Goldmund luxury audio review: I listen to the extraordinary sound of Swiss precision

In the rarefied world of high-end audio, Goldmund occupies a space as exclusive as a Patek Philippe minute repeater or a Richard Mille tourbillon. Nestled in Geneva, a city synonymous with horological excellence, and overlooking CERN, this Swiss luxury brand has mastered the art of precision engineering – not for measuring time, but for sculpting sound. 

And, much like the clientele of the world’s most prestigious watchmakers, Goldmund’s customers aspire to more than just function; they’re seeking a statement of taste, of exclusivity, of the exotic.

On a recent visit to Goldmund’s Geneva headquarters, I witnessed first-hand how this brand is defining luxury audio. From its imposing, sculptural loudspeakers to gold-infused amplifiers, every piece in the Goldmund lineup is an example of impeccable craftsmanship.

But how does it all sound? I was invited into Goldmund’s world of luxury audio to find out…

Goldmund customers aspire to more than just function; they’re seeking a statement of taste, of exclusivity, of the exotic…

Inside Goldmund’s world of audio artistry

Goldmund, founded in 1978, rubs shoulders with legendary Swiss watchmakers. This proximity is no coincidence. The company shares a philosophy with haute horology, a world of precision engineering, and high design.

Feted by those HNWI with a penchant for the outrageous and fine, it specialises in totemic stereo speakers; blending cutting-edge tech with a distinctive aesthetic that makes its products as much objets d’art as instruments of musical fidelity.

Goldmund’s most iconic creation, the Apologue loudspeaker, remains a defining symbol of the brand. The original iteration is resident in New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).

The latest incarnation is a collaboration with luxury French trunk maker Pinel et Pinel and street artist Cyril Kongo. Limited to just 20 pairs, these bespoke speakers cost a staggering £1.5 million per set, and feature hand-applied artwork upon opulent leather wrapping.

While I didn’t have the chance to hear this extraordinary creation in action, I was able to observe it’s distinctive Z-frame assembly up close, and inspect the bespoke leather and graffiti artwork. 

However, the Apologue is in many ways the Goldmund that was. The brand’s current flagship, the Gaia, is more in keeping with the Hi-Fi house’s new direction of travel.  

Goldmund, I’m told, is transitioning from passive to active digital speakers, with an emphasis on sonic transparency, minimal distortion, and minimalist design. 

Introducing Gaia, Asteria, Rhea, and Theia

Launched in April 2023, a collaboration with French designer Cécile Barani, and priced at £500,000 per pair, the Gaia is Goldmund’s north star. The first model off the production line was snapped up by a buyer in Dubai, I was told.

Standing at 2.10m tall and weighing 395kg, each brutalist tower houses eight drivers, including dual 12-inch woofers, able to drop to a punishing 18.5Hz. Powered by proprietary Telos amplification, the Gaia devotes 300W for midrange and tweeters and 350W for woofers. 

For those seeking a more compact (sic), yet equally luxurious alternative, Goldmund offers the Asteria, Rhea, and Theia models. Each stablemate features a comparable active wireless design and aluminum chassis. 

The Asteria is more accommodating than its seniors, at least when it comes to placement. Standing 1.1m tall and tipping the scales at just 70kg, it’s equipped with a 25mm soft dome tweeter, 7-inch midrange driver, and 9-inch woofer. An integrated Telos amp delivers 600W of power. 

The Theia ups the ante with 875W on tap, while the Rhea, weighing in at 125kg and standing 135m tall, introduces a larger 12-inch woofer for deeper bass response, for 650W in total (175W for tweeter, 175W for medium driver, 300W for the sub).

All use polypropylene membranes from Audio Technology and tweeters supplied by Scan-Speak, chosen for their durability and consistency. 

Prices for this not at all modest line-up begin at £89,000, making them a tad more accessible – if still supremely exclusive – entry point into Goldmund’s rarefied world.

Goldmund Asteria and Rhea speaker review

When I first encounter the Asteria and Rhea, they’re effortlessly filling a sunlit room with audio, sourced from Qobuz and Tidal via a Pink Faun x Goldmund Eidos Streamer. Even at a relatively low level, the dynamics are there. I feel they’re desperate to be let off their leash.

During my visit, I get to listen to both models at length, with various A/B comparisons. They invariably sound gorgeous, but the larger Rhea has the more godly presence.

Build quality is sumptuous. Available in black or silver grey, both feature aluminium construction. You’ll need considerable room in your loft apartment. The Rhea needs to be placed around a metre from any boundary wall, else bass reinforcement causes boom. I guess it’s a small compromise to make. It sounds magnificent.

These speakers aren’t just about physicality and might. There’s some big audio science at work too.

Proprietary digital signal processing handles phase distortion correction and filtering. The Goldmun aim is to produce a transparent sound that accurately recreates original recordings. “The idea is to recreate the recording and not add to it,” explains Dr Veronique Adam, Goldmund’s head of acoustics, and an alumna of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne.

When I ask if there’s a signature Goldmund sound, I’m told: There is no signature sound. That’s the point.

Of course, Goldmund’s prowess extends beyond speakers. The bulk of its business is selling amplifiers and preamps to those who already own passive speakers. 

The Telos 1800 Mono Power Amp (a snip at £155,000 for a stereo pair) exemplifies this commitment to extreme amplification. Boasting a maximum power output of 420W at 8Ω, a dynamic range of 110dB, and an ultra-low noise floor, this monoblock is capable of breathtaking accuracy and staggering levels of slam.

Introducing the Goldmund Pulp

As part of Goldmund’s pursuit of the luxury lifestyle market, it’s also covering off the Bluetooth wireless speaker market – as only Goldmund can. Its Pulp wireless music system offers an avant-garde design, devised again by Cécile Barani, with a powered fabric grille that dynamically reveals its driver array upon activation. 

Utilising signsture Telos amplification and WiSA wireless connectivity, Pulp delivers a crisp, immaculate soundstage. The driver complement comprises a soft dome tweeter and 101mm mid-range driver. Amplification is 2 x 50W.

There’s a choice of silver gray with black grilles or matte black with matching grilles and you can park them on a bookshelf, or  invest in a dedicated stand. 

The Pulp can be considered an affordable entry into Goldmund’s universe, at (just) £18,750, but it’s still not aimed at common people. That’s to be expected.

As I leave Geneva, I’m told Goldmund is planning to introduce a new product at the upcoming High-End Munich show (May 18 – 2). If it isn’t eye-wateringly expensive, I’ll be sorely disappointed.