The action you just performed triggered the security solution. The only bad audio system, is the one you don't enjoy to the fullest. I've listened to both in my home, and I think it's going to come down to personal preference between these two, rather than one being definitively better than the other. The Dali's are in their way. For the CTA-2010 results, I averaged the output from 40 to 63 Hz to give you a quick idea of each speaker systems output. This pair costs little more than you might expect to pay to ship them, yet theyre fully functional speakers that sound good enough for background music in settings you might deem too hazardous for a nice set of speakers, such as a workshop or a childs playroom. Combined with a minimum impedance of 4.1ohms, these specifications make the speaker quite easy to drive. Bookshelf speakers are, as their name suggests, compact units that are meant to be placed on a shelf or a mantle. I will mostly be using them to listen to classical music and watch films at my computer which is in front of a wall. O seu design e componentes so inspirados nos desenvolvimentos tecnolgicos de mais de 40 anos da Triangle Hi-fi e beneficiam das inovaes acsticas desenvolvidas na aclamada srie Triangle Esprit Ez. Suggestions for amp/speaker upgrade: Marantz, Musical Fidelity, KEF, Dali - how does it all fit. Triangle Borea BR03 + Cambridge Audio CXA81 3,882 views Nov 20, 2021 29 Dislike Share Matti M 33 subscribers My setup playing Lorde - Royals Amp: Cambridge Audio CXA81 Streamer: Cambridge Audio. I then listened to each system casually for a couple of days, getting a rough idea of its pros and cons and looking for any difficulties a listener might experience during setup and everyday use. The B652 uses spring-clip connectors, not binding posts, to hold the speaker wire. The BR03 is well worth its higher price. Still for jazz I would look at Whardale speakers. The Triangle Borea BR03 was loved by reviewers at Wirecutter (NYTimes), a highly trusted source that performs reliable in . This speaker will fit perfectly in rooms ranging from 15 to 30m2. Adorama has the BR02s for $269 which could and should sway the vote some. Because this guide combines two previous guidescovering passive bookshelf speakers and powered speakerswe had to consider many speaker types and the needs of many different types of listeners. They are both 399, do just a question of which is superior and would fill room better. The back panel has two stereo analog inputs plus optical and coaxial digital inputs, as well as bass and treble controls and a volume control that doubles as an input-selector button. The BR03 provides a clear step up in sound quality over the lower-cost models we recommend, offering the most natural, balanced sound weve heard from a bookshelf speaker priced under $1,000 per pairand theres no real need for a subwoofer unless youre a deep-bass fanatic. 1 Home Entertainment Tech Resource. Try comparing or getting your ears on other speakers in the same price range as the Q150's like the Triangle Borea BR03, or for your application, the Triangle Borea BR02. Very cool Victor! Kef Q150, especially when they were on sale half price for $300 couple weeks back. I hope to be able to articulate that well someday! I like speakers that are bigger than a small refrigerator but smaller than a big refrigerator:D. Nice review Victor. The DBR62's have a very wide soundstage and decent bass response for a front slot ported design. These speakers were not very picky on placement and they did not require much power to get good sound levels. As are the trebles: KEFs tweeter is one of the best at this price range. The size isnt just for presence. company number 03997482, registered in England and Wales. While they may be a tad too large (7.9 x 12.8 x 13 inches) to mount on your wall, theyre advertised as being perfect for bookshelves, and they put their larger cabinet size to use with increased internal volume for clearer sound. The KEFs are brighter, more analytical, and I favor them for situations when I intend to listen actively. KEF Q150: 10% With the above considerations and the available specs of the Triangle Borea BR02 speakers I came to the following: Triangle Borea BR02: @25% => 20-80 W(Recommended) Considering the above, I'm assuming that the Triangle Borea BR02 can be powered within the range of 20-80 W @ 8 Ohms. The 3020i set sounds more detailed and spacious, but the B6.2 pair plays louder and puts out more bassan average of 7.7 decibels more between 40 and 63 Hzso it might be the better choice for fans of bass-heavy music. The S1000MKII powered-speaker pair delivers best-in-class sound, looks nice, and comes with useful features such as built-in Bluetooth, bass and treble controls, and a remote. The S1000MKII is the first powered speaker system weve tried that supports the aptX HD Bluetooth codec, a newer version of the aptX codec that runs at a higher data rate. