In this review, we will be comparing Premier 720 v2 and Triton Seven, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Paradigm and GoldenEar.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Paradigm Premier 720 v2 and GoldenEar Triton Seven first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Paradigm Premier 720 v2 | GoldenEar Triton Seven |
|---|
| Brand | Paradigm
Canada · founded 1982 | GoldenEar
United States · founded 2010 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | Folded Ribbon |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6" | 2 x 5.25" Polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-23k Hz | 29-35k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 92 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 15-220 watts | 10-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 25.99kg / 57.2lbs | 14.55kg / 32lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 39-3/4" x 12-1/2" x 17"
1009.7 x 317.5 x 431.8mm | 40-1/2" x 10-1/2" x 14-1/2"
1029.0 x 267.0 x 369.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Premier 720 v2 and Triton Seven are 2-way speakers.
Paradigm Premier 720 v2GoldenEar Triton Seven
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Paradigm Premier 720 v2 |
GoldenEar Triton Seven |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
Premier 720 v2 features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 6" Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 500Hz and 1300Hz. On the other hand, the Triton Seven features a " Folded Ribbon Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Polypropylene Woofer.
Frequency Response
Premier 720 v2 has a frequency range of 55-23k Hz 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 Premier 720 v2'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
Premier 720 v2 and Triton Seven have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Premier 720 v2 sensitivity is rated at 92 dB and the Triton Seven's is at 89 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Paradigm Premier 720 v2 a more sensitive speaker compared to GoldenEar Triton Seven, 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 Premier 720 v2 has a max power handling value of 220 watts RMS, 80 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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Premier 720 v2 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.
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 Paradigm Premier 720 v2's and GoldenEar Triton Seven's external dimensions. Paradigm Premier 720 v2 has external dimensions of 1009.7 x 317.5 x 431.8mm () 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 50.5mm narrower and 62.8mm less deeper than Paradigm Premier 720 v2 but it is also 19.3mm taller.
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.
Paradigm Premier 720 v2 needs about 39% more floor or shelf area. Paradigm Premier 720 v2 is 63mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. GoldenEar Triton Seven is 19mm 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 Paradigm Premier 720 v2 is approximately 1371.0cm2 / 212.5inch2 and base area of the GoldenEar Triton Seven is approximately 985.2cm2 / 152.7inch2. The Premier 720 v2 requires 39% more surface area than the Triton Seven which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Paradigm Premier 720 v2 weighs 25.99kg / 57.2lbs and the GoldenEar Triton Seven weighs 14.55kg / 32lbs. This makes the Premier 720 v2 79% heavier than the Triton Seven.
Here is a comparison of how Premier 720 v2 and Triton Seven'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 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
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Height |
1009mm
vs
1029mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
220 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
|
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 |
 Base Surface Area |
985cm2
vs
1371cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1798USD
vs
2000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Paradigm Premier 720 v2 |
GoldenEar Triton Seven |
| Brand |
Paradigm |
GoldenEar |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
15-220 watts |
10-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
92 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55-23k Hz |
29-35k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
- |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Folded Ribbon |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6" |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
500Hz and 1300Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1009.7mm (39.8") |
1029.0mm (40.5") |
| Width |
317.5mm (12.5") |
267.0mm (10.5") |
| Depth |
431.8mm (17") |
369.0mm (14.5") |
| Weight |
25.99kg (57.2lbs) |
14.55kg (32lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Passive Radiator |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
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 |
A generation apart: Paradigm Premier 720 v2 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 | A | Paradigm Premier 720 v2 is more sensitive (92dB vs 89dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | B | GoldenEar Triton Seven takes more power (300W vs 220W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | GoldenEar Triton Seven is easier to place; Paradigm Premier 720 v2 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Ported vs Passive Radiator. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Paradigm Premier 720 v2 sits in a wider range (12 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | GoldenEar Triton Seven is cheaper - $1,798 against $2,000, about 10% less. |
A Paradigm Premier 720 v2 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 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 55Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Paradigm Premier 720 v2 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.