Trident HG3 Monitors - AMAZING!!!!

[Harvey Gerst]

Originally Posted by Audio Hombre

This thread has to be a record for the longest thread on a product yet to be released.its quite amazing to see so many posts with no insight other than that of the designer and manufacturer.

I'm here just trying to explain why there was a 3 year wait between the time we showed it and the time it finally started shipping. Plus, it was a kinda unusual design and people had questions about why I did it that way.

I was a designer with a pretty good track record, but I pretty much retired from designing stuff over 20 years ago. So, a lot of people here were interested in seeing what I came up with. And the HG3's did start shipping the first quarter of this year.

I apologize if my "insights" offend you. I have only peripheral dealings with the manufacturing and marketing of the speakers.

[dbjp]

You've been great on this site Harvey. We all appreciate it.
PMI's sudden disappearance is a weird one though.

[Harvey Gerst]

Originally Posted by LesC

Harvey, I hope you don't think I was criticizing you, I think it's amazing that you contribute so much information to this site. I was just lamenting the fact that list price and street price bear no relationship.

I'm on the lookout for my next set of monitors, and am willing to purchase immediately if I can figure out which ones. My budget would extend to the Opal at $2800, but if the HG3 was only $1000 more, I would consider selling my first born. Unfortunately, it's $2200 more. Thank you Warren for updating your prices.

Look here:

Latest Trident HG3 Prices

[Bill@WelcomeHome]

Originally Posted by dbjp

You've been great on this site Harvey. We all appreciate it.
PMI's sudden disappearance is a weird one though.

Possibly they've been involved in prepping, attending, and returning from NAMM?

[hasbeen]

Originally Posted by Harvey Gerst

Look here:

New Trident HG3 Prices

Dead Link

[Harvey Gerst]

Originally Posted by hasbeen

Dead Link

Sorry, try this:

New Lower HG3 Prices

and for show stock at $3,499.99, look here:

HG3 Show Stock

[Audio Hombre]

Originally Posted by Harvey Gerst

I apologize if my "insights" offend you. I have only peripheral dealings with the manufacturing and marketing of the speakers.

where did i say i was offended? i'm simply making a statement based on an observation. the thread is 2.5yrs old and still not one comment from an end user that i could see. is my comment really that odd? this is no knock on you. you're a valued contributor. i'm also perfectly content with my current monitoring

[Harvey Gerst]

Originally Posted by Audio Hombre

where did i say i was offended? i'm simply making a statement based on an observation. the thread is 2.5yrs old and still not one comment from an end user that i could see. is my comment really that odd? this is no knock on you. you're a valued contributor. i'm also perfectly content with my current monitoring

We showed a finished, working pre-production unit at AES in 2009 in New York. They (PMI) started shipping these in 2012. Why the long delay? I still really don't know. And yes, I'm overly sensitive about it, so I took your comments wrong, and I apologize.

[dbjp]

Harvey, regarding the bit of write up you'll be doing, I'd like you to address this particular point:
Every designer says that a speaker design is all about compromises and the best design takes into account cost, size, intended purpose, etc.
We've read about the negatives and positives about ported, passive radiator, sealed designs.
Now the one thing Thomas says, which hasn't been addressed/challenged by anyone, is that the only negative to come from sealed designs is that it requires tons of power, thus this was addressed with the MM27s using very powerful amps for the subs.
That to me reads like he's saying all negatives have been addressed, and thus the perfect lowend is provided with his monitors.
Is this true? Is the absolute only negative of a sealed design the need for more power than that of ported designs?
Plus your reasoning for using a ported design would be fantastic.
Thanks again.

[Harvey Gerst]

I'm gonna hafta do a drawing to explain why, but yeah, in a small sealed box, you're gonna need a lower efficiency driver with a very low resonant frequency and a hell of a lot of power to put out deep bass.

And that don't come cheap.

And it don't come for free either. More after I do the drawing.

Added PS:

And my response isn't because I think Thomas' design is flawed; it isn't. The Barefoot MM27 is a great system, and I greatly respect what Thomas (and Focal) has done.

But, as we always warn, "There's no such thing as a free lunch."

[warhead]

Originally Posted by analogdreamer

However I'm looking myself now at the HG3 since they do now ship and the price is down to $4,999 again according to their website.

Just to clarfiy, at this moment I am typing the price for a pair of Trident HG3 monitors is $3999.99 in the USA.

War

[Colour Field]

I've just ordered a pair of HG3's to ship to New Zealand to replace my Mackie HR824's. I had been thinking on getting the ATC 25A 3way, but it's about twice the price. Looking forward to hearing Harveys speakers in my control room. And I'll be sure to put up some 'end user comments' once I've got settled in with them.

[dbjp]

Originally Posted by Harvey Gerst

I'm gonna hafta do a drawing to explain why, but yeah, in a small sealed box, you're gonna need a lower efficiency driver with a very low resonant frequency and a hell of a lot of power to put out deep bass.

And that don't come cheap.

And it don't come for free either. More after I do the drawing.

Added PS:

And my response isn't because I think Thomas' design is flawed; it isn't. The Barefoot MM27 is a great system, and I greatly respect what Thomas (and Focal) has done.

But, as we always warn, "There's no such thing as a free lunch."

What I'd love for you to address is how you've addressed the negatives of ported designs, in the same manner Barefoot addressed the shortcomings of their sealed design.
$3999 is a great price by the way. I'm now certain I'll be purchasing these bad boys when funds allow later this year.

[voidar]

Can someone recommend some stands for these?

[mista min]

Originally Posted by voidar

Can someone recommend some stands for these?

[Harvey Gerst]

Originally Posted by voidar

Can someone recommend some stands for these?

