Theyre certainly not as lively as the Dali Spektor 2s not a bad thing if you listen to older recordings. In our tests, its treble sounded muted compared with that of the B652; both models had a dip in their treble response around the frequency where the tweeter started working, but with the B652-AIR, the dip was much deeper. #1. The Fluance XL8S pair put out a good amount of bass for its size and price, but voices sounded somewhat thin and harsh. The Pro-Ject Speaker Box 5 sometimes drops into the price range for this guide, so we decided to test it. 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. The KEFs really shine on songs that are heavily layered, for example Emancipator - Rattlesnakes or The Books - Tokyo. (Whats a phono preamp? The charts below show the on-axis (directly in front) frequency response of our picks. Just found out another possible problem. Read More. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. My Own Devices Audio Channel. Among the powered speakers we tested, the S1000MKII set is the least expensive of our three clear favorites, the others being the Monoprice MM-5R and PSB Alpha AM5. I think KEF are freaking amazing. This means that voices and instruments sound natural, and the speakers dont add much coloration of their own. The BR03 is well worth its higher price. Sure, you could spend upwards of a thousand bucks or pounds and get mind-blowing sound, but these options below offer incredible output in an affordable package. Kef Q150, especially when they were on sale half price for $300 couple weeks back. Thats why this speaker sounded a little trebly. I can't demo them in store now obviously, so looking . Triangle Borea BR03BT-LOB All-in-One Bluetooth Speaker and Subwoofer (Pair) LIGHT OAK BLUE Canada Triangle Borea BR03BT-LOB All-in-One Bluetooth Speaker and Subwoofer (Pair) LIGHT OAK BLUE - Wireless Bluetooth Bookshelf Speaker - Borea Active BR03 BT The BR03 BT speakers create a powerful all-in-one Hi-Fi system with multiple features. As I said earlier, this was not a slam-dunk but I do appreciate the differences between the speakers enough to decide to keep them. Passive speakers dont require power to function as theyre driven by a separate amplifier; active speakers have an amplifier housed within their enclosures and thus require power. This speaker will fit perfectly in rooms ranging from 15 to 30m2. 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. $599.99. Sorry, no experience with Triagle speakers you mentioned. Triangle Borea BR03 A step up in sound quality The Borea BR03 is one of the best bookshelf speaker sets we've heard, with extraordinary clarity and spaciousness plus plenty of bass. Details; Discussions; . Europe's busiest forums, with independent news and expert reviews, for TVs, Home Cinema, Hi-Fi, Movies, Gaming, Tech and more. The vinyl wrap also seemed to be more bubbly to me in several spots and, for a speaker at this price point, I expect better. The KLH Albany II sounds pretty good for its fairly modest price. Credit: Triangle Manufacture Electroacoustique. The UE Wonderboom 3 is the all-around best portable Bluetooth speaker because it sounds good and looks cool, and its the most rugged model weve tested. I also measured the speakers at angles of 15, 30, 45, and 60 degrees horizontally, as well as 15 degrees vertically, to make sure their sound didnt change radically when I heard them from an angle. Was just curious! Subscribe. Triangle Borea BR03 Vs KEF Q150. Before conducting listening tests, I broke in each speaker pair for 10 hours with music. I love that glossy deep rich finish! Add Mission LX /LX mark 2 range if available in your country. The video is also on my channel. In the BR03, particularly in the black finish, this could also legitimately be seen to be a little dull. The Klipsch R-51PM comes with a nice remote that includes subwoofer output-level controls, so you can fine-tune the bass level without having to make adjustments on the subwoofer itself (if you add one). TVs are made for great pictures, so we recommend the best ways to get great sound too. Triangle Borea BR03 are a popular option in the middle of the speakers price range. Excellent Review Victor! AUDIO AND SCOTCH 743 subscribers Subscribe 11 Share 667 views 10 months ago Show more Show more Best Speaker Under $600 - Elac Debut Reference. This pair did have a clear sound with a decent amount of bass in our tests, so if youre looking for something priced between our top pick and our budget pick, its worth a listen. 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. The package includes a remote that controls volume, source selection, and play/pause/track-skip for Bluetooth devices. The Line/Phono switch sets the red and white RCA jacks to the right to work with a turntable output or a standard line audio source. Good thinking! Edit: The Q150 benefits the most of a subwoofer. 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. Seattle Area. They will also highlight poor recording quality, so consider your source. For fun, I listened to the Q150s in a Best Buy Magnolia store with my 16 yr son. The frequency response measurements for the S1000MKII were a little shocking in that they were the best of any of the speakers we tested. I started reviewing speakers professionally in 1991 as senior editor of Video magazine, and Ive since served as an editor or writer at audio-focused publications such as Home Theater, Sound & Vision, SoundStage, and HomeTheaterReview.com. 