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REVIEW: Triangle Comete es Speakers


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Model: Comete es
Category: Speakers
Suggested Retail Price: $950
Description: 2 way monitor
Manufacturer URL: Not Available

Review by Green Lantern on January 20, 2015 at 08:20:04
IP Address: 72.220.145.238
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for the Comete es


This is a review of the Triangle Comete ES monitors. Brand new they go for around $1,300; I was able to find a pair here on Audio Asylum classifieds for $400. The gentleman I purchased these from lives in L.A. about 1 ½ hours away. After making arraignments for shipping the seller then informed me he did not feel comfortable with shipping these and would drive them down to me. Not sure what it is about L.A. but this is the second time this has occurred, the first was about 3 years ago when I purchased my Magnepan MG20s from a gentleman in L.A. who also drove down and delivered to me. In any event I am extremely grateful in both instances.

Ok- back to the monitors: after living with planar speakers exclusively for the past 15 years (Magnepan MG1.6, Apogee Duetta Sigs, and currently Magnestand (Gunned modified) MMGs, and Magnepan MG20s); I decided I’d make a system with conventional cone drivers for a separate room, in this case my 18’x20’ living room. This decision came after a visit to a fellow audiophile’s house over the past summer. His system consisted of a pair of DIY high efficiency drivers along with an Adcom GFA 555 stereo amp. The sound was actually pretty darn good although for the music I listen to (primarily acoustic jazz and female vocals from all genres) they couldn’t image like Magnepans are known for. Well I guess he saved the best for last because he put on classical selection that simply left me dumbfounded. I don’t know the name of the selection (he was able to provide me a copy of it on CD, but even after trying to “Shazam” it late, it did not recognize it).

Anyway; the effect of the presentation was quite mesmerizing, one that would resurface every now and then and got me thinking: “hmmmm, sure be nice to have a separate, inexpensive, high energy setup; one that will launch a visceral attack on the senses and one that leaves the room shimmering long after the music has ended. A “Mr Hyde” system if you will. So for months I browsed the usual sites ie audiogon, Asylum classifieds, ebay, usaudiomart, to name a few. My short list of speakers were Vandersteen, B&W, Infinity, and Triangle. Excuse my list for being so ‘mainstream’ with my speaker selection-remember, I’m primarily a ‘planar’ kind of fella ;). A pair of Vandersteen 4s popped up online locally but their size, price (I wanted to stay under $1K) and a call to Vandersteen indicating they no longer service them steered me away (I once owned a pair of Vandy2’s that went out and repairing them was a pain in the arse, and I sure as heck didn’t need a set of 300 lb book-ends in my living room somewhere down the road ).

I finally came across the Triangle Comete ES. After reading a few online reviews on them and deciding they were the size I needed, I made the seller an offer. A couple days later he was at my door with the speakers.
The speakers dimensions are: 16.5" H by 7.9" W by 13.2" D. Shipping weight: 41 lbs. According to Stereophile.com: The Esprit Comete has a horn-loaded tweeter, which flares from the 1" titanium dome at its throat to a mouth that measures some 2.5" in diameter. A longish phase plug, evidently made of brass and held in place with two radial strips, obscures much of the dark-gray dome. The tweeter's housing is molded from a smooth and apparently sturdy plastic.

Setup: I ordered a basic set of stands on Amazon; although not necessarily my first pic for stands, they have an adjustable height option that I liked. Associated equipment used: a pair of VTL compact 100 tube mono blocks (100 watt each), a 2tb hard drive along with a Logitech Squeezebox server. No preamp was used. Cables were a pair of Analysis Oval 9's, and a pair of silver strand interconnects purchased online.

Initial impression: right off the bat I knew these were no ordinary monitors. The soundstage presented was deep , focused, and straight to the point. It had a presentation as if to say “hey look over here, this is where the drummer is” and “on this side- notice the trumpet player going at it”, etc., …I must say this is VERY refreshing coming from a box speaker and generally only reserved for the finest planars. But these of course are not planars; they’re monitors…yet they present themselves monitors that “want to be planars” because they image so well. Another interesting aspect happening inside the soundstage is the sharp, well defined, “dynamics” firing off within that sphere. I call it a ‘sphere’ because this is where the similarities with planars end. Planars can create a soundstage the entire length of the back wall. When positioned right and matched with the right components, planars can paint an image on the back wall which seemingly “pushes back” said wall several feet, giving the impression of an enormous symphony hall. The Comete’s conversely “wrap” an image around themselves in a nice, wide, tight circle IMO. The tweeter on the Comete is one of the most amazing sounding I’ve ever heard; “light”, “airy”, and “crisp” are the first thoughts that pop up in my head regarding the tweeter. High-hats clasp (foot action, not stick) off to the side, totally independent and unobtrusive while taps occur on the opposite side (a bit wide but that’s not the speaker’s fault, more of the engineering involved in the recording). Female vocals are equally amazing; each presentation seemed effortless, not strained. Midrange was smooth, uncolored. Bass was surprisingly evident, not what you’d expect from a 6.5” woofer.

“The test”: when I cued up the track from the cd my friend gave me I knew it would all boil down to this. I was optimistic going in because I’d already heard what they could do with my ‘warm up’ tracks.
I was not let down, the high efficiency of the horn tweet and incredible dynamics of the drivers ‘easily’ carried the track from start to finish. Granted, it carried the bass as best it could (I’m awaiting the arrival of a Rel Strats II to help the low end duties) but all-in-all it performed flawlessly. Ditto for another track: “Mars the bringer of war” from the Planets cd. Strings are refined albeit a bit sharp, horns fire off at the upper right section of the soundstage, drums pound (as best as the can) in the middle left region.

So where’s this leave me with my planars? As I mentioned before this system was designed primarily for the times I need a quick ‘pick me upper’. Think of a system loaded with dynamite, that once ignited will send you to the Heavens and back down again and you’ll have an idea what I was aiming for; a “visceral attack on the nerves and senses” if you will.

My Maggies? This marriage is safe. Listen- if the Triangles (and accompanying components) are my ‘run through the jungle’ system, then the Maggies will remain my “stroll along the beach” system.






Product Weakness: lower bass
Product Strengths: efficiency, dynamics, slamm, phenomenal soundstage


Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: VTL 100 watt tube mono blocks
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): none
Sources (CDP/Turntable): logitech squeezebox with 2tb hardrive
Speakers:
Cables/Interconnects: analysis plus oval 9
Music Used (Genre/Selections): jazz, female vocals of ANY genere
Room Size (LxWxH): 18 x 20 x 9
Room Comments/Treatments: none
Time Period/Length of Audition: 72 hours
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner
Your System (if other than home audition):



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