With that in mind, weve gone for style-conscious designs. 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). Triangle Borea BR03 are $9.02 more expensive than the average speakers ($289.98). company number 03997482, registered in England and Wales. For starters, it doesnt include a phono input to connect a turntable, so youd need to pair these speakers with an external phono preamp or a turntable that has one built in. The mid range, especially, looked extremely flat, varying by only 2 decibels, which is why voices sounded so natural. Sorry, this post was deleted by the person who originally posted it. They will also highlight poor recording quality, so consider your source. Nina SimoneMy Baby Just Care for Me BOREA BR03 ,BOREA BR03 But I doubt there are more than a small handful of people on this sub who have actually heard both personally. Triangle Borea BR03 Speakers https://amzn.to/2ybOCwjPrice: $549 (April, 2020), Overall Rating: Pros: Detail Sound, Clean Midrange and Bass . 13.1K subscribers. But I reckon these ones will be all right. The KEFs will highlight some serious shortcomings in poorly recorded Youtube videos for instance. Kef Q150, especially when they were on sale half price for $300 couple weeks back. You are using an out of date browser. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a28c9117a1c8b83 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. In the charts below, the flatter the trace is, the more natural the speakers sound. Some powered speakers (including one of our picks) even incorporate a phono preamp so you can plug a turntable straight into them. Not surprisingly, the ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 set sounded very similar to the larger B6.2 pair (listed in Other bookshelf speakers we like), just with less bass. 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. Wharfedales Diamond 220 set had good detail and nice bass but produced a boxy sound, with a narrow soundstage. This website uses the TMDb API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDb. Triangle Borea BR03. We suggest keeping the tone controls centered because this speaker sounds its best right out of the box. A great pair of bookshelf speakers is one of the best investments a music lover can make. But its more than twice as costlyand the performance improvements dont merit that big of a price increase. At a minimum frequency of 46 Hz, Borea BR03 will provide an average bass depth so depending on your use case, you may consider supplementing your system with a subwoofer. Big (7.09 x 9.21 x 13.43 inches), black and bold, the ELAC Debut B5.2s look indestructible in that 80s sort of way if thats your jam. Measured bass output from a pair of 3020i speakers was 107.6 dB. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. The BR08 fairs a little better in this regard. All the reviews I can find all say that there is nothing bad to say about any of them at this price point which isn't very helpful. 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. Credit: Triangle Manufacture Electroacoustique. I haven't used any of the others, but I'm really loving my Dali's and don't regret them one bit. 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). These $549 Triangle Borea BR03 and $599 KEF Q150s are just the kind of speakers that I enjoy listening to and evaluating. Theyre well-tuned speakers, but our panelists preferred the similarly sized and priced Audioengine HD3 set (which we describe in Other bookshelf speakers we like). Miccas MB42X speakers are compact, but their small woofer couldnt put out much bass, and the treble had a harsh, metallic sound. 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. For more information, please see our 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. Read More. B&W's generally need a fair amount of space to breathe or they become boomy being rear ported. While this response is quite similar to what others offer, the BR03 can manage it while delivering a sensitivity of 90dB. Brent Butterworth is a senior staff writer covering audio and musical instruments at Wirecutter. I think either the Rega or the MF would be ok for the triangle.. for sure you would most certainly hear the difference between them and the Pioneer.. even on those ageing missions of yours!. These switchers allowed me to match the levels of all the speakers within 0.5 decibel, using channel-level calibration tones recorded from a Dolby Digital receiver along with an NTi Minilyzer audio analyzer and a Mini SPL measurement microphone set for flat response (that is, no A- or C-weighting). But the methods of recycling these products may have their own adverse impacts. Very good sound and couple of guys on here also speak well of them. I have been keeping my eyes a pair off B & W DM602/602's. The Borea BR03 is one of the best bookshelf speaker sets weve heard, with extraordinary clarity and spaciousness plus plenty of bass. The No. In our tests it did a reasonable job with the bass notes in most light rock and pop music. The video is also on my channel. I used the output at 1 kHz as the reference for 0 dB. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Archived post. The charts below show the on-axis (directly in front) frequency response of our picks. The R-51PM has an unusually versatile set of connection options, including a phono input and an optical digital audio input. This impressive level of detail should be just as beneficial with the drum machine and electronic effects on hip-hop tunes, as well as the dozens of interwoven instrumental sounds on orchestral recordings. Thanks for the insight. A proprietary 16-foot cable connects the two speakers. 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). Music stuff - Roksan Kandy KA1-MKIII, Dynaudio DM2/6, REL Strata III, 16.0mm 6181Y Double Insulated Cable (commonly electrical meter tails). This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. It's a dense piece of music, and the Dali's really articulates all the layers whilst producing a full sound. I have the Triangles, paired with a Topping MX3 for my desktop setup. Since 1989, he has served as an editor or writer on audio-focused websites and magazines such as Home Theater, Sound & Vision, SoundStage, and JazzTimes. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The B652s grille attaches to the speaker via plastic pegs. they have been noted for a later date. 