Triad Owner's Thread - Page 151

For the models that have both passive and active versions, the performance is identical. The OmniSubs are only available with the amp onboard.

There's nothing inherently "better" about pro drivers, especially when compared to the ridiculous consumer drivers Triad uses. The sole reason for using pro drivers is for added sensitivity. The tweeter is over 100 dB, so it was necessary to choose a pro 15" driver to get the sensitivity and the extension needed for an LCR. Most pro 12" woofers are rolling off pretty hard by 100 Hz.

And I don't want to hear two of these. I want to hear THREE of them...in my theater.

Sensitivity + power handling seem to be the big, (perceived), benefits of "pro" drivers. This equates to serious "headroom". Having a speaker that is just loafing along at high SPL's means you're in a very low distortion/compression part of the speakers' output curve. Pro drivers seem to have the reputation for high output and sensitivity.

I agree that I would like to hear THREE of them. Actually, I would love to hear SEVEN or NINE or ELEVEN of them.

Craig

Just as an aside, I'm sure most of you know I am fully retired and out of the industry after a thirty-three year career. I've pulled back from being a presence online, and the only thread I spend any time in is this one, because I love and believe in Triad. I'm no longer here everyday, and I may be slower in responding. All Triad questions can still be directed to me, and I am happy to offer answers and opinions. However, please don't ask me questions about your systems designed around other brands of speakers. Nothing personal, but I only have the time to help Triad customers. Please take no offense, but it isn't fair to ask me two dozen questions in a dozen PMs about designing a system centering around a Klipsch or Atlantic speaker system. Please seek out the Klipsch, Atlantic, JBL, or Definitive advice from one of their mavens; not me.

High sensitivity gets tricky, otherwise everyone would do it for consumer use. High sensitivity tweeters tend to be brassy and screechy. The 94.5 dB Scan R-29 is a notable exception. And most manufacturers still build "full-range" speaker systems and they try to get real 40 Hz response. The more extension you go for, the lower the sensitivity is; almost always. There are a lot of very nice full-range 87 dB speaker systems out there. Triad's best audiophile full-range speaker, the Gold MiniMonitor, is actually around 86 dB. Nearly all Triad speaker systems are designed for use with a subwoofer, so their sensitivity is a bit higher than the competition, plus they handle lots of power. This translates into prodigious output. And by definition, an LCR is optimized for 80 Hz and up, so why try to get 40 Hz bass when you're going to use a sub, anyway?

You're exactly right about headroom. A great speaker system that's straining is no longer a great speaker system. I've shocked more than a few people by telling them I'd choose a mid-priced Klipsch system before I bought some low-sensitivity, carriage-trade, hoi polloi brand that can't reproduce a mouse fart at a realistic level.

That's what happens when you're one of the most knowledgeable AND genuinely nice guys on the forum. Everybody wants your advice.

Now, go shove that bike seat where the sun don't shine... and get off the forum!

Craig

I am NOT feeling the love in this room...

The love was in the sentence you DIDN"T quote.

I'm a little late to be asking this considering I'm having a calibration done in a few hours, but is there any reason to worry about upgrading firmware on the DSP amps? I have DSP 350 v2 driving my Triad balanced subs. They are all on software stack 1.7 dated May 2011. I got the equipment in February or March.

Looks like the amps are from a Chinese company called Sonavox.

Lest anyone misinterpret this ^ what I was trying to impolitely say was... "Now, go ride your bike... and enjoy your retirement."

Craig

I wouldn't worry about upgrades, as long as the current amps function properly. Features on subwoofers are over-exaggerated. Performance is what matters.

Triad's amps are made in China by Sonavox, a large company that builds amplifiers for many companies, including Klipsch. They also manufacture Triad's round ceiling speakers. The bulk of the Triad line (85%-90%) is made in the Portland, Oregon factory. .

I got that, and I did chuckle at how you put it...

Thanks Paul. I figured I may be into all kinds of Room EQ, etc that perhaps would benefit from absolute newest firmware. We didn't end up using anything but basic settings anyway.

It is a little funny the documentation says there are no new firmware upgrades and then the screen shot shows one level lower than what I have

New Triad offering..............Cinema Reference

Kind of strange not seeing Paul doing the presentation................but at least David Nelson has "Hollywood" looks.

