$2500 For These? Triangle Comete Compared to KEF R3 Meta and X-LS Encore!

As always, very difficult to judge without being there. But yes, the Cometes sounded too sharp for me, I've heard the KEFs and don't like them and maybe the GRs would be something I could live better with. Still, and for the money, something like the Dynaudio Evoke 20s would be my choice.

Screamers they are

This review format is the best I've ever seen. Super informative. Please continue to do these.

The great video I like the way you illustrate things. And to be honest, I thought in some cases, the kefs sounded the best of the three.

I’m really curious if you’ve ever listened to PMCs and what you thought of them ?

I ended up buying the Comete 40th's and my results are quite different than described here, but of course I had to play around with placement to get there - and that is not at all unusual ime. Compared to the placements shown here, I have them much closer together, closer to the side walls as well as rear wall and of course all of that affects how they sound. I admit I have no idea how you arrived at this placement, but for example, other reputable reviewers of these speakers noted they found the sweet spot about 1 meter from the rear wall - in your setup it looks more like 3m? That's an extraordinary difference.

I don't have room to pull them out as from the walls as shown here nor even as far as the alleged 1m sweet spot, and that's fairly expected in the EU market where many, many people live in apartments with smaller rooms than the average American homescape. It is my understanding that Triangle (as well as Focal, possibly others) factor real world conditions into their designs. Considering these speakers are specced for rooms < 25 sq meters - how does the space you have compare? I don't know the details on your side, obvs, but I think it's safe to say that's a very large room, and what I note in the sound clips is that the Comete sounds like it's in a cavernous space that it just can't fill. I kinda have to suspect your room is just too large to do them justice. Heck, that visually delectable ceiling height alone is suspect :D

Anyway, in my smaller room (ca. 18 qm) I find the Comete 40th's nothing short of delightful. They are fun and lively, but they also have a delicate sweetness about them which is an unusual combination ime. They are not "bright" or high end heavy, not at all fatiguing. The bass is clean and sufficient for my needs (without a sub), and the mids are pleasantly weighty without being tubby or too warm. They sound "right" to me, they put a smile on my face, I really dig them.

If someone already owns a KEF R300 (older version of R3 meta) do you think it would be better to squeeze more value out of it by upgrading the crossover? Or would it be better to purchase an XLS Encore kit ? I’m debating between these two options.

I paid $600 new in box for my Triangle Comete ES speakers in 2009. I love mine and would never sell or replace them. However, they are not a studio monitor and are about enjoyment more so than accuracy. I don't like the current versions of the speaker as tested here. They lack the efficiency of the original and sound shrill (vocals on the original ES version are much better). I 100% agree with the reviewer.

The reason I won't replace the Comete ES is that they are the best sounding speakers I have owned or heard for low volume playback. They don't excel played at moderate volumes - but that's fine with me.

I run mine with a Cayin A-50T which I purchased in 2008, connected to a Yamaha CD-S2000 player I purchased around 2013/14. I mostly play SACDs at low volume in a 16x12ft room.

I have the Comete 40th and i like them. Before i had the KEF R300 and to me they sound aluminium, not natural. It's personal taste.

I agree with everything that you described while listening to these speakers, with the exception of the Triangles being sibilant. Could be my ears could be my headphones?

I am an owner of Trianle Comete 40th anniversary and I think they sound amazing. Warm amp, sub in larger rooms and they make outstanding sound. Nothing here was said about soundstage, musicality, 3-dimensionality, analitic aspects, whether they are "emotionally" sounding. Only tonality was covered in this video, wchich is not everything. By the way: why the frequency range graph was only presented up from 200Hz? What about below? In Europe we are lucky - they cost around $ 1800-1900.😃

NICE review. Even though all of these speakers are out of my price range, it was clear, the Encore's sounded the best and yes, I have a decent sound system on my computer. I could definitely hear the differences between the three speakers. The Triangles sounded hollow and 'reverby' with a crunchy high end, as the OP stated. The Kef was better. The Encore's, which are priced at $1300 for the pair were the best. The measurements back up the listening and it is a clear example of how you don't always get what you pay for, especially with speakers. While I am not overly familiar with Triangle, I wouldn't even think of paying that asking price they are asking for that speaker. As for KEF, I have been seeing them start to go down the road of a 'troll manufacturer' as they are getting greedy. This is most noted with their LS-50's and the meta version. I don't think they are anything special and certainly shouldn't be commanding the $1500+ for what performance they give. As it is, I find it hard to spend more than $640 for ANY bookshelf speakers, period. As it is, the higher in price you go, the less you get in terms of returns. The Law of Diminishing returns comes into play here. BUT, as I said, I really liked how this video was done and came along for the ride, and even though I can't afford the Encore speakers, those would be my choice as well. @New Record Day. One improvement I could recommend is to chain the audio clips of all three speakers in succession without talking between them, so one could get a more immediate comparison without delay in switching from speaker to speaker. Otherwise, nicely done!

