The Triangle Comete 40th Anniversary is a unique speaker in its price range.
Not unique in some special build, features, or looks—no, by its sonic characteristics.
Let me explain.
Banding the sound to deliver great bass and treble
Usually, when you have an audiophile system, there is synergy and pairing. It’s like cocktail making; by mixing ingredients, you get a whole new result but with the characteristics of the components you used.
In the audiophile world, a piece of gear can emphasize certain parts of the frequency spectrum to color the sound or create its own unique characteristics and flavors. These flavors are used to strengthen a company’s image, as certain sounds can be associated with specific brands and create a house sound. To simplify, speakers can usually emphasize bass, be neutral, or emphasize treble.
One note is that there are no truly neutral speakers in reality. They try to have a sound close to a baseline of reproduction, but these are not studio monitors; they are hi-fi speakers, and there is no joy in listening with a straight line. They do color a little bit but try to color it evenly.
When speakers build a unique sound, they usually emphasize one of those three aspects. Speakers can be dark, bright, or neutral, etc.
But these speakers—these speakers are doing something interesting. They are bending the dynamics in both directions, adding decibels to both bass reproduction and treble reproduction.
Making these speakers both bright and dark. Sort of. But that makes them so interesting.
Build quality and looks
But first, I need to speak about build quality and how awesome the new 40th Anniversary speakers look. I have a certain frustration I want to vent here. After purchasing these beautiful gold oakwood speakers and waiting for them for about two and a half months, I contacted my seller about when they would arrive. I received disappointing news that I would have to wait another month and a half, and still, they could not be certain if they would arrive then. So, I had to take what they had available, which was Santos rosewood. Now, Santos rosewood looks pretty in pictures, but in real life, it will look simply black in 90% of cases. I don’t like black speakers that much. Only when there is a light source falling on them will they show their amazing color and pattern. I am just sad that I couldn’t get the color I wanted, as I believe aesthetics in a room are also an important aspect of hi-fi gear, especially when we are spending so much money on it.
The build quality is astonishing; this is a one-piece wood cabinet with a magnesium dome and a paper midrange woofer. It creates a really slick and nice look.
It is important how you place them in a room
Now that the venting is out of the way, it is important to add a few things about placement and stands. I recommend slightly taller stands for these speakers, around 60 cm, as the coupling between bass and treble needs to be closer to ear level. Also, give these speakers some room and distance. While the distance between walls is a suggestion, having these speakers breathe is important. Please separate them by at least 150 cm to get great clarity and separation among instruments. They are quite introverted and like to distance themselves from their other half for the best results.
Great for low volume music listening
I am happy to say that these speakers are rather easy to drive, even though they require pampering in some other aspects. They have a power sensitivity of 92 dB, which is great; they sound good even at lower volumes. However, to get that bass and treble just right, you should have a decently good amp to drive them. They will not require overly powerful amps to reach their potential. They work with 8 ohms impedance and a maximum power of 90 watts.
Difficult speakers to pair and synergies correctly
Now, let’s talk about a touchy subject regarding these speakers: synergy. I tested them with a few different amps to discover which synergy I liked the most. I can say that such intricate speakers like this require proper synergy to sound their best. I think they sound best with more neutral amps. Something like the Arcam A15, which I used for the test, sounded really great. Honestly, it allowed both the bass and treble of the speakers to be prominent. I think these speakers are really dominant and are best paired with amps that can support and stay neutral. Adding more coloration to the mix will cause these speakers to change their colors.
You could almost say this is a chameleon speaker; how you pair it will result in a different type of speaker. As I said, I prefer a neutral pairing—something like Arcam, Musical Fidelity, or Hegel. It also worked fine with Marantz and warmer amps. The bass becomes even more pronounced and full. However, I think the least favorite synergy was with bright amps, as they can make these speakers sound unfortunately really fatiguing and overwhelming. Bright amps also highlight the separation, detail extraction, and texture even more, and if you really pursue such a sound, you can pair it with bright amps. This might cause a problematic synergy pairing, as both sides of dynamics are highly detailed, which, if paired incorrectly, can lead to a fatiguing synergy. But it’s not something that is impossible to mitigate.
Highlight of this speakers: Bass
Finally, we’re speaking about the sound I have raved about all this time. What incredible speakers these are.