Hello All,

I have got 2 Triad Classic Gold LCR and 2 HT Gold System speaker .Now i am going to use this for my HT.I dont have center for this.
What i can do here , i was not able to get one more Gold Classic LCR here. I have ADA 6150 Power amp is this
good amp for Triad.What is best processor i have to use for this.

Advise me on this questions.

Regards,

Naseer

I answered you in PM, but I am eager to see what others tell you. I like the ADA amplifier, by the way.

The ADA is a great amp. I used it with my Gold LCR's for a while. When I upgraded to the Platinums, I use the ADA for surround duties.

As for your processor, depends on you budget. Triad used the Integra processor in previous demos. You could also look at ADA's current processors if you are willing to shell out the funds. I use a Classe CT-SSP processor and Classe amps for my mains. ADA amp for the surrounds.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Triad-InRoom-Gold-LCR-one-Speaker-/360485471589?pt=Speakers_Subwoofers&hash=item53ee9bc565

Why not shop ebay. This is a single classic gold LCR isn't it?

^yep

Actually, for what you'd have to spend on a separate processor, I'd replace the Classic Gold LCRs with new Gold LCRs and get a $600 receiver that has pre-outs and bypass the internal amp. That solves your speaker problem, too. BIG upgrade.

Hello,
I am new to the Triad speaker forum and I would like to ask for some advice about choosing Triad in-ceiling speakers for a finished basement that includes a basic home theatre (HT).

First here are the basement construction details: perimeter walls are poured concrete foundation and faced with 2x4 wood studs covered with 5/8” drywall attached with screws; interior walls are 2x4 wood studs covered with 5/8” drywall on both sides, attached with screws; the ceiling is a dropped (suspended) metal grid with 2’ x 2’ Armstrong 1” acoustical tiles, 8.5’ above the floor; the floor is 12mm Bruce laminate installed over an acoustic pad over a concrete sub-floor; the home theatre entertainment center was a DIY project using ¾” cabinet-grade plywood for shelves and backboard (all joints made with carpenter’s glue and screwed). The basement layout is shown in the attached PDF file. Triad In-Ceiling Speakers.pdf 14k .pdf file

I now have a very basic (2.1) home theatre setup using a Pioneer 60” monitor (KRP-600M), a FIOS HD set-top box and a Panasonic Blu-ray player (DMP-BDT 210), both connected to the monitor via HDMI cables. I am using the Pioneer’s built-in amplifier (9W per channel) to drive a pair(L/R) of Energy Take Classic satellite speakers mounted on either side of the Pioneer monitor and I have an Energy S10.3 subwoofer using the high level inputs. I also have an Energy Take Classic center speak which is not currently in use. Seating in the HT is about 12’ from the monitor and there is an area rug on the floor between the seating and monitor.

My family is very pleased with our current HT setup, but we now want to expand our HT to a 5.1 or maybe a 7.1 setup. I was planning to keep my current Energy speakers and subwoofer and add additional Triad speakers to expand our HT.

I know that an upgrade to a 5.1 or 7.1 HT will involve the purchase of an A/V receiver (maybe an Onkyo TX-NR515) and installation of side and rear satellite speakers. Because the HT is part of an “open” basement floor plan, I would like to install in-ceiling (rather than in-wall or on-wall) speakers for the side and rear satellites. I understand that I will have to add additional support in the ceiling tile and metal ceiling grid to handle the weight of any type of in-ceiling speaker that I install. Triad offers many types of in-ceiling speakers from simple rounds (with and without back-box enclosures) to a wide variety of cabinet-type models (omni/satellite, surrounds, mini-monitor and monitor). Which Triad in-ceiling speakers are best for a drop-ceiling installation? Are some of these in-ceiling speakers better for side or rear satellites? I am also concerned with transmitting sound to the upper floor, so I am wondering if an enclosed speaker rather than an open speaker is a better choice? Are there any issues with “blending” the sound of the Energy L/R/C front speakers and the Triad in-ceiling side/rear satellite speakers? From an installation viewpoint, some of the Triad in-ceiling speakers may not fit because of their depth (there is a 5” clearance between the drop-ceiling grid and the bottom of the upper level floor joist, but if the speaker enclosure can be aligned between the floor joists the opening becomes much larger (the floor joists are 12” deep and spaced 16” apart)). Is there some flexibility in placing the Triad in-ceiling side/rear speakers to fit between floor joists without seriously compromising sound quality?

