Floorstanding loudspeakers — Vitavox TriTone

The TriTone is a three-way free-standing loudspeaker from Vitavox that combines horn loading for the upper bands with a reflex-loaded bass section. It descends from the Vitavox Bitone Major, a model originally built for commercial venues, and unlike the corner horns in the range it does not need a room corner to work. Each pair is hand-built to order at the company's factory in North Yorkshire.

Key specs that matter

The low end relies on a 15 inch Vitavox K15/40 driver with an alnico magnet. The midrange uses a Vitavox S2 pressure unit and the treble a Vitavox TR32A compression tweeter, which Vitavox says adds an extra octave of bandwidth over its predecessor. Vitavox specifies 50 Hz to 21 kHz within 6 dB, a sensitivity of 102 dB at 1 W and 1 m, a nominal impedance of 15 ohms and a power handling of 100 W. Midrange dispersion is 90 degrees horizontal and 20 degrees vertical, while the tweeter covers 120 degrees horizontal and 40 degrees vertical. The cabinet measures 1360 mm high, 780 mm wide and 620 mm deep, and each speaker weighs 104 kg.

Engineering and use context

The upper drivers sit in a T3 module built around an R300W dispersive horn, repositioned compared with the older design and described by Vitavox as having high mass and strong self-damping to suppress resonance. The high-frequency unit can be indexed forward or backward within the module, which provides time domain alignment with the midrange. A Vitavox NW500X network divides the bands, internal wiring is SC1 oxygen-free copper and the input terminals are VX4-B types. The enclosure is made from 30 mm beech plywood, a thicker material than the original Bitone Major specification used. Buyers choose between several coats of acrylic polyurethane or a surface that is hand-oiled and polished, and solid hardwood, commercial veneers and inlays can be specified. For extra low-frequency reach, Vitavox offers an optional Tremor ABS corner bass system.

Pairing

With its very high sensitivity, the TriTone suits valve amplifiers of modest output, among them single-ended triode units. Its 15 ohm load asks for less current than the 4 to 8 ohm speakers most solid-state amplifiers are designed around, and valve amplifiers with a 16 ohm output tap connect to it directly. Owners who want the Tremor ABS extension add a separate corner bass unit to the system.

Alternatives

The Vitavox Triple5 is a three-way horn-loaded floorstander in which the LGK151 bass unit, S4 pressure unit and TR32B tweeter all use Alnico5 motors.