A heavy stand would be best, BUT I would strongly suggest getting some "rubber/foam" carpet padding and cut it to fit underneath the cabinets. It's usually around 1/2" to 1" thick and goes under carpet. It's also dirt cheap and provides excellent isolation.

[voidar]

Thank you Mr. Gerst, but I was thinking more towards brands, or anything that can fit the HG3. Most of the platforms are pretty small.

[George Necola]

Originally Posted by Harvey Gerst

A heavy stand would be best, BUT I would strongly suggest getting some "rubber/foam" carpet padding and cut it to fit underneath the cabinets. It's usually around 1/2" to 1" thick and goes under carpet. It's also dirt cheap and provides excellent isolation.

You loose impulse response if you put something below the speakers. Btw have yiu redesigned them since Musikmesse 2011? I was not impressed by then.

Gesendet von meinem GT-I9300 mit Tapatalk

[Andy_bt]

Originally Posted by voidar

Can someone recommend some stands for these?

I like the Sound Anchors, the adjustable one is great IMO, Unity Audio Monolith seems nice also.
A.

[Harvey Gerst]

Originally Posted by George Necola

You loose impulse response if you put something below the speakers. Btw have you redesigned them since Musikmesse 2011? I was not impressed by then.

George, of course your comment concerns me greatly. What was the problem with them at Musikmesse?

There was one wrong resistor value in the feedback circuit of the mid/high amplifier which caused the mid/high module to be a couple of dB lower than the intended flat setting.

Other than that one incorrect resistor, there have been no changes that I'm aware of.

[kengray]

I needed to update my studio monitors and after much reading I decided to take a shot on the Trident HG3 speakers. I installed them last week. In a word they are simply the best speakers that I have ever heard. They are flat, clear and have ample bass. They have almost a 3d clarity to them. The ability to tune the sweet spot by moving the cylinder portion of the speaker is very effective. The build quality is first rate. I would highly recommend that folks give these speakers serious consideration. I am one satisfied customer.

[analogdreamer]

Originally Posted by kengray

In a word they are simply the best speakers that I have ever heard. They are flat, clear and have ample bass. They have almost a 3d clarity to them. The build quality is first rate. I would highly recommend that folks give these speakers serious consideration. I am one satisfied customer.

If all you heard before was $1,000 monitors, then no doubt they are the best you ever heard. To put things in context: What else did you hear in that price range?

Posts like this are really 100% meaningless without proper context. You could say the same thing about any other speaker (Focal, Quested, ADAM, etc etc etc.)

[Andy_bt]

Originally Posted by analogdreamer

Posts like this are really 100% meaningless without proper context. You could say the same thing about any other speaker (Focal, Quested, ADAM, etc etc etc.)

Not completely, we now know they sound better than an iPod dock (everybody has one) and probably better also than a pair of NS10 (most people on GS surely heard a pair someday)... at least we've got that.
A.

[Harvey Gerst]

Wow, that's cold, guys. Can't you wait til I'm dead, or at least until you've actually heard the HG3's?

Harvey Gerst

[energizer bunny]

Originally Posted by Harvey Gerst

Can't you wait til I'm dead

Harvey Gerst

Lol Harvey. Some time yet player. Stay up .

[JohnOmix]

Seriously lamely cold. Someone says they sound amazing and he loves them, build quality is great etc, and you belittle that?

Harvey, I for one really appreciate all you've said (and put up with) here. What I've heard from people who have ACTUALLY LISTENED to the HG3s is that they are indeed great.

[Andy_bt]

Originally Posted by Harvey Gerst

Wow, that's cold, guys. Can't you wait til I'm dead, or at least until you've actually heard the HG3's?

Harvey Gerst

Originally Posted by JohnOmix

Seriously lamely cold. Someone says they sound amazing and he loves them, build quality is great etc, and you belittle that?

Harvey, I for one really appreciate all you've said (and put up with) here. What I've heard from people who have ACTUALLY LISTENED to the HG3s is that they are indeed great.

Personally, while I appreciate and understand Kengray's enthusiasm/post, I was just having a bit of fun as you'll probably agree the kind of "best monitor I've ever heard" comment isn't really helpful without a bit of background info.
Best is a very subjective thing, specially when talking monitors IMO.
I'm in no way judging the quality of the HG3 as I haven't heard it and I'm really glad people are satisfied with their acquisition, it's really nice to find a monitor that suits you and your room well.
I also agree humour is a very personal thing
A.

[kengray]

I guess a little background for my comment would be helpful. In my studio today I have a set of Event 20/20 monitors - good but by no means great speakers. Before purchasing new monitors I listened to a lot of speakers and I had made the decision to purchase the Focal SM11 speakers. They are the speakers that in my personal opinion sounded right to me. (By the way for full disclosure I am 55 years old and have been around long enough to know what I am hearing). My concern with the Focal SM11 monitors was that they had been discontinued. Part of the appeal of the Focal SM11 monitors was the way the monitors are angled which I think improves the imaging of the sound. The HG3's had the same concept except it had the unique ability to rotate on the cylinder. After reading the posts on GS it was clear that not a lot of folks had actually heard the HG3's. The thing that made me pull the trigger was frankly Harvey's description of the design. It seemed well though out. And after installing them in my studio, they are still the best speakers that I have ever heard. Take it for what it is worth one mans opinion. Others are entitled to theirs, but if you are looking for monitors the HG3's are worth a listen. Harvey congratulations on a great design and execution.

[Harvey Gerst]

Originally Posted by kengray

Harvey congratulations on a great design and execution.

Thank you for your comments about my "design"; but I fear my "execution" is just beginning here.

[reddirt]

It's Gearslutz in the 21st century Harvey, being hung by your toenails over a vat of boiling radioactive acid is just the beginning..........!

Cheers, Ross