Why Goldenear's hybrid T44 tower speakers somehow boast the best of powered and passive worlds

Date:
Sun, 23 Aug 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Description:
The Goldenear T44 are both powered and passive speakers (depending on the driver and frequency you want to talk about), allowing for some truly unique blending of sound.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter The concept of a hybrid speaker is rare, but not necessarily unique. However, what hybrid means when it comes to the Goldenear T44 is unparalleled. Thats because this speaker, along with its big brother, the T66, is both a powered and a passive speaker. All the best stereo speakers that Ive come across have been one or the other, but not both.

If youre not familiar, a passive speaker used to be the standard in homes 20 years ago (and a lot further back too). And when it comes to audiophile-level Hi-Fi, it still is. These speakers connect via speaker cables to an external amp that provides all the power and through which the audio signal is sent (whether directly or through additional hardware). You cannot use them
without an amp. Powered speakers (and their active cousins, where each driver receives its own dedicated amp unit), have become the more popular type of speaker with the advent of portable and bluetooth speakers . Powered designs integrate amplification so that all you need to do is give your speakers a power source, whether there's a battery that needs to be charged or they just need to be plugged into the wall. But you dont need a separate amp, because its all inside the speaker. Just connect your phone and youre off to the races. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here:

So, why make a set of speakers where half of the frequency range is already powered and the other half is not? For the Goldenear T44 (and the T66), its the listening experience. By using a 56-bit DSP-controlled Class D amplifier for the low-end, the T44 allows for a few things.

First, the low end will always have that quick, dynamic response that one should expect from a strong solid state amp. And second, by removing responsibility for the low-end from your external amp, it puts much less stress on that equipment, which is especially important if youre using a tube amp. By removing the low-end from the tube amp, the Goldenear T44 can extend the life of your tubes. You may like The best stereo speakers High End Vienna 2026 Best in Show awards: our favorite 11 speakers, streamers and more
Klipsch The Nines II review: excellent do-it-all active stereo speakers The bottom of the Goldenear T44 are active, while the top is passive. (Image credit: Future / James Holland) The flexible sound If youve never spent any time in the audiophile world, it can be an intimidating and expensive one
the Goldenear T44 themselves retail for $5,000 (about 3,700 / AU$7,070) a pair. And thats without that external amp needed for the high end you should be aware that using different amps with speakers will affect the way they sound. If you get deep enough into this world, youll come across bickering about which cables sound the best.

Because of that, being able to play around with different amps to change the sound of the top end of the Goldenear T44, specifically the sound thats
coming out of the High-Velocity Folded Ribbon tweeter (basically the same as an AMT tweeter) and the 4.5-inch mid-range driver, allows for a level of flexibility thats just not available with other speakers. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

If you want a very clean, detailed sound, you can pair them with all sorts of solid state amps, whether its another Class D one like what Goldenear uses to power the 5 x 9-inch bass driver (there are also two passive radiators to
help with the low end) or maybe a Class A or A/B one. You can even bi-wire whichever amp you choose.

Or you can get a tube amp to add some of that sweetness, even harmonic distortion, to give a softer, more laid back sound to the high-end, while still retaining that punch in the low end. Plus, theres a subwoofer level control so you can adjust the balance between the internal and external amp. The drivers themselves are pretty special Regardless of what amp you use, the fact that Goldenear uses a folded ribbon for its tweeter means exceptional detail Ive always found tweeters like this (again, similar concept to an AMT tweeters) means that you will be able to hear incredible nuance in the high-end. When Ive seen speaker lines upgrade to AMT tweeters, its always
been an improvement. What to read next I heard JBL's awesome new Summit Everest speakers, and they nearly blasted me out of my seat Two of the most outrageous High End Vienna speakers we've ever seen just launched, and they sit at very opposite ends of the scale 4 of the most detailed and sonically stellar elite hi-fi speakers I heard Audio at Audio Advice Live

The woofer for the low-end is also fairly different. Its a rectangular, long-throw driver that is able to move more air without needing a wider cabinet. These speakers measure less than eight inches wide. Thats not a lot of space for a big woofer. And being a planar speaker, it uses a flat diaphragm as opposed to the traditional cone, which minimizes the amount of distortion in the low-end.

To give you an idea of what these drivers do, the frequency range goes from 32Hz to 25kHz. Did you know TechRadar now has membership? (Image credit: Future) Become a TechRadar Insider by simply clicking 'Join Now' at the top
of this page. Have a question? Please email membership@techradar.com My experience with the Goldenear T44 I admit that Im pretty new to Goldenear,
but the company has a strong pedigree. It was started by Sandy Gross in 2010, one of the original founders of Polk Audio and also of Definitive Technology, and is now part of PML Sound International (Martin Logan, Paradigm, Anthem).

So, when I got a chance to sit and listen to the Goldenear T44 at this years Audio Advice Live, I really didnt know what to expect. But I was more than pleasantly surprised. Kacey Musgraves Slow Burn sounded both intimate and
epic with the way the T44 handled both her vocals, the guitar, and ethereal pads, while Ghost Riders Make Us Stronger hit hard in the low end for just a couple examples.

While I didnt get a chance to hear the Goldenear T44 through multiple amps (this little listen was powered by one from Anthem), I can see how separating the highs and lows really open up what you can do with these speakers. I
think if youre looking for something different with the ability to blend sounds, the Goldenear T44 should be at the top of your list. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. The best stereo speakers all budgets Our top buys, based on real-world testing and comparisons

Read our full guide to the best stereo speakers 1. Best overall: Q Acoustics M40 HD 2. Best compact: Dali Rubikore 2 3. Best desktop speakers Creative Pebble Nova 4. Best budget buy: Q Acoustics M20 HD



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/audio/speakers/why-goldenears-hybrid-t44-tower-speak ers-somehow-boast-the-best-of-powered-and-passive-worlds


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