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. It includes bass and treble controls for you to fine-tune the sound to your liking, as well as a remote, a variety of input options, and built-in Bluetooth. Take it with a grain of salt. But like the S1000MKII, the R-51PM has rear bass ports, which means you cant back the speakers up tight against a wall without affecting the sound quality. As lovely as all this sounds. The Borea BR03 largely eliminates the unnatural sonic colorationssuch as boomy, thin, or harsh soundthat come from almost all less-expensive speakers, and it produces a fuller, more satisfying sound than most bookshelf speakers do. *At the time of publishing, the price was $319. *At the time of publishing, the price was $330. If you want smaller active speakers for an office or bedroom where you may not need or want loud volumes and deep bass: Even though the Audioengine HD3 powered speakers measure only 7 inches high, they put out a surprisingly full sound that our listeners liked in previous panel tests. In the R-51PMs frequency response measurements, we did see a rise of a couple of decibels in the treble, specifically between 3.5 and 7.5 kHz, which is where cymbals and the upper harmonics of the human voice, snare drum, acoustic guitar, and flute reside. I mainly listen to classical and jazz. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Wharfedales Diamond 220 set had good detail and nice bass but produced a boxy sound, with a narrow soundstage. The speakers come with foam plugs for those ports if you do place them next to the wall, but that will reduce the bass output. I think they are a little out of my price range at the moment. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Copyright 2000-2023 M2N Limited E. & O.E. It had some peaks and dips at different frequencies, but generally the balance of bass to mid range to treble was pretty even. Forward may not be the right way to describe the Q150 speakers but I think, in comparison to the other two speakers so far, one could see it that way. I began measuring speaker performance in 1997 and have worked as a consultant on speaker tuning and measurement for some of the worlds biggest tech companies. Buy. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The Polk Audio Monitor XT20 comes very close to the performance of the Q Acoustics 3020i, with clear highs and natural-sounding voice reproduction, but its bass sounds slightly boomy and for the price, its looks are rather plain. This effect may be a perception created by the modest bass output of the 3020is relatively small 5-inch woofer. A magnetically attached grille is included to protect the speaker drivers. In vocal reproduction, this pair ranked among the most natural-sounding of all the speakers we tested, and each 3020i speaker produces a solid amount of bass for its sizethough fans of bass-heavy music may want more. Press J to jump to the feed. Your IP: TRIANGLE BOREA BRO3 vs KEF Q150 - YouTube AboutPressCopyrightContact usCreatorsAdvertiseDevelopersTermsPrivacyPolicy & SafetyHow YouTube worksTest new features 2022 Google LLC I hear that the Q150s are supposedly even better, despite their smaller profile. I was pleased with the performance of the DBR82 but they didnt stand out in any specific way to me beyond what the KEF speakers were already giving me. Would really like to audition the Oberon 5s in the future. But we thought the midrange was somewhat de-emphasized, which tended to make voices a little less clear. Just want to know which would sound better for a desktop setup. They may be best option. Big sound with wide soundstage; Bespoke and unique design; Doesn't come with speaker grilles; The Q150 are the smallest and most affordable speakers in KEF's Q series. Considering the recent price drop for the R-51PM, and the fact that the R-51PM is already a little bass-challenged, it seems like a bad idea to go after even less bass just to save a few dollars. My 607's are on a shelf "alcove" with the wall around 10cm behind and sound great. Just found out another possible problem. We focus on education, discussion, and sharing of entry and mid level separate & multi component audio systems. Triangle Borea BR03. 16K views 1 year ago. #1. The addition of USB and optical digital audio inputs, a subwoofer output to connect a powered subwoofer, and a nice remote control give the system excellent versatility. I'm looking to invest in my first set-up with the current sales. At 15 inches high, 8.125 inches wide, and 12.5 inches deep, its the tallest of our picks, but its just-right proportions make it seem less visually intrusive. Perhaps the most distinctive thing about the S1000MKII pairs performance is that it produced such a huge soundstagethe instruments seemed to spread across the entire width of the room, well beyond the speakers themselves. Excellent review Vic! In our tests it did a reasonable job with the bass notes in most light rock and pop music. Triangle Borea BR03 has a Frequency response range of 46 - 22k Hz at 3dB and Power Range of up to 100 watts. This subreddit is for the budget minded audiophile that wants to grow out of soundbars, boomboxes, mini systems, portable bluetooth, lifestyle speakers, and PC peripheral branded audio solutions. Our most recent round of testing, completed in January 2022, included nine new passive models and two new powered models. Both are similar sounding and both are great. $599.99. I mainly listen to classical and jazz. Id be interested to hear a comparison between the Triangle Esprit Comte EZ and the Polk Legend L200 as they are more similarly priced to one another and feature the same size drivers. I can't demo them in store now obviously, so looking . Vanatoos Transparent