Hi;

I had been considering Two's since their release, and first auditioned them a few months back, a couple of time in fact, comparing them to other candidates including B&W, Monitor Audio, and Paradigm (my dealer stocks these, and he is the only non big box guy in town). At my last visit to my local dealer, I auditioned the Threes, then got to compare them to the Two's. Unfortunately, with others in the store at the time, I was only able to drive them "sort of" loud. I also spent only mabe 1/2 hour.

My Dealer's staff (3 of them) say they like the Three's "better" than the Two's, but I think because of the significant price differential. In my audition, I found them quite close, but was not able to do a direct A/B - same placement, quick switch, etc...My Dealer noted that he thought the Threes were more balanced but the Twos "play loud better" both subjective, I know, but they can lock the doors and listen longer.

I tend to buy equipment and use it a long time, so, while I have the means to justify the extra $1K, I am also intrigued by the thought of using that extra elsewhere where it could make a big difference - Pre/Pro, DAC, Phono Preamp or cartridge, etc.

So, I am wondering what the thoughts are of anyone that have listened to both and have an opinion?

As background, I listen mostly to music, but enjoy home theatre. I would say I am not a critical home threatre person, much more so for music. I have an Arcam AVR-300, Acam CD-73 CD Player, and a multiroom Squeezebox system (library encoded in FLAC), Project Debut 3 turntable. My current speakers (being replaced are Klipsch KG5, KG 0.5 (Rears), KSW-12 Subwoofer, and Klipsch center.

Thank you...

There are several things to consider here. First, how large is your listing area? Secondly, how loud you listen to music? Third, how important is imaging to you?
I'd agree with your local dealer that the Triton Threes offer a better value and potentially more pinpoint imaging mainly be due to the fact that they only have one midrange driver. You need to balance that against the increased output of two midrange drivers and the two woofers along with the larger passive radiators the Triton Twos. Remember, you're coming from Klipsch speakers, which play louder than most speakers.
The next thing you might consider is your statement that you have a tendency to hang onto things for long time (like me!). If the extra thousand dollars isn't a major dealbreaker I'd seriously consider the Triton Twos so you'd never be second-guessing yourself.
The great thing about either one of the speakers in their ability to play very loudly with a relatively small amplifier. I've been amazed at that.
Last, if it makes you feel a better, I've been chewing on the same problem for the last few weeks! I currently own B&W 804 S for my main listening room. I'd love Triton Twos, but my wife doesn't like the way they look. I can't fix that! Triton Threes are more aesthetically pleasing, but I always hate buying the smaller size (I'm like that, I think it's a male thing!).

Scott

Thanks Scott, I am not alone...

Answers -
1) two rooms, both not very large, one is the main/theatre room, the other I call my "Vinyl Listening Room" (I listen to more than vinyl there though). However, some of us keep our audio equipment longer than we keep the same house.

2) I like listening at what you might call at a comfortable level (wife doesn't complain), and also at a level where conversation is difficult (have to raise your voice to be heard), and then, when alone, I have been known to crank it. I can measure typical SPL if needed.

3) Imaging, I know what you mean, but not sure. I am no die hard audiophile, but like clean, smooth, and powerful when it supposed to be sound.

I have listened to both at the dealer, under some conditions, but not all. I guess what I am interested in, from you, and perhaps others (dealer, GE employee) who have compared both is what is their impression as to what you might notice in the two's that you won't get in the three's, and what are the conditions (i.e. volume, music vs theatre, type of music, etc).

Our wives would prefer the smaller size, and maybe I would too, but I don't want to miss anything that I am currently not experiencing in my demos..

Besides, the extra $1K could buy a nice pair of bookshelf/stand speakers for the Vinyl Room!

Any other thoughts are welcome all...

Jim

Jim,
Thanks for answer all my questions! Let me try to answer in the simplest way I know.

Imaging, for me at least, means the ability to close your eyes and hear exactly where each of the musicians are in front of you. If it's a very well recorded album you may even be able to hear the concert hall where venue it was recorded in. What I mean by that is you may be able to here the height and depth of the hall musicians are at. Because the Triton Threes use only one midrange driver there is less of a chance that your ears hear the same sound from two different speaker positions in the same cabinet. That is the primary reason the Threes image slightly better than the Twos. This is also why audiophiles typically like two way speakers.

I have also heard that the Threes go slightly deeper in bass than the Twos primarily because the threes have a larger cabinet volume internally for its one woofer versus the only slightly larger internal cabinet for the two woofers in the Twos.

The Twos can play much louder then the Threes simply because they have two woofers, two midrange drivers, and a amplifier that is 50% larger.

Based on what you've said, especially the," crank it", comment, I really think Triton Twos would be your best choice in the long run. Remember, with the either of the Tritons, you no longer need to buy a subwoofer so you'll save some money there. Lastly, GoldenEar has had a bigger buzz in the last year and a half than anything I've seen in speaker companies since the early 90s. Sandy Gross and company seem to be building all the right products at the right time.

Scott

Scott summed it up perfectly, although the Twos image beautifully but are a bit more sensitive to placement to achieve this - typical in my experience with Diapolito arrays. Main difference is that the Two will play louder and fill large spaces better.

Thank you both, very much. Now the remaining puzzle is, if playing loud is 10% of the time, and normal listening is 90% of the time, is doing a better job at the 10% worth the 1K...Probably! live a little!

One last question with regard to placement. Is their any resctrictions on distance to adjacent objects, other than walls placed to the sides of the speakers? I ask because I will have a metal/glass Bell'o audio rack to one side of one of them, and a metal/glass tv rack with flatscreen between them. Is their any restrictions on how close these should be?

Jim