Hei Ron, why would you delete my comments? What is going on? Is one not allowed to share his experience on your Channel? Also noticed you deleted comments from other users also! What gives?

Triangle Comete EZ could be bought for $800 very often in Europe before they got discontinued.

Great review and information given here. I do wish we could hear the 3 speakers back to back to really hear the differences a bit.

Do real-time level-matched switching between speakers please if you really want us to notice the differences. The auditory memory is only a few seconds so unless it's a really bad issue it gets muddled having to sit thru the (informative) pep talks.

Great content brother I'm in the process of building a set of encores what ample for would you recommend?

I hear a lot of your room reverberations! That's the main difference with the original recordings.

i bought the cometes for 1100$ so im incredibly happy with em :), im more of a fan of the speakers coloring the music the most, and the amp coloring it the least

ok so...I admit I'm cheating a bit, since I'm listening to this on the first go using my every day speakers (very modestly priced elac dbr62s). Can anyone explain why my "local" speakers make the reference track sound much fuller than any of the recorded speakers do? Could this be a level matching thing or what? As from where I sit, my speakers are already meatier and bassier than any of these three! True, they lack a sense of "air" but if that comes at the expense of body I'm not sure I want it :/

yes yes I will dig out my headphones later for another go, but this is also a bit questionable to me and raises a basic question for our host: you say "which speakers sound most like the reference track" - but what are you using to determine what the reference track sounds like? I'm not trying to be facetious - it just popped into my head and it's kind of breaking my brain at the moment :D

GREAT format regardless - I really value this sort of demonstration very much. Is it everything? no of course not - as you are demo'ing in a symmetrical room with good treatment and ideal speaker placement (or is it? if all speakers are placed in the same location for testing that seems questionable to me), whereas I would be listening in my tiny apartment with the speakers barely 50cm from the wall if I'm lucky. Still it's an interesting demo!

So why not equalize?????
Actually you are right about sibilance, but it boils down to subjecrivity
These are all great speakers, personally l lean towards the KEF's.

I have had these since they came out and, whilst I love the sound for tracks without midrange, I find myself constantly fiddling with the positioning to counter the nasal mids. I can't get them just right without an EQ, then the EQ adds noise and I turn it off again. I've settled on blocking the ports and toeing the speakers to 6" past my shoulders. Arghh, but they look so good, grr.

Excellent format, keep it up! You, Sir, gained a subscriber.

Great setup and comparison. The selection of songs is very limited though, when all your differences are either enough meaty and with body or not.

Ron, I've seen your clips of the GR X-LS Encore's in your other video's, along with this one, and I'm struck by the similarity of the reference sound-clips to those reproduced in-room by the Encores. They sound pretty damned good.

Triangle Duette 40th Anniversary speaker didn't have any of those descriptions as you stated on the Comete, I found the balance of their tweeter and woofer in the Duette to be the most balanced speaker I have heard out of any Monitor. Also as we age, we tend to gravitate more toward higher frequency because you tend to loose those first when we age.. Ironically I found the KEF to be kind of subdued.. The Comete definitely have more going on in the high frequencies, but they are also using a horn tweeter, which I normally never like. With the Duette's the speaker seems more balanced but I agree with your assumptions, as this is a hobby of perceptions and opinions.. You like what you like..... is the saying I use... Plus the Triangles excel with Tubes, it tones down the extra liveliness of the Triangles. Nada on the X-LS they were a toss up for 2nd choice! ;) The KEF sounded the closest, but placement can be key, and different equipment matching is helpful with some speakers, I would definitely pair the Triangles with Tubes.

Here in Norway the triangle's are $1200 USD.
The r3 are $2300 USD and the x-ls are not available.

I think the US pricing on triangle is making them less competitive that what they really should be.

Very interesting video. I have the Triangle Esprit Titus EZ and I think these are incredibly special speakers for their under £800 price point. They are dynamic, fast, yet textured and subtle and never fatiguing in my system. For their relatively diminutive size their bass is punchy and tight if not particularly extended.
I've heard that speaker manufacturers sometimes produce a goldilocks speaker in a range of speakers where others in the range do not hit such heights. I think the Titus is such a speaker. I have tried several rival models up to £1000 (these include Dynaudio emit 20, Acoustic Energy ae500 and Sonus Faber Lumina ii) and none have equalled them.
I was very therefore curious when I had the chance to pick up some Comete 40th for a ridiculously low used price. My findings? Pretty much the same as yours. An overly prominent treble and a woolly, light sounding bass that I put down to the lack of power in my amp (Denon pma 800ne). I sold them on at an even more ridiculous low price. I am now of the opinion that system synergy and in room performance are the key rather than saying that such and such a speaker is always the best performer.

hey NRD guy. Since I'm a moron, what is the reference track source?