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. Although our product recommendations are based completely on the criteria outlined in How we picked and How we tested, we offer the following information to supplement the decision of any reader who considers environmental impact as a deciding factor in their purchases. The Pioneer DJ DM-50D-BT is the best-sounding pair of computer speakers weve heard in the $200 price range. 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. If you have the means, trying both in your space is worth your while. That is my guess anyway. Like the ELAC B5.2s, the KEF Q150s are sombre, serious-looking loudspeakers that prize functionality over fanciful aesthetics. I'm pretty new to the hifi world, but can try to give a subjective impression of each. Last year, France's Triangle scored a big hit with the reasonably priced BOREA BR03 standmount speaker, which supplies a huge amount of refinement and style for only $549.I went as far as making them our speaker of the year for 2019, and they piled up the accolades from many other outlets as well.. A keyhole mounting bracket on the back makes it easy to hang each speaker from a drywall screw; in my lab, I have a set hanging this way, which I use to produce noise for headphone measurements. . Press J to jump to the feed. The Triangle Borea BR03 is widely considered to be a great Bookshelf Speaker at its $460 budget. We suggest keeping the tone controls centered because this speaker sounds its best right out of the box. It offers standard speaker-cable connectors to join the speakers, so you can sub in a longer cable if you need it. Miccas MB42X speakers are compact, but their small woofer couldnt put out much bass, and the treble had a harsh, metallic sound. I am a fan of the Wharfedale 12.1's. In response to the question about the Triangle BR03, I have reviewed them. Very good sound and couple of guys on here also speak well of them. 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. Most lower priced triangle speaker are bright like some Dali and B&W can be, so careful system matching is important Once had a pair of Triangle LN01, they where to bright for my taste, bass okay but sounded like a slightly uneven frequency response Okay, demo for sure before you buy. insider9 KEF . Our panelists liked it pretty well for instrumental music, but found it tended to de-emphasize the sound of voices. Lively piano jazz such as Old Castle by Chick Corea and Hiromi is still really fun and engaging. We especially loved that the treble had a just-right character; it always had enough detail and sparkle to hold our attention but never veered into sounding bright, thin, or harsh. How big is your room? Planning on throwing the V601s into the mix once we get em down there? Star Wars 4-6 are the best movies. The Polk Audio Signature Elite ES10 is a pretty nice-sounding little speaker in the midrange and treble, but our panelists thought it didnt produce enough bass for use on its own, without a subwoofer. 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. The room I am trying to fill is 12.5x9 FT so its an odd shape bedroom and I don't think I can return something that isn't faulty in the UK. 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. Curious to hear them in person. The Q acoustic concept 20s and Elac debuts (can't seem to get the other speakers mentioned) seem to be about double the price of the other options I proposed so I'm not sure whether that's worth it in my market. Triangle Borea BR03Amazon product link: https://amzn.to/3onVXk4KEF Q150Amazon product link: https://amzn.to/3F8Zt7CIn case you didn't know, I'm a compact bookshelf/standmount speaker aficionado. The build quality on the DBR62 was the most disappointing of the group. Brent Butterworth explains what improvements you might get when you spend more. For near field listing the Kef you mentioned. The best entry-level turntables and record players on a budget, Add to your classic car collection with this LEGO Creator Expert Fiat 500 collectible model, Catch em all with this Pokmon Ultra Ball Replica, Get a free subscription to Disney+ when you sign up for Amazon Music Unlimited, This Star Wars smart projector is the droid you are looking for, Take to the skies with the DJI Mavic Mini drone for just $399, Kickstart the party with this Sony wireless speaker, now 20 per cent off. Check the Detailed Comparison of Triangle Borea BR02 vs Borea BR03 for more details. But I doubt there are more than a small handful of people on this sub who have actually heard both personally. High-end powered speaker systems can offer technical advantagessuch as separate amplifiers and digital signal processing for each speaker driver to precisely tune the soundbut in the price ranges were covering here, neither type of speaker can claim a clear sonic advantage. In that time, Ive written reviews of at least 1,000 speaker systems ranging in price from $5 to more than $500,000, and Ive published more brand-concealed, multiple-listener speaker evaluations than any other audio journalist in the world. The No. The B652 uses spring-clip connectors, not binding posts, to hold the speaker wire. It was kindly sent to me for testing by a member and costs US $499 on Amazon including Prime shipping. Part of this clarity comes from the 3020is slightly bright tonal balance, which means the treble seems subtly emphasized. Interesting comparison to the Q150s, maybe they're not quite the steal at $600 I thought they were when I owned them. 