Zero speakers sport an unusual trapezoidal design with passive radiators to reinforce the bass. I took delivery of a pair of the Borea BR03's in the Walnut finish on February 17, 2020 and I've been logging hours on them since that time while comparing them to some other bookshelf/stand-mount speakers in the same price range ($600 or less). I then moved on to more formal testing, in which I concealed all the speakers behind a sheet of thin, black fabric in my acoustically treated listening room. Research (PDF) shows that listeners consistently prefer speakers that reproduce all frequencies of sound at approximately even levels whether the listeners are sitting or standing, or in front of them or off to the side. Press J to jump to the feed. Good looks plus good sound sealed the deal and the Triangle Borea BR03 are replacing the KEF Q150 in my 2-channel setup. I used two different switchers to move between systems: an Audio by Van Alstine AVA ABX (with two Outlaw Audio Model 2200 amplifiers) for the passive speakers and a switcher I built myself to test the active speakers. Triangle Borea BR03. The SVS Prime Wireless Speaker System provides DTS Play-Fi Wi-Fibased audio in addition to Bluetooth and a subwoofer output; I liked it, but the rest of our panelists said it needed more bass. Like the ELAC B5.2s, the KEF Q150s are sombre, serious-looking loudspeakers that prize functionality over fanciful aesthetics. Is there any of these that should be a clear favourite? From the very first notes, the BR03 impresses with its energy, delivery of deep notes and power handling. However, the cardboard in its packaging can be recycled. The binding posts are short, which makes it somewhat challenging to fit in bare speaker wire larger than 14 gauge. In these tests, we listened mostly for the following: Finally, I did lab measurements to compare the speakers performance, a process that effectively gave me an unbiased second opinion; you can read more about this process and see the results in the Measurements section. The looks are refined (four finish options are available), and the engineering is outstanding. Where I'm based (Belgium), the following deals seem best to me (but please let me know if you know of any others): Music stuff - Roksan Kandy KA1-MKIII, Dynaudio DM2/6, REL Strata III, 16.0mm 6181Y Double Insulated Cable (commonly electrical meter tails). I love that glossy deep rich finish! JavaScript is disabled. Triangle Borea BR03 Amazon product link: https://amzn.to/3onVXk4 KEF Q150 Show. The package includes a remote that controls volume, source selection, and play/pause/track-skip for Bluetooth devices. Dayton Audio said the B652 does not use recycled or recyclable materials, but that the company does offer replacement parts if repairs are needed. The B652 is a sealed-box design with no bass ports, so you can place the speakers against a wall without making the bass sound too boomy. This is also our runner-up pick in our guide to the best surround-sound speakers for most people. Following are our impressions of some of the other speakers weve tested for this guide. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Although many inexpensive turntables have a phono preamp or Bluetooth support built in and thus dont need to be connected to powered speakers with a dedicated phono input, higher-quality turntables and older turntables do need a phono inputso its inclusion on the R-51PM makes for a clean, easy setup. Thanks for your time. We didnt include charts of these results here, but we do mention them in the discussions above for each model. At 13.3 inches high, 11.5 inches deep, and 7.9 inches wide for each speaker, the S1000MKII pair is a little large, but the system is beautifully made, with real wood sides. However, the inclusion of a subwoofer output does allow you to add your own subwoofer, and the R-51PMs remote control includes subwoofer output-level controls, so you can fine-tune the bass level without adjusting your subwoofers controls. It lets the speakers project huge sound with great separation between instruments and tracks. If you want a step up in sound quality from the Edifier S1000MKII and dont mind paying more: In our tests, the Monoprice MM-5R and PSB Alpha AM5 powered-speaker pairs sounded a little clearer with voices than the Edifier S1000MKII set did. I wont be running them extremely loud to fill a large room, it would only be for my desk/ bedroom which I would say small/ medium size. Instrument separation and detail are impressive, and we like how the low-end bass instruments and baritones is clear and belies a speaker this size (11.92 x 7.08 x 10.94 inches). You might also like: When youre comparing speakers around the same price range that both have a good reputation, there is no better one. Warmer to my ears, and more musical. For more details, read our blog post about Bluetooth codecs. Its a well-tuned system that delivers fuller, more natural sound than almost all of its competitors, and it has more refined (if old-fashioned) looks and sturdier construction than most of them. SDA SRS 2.3TL's/SDA SRS 3.1TL's/SDA CRS+4.1TL's and some other stuff. