GoldenEar BRX Bookshelf Speaker - Piano Black - Each

Triton Reference Parts in a 12-Inch Box

The BRX, short for Bookshelf Reference X, is GoldenEar's top standmount. It uses the 6-inch cast-basket mid/bass driver from the Triton Reference tower and the same Reference High-Velocity Folded Ribbon tweeter. The hand-rubbed piano black cabinet is about 12 inches tall, and it is sold one speaker at a time.

There is no port. Instead, a 6.5-inch planar radiator sits in each side wall. These are passive diaphragms that the active driver loads acoustically. GoldenEar uses the pair to extend and tighten the bass without the turbulence a port can add.

What a Folded Ribbon Does Differently

The HVFR tweeter is an air-motion transformer. A pleated film squeezes air out of its folds rather than pushing it like a dome. The result is very low moving mass and wide dispersion, which reviewers hear as an airy and unforced treble.

The Numbers, and What They Ask of You

GoldenEar quotes 42 Hz to 25 kHz typical, with the bass at minus 6 dB at 65 Hz anechoic. Sensitivity is 88 dB at 2.83 volts into a 4 ohm nominal load. Recommended amplification is 20 to 250 watts. Plan on an amplifier that is comfortable into 4 ohms.

How Much Room It Takes

Each cabinet is 8.05 inches wide, 12.1 tall including its feet and 12.3 deep, and weighs 12 pounds. A grille is supplied. The cabinet is short, so GoldenEar recommends 30-inch stands to put the tweeter at seated ear height.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Diego Estan, SoundStage! Access, November 1, 2020: "I was struck by the GoldenEars' combination of presence, imaging precision, and smoothness." His advice: "for bass-heavy music you might want to use an amp that puts out at least 100Wpc."

Neil Gader, The Absolute Sound, May 10, 2021: "Its treble range is well-nigh effortless—agile, airily transparent, and non-fatiguing in the way ribbon tweeters tend to be."

Trevor Butler, The Ear, July 7, 2023: "I have no hesitation in recommending the Goldenear BRX miniature for its engineering and sound quality." He found it strongest on rock and pop, and less at home with large-scale classical.

Who Is This Bookshelf Speaker Best For?

• You want reference-tower drivers in a small room — the mid/bass and tweeter are the Triton Reference's, so the BRX is voiced to match GoldenEar's flagship towers
• You listen for imaging and air — every reviewer singles out the focused imaging and the ribbon tweeter's effortless top end
• You want punch without a port — the twin planar radiators give quick, taut bass that Estan could feel in his chest from a 12-inch box
• You have a capable amplifier — 4 ohms nominal, and a reviewer tripped the protection on a 40 watt integrated; bring a real integrated amplifier
• You want the deepest bass in the room — 65 Hz at minus 6 dB is honest for the size; for film or big orchestral music, add a subwoofer

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Speaker cable runs from your amplifier to a single pair of binding posts on each cabinet. The posts are recessed so the cable exits flush. It is passive, so there is nothing else to power or configure. Buy two for stereo, or more for a home theater.

Use 30-inch stands if you can. Toe them in about 15 degrees, as the manual suggests, and give the side radiators clearance. Estan found the sound opened up after several hours of playing.

Pairs Well With

What finishes the setup. These are the categories most BRX owners shop next.

• Integrated amplifiers — 100 watts or more, rated into 4 ohms
• Speaker stands — 30 inches is GoldenEar's recommendation for this short cabinet
• GoldenEar ForceField 40 subwoofer — the matching 10-inch sub for the octave below 65 Hz
• GoldenEar SuperCenter X — the matching center channel for a home theater front stage

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this one speaker or a pair?

One speaker. Order two for stereo, and add more for a surround system. We list it this way because GoldenEar ships it one to a box.

How much amplifier does it need?

GoldenEar rates it for 20 to 250 watts and 88 dB sensitivity into 4 ohms. It plays on modest power. SoundStage! Access tripped a 40 watt integrated at high volume, though, and suggested 100 watts or more for bass-heavy music.

Can it go on a bookshelf?

It can, but the planar radiators are on the sides, so it needs a few inches of clearance each side. The short cabinet also puts the tweeter low. Stands of about 30 inches are how GoldenEar voices it.

Do I need a subwoofer?

Not for most music. The BRX is quoted to 42 Hz typical, and reviewers describe the bass as quick and punchy. For film, a GoldenEar ForceField or SuperSub blends in below its roll-off.

What comes in the box?

One speaker with its grille and manual. Stands are sold separately.

How does it differ from the Aon 3?

Both are two-way GoldenEar standmounts with side radiators. The BRX uses the Reference-grade tweeter and the Triton Reference mid/bass driver in a lacquered cabinet, and it is voiced to match the Reference towers.

See It in Action

Darko Audio reviews the BRX:

Steve Guttenberg, the Audiophiliac, reviews the BRX:

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