GoldenEar T66 loudspeaker review: This one is personal

May a speaker assessment make you emotional sufficient to cry? Give me a couple of minutes, and we’ll discover out.

The event for this text is a speaker assessment — particularly, the GoldenEar T66. In the event you’re not conversant in GoldenEar, you may be shortly, and you might be stunned to know that the speaker model hails from a distinguished lineage of speaker manufacturers with which I’m fairly positive you are acquainted.

Earlier than I get into the audio system themselves, although, I want/wish to let you know a really private story for 2 causes. One: I simply couldn’t do that assessment every other means, and I feel you’ll perceive why in only a second. Two: This story explains a sure bias I had going into this assessment. It is advisable to know the place that bias comes from, and the diploma to which I’m able to set it apart for an goal analysis.

If you wish to skip forward, you possibly can scroll forward to the Evaluate part. However I hope you keep on with me right here, as a result of … properly, that is tremendous necessary to me.

Video assessment

Darryl Denison

I don’t usually get tremendous private in critiques, however I have to do exactly that. I’d such as you to satisfy my dad.

Darryl Denison. Born on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. Transplanted to California as a younger teenager, my dad had a reasonably robust life rising up. Each dad and mom had been within the navy — at Pearl Harbor throughout the assault that marked america’ official entry into World Battle II, really — and that meant a really strict, no-frills upbringing.

My dad was all the time a tough employee, however he didn’t make some huge cash. After he served as an air site visitors controller stationed in Okinawa throughout the Vietnam Battle, he met and married my mother, and supported his household by way of an eclectic sequence of wierd jobs. He was a church pastor, a carpenter, a seismograph operator for a blasting firm, and a lot extra. The household grew, and after my brother and sister had been born, we moved in with my grandparents so he might return to highschool and earn his nursing diploma — it was time for a profession.

Like I stated, we didn’t have a lot cash rising up. However we all the time had some sort of stereo system. At first it was a little bit all-in-one turntable/receiver paired with low cost audio system. After he graduated from the nursing program and bought his first decent-paying job, he purchased an RCA rack system at JCPenney that appeared far cooler than it sounded. He later handed the little turntable system right down to me and my brother, and I bought to have it in our room.

Through the years, my dad got here to be taught that I beloved electronics and music as a lot as he did. And it grew to become one thing we might bond over. I all the time had an advanced relationship with my dad, however stereo gear and music had been a mutual ardour that all the time introduced us shut collectively.

I’ll always remember the day my dad determined to purchase the household our very first high-end audio system. He was lastly making some first rate cash — having labored his tail off for years — and had saved up for one thing good.

I used to be so excited to be by his aspect as we took a visit right down to Fred’s Sound of Music in Portland, Oregon, to select parts for a brand new system. Collectively, we listened to a bunch of substances. And collectively we selected Carver separates and, in the end, Paradigm audio system.

I used to be so proud that my opinion mattered that day. I felt a stage of belief and acknowledgment like I hadn’t earlier than. It’s a sense I’d proceed to chase, at the same time as an grownup.

I used to be obsessive about how this technique sounded. My father beamed with delight as I dug into speaker positioning, realized about stereo imaging and holography, and performed round with the varied buttons on the Carver gear in seek for the very best sound.

A brand new reviewer, a brand new speaker

Quick-forward to about 2012. After getting laid off from a speaker firm throughout the recession in 2008, I used to be introduced on as a speaker reviewer for Digital Traits. I feel my first assessment was for a subwoofer. After which I bought a set of Orb Audio’s speakers. I labored my means up as a speaker reviewer, however no person knew who I used to be, and I wasn’t acknowledged as an professional in tech by anybody — together with my dad.

I feel my dad was proud that I had managed to show lemons into lemonade and leverage my years of ardour and expertise in audio right into a job that helped help my little household. However regardless of the tens of 1000’s of web page views I bought on my critiques, I might inform my dad didn’t maintain me in the identical regard because the reviewers he revered from the magazines he beloved to learn.