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a28c9117a1c8b83 I really wanted the Dali's but couldn't pass up the Triangle sale going on right now. Our panelists liked it pretty well for instrumental music, but found it tended to de-emphasize the sound of voices. I like the design of the Triangle Borea BR02 the best, but it seems that it along with the Dali are sold with higher premiums in the United States. AUDIO AND SCOTCH 743 subscribers Subscribe 11 Share 667 views 10 months ago Show more Show more Best Speaker Under $600 - Elac Debut Reference. They're in the top 3 bestselling speakers and have dozens of popular alternatives in the same price range, such as Kef Q150 or Klipsch RB-61 II . In the decade since its introduction, the Dayton Audio B652 has become synonymous with good super-cheap speaker. Despite its cost-slashed construction and parts, the B652 set manages to sound better than most under-$100-per-pair speakers, with surprisingly clear sonics on male voices (though female singers can sound a bit harsh). It should last for years and deliver better performance than you can get from the majority of all-in-one Bluetooth and Wi-Fi speakers that are all the rage now. Decent sound at an impressively low price, Great powered speakers for vinyl enthusiasts, The best passive bookshelf speakers: Q Acoustics 3020i, The best powered bookshelf speakers: Edifier S1000MKII, Sustainability and the environmental impact of bookshelf speakers, best surround-sound speakers for most people, The Best Surround-Sound Systems Under $2,500. The right speaker houses the amplifier and inputs, including optical and coaxial digital inputs and two stereo analog inputs. Enjoy!Small Speaker Shootout video: https://youtu.be/Iweo-S2U4c8I reviewed the KEF Q150s last year: https://youtu.be/vn5-TZCL-S8Thanks to Frank at Antal Audio Group for his valuable assistance.Instagram: @myown.devicesI have a Patreon page available if you are interested in supporting my channel: https://www.patreon.com/myowndevicesTracks that I listened to during critical listening sessions:Erykah Badu \"Otherside of The Game\"John Hiatt \"Feels Like Rain\"Fiona Apple \"Shadowboxer\"Little Village \"Big Love\"Chris Rea \"Nothing to Fear\"Chris Isaak \"Wicked Game\"Richard Thompson \"Hard On Me\"Massive Attack \"Angel\" It also looks nicer than most powered speakers do, although its styling is decidedly old-school. and most of the amps that have been recommended are stereo, good amps non the less, but not really what I'm looking for. Thanks! See What to look forward to for details. Anyone heard both the Triangle BR03 and the B&W 607? I know you gave all of the candidates every opportunity to prove themselves. The Q Acoustics Concept 20 speakers had bright, clear treble but lacked authority in the bass. In the case of powered speakers, we asked whether the products firmware can be updated by the owner; updatable firmware also extends a products life because it can allow bugs to be fixed or new features to be added. While nothing was loose or falling apart, there was a very obvious seam on the Walnut vinyl wrap located on the bottom of the speaker. In our measurements, the 3020i pair had roughly 8 to 9 decibels less bass output than what larger speakers like the Triangle Borea BR03 and ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 sets could produce, so fans of bass-heavy music might prefer one of those options. However, the Q150 is 3 inches shorter and 1 inch narrower than the BR03, and it often goes on sale for about half off the list price, in which case its a fantastic buy. We havent seen any major introductions in this category since our last update, but there are a few models we havent tested yet, including the Jamo Concert 9 Series C93 and S803, JBL Stage 130, and Heco Aurora 300. Among all the powered speakers we tested, the S1000MKII pair produced the most enveloping sound; its vocal reproduction was realistic, too, and its bass was impressively full. Well, originally that's what attracted me to them. The Audioengine HD6 set is a larger version of the HD3 pair (which we describe in Other bookshelf speakers we like), but only one panelist in our previous testing liked the sound. Our panelists thought the Cambridge Audio SX-50 had a rather dull-sounding upper midrange, which made voices sound less clear. Still that well all depend on amplifier, source room. Frequency response measurements for the BR03 were excellent, with a variation of about 2.5 decibels through most of the audio range and an even balance of bass to mid range to treble. Check the Detailed Comparison of Triangle Borea BR02 vs Borea BR03 for more details. Theyre fairly tall, black boxes that arent attractive, and even though the bass was present in our tests, it wasnt tight or detailed. The sound stage isn't nearly as interesting, but the representation of sound is a lot smoother and more balanced in that they don't have nearly the bite that KEFs have. In my 3rd system they come close to my much higher priced . Note that all of these speakers have tone controls that will let you tailor the sound to your liking and that can reduce the sonic differences among them, if youre willing to do a little tweaking. Theyre pared-down versions of the brands immensely popular LS50s, the speakers that propelled KEF to audiophile stardom but at a fraction of the price. And not forgetting the Q Acoustics Concept 20 if they are available in Belgium. And last your own taste. These are the speakers to do it. Were inquiring now about getting