Are you Normal?? Instead of stupid unnecessary text, why don't you show the sound of the speakers instead of ego.d??? Unnecessary reasoning, shock!!!

Firstly, thanks for using a metal track, as it is something most reviewers are lacking in videos like this. It is important to include as it is a style that kinda throws everything at you at once, and one needs good speakers to listen to that type of music. Us gitar nerds like details too, and we like it fast and heavy.
Is the Kef R3 also a reference speaker you use, or just something you added as it is popular. It might have been more interesting with a Meta version in the future. I agree that the encore and Kef sound alike, and I have been looking into having a Kef too as I feel they both have something in common, but a slight difference which are both welcome to my ears. I feel like the Encore is a bit more rounded at times, which kinda makes it slightly warm, and the Kef maybe has some more directness in the high mids and treble. Anyway, might be interesting with the Kef LS 50 meta as the body is more rounded, which they claim will give a better off-axis response, which could be great for when having guests and multiple listening positions.

Anyway, still eagerly waiting for the Arendal's review?? :)

good tutorial on how to listen

Well done. I want to emphasize that the question in the end is framed. Ultimately, the buyer will go to a showroom and sample a bunch of speakers. The preference for one speaker or another is subjective. I understand that you have the point of view of a reviewer.

It is really obvious to me that a speaker should be transparent to the music. it is not the job of the speaker to alter the music. If someone prefers a non linear FR for whatever reason (e.g. high frequency hearing loss) then I think it would be best to address this using electronics with tone controls?

Supporting you by trashing Tekton's litigation behavior!

What I noticed in Kef R3 reviews from all kind of different reviews is always the same phenomenon. I really like the sound but they feel 'far away' or if i would listen to them behind a really small invisible wall. Someone has insights what coudl cause that feeling of mine?

Hey Ron, with the current mess coming from Erin's Audio Corner/AudioScienceReview and Erik Alexander of Tekton, you might want to keep an eye on things. I know you can't address the stuff from 2019, but it appears Mr. Alexander is back at work going full lawsuit on other reviewers who don't think his speakers are unassailable. I'm guessing you are aware of this, but I figured it didn't hurt to try and get it on your radar if you weren't.

Hi Ron, so comparing with the Borea BR08, do you believe the Borea is a more linear and true to the reference sound speaker? It's interesting if so, solo based on the fact that this is a speaker that is one or two steps "above" the Borea range.

Hi, Ron. What is your take on the speaker at a third of that price -which is the list price in Spain? Sometimes even cheaper on certain days.

Nice comparative review. 👍

It quickly demonstrated that these would NOT be speakers I'd even begin to consider, regardless of price point or aesthetics.

The FR of the Comet are a travesty IMO, but just looking at the overall design I'm not surprised, including the "compression chamber" tweeters. In addition to the KEF R3 Meta and X-LS Encores that you compared them to, the Ascend Acoustics SIERRA-1 V2 for less than $1k/pair measure and sound infinitely better.

Q: When actually listening to all of the speakers in your room are they all aimed directly on-axis to your listening position?

And are your microphones that capture the in-room audio clips also on-axis to each speaker as well as at the designated vertical reference height for each speaker?

I realize that this was already a long video and a lot of work with the 3 sets of audio clips as well as measurements, but it might have been interesting to hear your in-room audio clips and see the corresponding measurements with just the Comete standmounts aimed 15°-30° Off-Axis (Toe'd Out), especially if they have narrower HF dispersion where side wall reflections might not sum as much with the direct sound resulting in even more HF elevation.

That might help to tame the elevated HF in what looks like a very directional/narrow dispersion tweeter.

However that relatively consistent boosted response above 4.5k would be difficult to offset and would make this way too sibilant and fatiguing for long term listening IMO.

If it were me, I'd apply -3.5dB high-shelf cut from 4.5k up to ~13k, and then try to fill in that dip just before it a bit from 2.5k-4k about +1dB to 1.5dB (not completely).

It looks as if the XO is just above ~3k and the narrow vertical window and that suck-out are due to the large center-to-center spacing between the tweeter and midwoofer (compare to the X-LS Encore), as well as using a deeply inset horn-loaded "compression chamber" tweeter.

Even the On-Axis response through the XO region is really poor with that semi-wide dip that then transitions to an immediate significant peak at ~4.3k. :/

I understand that your gated measurements that omit the LF response are necessary due to limitations of the measurement setup and environment, but especially because the low-end response differed so much between these, it would have been really nice to see those measured differences as well. But I know it's A LOT more work to measure and stitch the LF separately.