Like lots of aspirational armchair audiophiles, my dad was actually into Stereophile journal. He additionally had Sound and Imaginative and prescient and Absolute Sound mags piled up round his dwelling. He had a sure sort of reverence for writers like John Atkinson, Michael Fremer, and Steve Guttenberg.

They had been the massive fish, and I used to be a small fry. Objectively, he was proper. I wasn’t at that stage. However I needed to be at that very same stage in his eyes. And never simply because I used to be his son.

Someday I bought an surprising e mail from Sandy Gross, founding father of Polk Audio, Definitive Expertise, and GoldenEar Expertise. I don’t know why he selected me to assessment his newest speaker, however I used to be grateful for the chance.

After I bought the audio system, I used to be floored. And I knew that I needed to do my finest work. Higher than I had ever carried out earlier than. So, I took my time. I misplaced sleep over the assessment. I even felt sick the day my assessment of the GoldenEar Triton Seven speakers went reside on January 30, 2014.

I don’t understand how a lot site visitors that assessment bought. However I do do not forget that GoldenEar was stoked about that assessment.

In actual fact, GoldenEar favored it a lot that it used a quote from my assessment in a full-page advert in Rolling Stone journal. Are you able to think about what it was like for me — a no person speaker reviewer — to see their identify printed in Rolling Stone journal? I used to be over the moon. And I couldn’t wait to indicate my dad.

He was pleased with me, for positive. I imply, it was Rolling Stone! However he didn’t appear to see it the identical means I did. I felt to me like I had lastly made it. However I didn’t sense that validation from my dad. I used to be a little bit damage. Deflated. I do know my dad beloved me and was pleased with me. What wouldn’t it take for him to place me on the identical pedestal he’d put these different writers? I could also be improper about this, however I bought the sensation he’d have been extra excited if he’d seen my identify alongside these different writers — in their magazines.

When you recognize you made it

Time went on. I reviewed one other set of GoldenEar audio system: The Triton Five. And, as soon as once more, GoldenEar used a quote from my assessment in its commercials for these audio system.

Solely this time, the quote wasn’t in Rolling Stone, and I wasn’t the one who discovered it. My Dad discovered the advert and the quote in his valuable Stereophile journal. And he confirmed me.

In the event you’re not an audio nerd, that may not carry a lot weight. Perhaps you don’t perceive why the mere reminiscence of that second sparks a lot emotion for me. I assume you’ll simply must belief me after I say that was a giant, huge deal.

I lastly felt like my dad revered me. I’m positive he all the time did, that’s simply how I felt on the time.

Anyway. I went on to advance as a reviewer. I moved into televisions as my main focus, however I’ve all the time handled myself — and, I hope, others — to a speaker assessment after I suppose I’ve discovered one thing particular. And that included, amongst many others, the GoldenEar Triton One and Triton Reference audio system.

I couldn’t afford to purchase my dad something fairly as fancy because the Triton One, not to mention the Triton Reference. However I did handle to purchase my dad a pair of Triton Fives — the identical speaker that landed my identify in Stereophile journal — even when it wasn’t as a result of I used to be writing for Stereophile magazine.

And, of us, I can’t let you know how tickled my dad was to get these audio system from his son. The boy he labored so exhausting to lift and help. The boy who despatched him off to work numerous graveyard shifts at one job solely to have to show round and work day shifts at one other. The boy he insisted on studying learn how to converse and write correct English. The boy with whom he shared this misunderstood ardour for sound and audio gear.

My dad bought to take pleasure in these audio system in his tiny dwelling for a stable six months after which. … Fairly immediately he was within the hospital preventing for his life. Esophageal most cancers.

He was gone in two weeks.

My last recollections of my dad from earlier than he bought sick had been sitting in his tiny little lounge and listening to music from our previous on his GoldenEar audio system. I had transformed an previous Genesis Dwell live performance cassette right into a CD, and we sat there, remembering the previous 35 years and the way we arrived at that very second. And we cried.