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. The amplifier is located in the right speaker, and the two speakers connect with a proprietary cable thats 16 feet longyoure unlikely to need anything longer. On more mainstream pop recordings in our tests, the 3020i set performed equally impressively, presenting a natural and detailed sound on voices and guitars. The Borea BR03 is one of the best bookshelf speaker sets weve heard, with extraordinary clarity and spaciousness plus plenty of bass. Triangle promises it will maintain an inventory of parts for at least 10 years after a product is produced. Each R-51PM speaker measures 13.3 inches high by 9.1 inches deep by 7 inches wide, so a pair isnt quite as bulky as the Edifier S1000MKII set. Many readers are concerned about how the manufacturing, shipping, and normal use of the products we recommend impact the world. The Triangle Borea BR03 was loved by reviewers at Wirecutter (NYTimes), a highly trusted source that performs reliable in . But for most people and most music styles, a good pair of bookshelf speakers will deliver a satisfyingly complete sound. Good looks plus good sound sealed the deal and the Triangle Borea BR03 are replacing the KEF Q150 in my 2-channel setup. In my 3rd system they come close to my much higher priced . Wharfedales Diamond 220 set had good detail and nice bass but produced a boxy sound, with a narrow soundstage. As the name suggests, these speakers are sized to fit on a shelf or to be mounted in a stand. 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. It also has no output to connect a subwoofer, if you want more bass. Price: All of the speakers weve chosen are priced at $500 or below for a pair. It had some peaks and dips at different frequencies, but generally the balance of bass to mid range to treble was pretty even. My 607's are on a shelf "alcove" with the wall around 10cm behind and sound great. Powered by Xenforo, Hosted by Nimbus Hosting, Original design Critical Media Ltd. company number 03997482, registered in England and Wales. The Dayton Audio MK402X looks a little nicer than the B652, but its mid range sounded a little rough, and it didnt have much bass. I like the distinctive white face of the BR03 but don't care much for the imitation white oak enclosure: The dual ports . Powered speakers with tone controls should be calibrated to sound good right out of the box, as Edifiers S1000MKII set is. It also looks nicer than most powered speakers do, although its styling is decidedly old-school. Desire to learn and share knowledge of science required as is 20 years of participation in forums (not all true). I mainly listen to classical and jazz. As I discovered when putting together the Bluetooth codec comparison on my personal website, aptX HD does sound better than aptX and the standard SBC Bluetooth codec, although the difference isnt dramatic. The Triangle Borea BR03 comes with a magnetically attached speaker grille. 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. 1 Home Entertainment Tech Resource. I hope to be able to articulate that well someday! KEF Q150. Our most recent round of testing, completed in January 2022, included nine new passive models and two new powered models. If youre looking to build a compact, affordable stereo system, we like the Fosi Audio BT20A mini stereo amplifier for its combination of power and features. Their dull black vinyl covering and plain design wont suit high-style living spaces (unless you want to add an ironic touch), but theyll probably sound better than all but the best one-piece wireless speakers. Its a tonal balance that audiophiles tend to love because it makes music seem a little more exciting and captivating. Good luck. Voices, in particular, sounded smooth, with no harshness, boominess, or chestiness, no matter the gender or range of the singer. The 3020i pair comes in a variety of finishes to match your decor. The House of Marley Get Together Duo is a small set of powered speakers with Bluetooth and line inputs, and the right speaker has a rechargeable battery that lets it work on its own as a portable speaker. Learn more. To get an unbiased second opinion on these speakers, and to ensure we werent picking something that strayed far outside established engineering norms, I ran frequency response measurements on all of the models that did well in my casual listening tests. 