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A Renowned Hi-Fi Specialist’s New Loudspeakers Are for Hardcore Audiophiles

The Swiss-made loudspeakers blend “timeless elegance with acoustic excellence.”

Goldmund loudspeakersGoldmund

By Tucker Bowe

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Goldmund is a high-end Swiss audio manufacturer known for its extremely luxurious (and large) loudspeaker systems that are well out of most people’s price range. For example, its flagship Gaia active loudspeakers stand nearly seven feet tall and cost roughly half a million bucks.

The brand’s newest loudspeakers, the Rhea Passive and the Theia Passive, stay true to that same ethos. While they aren’t quite as lavish or expensive as the Gaia, they are both big and probably pipe dreams for most audio lovers.

Goldmund Rhea Passive and the Theia Passive

Goldmund loudspeakers
The Theia Passive are Goldmund’s newest three-way passive loudspeakers.
Goldmund

Blending style and sound

As is true with Goldmund’s other loudspeakers, the Rhea Passive and the Theia Passive are designed not only to produce exceptional sound, but also to be essentially works of art.

The loudspeakers are meticulously constructed. The cabinets are assembled so that the seams are invisible. The wavy side panels reflect light and create a dynamic effect, while the dual-finish aluminum exterior “further enhances their architectural presence.”

According to the company, the two sets of loudspeakers merge “timeless elegance with acoustic excellence” and promise to set a benchmark for both form and function.

Goldmund loudspeakers
The Theia Passive are larger passive loudspeakers with a four-way design.
Goldmund

Three-way, four way

While both the Rhea Passive and the Theia Passive look quite similar and are designed to “redefine sonic realism,” they are fundamentally different loudspeakers.

The Rhea Passive is a three-way passive loudspeaker, while the Theia Passive has a four-way design. Both have a single soft dome tweeter and a 12-inch woofer, but while Rhea Passive only has one seven-inch midrange driver, the Theia Passive has two (one four-inch and six-inch) midrange drivers.

According to the spec sheet, the Rhea Passive has a frequency response of 27Hz to 25kHz, while the Theia Passive can get slightly lower with a frequency response of 20Hz to 25kHz.

Goldmund loudspeakers
Goldmund’s newest architectural loudspeakers are the Theia Passive (left) and the Rhea Passive (right).
Goldmund

Immersive listening

Goldmund used its proprietary software called Proteus LS — which meticulously “calculates system impedance, volume velocity, membrane displacement and sound pressure” — to get both its loudspeakers to sound their best.

According to the brand, they can achieve “astonishing accuracy, clarity, and a coherent soundstage that immerses listeners in a truly breathtaking auditory experience.”

It’s worth noting that Goldmund offers active versions of both the Rhea and Theia, but the Rhea Passive and the Theia Passive support three configurations —  mono amplification, bi-amplification and tri-amplification — which gives audiophiles more flexibility when tailoring their setups.

That said, Goldmund does say that pairing these speakers with a high-quality amplifier. According to the brand, lesser amplifiers will “struggle to command [the loudspeakers’] ultra-fast drivers, resulting in diminished control and fidelity.”

Price and availability

Both of Goldmund’s loudspeakers, the Rhea Passive and the Theia Passive, are availability now … and, as you can imagine, anything but cheap.

The Goldmund Rhea Passive costs roughly $108,000/pair, while Goldmund’s Theia Passive cost in the region of $215,000/pair.

About the Author:

Tucker Bowe has been on Gear Patrol’s editorial team since 2014. As a Tech Staff Writer, he tracks everything in the consumer tech space, from headphones to smartphones, wearables to home theater systems. If it lights up or makes noise, he probably covers it.

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