GoldenEar T66 Loudspeaker Review | The Audio Belle

Cynthia, AKA ‪@TheAudioBelle‬ , reviews the first loudspeaker in GoldenEar's T series. She talks aesthetics, sound quality, its remarkable ability in recreating a live orchestra, and its A+ "wife acceptance factor"...
Listen in to learn more!
Watch more Audio Belle: / theaudiobelle
00:00-1:08 First Thoughts
1:08-3:45 Aesthetics, Design, & Construction
3:45-9:22 Cynthia's Subjective Review & System
9:22-13:17 The T66's and "The Absolute Sound"
13:17-19:11 Reproducing a Live Orchestra
19:11- Final Thoughts
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Substack: theabsolutesound.substack.com
About Cynthia Blankenship:
Cynthia converted to audiophilism 5 years ago when she first heard a pair of Magnepan 3.3Rs playing Die Moldau from Smetana's Ma Vlast. The ensuing journey would have her be a recurring guest on the Audiophiliac's channel, a Magnepan 1.7i ad in The Absolute Sound magazine, and shadowing Alan Sircom of hi-fi+. With what began as a hobby with a focus on human interest stories, 5 years later she will now be delving into the world of audio gear reviews for The Absolute Sound, HiFi+, and her own channel @TheAudioBelle
What Is The Absolute Sound?
The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, KZbin and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles.
#audiophile #theabsolutesound #hifi

[@peterbaugh51]

Best review I have ever heard to date. Your judgement is good and fair. Realism is what impresses me. A live orchestra is the most incredible, awesome experience imaginable. It spoils you. I think it is the bass that is making those speakers sound so real. Deep bass is what most stereo systems lack. Bass is why live music is so awesome. If you have played in a band or have seen a live orchestra, you get it. Thanks for the video.

[@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac]

Nicely done!

[@TheTASmagazine]

Thanks! Means a lot coming from the Audiophiliac ;)

[@countdebleauchamp]

😮

[@krismccall4911]

I have these speakers and couldn’t be happier, they are very holographic and easy to listen to, but also revealing at the same time. I highly recommend. I came from a set of magnapan 1.7i and rel subs…. These beat that combo soundly.

[@rickcarlson5916]

Currently I own a pair of GoldenEar Triton 2’s and love them! I met Sandy Gross back in 2008 when the Triton’s were first introduced, what a honor that was.

[@pauljoyquilter359]

Very insightful review. I like the T66 speakers too. They just keep drawing me into the music, getting my feet tapping, and listening to more music.

[@SoonerThunderFan]

I have the Triton Ones and have been extremely happy with everything they do.

[@janbenschop7597]

Point of order: the tweets are not folded ribbons although they are indeed folded. They are air motion transformers. The folds act visually like accordion bellows. They do not act pistonically, like ribbons and planars, but contract and expand laterally, "squeezing" air out like a watermelon seed pinched between your fingers. It transforms air movement through angular momentum, causing a dramatic increase in expulsion velocity. This is why it can trace steep wave fronts like transients with ease and natural transparency. Oscar Heil, the inventor of the Fet transistor, invented the amt concept.

[@johnlee6727]

I ordered the T66's they are supposed to be here this coming Wednesday. I originally ordered the Red's, but GE told the dealer they would be two months out, so I changed it to the blacks.

[@intenttoinjure]

Oh man would i love to have a pair of those!

[@peterfreeman3317]

Goldenear has the best warranty in the business. Even OG triton amps have been warranties years out of warranty. Best value in speakers. They sound amazing.

[@niveketihw1897]

I've been waiting for GE to go full Active Crossover / onboard amplification for all drivers (five amps in the case of this T66). An AMT Midrange setup (see the Adam Audio Column Mk3 Active) would also be amazing.

[@alpachlavi]

Yeah, that would be nice. Like modules to be added after a while

[@net_news]

they are stunning

[@TheTASmagazine]

We think so too!

[@johntucker5994]

Nice review! Thank you.

[@bani_niba]

I have a 5.1 home theater system using GoldenEar speakers - excellent in my opinion and more cost-effective than more well-known brands.

[@user-vs8bk4pl7z]

Great job very well done and thorough

[@troyesposito9909]

What a great review, I missed hearing these at the last AXPONA. So hopefully they will be back for AXPONA 2024, I did hear another GE a few years back and found the HF were too much and saw a rising treble in some reviews in a frequency response chart. Since I have seen then I have seen other FR charts and they seem to have corrected that.

[@charlesf2804]

I wonder how much power they consume at a normal listening volume. i don't particularly like speakers that plug in (outlets are at a premium in my space), but admit to bring intrigued by these.

[@JimMilton]

And the internal wiring is provided by Audio Quest, not simply lamp cord wiring. I bought my review samples, too. Great speakers!