That’s the final time I noticed my dad outdoors of his deathbed. Collectively, in that little room, along with his GoldenEar Triton 5 audio system.

I nonetheless have these audio system, and can till the day I die.

However, yeah, you possibly can think about that dwelling with, evaluating, and reviewing the brand new GoldenEar T66 has been an emotional journey for me. And hopefully, you possibly can perceive that there’s simply no means I might discuss these audio system with out acknowledging what the model has meant to me personally.

With that stated, I nonetheless suppose I can present a reasonably goal assessment of those audio system. And it’s with a large amount of pleasure and reduction that I’m able to let you know that they’re excellent.

Evaluate

That leads me to how I actually need to start out this assessment. The T66 are the primary audio system produced by GoldenEar Expertise since Sandy Gross stepped down as president emeritus. And I don’t suppose there’s anybody conversant in Sandy Gross and the GoldenEar story who couldn’t have just a bit little bit of concern about whether or not the corporate might or would efficiently keep on Sandy’s legacy. Prefer it or not, I feel all of us are likely to type some stage of emotional attachment to the manufacturers we like — and concern any change that may disrupt that. (I really feel the identical means about Klipsch proper now, however that’s a narrative for a special day.)

However time marches on. And right here we’re with the T66 which, because it seems, is an impressive speaker.

There are some notable shifts away from components that traditionally made GoldenEar audio system iconic. For instance: The T66 sports activities an built-in, non-removable metallic grill reasonably than the cloth-covered plastic grills or full-on “sock-style” wraps we’ve seen on audio system previous.

There are additionally bi-wireable speaker terminals on the again, And, internally, GoldenEar would love you to learn about using AudioQuest wiring and AudioQuest-approved crossover parts (The Quest group now owns GoldenEar Expertise).

GoldenEar factors to a couple different developments distinctive to the T66 — the gloss of Santa Barbara Crimson end we now have right here, to the inventory gloss-back end, a brand new cast-iron base, and “dramatically augmented crossover design.”

Save for the variations, a lot of the speaker’s design and engineering stays unmistakably GoldenEar, together with using a DSP-controlled subwoofer amplifier, cast-basket mid-bass drivers with section plugs, the stalwart AMT (Air Movement Transformer) folded ribbon tweeter, and planar bass radiators, that are activated by two 5-inch by 9-inch quadratic subwoofer drivers.

The result’s a tall, slender speaker that is available in at about 48.8 inches excessive, 14.75 inches deep, and simply 7.5 inches vast.

However let’s get again to the motive force complement and the subwoofer amplifier. What we now have right here is an MTM (mid-tweeter-mid) association up prime — a 4.5-inch mid-bass driver, the AMT ribbon tweeter with a finessed wool materials on the baffle to soak up diffractions, then one other 4.5-inch mid-bass driver.

Slightly below that we now have one of many 5 5-by-9-inch lively woofers, and the opposite lively woofer is all the best way down right here on the backside. GoldenEar says spacing them out this manner aids in driving these two passive bass radiators on both aspect of the speaker.

The lively subwoofer drivers up entrance are pushed by a 1,000-watt DSP-controlled amplifier. After they transfer out and in, the passive bass radiators transfer sympathetically. So, primarily you’ve bought 4 separate surfaces making bass in every speaker. Extra on that profit in a second.

I used AudioQuest NRG-Z3 energy cables that had been despatched alongside by AudioQuest as a bonus, although I’m fairly positive the stout energy cables that include the audio system are completely ample. Not gonna lie, although — I like how these look, matching with the wrap on the AudioQuest Rocket 33 speaker cables that had been additionally despatched for this assessment.

The T66 have a sensitivity ranking of 91db per watt as measured from 1 meter. This makes them barely extra delicate than most “high-end” audio system, however not fairly as simple to drive as, say, a horn-loaded Klipsch speaker.

