43-35k Hz whereas Triton One.R has a frequency range of 13-35k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 13Hz, the Triton One.R can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Reference 3 Meta's min frequency of 43Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Impedance and Sensitivity
Reference 3 Meta is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Triton One.R 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 Reference 3 Meta can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Reference 3 Meta sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Triton One.R's is rated at 92 dB. This 6 dB difference makes the GoldenEar Triton One.R a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Reference 3 Meta, 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. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Reference 3 Meta can handle a max power of 650 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Reference 3 Meta has a max power handling value of 300 watts RMS , 350 watts less than the Triton One.R.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Reference 3 Meta features Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Triton One.R has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare KEF Reference 3 Meta's and GoldenEar Triton One.R's external dimensions. KEF Reference 3 Meta has external dimensions of 1207 x 323 x 467 mm ( 47.5 x 12.7 x 18.4 in.) whereas GoldenEar Triton One.R has external dimensions of 1375.0 x 315.0 x 516.0mm ( 54-1/8 x 12-3/8 x 20-5/16inch) .
KEF Reference 3 Meta is 168mm shorter and 49mm less deeper than GoldenEar Triton One.R but it is also 8mm wider.
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 KEF Reference 3 Meta is approximately 1508.4cm2 / 233.8inch2 and base area of the GoldenEar Triton One.R is approximately 1625.4cm2 / 251.9inch2. The Reference 3 Meta requires 7% less surface area than the Triton One.R 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 KEF Reference 3 Meta weighs 51.30kg / 112.9lbs and the GoldenEar Triton One.R weighs 36.36kg / 80lbs. This makes the Reference 3 Meta 41% heavier than the Triton One.R.
Here is a comparison of how Reference 3 Meta and Triton One.R'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 One.R?
Here are the items that come with the Triton One.R:
Floorstanding loudspeaker9-feet AC power cord4 Rubber feet (pre-installed)4 Spikes (with locking nuts)4 Protective discsOwners ManualVery Important Note
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
Height |
1207mm
vs
1375mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
1508cm2 (323x467mm)
vs
1625cm2 (315x516mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Max Input Power |
650 watts
vs
300 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Low Frequency Response |
13 Hz
vs
43 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
Passive Radiator |
four 7-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
Price per pair* |
7498USD
vs
15000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
General |
KEF Reference 3 Meta |
GoldenEar Triton One.R |
Brand |
KEF |
GoldenEar |
Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
Power Range |
50-300 watts |
20-650 watts |
Sensitivity |
86 dB |
92 dB |
Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
n/a |
Frequency Response |
43-35k Hz |
13-35k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5" |
Woofer Composition |
aluminium cone |
Polymer |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
- |
Tweeter Type |
aluminium dome with MAT |
High-Velocity Folded Ribbon |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
5" |
5.25" |
Crossover Frequency |
450Hz and 2100Hz |
n/a |
Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
1207.0mm (47.5") |
1375.0mm (54.1") |
Width |
323.0mm (12.7") |
315.0mm (12.4") |
Depth |
467.0mm (18.4") |
516.0mm (20.3") |
Weight |
51.30kg (112.9lbs) |
36.36kg (80lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Passive Radiator |
Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Lacquer |
Available Colors |
High-Gloss White/Blue, High-Gloss White/Champagne, High-Gloss Black/Grey, High-Gloss Black/Copper, Satin Walnut/Silver |
Gloss Black |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 years |
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
5 years |
5 Years |