Ultimately, these are just too much of a mess, especially at their price point and with inherent design flaws that even a modified XO couldn't remedy. :( The port resonance and anemic midbass response definitely don't help the matter.

Listening to your clips, I agree that the X-LS Encore were the closest overall to the reference tracks in regards to spectral balance. And while not quite as close in that regard, to my ears the R3 Meta seemed to provide just a bit more underlying definition and detail. That could be sighted bias playing a role, though.


I'm also wondering if you move your mics ~15% closer to the speakers for the in-room audio clips to mitigate just a bit more of the room's contribution would help in the overall perceived clarity....or do the microphones' current distance/placement more accurately represent what you actually hear in your room at your listening position?

Cheers

Hi, this format educates the audience, thank you. The way you describe the audio qualities is so nuanced and refined, it's a skill that comes from experience. 2 thumbs up! I'm a long time supporter of the XLS Encore (would never sell) and I've recently bought the PROAC Response DB1, and I would say that it's on par with the XLS Encore. They both have their strengths, both are warm, one with greater soundstage, and the other greater bass. I wonder why you have not reviewed any PROACs?

The Triangle did sount last on your test, but they are not like that at all. Perhaps another 150 hours of burn-in and then redo the test. I did sell mine as I still prefer the PMC TB2i with their ever slight bump.

I owned the Triangle Comete 40th anniversary and to be honest I struggled with them in all areas having had PMC tb2i for many years. They are very directional and require a 45 degree angle towing. Tonally they were very dark and were not easy to pair with amplifiers even-though the three solid-state amps I used were neutral. The audio lab 8300a matched the best, but Atoll IN200 signature had better dynamics as the speakers performed much better. My EL34 tube amp simply sounded very thick with them.

The tweeters were very clear but bright and that made cymbals sound unnatural. Sonically, they changed quickly when moved farther from them. The mids were rich and the tweeters projected highs from within the horn so they were recessed, but I did improve this with kimber 4tc cable.

In my opinion these are overrated with the Santos rosewood finish contributing to their appeal. By the way, if you install the metal rosegold cones with the metal discs and place them on their stand, you will gain more dynamics and speed. They scale up with better and more expensive amplifiers giving more dynamic and clarity.

These were my experience with them and I am certain owners of these speakers have better pairing and get better results than I did.

I don't find triangles aggressive at all; just a wonderful soundstage

The "bright" response in the 5K-15K range is nearly meaningless IMO. The signature differences we're all hearing that are meaningful are driven by the weak bottom end (partly from being so far away from any walls) and that sharp peak from ~500-1400hz. I think a lot of people look at a response plot and try to think of the entire range as having the same "meaning" but it just isn't true. The bulk of audio energy in music happens from ~40hz-4Khz. I wouldn't focus too much on the response of a speaker above 5K as we're not very sensitive to it and most of the energy up there is not what we think of when we think of "treble." It's more like the "air" on top of treble. It just needs to be present, it doesn't need to be particularly "flat" up there to sound fine. Takes young ears to hear much of anything above 10K anyway.

A few dB of response variance right smack in the middle of soprano vocal and very common octaves on many instruments... THAT is going to sound problematic.

I bought some B&W 706 bookshelf speakers and they are dull and lifeless and they cost me AU $2,400! I bought them for reference for my speaker building madness. They work well for basic bass, med and treble content. They are a great help and I couldn't do without reference speakers. But the 706s lack "breathiness" in the female voice sound (really badly) and the tone in the med sucks. My home built speakers absolutely flog them (hands down)! I just added my own personal touch to the copied sound, and increased about 5 khz a bit (on my built speakers). And of course I kept the 706s original. I bet the whole 3 speakers in this video would be better than my 706s. 😅

Never ever put a 'book shelf' speaker on an actual book shelf, it always sounds bad. All of my speakers sound better than this; EPOS ES11, Ruark Prologue Ones (re-wired) and Totem Sttaf. Zero sibilance at all and that's through various amps; Audiolab, Roksan, XTZ, Alchemist, Exposure.

Distributor maybe like... "Can we talk?"😄

Yep the encores sound amazing

This type of speaker is made for the old generation boomer that likes bright speakers.

Let me introduce 2024 technology to you guys that live under a rock: EQ, and PEQ, and even Target Curves.

With the above 3 techniques, you can transform ANY neutral speaker to a bright speaker, or a warm speaker in a second.

In 2024, with access to modern dsp techniques that are already integrated into pre amps these days, such as dirac live in NADs pre amps, one should only be buying neutral gear.

Companies that still make colored equipment like theese speakers are just making to sell to the old traditional people.