That’s to say you don’t want a large amp to drive these audio system. In actual fact, I drove them to very satisfying sound stress ranges with my little 35-watt-per-channel Dynaco ST70 tube amp. However I’ll say the audio system provided much better dynamics after I used our Anthem STR integrated amp.

And since I’m speaking about gear, right here’s what else I used to judge the T66. On the supply aspect I’ve the EAT B-sharp turntable with Ortofon Blue Cartridge, a Cambridge Audio Alva Duo phono pre-amp, a Magnetar UDP-900 disc player — I used the devoted balanced stereo outputs solely — after which there was the Dynaco PAS-3 tube pre-amp, ST 70 tube amp. And I even tossed the Naim Unity Nova within the combine only for enjoyable towards the tip.

I used a mixture of pristine vinyl data, redbook CDs, SuperAudio CDs, 4K Blu-rays, and high-res lossless streaming from Apple Music for my content material sources.

Gripping sound

Find out how to describe the sound? At no level did I ever usher in an exterior subwoofer. Not solely did I by no means really feel the necessity for extra bass however I used to be so supremely glad with the T66’s low-end efficiency that I simply didn’t wish to mess with it. Now, I suppose that in a film system one may gain advantage from including a devoted subwoofer. However in the event you’re going to hassle including a sub to the T66, it higher be a large, air-moving titan of a subwoofer, as a result of the one factor to gained by including a sub is a glut of wall-shaking, booty massaging sub-bass that solely a 15-inch or bigger tank can ship.

For music? Depart your standalone sub off — you’ll neither want nor need it. For motion pictures? Most of you on the market gained’t want a separate sub. The T66 could make bass you possibly can really feel if the content material requires it.

However whereas the T66 can costume down in dickies and function a jackhammer like a professional, it’s simply as comfy donning a tailor-made Armani go well with and dealing with the contra-bass and tympani duties on the symphony — and it covers every thing in between. Gritty rock bass, punchy slap and funk bass, woody upright acoustic jazz bass. And it provides the identical genre-agnostic therapy to drums, too. Deep, blooming kick drums on rock albums, tight, punchy kicks on jazz data, and big orchestral percussion had been all reproduced with agility, authority, and truthful tonality.

And it has energy in reserve, too. True story: My robotic vacuum managed to tug free the ability cable to the precise speaker with out my information, and I listened to the T66 — only one subwoofer array in operation — for a superb two days with out feeling like I used to be lacking any bass. It wasn’t till I plugged the precise speaker in that I noticed the true impression of getting completely balanced bass in each sq. inch of this studio.

Actually, I don’t like utilizing the time period subwoofer when speaking about this speaker as a result of I fear that may have a sure connotation to the character of the T66’s bass efficiency, which doesn’t apply. The T66 doesn’t do “subwoofery” bass till it’s supposed to do this. It’s simply lusciously, seamlessly built-in, musical, tuneful bass, and I’m right here for it.

However I really feel like I’ve gotten a little bit bit forward of myself. I had a extremely, actually exhausting time getting away from my vinyl assortment whereas evaluating the T66. Each file I placed on was rendered with such realism. There was a lot life to the music, particularly with vocals.

I’ve all the time had nice respect for Nancy Wilson as a vocalist, however the T66 audio system made me fall in love along with her voice another time. The presence I skilled made me really feel like the entire precise Nancy Wilson was in my room — not only a image of her face, ya know? The T66 made listening to her data really feel like listening to the grasp tracks on the studio versus the radio edit in a automotive.

The identical factor occurred after I listened to my John Coltrane with Johnny Hartman file — it was breathtaking. Even Donald Fagen — a genus with (let’s be trustworthy) a vocal high quality that’s an acquired style — sounded candy popping out of the T66. In the event you’re somebody who actually tunes in to the vocals in music? You’ll love how the T66 put them within the room with you. They add nothing, and so they take nothing away.

