Triad Gold MiniMonitor Loudspeaker Review

Triad Speakers is located in Portland, Oregon, home of some of the best microbrewery beers in the US.  Nestled between the numerous quality breweries, tucked away very close to downtown Portland is the home of a speaker manufacturer who applies craftsmanship and exceptional build quality to every speaker they make.  Perhaps one of Triad’s most redeeming qualifications is that they do not covet their drivers with implied origins but instead proudly list the actual manufacturers and model numbers.  Their educated selections of quality midranges, woofers and tweeters range from companies such as Scan Speak, Seas and Peerless just to mention a few.  Triad integrates theses drivers into a crafted, tightly fabricated well braced cabinet for ample rigidity and optimum performance with numerous finishes including a special color match option.

Triad boasts an acoustic suspension design which upon quick examination we found most intriguing.  I have to say that the Triad InRoom Gold MiniMonitors remain as one of the few speakers that I actually felt guilty about dissecting.  As I carefully began the process of removing the mounting screws from the mid-range and tweeter I could hear the faint sound of the gasket seal de-bonding from the driver/cabinet. Triad employed careful techniques to reduce any potential air leaks behind the drivers by forming a tight face seal.  I also noticed that the mounting screws had a higher than average torque and once removed I discovered that the rim of the driver was actually being used to compress the gasket.  Creating such a compressive force in an MDF cabinet requires using metal inserts and machine screws.  Triad was sure to implement this costly but beneficial method in their acoustically suspended cabinet in order to ensure sufficient loading on the gasket.

The floating grill cloth grill was thin and unobtrusive to the cabinet, but it was not meant to be removed often. I found the framing of the grill to be too thin and once I removed from the cabinet I became cautious on how I handled this fragile assembly. My guess is that the only people who actually remove grills from speakers are those like me who conduct reviews. So if you're not overly inquisitive and feel you don't need to know what's behind the grill it shouldn't become a problem.

It amazed me to fund such a stiff midrange/bass driver in an acoustically sealed cabinet as my intuition tells me that it would make the speaker extremely inefficient thereby requiring more power to drive them. My audition and subsequent measurements discussed later in this review proved that this was really not the case with the Triad InRoom Gold MiniMonitors. Triad's drivers of choice included the Seas 27-mm high definition pre-coated fabric dome 27TDFC tweeter and a Scan-Speak OEM supplied Revelator Mid/Woofer. The internal wiring was comprised of 14 AWG twisted pairs that were soldered to their appropriate driver similar to what we found in our review of the Canton Karat Reference 2DC Tower Loudspeakers.

We began our audition of the Triad Gold MiniMonitors on an Onkyo TX-SR502 receiver. We then integrated them into Reference System 2 with our Parasound Halo A21 two channel Amplifier, Parasound Halo C 1 A/V Processor and Denon DVD-2900 Universal Player. On both systems, we auditioned the MiniMonitors with the front speakers set to "large" without the Triad InRoom Gold PowerSub and "small" with the PowerSub to compare the resulting performance.

I initially ran the Triads on the Onkyo receiver without the PowerSub and set to "large." At first, I had to verify that the PowerSub was actually turned off as the mid-bass performance seemed well above average for such a compact speaker. It became obvious that they were capable of providing invigorating, punchy tight bass well beyond other bookshelf speakers I have auditioned of similar size and shape. I was stunned with their performance on the modest Onkyo receiver but they truly had their shining moment when integrated in Reference System 2 on the Parasound Halo A21 amplifier and Parasound Halo C1 processor. I enjoyed several weeks entrenched in the delight of the MiniMonitors while I perused through most of my favorite CDs ranging from classic rock, new age, jazz and     classical. Though it only took me a few CD titles to consider that the Gold MiniMonitors were an exceptional performing speaker.

Perhaps what I found most appealing about the Gold MiniMonitors was their bass response. With little power, they were able to produce ultra tight, radiant mid-bass down to what seemed to be 70 to 90 Hz. The mid-range met with equal splendor as guitars and bass were reproduced with intent and accuracy. The Triads had the edge over other high end bookshelf speakers I've auditioned when it comes to bass extension and slam. After listening to the Triad Minis in several different theater rooms I found the Seas tweeter implemented in the Triad design performed commendably. Vocals and cymbals resonated with brilliance while the deep mids and bass balanced the overall performance. After exhausting my CD library and test tracks, I decided to go through them all over again, but this time I added the Triad InRoom Gold PowerSub.

It would have been nice if Triad had included speaker level inputs to appease the 2-channel audiophites who do not prefer or have line level input connectability.  If I were to purchase these speakers as a part of a 2-channel analog stereo system I would likely have used the speaker level connections and PowerSubs internal crossover for my configuration.

When analyzing the speaker into the sum of its parts as we have done in this review, it helps to appreciate the MSRP of the Gold MiniMonitors at $3,400 per pair (in black) and the Gold PowerSub at $1,500 (in black).  Triad's Bill-Of-Materials and Manufacturing Costs for these products help to justify their price especially when considering the stellar performance they produce.  Keep in mind that several other speaker manufacturers utilize similar drivers such as the Scan Speak Revelator mid/woofer and Seas Tweeter in their designs however those companies also have a higher priced and not necessarily better performing products than Triad.

Triad has over 350 dealers throughout the US, but their website does not provide phone numbers or addresses.  Their reasoning is that they want interested customers to contact via email a local Factory Representative.  After initial consultation about the Triad products, the Factory Rep then directs a potential customer to an appropriate Dealer in their area where they can audition the products of interest.  It is also important to note that Triad has multiple versions of all their products, including an InCeiling and an InWall version of the Gold MiniMonitor, for different applications.  So you can enjoy their great sound regardless of physical room or installation constraints.

In some cases, the Dealer may not have the exact model in stock that the customer is looking for.  In this instance, Triad can send the Dealer a product they have in stock for demonstration purposes.  As with most custom speaker manufacturers, products are not always waiting on the shelf ready to be drop shipped upon order.  Triad stocks no inventory of finished goods, and all products are made custom, in batch sizes of one. Standard orders ship to the dealer within three days. This creates a longer turnaround time for your speakers than going the typical commercial route however the advantage of purchasing an outstanding performance product such as these in a premium veneer or custom color that matches your furnishings should outweigh the wait time.  Anticipation will only make you more appreciative of the final product once it arrives.  While Triad's speakers may be a bit challenging to find initially, they are worth the research and effort to locate, audition and purchase if they are right for you.

Triad Speakers, Inc.
www.triadspeakers.com
15835 NE Cameron Blvd.
Portland , Oregon 97230
(503) 256-2600 - Main Phone
(800) 666-6316 - Toll Free
(503) 256-5966 - Fax

Frequency Response Curves
The Triads measured frequency response was fairly smooth with a 1dB dip from 1kHz to 8kHz and an emphasis in high frequency response of 3dB from 10kHz to about 20kHz. Off axis frequency response was very smooth in the midrange. We found the most pleasing sound of these speakers was with a slight toe-in of about 15-20 degrees.

Impedance/Phase Curves
Given the moderately low efficiency of these speakers (86dB @ 1wattmeter) and their 4 ohm impedance, we recommend powering them with a least a 100wpc amplifier in small to medium sized rooms. The impedance curves indicate the usable bass extension of these speakers based on the first impedance peak is about 55-60Hz. Phase is kept within a +45 to -60degree window which can be a bit more of a demand on a lesser designed amplifier.