these in for a listen. In our tests, a pair of BR03 speakers put out an impressive 116.7 dB average bass between 40 and 63 Hz, with 90.9 dB at 31.5 Hzslightly more than the Q Acoustics 3020i could manage at the less-demanding frequency of 40 Hz. If you want a slightly smaller, more affordable upgrade option than the Triangle Borea BR03: The KEF Q150 bookshelf speaker pair was our previous upgrade pick in this guide because it sounds even clearer and more detailed than the Q Acoustics 3020ibut the Triangle Borea BR03 equals the Q150 in performance while offering roughly double the maximum bass output (10 decibels more). Privacy Policy. For movie and TV watching, a pair of good bookshelf speakers can deliver much better dynamics and vocal clarity than the speakers built into any TV, and many of our recommendations have a matching center speaker designed more specifically for dialogue reproduction. In all likelihood KEF will win this poll because KEF spends way more on marketing than Triangle, and the recent discount is fresh on everyones mind. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. These versatile, good-sounding speakers offer the widest variety of connection options, including a phono input for a record player. Its massive. The Fluance Ai61 had a recessed mid range, which in our tests took the body out of singers voices and made them sound a little like they had their hands cupped around their mouths. We originally didnt recommend the Polk Audio TSi100 set because we thought its price was too high for the performance it offered, but the price has fallen by about 30% since then. They also all have aptX HD Bluetooth. Planning on throwing the V601s into the mix once we get em down there? For example, the BR02 are significantly smaller. (And if you really want more bass, you can often add a subwoofer.). The grille uses magnets instead of plastic tabs and grommets, which gives the front of each speaker a clean look when you remove the grille. Style and build quality: If you dont want to throw off your homes feng shui, youll want to ensure your speakers complement the rest of the room theyre in, rather than overpowering it. What Do You Get When You Spend More for Speakers. Here are the criteria we considered when deciding which models to test: A pair of speakers can cost anywhere from two to seven figures. We also recognize that the following may not paint a complete picture of a products supply chain and life-cycle impact. The Edifier S1000MKII is the best affordable powered speaker system weve heardas was its predecessor, the S1000DB, the former top pick in our now-retired guide to the best wireless powered bookshelf speakers. But I doubt there are more than a small handful of people on this sub who have actually heard both personally. The B652s grille attaches to the speaker via plastic pegs. Bottlehead Reduction + Integration Upgrade, Cambridge Audio CXA60 integrated amplifier, Fluance RT82 turntable w/ Nagaoka MP-110 cart, Bottlehead Reduction + Integration upgrade phono preamp, Audioquest Golden Gate interconnect cables, Audioquest Red River interconnects cables (phono pre to RF1), APC H10 line conditioner / surge protector. I'm pretty new to the hifi world, but can try to give a subjective impression of each. Mar 25, 2021. Audio enthusiasts might think they should spend more on speakers than the cost of the Triangle Borea BR03 pair, but this is such a satisfying set of passive speakers that Im not sure you really need to spend more. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. These $549 Triangle Borea BR03 and $599 KEF Q150s are just the kind of speakers that I enjoy listening to and evaluating. They are front ported, which makes placement a little easier for me. I regularly attend audio-measurement clinics and conferences, and Im a member of the Audio Engineering Society, which publishes most of the leading research on audio. A better comparison may be the Polk L200 vs the KEF R series bookshelf speaker (3-way design). Thanks all for the suggestions. Seattle Area. But the methods of recycling these products may have their own adverse impacts. Also, wed guess that many people would prefer the S1000MKIIs styling to the plain black box look of the Monoprice and PSB models, but thats a matter of individual taste. Where I'm based (Belgium), the following deals seem best to me (but please let me know if you know of any others): Dali Oberon 1 (280 euro)Triangle Borea BR03 (300 euro)KEF Q150 (360 euro). The B652 has two real downsides. The new model appears almost identical but has a nicer remote and adds support for the aptX HD Bluetooth codec, which can deliver somewhat better sound from PCs and Android devices. Bookshelf speakers are great for the music lover who wants better performance than anyone can get from the vast majority of one-piece, wireless tabletop speakers that dominate the scene right now. The former is a big plus. The Q Acoustics 3020i is our favorite pair of passive bookshelf speakers to mate with your favorite stereo receiver, while the excellent Edifier S1000MKII pair is a more complete option with built-in amplifiers and Bluetooth. Frequency range: 51Hz - 22KHz (+/- 3dB) Power handling: 80W Nominal impedance: 8 Minimum impedance: 3.6 Dimensions: 17.6 cm (~7") W, 31cm (~12.2") H, 27.4cm (~10.8") D Weight: 4.87kg (~10.7 lbs.)