I need to start with the bass, as I think it is the star of the show. It has two bass reflex ports, and whether that’s the reason why the bass has so much attack and detail, I don’t know, but it certainly helps.
The bass is not the biggest or loudest I have heard. It isn’t, which makes this even more interesting. The bass has attack, detail, and texture in abundance, making it a perfect complement to the high precision and detail of the treble. It’s always my theory that the best bass is not the largest or the loudest, but the one that is well-controlled, detailed, and precise. And this bass is exactly that. Not the biggest in scope but just excellent in its presentation and supplementation.
I can hear so much movement in how the bass starts, expands, and develops into the air. You know how in some compositions, sound goes from mezzo forte, forte to fortissimo. As the lower notes of the cello intensify, the sound does not become bloated but rather has command over the sound and dynamics, rising to be an equal part of other instruments. From brass and trumpets, the same applies.
It is also a joy to listen to this with some IDM and electronic music, as the presence of lower bass notes, sub-bass, is just palpable, beautiful, and expressive. I think this emphasis on attack and detail of bass, rather than size and definition, helps in another way. It does not cover or veil the mids. It does not create a bloated, veiled sound.
But if you want big bass with a large scope, it might be best to go with a subwoofer.
Separation, imaging and soundstage
One thing that caught my attention both at the audio store and at home was how easily these speakers separate instruments in the mix.
They have a great place on the soundstage. And because they are detailed, those details explain the properties of sound, allowing us to understand what sonic properties these speakers are portraying.
It’s easy to distinguish instruments, voices, and effects on the soundstage. It is a clear and vivid presentation. I am astonished at how I can trace and follow them on the soundstage. As I mentioned, it does require a bit of space for these speakers to open up fully. I had to separate them for the crossover to truly work as planned.
Imaging was also really good, maybe not the best in class, but I never felt a need to express disapproval with how it performed. Voices are centered, they look at me, and I look at them. They are very focused, and with good placement of instruments on stage, they do a great job. I have heard a few speakers in this price range deliver excellent center imaging, but this is nitpicking in the whole scheme of things.
One more nitpicking point is that I wished the soundstage were more airy. With great separation and imaging, the soundstage is naturally going to be good. But I wanted more horizontal spread, a deeper dispersion. I was okay with the soundstage as it is, but one can dream, right?
As you grow as an audiophile and listen to a lot of gear, you pick up the best traits of other gear and always try to imagine and compare those sonic qualities in this or any other gear I review. Imaging and soundstage are great to good, so don’t get that wrong.
Other Highlight: Treble
Now, the other highlight of this speaker, I think the bass is really great, and so is the treble.
It allows great separation among the top end of the spectrum. Your percussion, cymbals, and high frequencies will have definition. Because they are so detailed and exercised, they are also forward and full of energy.
Creating a real pulsing and moving sound. The rhythm combined with the attack and speed of the bass is exceptional. It grounds that bright sound more to earth while maintaining a galloping sense of rhythm.
All the compliments I made earlier also shine here, as great separation and clarity among instruments help distinguish and declutter the treble presentation.
Still, this is a very typical magnesium metallic dome. Hopefully, you understand it is really tipped into that right sound. It is not problematic as Bowers can sometimes be, and that is mostly due to also having distinguished bass.
But information extraction, delivery, energy, and pulse are definitely strong points here. If you are into that kind of sound, you are certainly not going to be disappointed.
Some problems and cons
Unfortunately, like most devices, there are some issues to discuss, and most of them are in the mids section.
As the mids are actually a crossover between bass and treble, and with such a distinct and detailed presentation, there are bound to be some trade-offs.
The main issue is that the mids can sound a bit reserved. This is particularly noticeable with vocals. Vocals cover a large range from bass to treble, but most of them are centered in the mids.
The vocals don’t extend as much and are not as expressive. They are present, have their space, and are rounded well, but with such powerful treble, they can feel a bit overshadowed. You can hear timbres and inflections, but they sometimes feel drowned by the treble.
If you prefer a lot of emotional expression in your music, you might find this presentation lacking. Many instruments that rely heavily on their dynamic range, such as parts of guitars and pianos, have texture and detail but don’t fully engage you. This is partly due to a more neutral presentation in the mids compared to bass and treble.
So, the mids might feel like a bit of a shy cousin to the treble and bass—talented but somewhat reserved, letting the other two do most of the talking.