[@losendos8963]

Im currently without a system and I'm reading and listening to all the reviews i can in an effort to make the best decisions in putting together a new rig. Speakers are probably the thing that is most perplexing in my search. (And speakers I choose can determine what direction i want to go with other equipment, especially amplification. The first "serious" speakers I ever owned were a pair of Magnepan Tympani 1-C's. (That was 1980ish.) The most recent pair of "serious" speakers were a pair of Infinity Epsilons, and their servo unit. I'm very torn between another pair of Maggie's, or something else. Your review certainly makes me wonder about the "something else" (although I love the Magnepan sound). I live at least 2 hours away from anyplace that would have high end on hand, so reviews are important to me. Thats a long way to go to say I very much apprdciated your review. Im still perplexed!!!....but these things help. Two thumbs up!!

[@TheAudioBelle]

@losendos8963, I am so glad to hear that it helps! Let us know what you end up going with!! ---Cynthia, The Audio Belle

[@joeelwell6161]

My approach has been to buy and sell used speakers - there are lots of reputable used dealers (e.g. Echo Audio), and sites like Audiogon, etc with reviews, if you want to avoid eBay (which I have avoided tbh). If you buy mint or near mint speakers in original packaging, you can save a TON of money compared to new, and expect the sound to be essentially the same as new. Reselling will cost a percentage of course. Doing this, I've owned Maggies (bought and sold locally as shipping is tough), KEFs, Totems, Revels and ProAcs. Using these speakers for a year or more has given me a better sense of what I prefer, and what I don't like. It's also a blast to own different speakers. I've concentrated mainly on speakers I can buy used for less than $2000, which translates to new prices as high as $3000 or more. Overall, I guess my trades have cost me 2 or 3 thousand in resale and shipping costs. What have I ended up with? KEF LS50s, which are available for less than $1000/pair used. Oh and I kept a pair of Martin Logan CLS's that would be tough to sell, and sound so much different (and better in some ways) than anything else, I'd hate to lose them.

[@joeb4349]

Good review !

[@aaronrandolph261]

i love my golden ear set up right now but those t66's kill me. the aesthetics are awesome really like the way the look compared to my Triton 1R fronts

[@adrianalexander2651]

Well Done!

[@Palosrob]

This lovely young woman gave an extraordinarily good review. But as I am I guess you would call an amateur linguist who studies speech patterns in people, I'm fascinated by how she adds an extra syllable at the end of many words at the end of a sentence. For instance, "speakers..uh". Is it from where in the country she was raised or family members who had the same type of speech?. Most interesting.

[@TheAudioBelle]

@Palosrob, I did not notice that I did that haha. I just listened again...I am not sure if has to do with the fact that I am from Oklahoma, previous choirs I was in where we pronounced extra syllables a lot of the time...or both (maybe I do this subconsciously because I have a slight accent and am trying to anunciate?). Too funny though, and thank you for pointing that out. 😂 Really glad you enjoyed the review! ---Cynthia, The Audio Belle

[@_944audiophile]

Very nice review!

[@cjay2]

The thumbnail image has a typo, guys.

[@dondisbennett2048]

I haven't seen you on KZbin for quite a while and was a bit worried, Cynthia. Glad you are alive and well. I have heard these at a couple of audio shows and agree with you. They can truly do it all and sound good with a variety of music genres. FWIW, I have both the Triton 2+ in my office as well as the Triton Reference speakers in my main system. Are you going to attend the new Southwest Audio Fest in Dallas? If so, I will see you there.

[@SC-km5vc]

Hello! A used set of Reference are nearly the same price as a set of new T66s. Which one are you taking?

[@dondisbennett2048]

@@SC-km5vc That's a tough one, but I think I would take the used T-Ref's, assuming you have the space for them as I think they still project a larger soundstage and overall greater scale than the T-66's. Also, since I use them for both two channel as well as home theater, I think the Reference speakers hold the edge for HT use.

[@TheAudioBelle]

@dondisbennett2048, I won't be at SW Audio Fest this year unfortunately! But I will be at Axpona. Will you make it out to Axpona this year? ---Cynthia, The Audio Belle

[@Expedition18]

Awesome review. Golden Ear a very solid product. Was price per pair or each? Either way good value. 👍

[@_fakeklg]

Love this review

[@TheTASmagazine]

Thanks for watching!

[@isaacsykes3]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣I Love It!! The fastest review ever; 57 seconds!!

[@cruise2023]

Hi! Haven't heard from you on your own site! Are you now reviewing for The Absolute Sound ? When we spoke last time regarding the MiniDSP SHD you mentioned Hubby was going to build the " bitches Brew " have not heard anymore. What do I see in the background while you were unpacking the T66's, The Bitches Brew 😀Have you or have you any intentions of doing a review on these ( it would be wonderful ) Would this have conflict of interest ? thanks Alain

[@dougg1075]

Good review

[@TheTASmagazine]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@dougg1075]

Yeah, they are probably all you would ever need. But that ain’t us:)

[@janbenschop7597]

The to data was originally written for pipe organ.

