To say that the Triangle Capella, a Compact Audio Excellence for Modern Times, were a hit at the recent Australian Hi-Fi Show would be an understatement.
Despite their relatively small size, and their price of $5,500, they were voted as one of the three best sounding rooms of the show. Considering the plethora of $100,000 plus systems on display this was a remarkable accolade.
Possibly we should not have been surprised. The Triangle Capella speakers had already won the prestigious EISA ‘Premium Wireless Bookshelf Loudspeaker of 2024-2025’ award, received an ‘Applause’ award from Stereonet.com and have been the subject of numerous glowing reviews.
More importantly they could herald the direction that this industry will take in the future.
The design principle behind the Triangle Capella is not unique. They are a pair of compact active (i.e. the amplification and Digital to Analogue Converters etc. are housed in the speakers) bookshelf speakers. The signal is transmitted to the speakers from a wireless Hub, which has a streamer on-board, plus numerous inputs for external devices such as HDMI and RCA.
What is unique is the exquisite finish, and the performance which belies their price and size.
The reality is that a pair of Triangle Capella speakers will never replace a full-blown component Hi-Fi system based on brands such as Musical Fidelity or Audio Research, but they do represent an alternative for those who enjoy their music and cannot house a rack of audio gear, but desire better than the ‘McDonalds’ level of products that are now ubiquitous in our market.
In their recent review of the Capella’s Sound and Image commented
During the so-called heyday of this industry a rack of electronics was something to lust over. The more flashing lights and the bigger the speakers the better. While many enthusiasts will still go down this route, in today’s living environments this option will often be out of place.
Apartment living and minimalist design does not bode well for a cabinet full of Hi-End audio.
Until now the alternative has not been great, with many consumers settling for soundbars, Bluetooth speakers and the multitube of low-cost network speakers on the market. These options are generally discrete, convenient, usually inexpensive, but fall miserably in one critical area – and that is performance.
Key Features
- Wireless Streaming: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth aptX for high-quality, cable-free audio playback.
- 24-bit/192 kHz DAC: Ensures studio-grade sound from digital sources.
- Dual 50 W Class D Amplifiers: Powers each speaker for robust, room-filling performance.
- HDMI ARC Input: Enhances TV audio with easy remote sync via CEC technology.
The Triangle Capella, and similar products, now offer an excellent alternative. While they are larger than the average Bluetooth speaker, they are small enough not to look out of place in most living environments. While they cost more than the normal soundbar there is no comparison with performance. Most importantly they can bring a sense of connection back into your music, a closer sense of ‘being there.’
While the lifeblood of our business revolves around offering the very best this industry has to offer, we are realistic enough to recognise that this is not always a viable option.
But we do believe that you deserve better than the alternatives offered until now.
Regards,
Len Wallis
