chef free
Super Member
About a decade ago I bought a pair on impulse, went all through them, and once repaired, they sounded much better than any other speakers I had. I was satisfied!
Last year a friend asked if he could store some speakers at my place, a pair of Golden Ear Triton One r. I knew of their reputation so I quickly agreed. He shows up with these speakers and a MC202 to power them. My QLS are vertically bi amped by a pair of MC2200. I spent a week adjusting both speakers and amps to get the two speakers close in volume and tone.
For a few months I switched back and forth, listening to my usual wide range of music. I found the two speakers to be very different in tonal balance and presentation. I wondered why 40 year newer speakers didn't immediately amaze me, until a non audio-fool friend asked, "Is it basically the same technology?"
The Tritons are an MTM design with a AMT tweeter (my favorites!) and three oval woofers up front with two passive radiators on each side. Their built in sub woofer amp acts as a bass level control and makes the Triton capable of subsonic bass. Overall the Golden Ear are clearer, with a much larger sweet spot, a very palpable center image, and have bass that digs deep. The QLS" emits are more "sparkling", the bass fuller and more natural, while the sweet spot is tiny, when you are in it these line source speakers really throw a HUGE soundstage! Yes, the Golden Ear sound clearer and flatter but the Infinity are just more fun and exciting to listen to.
Then, couple months ago that same (very good) friend asked if I could store a couple more speakers, JBL4355, upgraded with the charge coupled crossovers! He include an active crossover and MC 352 to bi amp the big JBLs.
I'm admittedly not a fan of horns so once I tamed the shrillness of the mid horn the speakers were a bit midrange heavy, opposite of the dark, flat Tritons. They sound very realistic on horns, Miles Davis was a treat! But they seemed to break up on strings, a place the Infinity shines. Big bass from those twin 15" but not super low, the JBLs needed lots of EQ to dig deep, while the QLS woofers sounded loud and clear with a flat setting! How does a single 12" in a smaller box out duel twin 15"s in a giant (48"x34"x18"), better made, box? Well, the Infinity use lots of power, at only 82dB they need 200 watts at least to get loud. JBL are very sensitive, 96dB, and will blast you out with 35 watts on the woofers and two on top! Again, once volume matched, after much listening with several people, over a few months, it was unanimously agreed Infinity's 1976 flagship QLS beat out both modern and vintage competitors!
I thought you'd like to know!
Last year a friend asked if he could store some speakers at my place, a pair of Golden Ear Triton One r. I knew of their reputation so I quickly agreed. He shows up with these speakers and a MC202 to power them. My QLS are vertically bi amped by a pair of MC2200. I spent a week adjusting both speakers and amps to get the two speakers close in volume and tone.
For a few months I switched back and forth, listening to my usual wide range of music. I found the two speakers to be very different in tonal balance and presentation. I wondered why 40 year newer speakers didn't immediately amaze me, until a non audio-fool friend asked, "Is it basically the same technology?"
The Tritons are an MTM design with a AMT tweeter (my favorites!) and three oval woofers up front with two passive radiators on each side. Their built in sub woofer amp acts as a bass level control and makes the Triton capable of subsonic bass. Overall the Golden Ear are clearer, with a much larger sweet spot, a very palpable center image, and have bass that digs deep. The QLS" emits are more "sparkling", the bass fuller and more natural, while the sweet spot is tiny, when you are in it these line source speakers really throw a HUGE soundstage! Yes, the Golden Ear sound clearer and flatter but the Infinity are just more fun and exciting to listen to.
Then, couple months ago that same (very good) friend asked if I could store a couple more speakers, JBL4355, upgraded with the charge coupled crossovers! He include an active crossover and MC 352 to bi amp the big JBLs.
I'm admittedly not a fan of horns so once I tamed the shrillness of the mid horn the speakers were a bit midrange heavy, opposite of the dark, flat Tritons. They sound very realistic on horns, Miles Davis was a treat! But they seemed to break up on strings, a place the Infinity shines. Big bass from those twin 15" but not super low, the JBLs needed lots of EQ to dig deep, while the QLS woofers sounded loud and clear with a flat setting! How does a single 12" in a smaller box out duel twin 15"s in a giant (48"x34"x18"), better made, box? Well, the Infinity use lots of power, at only 82dB they need 200 watts at least to get loud. JBL are very sensitive, 96dB, and will blast you out with 35 watts on the woofers and two on top! Again, once volume matched, after much listening with several people, over a few months, it was unanimously agreed Infinity's 1976 flagship QLS beat out both modern and vintage competitors!
I thought you'd like to know!