And that goes not simply towards authentically representing voices and devices however to the soundstage of the recording itself. It’s effortlessly vast and deep, but in addition tall. At one level I used to be listening to sounds coming from properly above the elevated TV in my setup. It’s all from sonic holography and psychoacoustics, however it appeared like I might hear an 8-foot-tall Michael Breaker within the entrance of my room after I performed Joni Mitchel’s The Dry Cleaner from Des Moines off her Shadows and Gentle album.

However maybe probably the most outstanding factor in regards to the T66 is that it pulled off all these superior, lifelike musical qualities at nearly any quantity stage. Positive, I listened at cheap volumes and unreasonably loud volumes, and the T66 by no means gave up on dynamics; by no means bought harsh or strained; by no means bought shouty with compressed midrange. However, magically, the T66 sound superb at super-low quantity ranges, too.

In the event you’ve ever felt like you might as properly not hassle turning in your hi-fi system late at evening as a result of you possibly can’t pay attention on the quantity ranges that carry out the very best in your system for concern of waking somebody up or disturbing them? In the event you’re in an condominium and simply can’t flip your audio system up a lot? Attempt the T66 — they are going to delight you at ANY quantity stage, together with super-low ranges.

There is no such thing as a ‘excellent’ speaker

Actually, I might go on raving — and, perhaps I’ll — however I do have to acknowledge that the T66 just isn’t going to be every thing for everybody. I really like the T66 and can fortunately hold them eternally if GoldenEar will let me. However I additionally acknowledge that there are sonic traits that they merely don’t possess.

For instance: In the event you’re actually into bigger Klipsch audio system — say you’re a fan of Cornwalls, Heresy, or Forte sequence Klipsch audio system, which have this huge, daring, natural thunk, thump, and slap to them? The sort of rock ‘n’ roll authenticity that transforms your listening house right into a rock area, full with the 110-db, ear-splitting expertise that comes with that atmosphere? The T66 don’t actually do that factor. Little doubt, the T66 rock. However they have an inclination to rock with a bit extra decorum. They’re much less Harley-Davidson gasoline hog and extra Ducati Diavel. Nonetheless a fire-breather that may get you there, however in a special model.

I wish to go on. I wish to say that as a trumpet participant, how a speaker reproduces brass overtones is a important efficiency metric for me, and the T66 ship. How simple the audio system are to arrange is one other essential issue of consideration, and I discovered that the T66 are about as easy as they arrive in that regard. However I do know I’m getting a bit long-winded. So let’s wrap this up.

Worth past worth

Are they costly? Sure. $7,000 a pair is lots for most people. Although I might argue — as GoldenEar audio system all the time have — that the T66 snort at audio system costing thrice as a lot.

I feel that’s what thrilled my dad in regards to the GoldenEar audio system I gave him. He lastly bought the sort of sound he had all the time dreamed of listening to in his own residence, however thought he would by no means get to expertise as a result of he was positive that sort of sound got here with a price ticket that, regardless of his exhausting work and profession development over six many years, might all the time have been out of attain.

Over the previous couple of months I’ve spent hours listening to data that outline my childhood relationship with my dad. He’s been gone for over seven years, but I really feel nearer to him than ever earlier than.

Heirloom audio system

I feel lots of of us have a tendency to take a look at loudspeakers as toys — bro desires a rad stereo — or as instruments. You want to listen to music and also you want one thing to make it in your house. However, if the expertise and recollections I made with my dad have taught me something, it’s {that a} pair of audio system might be as private and treasured as a flowery watch that will get handed down from era to era. A household heirloom. An object that may carry the spirit of the family members who loved it earlier than us, evoking recollections of a time long gone.

Perhaps the T66 aren’t the very same audio system that my dad and I gathered round simply weeks earlier than he left me, however they keep on the identical custom — one I’ll share and go alongside to my very own daughter. After I’m gone, I would like my little lady to recollect the occasions we spent on the sofa, listening to music collectively, escaping the noise of the world round us in favor of the sonic consonance and dissonance that actually shapes our souls. And when she does, I think about the GoldenEar T66 shall be there, too.