I also want to distribute stereo sound (music) through the rest of the basement area using Triad in-ceiling speakers in the drop-ceiling. I was thinking of using either two Triad bronze or silver rounds (either open or sealed) or a single silver DT (either open or sealed) for every 300 ft2 of coverage area (floor area). The sealed versions of these speakers have almost an 8” mounting depth so I would have to locate these speakers between two floor joists. Is the sound from the sealed round version much better than the open round version? Should I also consider the Triad mini-monitor or monitor speakers for this application? If I used two speakers (L and R) per coverage area, I would try to space them 6-10’ apart and at least 5’ from any wall. If I used the DT speaker I would try to center it in the coverage area. Based on the coverage area, I will probably have 4-5 right channel speakers and 4-5 left channel speakers. I was planning to connect each set of 4-5 speakers in parallel wire connections to an Onkyo M-282 amplifier that is capable of 125 watts (RMS) per channel.

I would appreciate any advice about the selection and placement of the Triad in-ceiling speakers. Thanks.

Tom

Any info on the cinema reference subs?

This new line makes me sad.. .. but only because it cost about 2 times as much as I would be able to swing. Maybe there will be a lite version one day.

The CR1 IS the light version. The big one will come next. And trust me, Gold LCRs with a nice amp will pin you against the wall pretty good for a little over two grand each.

I haven't heard anything about them. Just spend ten grand and get four Platinum DSP Subs. A total of 4,000 watts (RMS) and four 18" drivers. Personally, I don't see where Triad needs a bigger sub. Multiples work better.

Wow, that is insane. I guess I’ll just continue to watch from the sidelines. I have followed Triad for some time and I have always loved their line and structure. Other speaker companies should learn from them. For example.

• Product Map- this should be an industry standard spec sheet.
• Forum support
• No BS specs. Down to earth and up front.
• Made to order but with realistic and met lead times.
• Real/Useful accessories. Stands, mounts. I can’t stand it when someone sells a speaker line and then you’re on your own to find a stand or mount. This is one of the reasons I really liked the old M&K.
• Custom choices. It would be a misconception to see Triad as a cookie cutter speaker company. You need something modified, chances are they can do it.
  

I am sure I forgot other bullet points, but these were on the top of my head.

My current amp is a NAD M-25. I know the Gold LCR is a leap above what I have now, but don’t upgrade often and when I do, it needs to be a bit bigger of a step.

Thanks for the kind words. We need to improve on a few of those bullet points, though.

The biggest bullet point is that most Triad products are built-to-order in America. This is advantageous for many reasons. First, we pay American workers to make our stuff in an industry that almost exclusively outsources. (There should be penalties for all outsourcing, and no tax breaks for companies that kill American jobs, but that's another discussion.) Second, building here allows Triad to control quality. When a company receives a container of speakers that all have a flaw, they are either sold with that flaw, or the container goes back and the company is out of stock for months. You figure out what they do. Third, building one at a time (literally) allows for customization; size, color, finish material, etc. Custom paint is at no extra charge. Paint matching is free, too. And although veneer is expensive (it's exquisite), the matching of the veneer to a wood sample is free. If done properly, "just-in-time" manufacturing can be very efficient, with no 1/2 acre warehouses full of stock that sits for three years, and no huge stockpiles of materials and parts. It's a good business model that initially requires some courage to implement. Larry Pexton, Triad founder and president, is to be applauded.

No one else does this because it's easier to boat in a bunch of speakers made by underpaid or slave labor in environmentally-ghastly environments. Speaking of which, the Triad factory uses no harsh solvents, and even uses all water-based paints and stains. You can walk through the factory and not have trouble breathing due to dust or chemicals. Triad has surpassed regulations, and has been self-policing in that respect.

And one more comment, which I hope doesn't stir things up. I know something about small business. Triad is not strapped by regulations or over-taxing. At all. Most companies aren't. What small businesses need more than anything else is CUSTOMERS, and that requires a middle class with spendable income.