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. To our ears, it didnt sound quite as good as the Edifier S1000MKII pair, but our eyes appreciated the R-51PMs more compact form and contemporary look. The Dayton Audio B452 is a smaller version of the B652. The Borea BR03 is larger than our other passive-speaker picks, but its just-right proportions keep it from looking intrusive. These speakers were not very picky on placement and they did not require much power to get good sound levels. First and foremost, the 3020i performs beautifully, offering a clear, spacious sound on vocals and instruments thats at least as good as anything weve heard in its price range. You could adapt any powered stereo speaker system for use with such turntables through the addition of an outboard phono preamp, but thats more money to spend, plus an extra set of cables to connect and an extra power supply to plug in. These versatile, good-sounding speakers offer the widest variety of connection options, including a phono input for a record player. If for no other reason the KEFs coaxial setup will image better, especially on a desk. The difference will come down to taste. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. These speakers are more forgiving than the KEFs, which may be important since it sounds like you may be using these as computer speakers in addition to music. Note that we didnt make a budget pick for powered speakers because we didnt like any of the inexpensive ones we tried. The 6.5-inch woofers in the SVS Ultra Bookshelf speakers produced excellent, room-filling bass in our tests, but our top pick and upgrade pick offer superior mid-range and treble performance. Cookie Notice I see that you have the Triangles for sale, have you moved on to another bookshelf speaker that you like better, or just going with your new 705s? The mid range looked quite flat, but there was a big peak at 3.6 kHza frequency often reached by the upper harmonics of female vocals, but not so often by male vocals. 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. KEF Q150 Compare: 2-way : 86 dB: 8 ohms: 51-28k Hz: Polk ES20 Compare: 2-way : 86 dB: 8 ohms: 41-40k Hz: Frequently Asked Questions about Triangle Borea BR02. Bookshelf speakers arent just for music, either. The Q Acoustics 3020i also had a fairly flat response, but with less deep bass. Copyright 2000-2023 M2N Limited E. & O.E. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Youll also want to ensure your speakers can handle the power output (measured in watts) of your amp. Youre the first to write about their audition of both of them that I could find. SDA SRS 2.3TL's/SDA SRS 3.1TL's/SDA CRS+4.1TL's and some other stuff. It has a phono input and a convenient front volume/input-selector knob, which the S1000MKII lacks. To meet every readers needs, we tested traditional passive speakers as well as active (powered) speakers. Excellent review Vic! (And if you really want more bass, you can often add a subwoofer.). Cool, figured it may have been a move up to a pricier speaker. I have the Triangles, paired with a Topping MX3 for my desktop setup. I agree completely. I use the older Creative Sound Blaster Recon3D THX PCIE Sound Card SB1350. In addition to our subjective panel testing, we measured each system to get an unbiased second opinion and detect any anomalies. 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. The worlds defining voice in music and pop culture: breaking whats new and whats next since 1952. 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. They are front ported, which makes placement a little easier for me. I favor these when I want to toss something on in the background and chill out. Maybe give the 607s a go and return them if you think they are not up to par. But I doubt there are more than a small handful of people on this sub who have actually heard both personally. We cover everything from under-$50 budget speakers up to audiophile-oriented models costing as much as $600 per pair. If youre looking for powered speakers that cost less and sound good, check out our best computer speakers guide. Stylish design and great sound make the Polk Signature Elite ES15, ES10, and ES30 combo our pick for the best surround-sound system. The switchers also let me move among the speakers (labeled only by number) without knowing which one I was hearing. 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. Adorama has the BR02s for $269 which could and should sway the vote some. You must log in or register to reply here. That means voices and instruments will sound pretty much like theyre supposed to. Thanks for the insight. what amp would you recommend? Finishes: Light oak, black, walnut, white List Price: $599 Canadian/pair, $449 US/pr. In our tests with Holly Coles version of Train Song, the sound sparkled, filling the room with the jingle of percussion instruments and the subtle sounds of fingers scraping the strings of the double bass. technically its discontinued but you can still get your hands on a second hand model.. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. However, the B6.2 is much larger and sports the plain, vinyl-wrapped black-box look for which speakers are often loathed. They also seem to represent incredible emotion in male vocals, such as Aaron Neville's cover of Ain't No Sunshine or Mo Ghile Mear - Choral Scholars of University of Dublin. If you really want bass for a B652-based garage sound system, youd better add an inexpensive subwoofer.