Alternatives
As with many reviews, I like to look at alternatives and give my two cents.
Buchardt S400 MKII
One alternative is the Buchardt S400 Mk2. The reason I chose the Buchardts is that people are often in awe of what this bass does. The Buchardts have unmatched bass in scope and size at this price level among bookshelf speakers. Even though the focus and presentation of bass might be more on the Triangle’s side, it’s not that Triangle can’t win here. Additionally, Buchardts aim for a more neutral presentation, so mids are more focused and uncluttered. However, the treble of the Triangle is a champion here, delivering more detail, clarity, and separation on the top end.
In the end, it depends on what you expect from your speakers. Neutrality and smoothness of Buchardt with amazing bass, or the precision and detail of the Triangle’s bass, and incredible detail extraction in the treble.
Bowers & Wilkins 706 S3
This speaker has been reviewed already on my channel, so I’ll be brief. The statements about its almost impossible-to-beat power, drive, punch, and resolving capability still hold true. While the Triangle also has great resolving power, the Bowers & Wilkins offers a bigger and more defined bass, which makes the sound more grounded and with a bit more body.
It all depends on what you want from your speakers. If it’s the utmost punch and drive with rhythm, the Bowers & Wilkins might still be your friend. But for more defined bass and great dynamics and rhythm, the Triangle could be the better choice.
Review:
Monitor Audio Gold 100
If you like the sound of Bowers & Wilkins but prefer the sound of a ribbon tweeter, you might consider the Monitor Audio Gold. It offers a bit more clinical precision but still delivers great punch. I haven’t spent as much time with Monitor Audio Gold as I have with Bowers & Wilkins to make a very detailed comparison, but I know that the Monitor Audio Gold 100 delivers a lot of attack and precision. It’s very similar to Bowers but pushes for timing and precision. If you’re into how the producer intended the music to sound, these could be more suited for you.
There is certainly more clarity in separation with Monitor Audio. I still believe that Bowers & Wilkins are slightly better speakers, but Monitor Audio is cheaper. If fatigue is a concern, you might want to try these speakers as they might be less fatiguing. But as always, visit a demo room and listen for yourself.
Conclusion
What to say about these great speakers? I was shocked and in awe of how they manage to master both ends of the dynamic scale. They deliver very detailed, precise, and full-of-attack bass, and yet produce great treble that is fun, punchy, detailed, and revealing.
They honestly do something that many speakers fail to achieve, bringing a very rhythmic, lively sound that can be grounded by great bass and still have the fun of speakers with gravity and movement. It does have its shortcomings, such as not creating enough room for voices and mids to have deeper extension and expression, but it does offer enough for the mids, even if not spectacularly so at this price level.
With such detailed reproduction, the separation among instruments is fantastic and textured, giving well-produced tracks a new dimension of sonic properties that can almost be touched.
If you are ready to build a system around these speakers and put a lot of care into placement and positioning, you will be pleasantly surprised by their talents. All the hard work will be handsomely rewarded.
Keep daydreaming, and see you soon.
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
Unique Amazing Sound Profile: These speakers deliver a unique yet dynamic sound, with both bass and treble emphasized (!!!), making them versatile and interesting to listen to.
Build Quality: High-quality construction with a one-piece wood cabinet and attractive finishes, although personal color preferences may vary.
Excellent Bass Performance: The bass is detailed, controlled, and well-structured, adding texture without overwhelming the mids.
Excellent Treble Performance: Treble is punchy, detailed, with energy and clarity to give a great clarity and jot in top end.
Separation and clarity: Excellent clarity in instrument separation and soundstage, allowing for a vivid listening experience.
Great even in low volume: They are easy to drive, requiring only moderate power to reach their potential, and work well at lower volumes.
Cons:
Mids Performance: Mids can sound reserved, lacking emotional expression compared to bass and treble, which might not satisfy all listeners. They lack focus and presence. And vocals does not have presence it needs to shine and express it self.
They require additional thinking's about placement and stands: Optimal performance requires careful placement and stands, needing distance from walls and specific height for best sound integration.
Very difficult Synergy Challenges: Requires careful amp matching; pairing with bright amplifiers can lead to a fatiguing sound.
Limited Airiness in Soundstage in this price level: While good, the soundstage lacks some horizontal spread and depth, which some listeners may desire.
Tough Competition
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