[@weust2672]

I noticed this in a previous review by her, but what's with the "uh" at the end of almost every sentence?

[@janbenschop7597]

Maybe a southern preacher's daughter...

[@CarlVanDoren61]

Speakers w inner sub do not sonic well Get separate subs w active crossover 2/Rel Carbon Specials JLA cr-1 active crossover

[@joeb4349]

True. But if one does not have the space then these are the next best thing.

[@kenhiett5266]

Piano is a percussion insturment.

[@michaellandskroner964]

Unfortunately I never liked the voicing of speakers made by Goldenear or DefTech. Yes they imaged great being almost holographic, but to my ears and the ears of many others they were just BORING!! No excitement in the music so I decided to build my own speakers and voice them they way I LIKE in my room with my equipment. I have been going to Broadway Musicals since 1957 (thanks Mom and Dad), concerts of all types and not to mention that I was in the music business as a photographer and had access few other people had. I heard these concerts up close and personal. I've been to over 2K concerts, most of which I got into for free. GEs do not reflect the sound of what live music sounds like, especially rock, blues and jazz. BTW, my speakers are true Bipoles which is as close as I can get to how instruments reproduce sound - 360*. MBLs simply blew my mind and came as close as any speaker I have ever heard at making instruments come alive. YMMV

[@theomindschrddr7983]

Are they good for prog rock?

[@TheAudioBelle]

@theomindschrddr7983, What do you have in mind? I have them for a bit longer. If you have any requests, I'll go have a listen and let you know. :) ---Cynthia, The Audio Belle

[@EricHansen-fr3cz]

ELP brain salad surgery..Album .. I own triton 2s goldenear floorstanding & Nad integrated amp 375bee ..sounds great ..Good review

[@Fred-ql3gq]

The ONLY problem with a speaker like this that has amplifiers inside them is that the warranty on the internal amp is just 3 years. D-class amps are un-repairable. Meaning when the internal amp dies, you are out of luck. Passive speakers can last decades.

[@FOH3663]

Un-repairable?

[@Fred-ql3gq]

@@FOH3663 Basically, yes. You could send the speaker back to the manufacturer (I'd ask any active speaker manufacturer-- including subwoofers-- what the return policy is if the internal amp dies after the warranty ends) but it would likely be very costly. Class D amps are known as being basically un-repairable. Why buy any speaker when the internal amp dies after 4 years and it's out of warranty? Again, I would ask the manufacturer before buying.

[@FOH3663]

No, I'd have to say it's not basically un-repairable, as you suggest. Your concern over longevity of active loudspeakers is valid, I agree. I have fifteen active (I just counted) loudspeakers I use. I've had active monitors for years. But if you can use a screwdriver, the amp module comes right out. Plus, any repair tech local to you can repair them if you didn't want to mess with the removal.

[@Fred-ql3gq]

@@FOH3663 "any repair tech local to you can repair them" is false. I had a repair guy that was an authorized repair shop for major brands that could not repair a subwoofer that died on me due to the Class D amp. and I live in a major metropolitan area (CT, an hour from NYC). no one anywhere near me could do the repair. and the subwoofer manufacturer wanted to charge me 80% of the original price of the sub to repair it because it was out of warranty. if the active speakers that you use have a module that you can remove, that's great. but that is not the case for the majority of active speakers, that is a unique situation. so buyer beware. just check with the manufacturer before buying. why does GoldenEar only have a 3-year warranty on the amp?

[@FOH3663]

@@Fred-ql3gq Ok, interesting. I see, I understand many shops turn away potential repairs. But I'm curious for additional context; "could not repair it due to it being a class D amp" It's worth noting, it's not necessarily the amplifier class, it's how it's built, with service in mind, etc. Myself included, we've all become spoiled with plentiful low cost high-output amp modules, many active platforms sprouted up everywhere. SMPS (high speed switching power supplies) is one culprit. That can approach the original price of the entire unit. So, prohibitively expensive? Absolutely. Yes, I can see that. Replace the entire piece if available. My old 90's Velodyne subwoofers (two 15"), when their modules failed, ultimately I ended up powering them with an external Behringer EP4000 pro amp ... I bought from Parts Express for ~$350! Worked fine until dry rot finally consumed the foam surrounds! Bottom line, tldr; Longevity of active anything ... is a concern.

[@michael71601]

Set up good microphone and demo the sound for the god's sake

[@BagHolder323]

How can anyone do a speaker review without a sound demo? How? It’s mind boggling to me how many people yap for ten minutes without a demo. 👎🏼