GoldenEar SuperSat 50

With a depth of just 6.4 cm, GoldenEar’s SuperSat 50 offers a frequency response that extends down to 60 Hz. This performance is made possible by an acoustic design developed over several decades, combined with an extruded aluminum chassis used in the aerospace industry.

The HVFR Tweeter: When the Accordion Meets High Fidelity

At the heart of the SuperSat 50’s sonic character lies the HVFR tweeter, a direct descendant of the Air Motion Transformer technology invented by Dr. Oskar Heil in the 1970s. Unlike conventional dome tweeters that push air like a piston, the pleated diaphragm of the HVFR compresses and decompresses air between its folds, thereby multiplying the speed at which sound waves propagate.

This approach offers measurable advantages: an extended response up to 35 kHz, well beyond the threshold of human hearing but contributing to the sense of air and space in playback. More importantly, it avoids the parasitic resonance modes that typically affect metal domes around 20 kHz. The high-temperature Kapton diaphragm, held in a powerful neodymium magnetic field, has an almost negligible moving mass, allowing for strikingly fast transients.

However, this technology comes with its own constraints. The limited vertical dispersion of the pleated ribbon requires precise positioning at ear level. GoldenEar has compensated for this by slightly boosting the on-axis response, ensuring correct tonal balance throughout the listening room.

Quadratic Passive Radiators: Bass Extension That Defies Physics

Two rectangular passive radiators measuring 10.2 × 17.8 cm complete the acoustic setup. These flat membranes, lacking a voice coil, operate in sympathetic resonance with the active drivers. Their elongated shape, dictated by the narrowness of the cabinet, compensates in length for what they cannot achieve in width.

This solution enables surprisingly deep bass extension for a speaker of this size, comfortably reaching down to 60 Hz (-3 dB in real-world listening conditions). Passive radiators offer several advantages over a traditional bass-reflex port: no air turbulence noise, no leakage of midrange frequencies, and a more gradual roll-off below the cutoff frequency. The side positioning creates a so-called “balanced force” configuration, where the opposing movements of the radiators cancel each other out, drastically reducing vibrations transmitted to the stand.

Versatile Installation Thought Out to the Last Detail

The SuperSat 50 is available in both vertical and horizontal versions (50C), the latter optimized for use as a center channel with the tweeter rotated 90 degrees. Mounting options multiply the possibilities: wall mounting via threaded inserts or keyhole slots, optional smoked glass tabletop stand, or even the SuperStand floor stand, which brings the total height to 122 cm.

The 50C center version includes adjustable feet for precise angular adjustment, crucial for directing the tweeter toward the listening area. This attention to installation details reflects a deep understanding of the real-world constraints of modern home theater setups.

System Integration and Compatibility

The SuperSat 50 integrates naturally into the GoldenEar ecosystem. Its 92 dB sensitivity and nominal 4-ohm impedance (8-ohm compatible) make it suitable for a wide range of amplifiers (20–200 W recommended). It forms a coherent set with Triton towers for the front channels of an ambitious home theater system, or can make up a complete 5.1 system with SuperSat 3s as rear channels and a ForceField subwoofer.

The GoldenEar sonic signature—transparent midrange, silky highs without harshness, and surprisingly deep bass for its size—can be found throughout the range, making system matching easy. Professionals particularly appreciate the SuperSat 50’s ability to maintain tonal consistency even off-axis, which is crucial for installations where not all listeners can be in the sweet spot.

Technical Specifications

Acoustic Configuration

• 1 high-velocity folded ribbon tweeter (HVFR)
• 2 rectangular planar low-frequency drivers, 10.2 × 17.8 cm
• 2 high-definition mid/bass drivers with cast chassis (MVPP), 11.5 cm
• 2 passive radiators for rich, dynamic bass

Audio Performance

• Frequency response: 60 Hz – 35 kHz
• Sensitivity: 92 dB / 1 W / 1 m
• Nominal impedance: 4 Ω (8 Ω compatible)
• Recommended amplifier power: 20 – 200 W per channel

Physical Characteristics

• Dimensions (W × H × D): 121 × 680 × 66 mm
• Weight: 3.2 kg
• Finish: high-gloss black aluminum

Installation and Mounting

• Integrated wall mounting with keyhole bracket and threaded brass insert
• Compatible with optional tabletop stand
• Compatible with SuperStand floor stand (sold separately)
• Optional SuperSwivel wall mounts available

Recommended Applications

• Front left/right channels in a compact system
• Surround or Atmos speakers for multichannel setups
• Perfect integration with other GoldenEar speakers
• Recommended pairing with a GoldenEar ForceField subwoofer