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. The B5.2s are the second version of the line, but this isnt an incremental upgrade. Recordings sometimes sounded hollow, as if they had been recorded inside a box. With most male voices, such as John Legend or James Taylor, the tweeter is barely in the mix because a filter capacitor inside the speaker limits the tweeter to frequencies above about 6 kHz (almost 2 kHz above the highest note on a piano). The BR03 is well worth its higher price. I have no previous experience in audio, so I would greatly appreciate any advice that I receive. To use aptX HD, you need an Android device that supports it or a PC with an aptX HD Bluetooth dongle. Thanks for your time. That said, they are both very different speakers, and which is right for you really comes down to preference. And it hurts that the Borea BR03 is on sale for the same price right now but is too big for my desk. Our panelists thought the Cambridge Audio SX-50 had a rather dull-sounding upper midrange, which made voices sound less clear. 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. Bookshelf speakers arent just for music, either. I have to say I am a little upset that you got so many responses to your question on my post when I got nothing on mine. 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. The DALI Oberon 1 is more or less competitive with the Triangle Audio Borea BR03 in price and sound quality, but not in the deep bass department, where it tends to sound weaker than the larger Borea BR03. 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. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. They are both 399, do just a question of which is superior and would fill room better. What Do You Get When You Spend More for Speakers. Edit: The Q150 benefits the most of a subwoofer. Although the Monitor Audio Bronze 1 pair offered good bass response and a large soundstage, the treble was more muted than that of other speakers, which made recordings sound dull. Most audio reviewers quickly notice what they dont like about a speaker, but even after hours of listening to the BR03, I cant think of a significant complaint. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. 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. Of our three passive-speaker picks, the Triangle Borea BR03 came closest to an ideal response for a bookshelf speaker. For more details, read our blog post about Bluetooth codecs. Nice bookshelf shootout Victor, well done. Excellent Review Victor! 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. I hear that the Q150s are supposedly even better, despite their smaller profile. Thanks! The Pro-Ject Speaker Box 5 sometimes drops into the price range for this guide, so we decided to test it. I demoed the B&W's 607's when I bought my Rega Brio Amp a before lockdown. TRIANGLE BOREA BRO 3 vs KEF Q150. Cool, figured it may have been a move up to a pricier speaker. The Triangle Borea BR02 sounded much like the BR03 but had less bass and sounded a little brighter and more trebly. Sound quality: Arguably the biggest part of picking any speakers, youll want to know that your music or content will sound great when its being played. Finally, for what it's worth, the Q150s are much smaller than the Triangles. Everything on this list sounds great, so youll be happy whether youre a classical enthusiast, a metalhead or anything in between. I mainly listen to classical and jazz. The other is that the speaker-cable connectors are the cheap spring-clip type, which tend to produce a looser connection than good binding posts dobut for inexpensive spring clips, they keep a pretty firm grip on the speaker cable. This guide combines two previous guides and thus covers two product categories: passive bookshelf speakers, which you must pair with a stereo receiver, stereo amplifier, or AV receiver, and powered bookshelf speakers, which have built-in amplifiers and inputs for analog audio sources and may incorporate a Bluetooth receiver, digital audio inputs, and/or a phono input to connect a record player. (And if you really want more bass, you can often add a subwoofer.). 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. Compared with passive speakers, powered models are a more plug-and-play, all-in-one option. 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. Powered speakers with tone controls should be calibrated to sound good right out of the box, as Edifiers S1000MKII set is. This set produces a generally full and natural sound, though we think it could use a little more bassbut there is a subwoofer output, so adding a sub is easy. Are they being sold by stores that allow in-home auditions or do cheap and easy returns? For bookshelf speakers, we asked the manufacturers whether their packaging or products use recycled materials, and whether the packaging and products are recyclable. 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. enjoyed reading your thoughts on the different speakers. 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. For the price, theyre one of the best budget bookshelf speakers out there that they come from a reliable brand is just the cherry on top. They are notable in part because Triangle is not the most prolific of brands when it comes to new speakers. It has a phono input and a convenient front volume/input-selector knob, which the S1000MKII lacks. 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. Europe's busiest forums, with independent news and expert reviews, for TVs, Home Cinema, Hi-Fi, Movies, Gaming, Tech and more. They may be best option. A good set of passive bookshelf speakers is an investment that will last longer than most other audio gear you can buy today and will never become obsolete. Following are our impressions of some of the other speakers weve tested for this guide. We take that seriously, too, which is why weve asked the manufacturers of all our picks to answer some basic questions about materials, product life cycles, and other sustainability issues. He regularly gigs on double bass (and occasionally ukulele) with Los Angelesarea jazz groups. 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. The worlds defining voice in music and pop culture: breaking whats new and whats next since 1952. 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. Triangle Borea BR03. Considering how negligible the price premium is for the B652, we recommend the larger model if you have space for it. Okay, say for arguments sake I was dead set on the triangles. #1. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. A removable grille is included. It may not display this or other websites correctly. I agree completely. Have you had a chance to compare those two yet? I like the distinctive white face of the BR03 but don't care much for the imitation white oak enclosure: The dual ports . 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. Both are similar sounding and both are great. You might also like: Every part of the audio spectrum, from deep bass to mid range to treble, sounded natural, and we noticed no sonic flaws that distracted from the music. Audiolab 6000a with BW685 s2 missing bass. Matching with an amplifier: Theres too much in this to go through here, but in general, youll want to avoid connecting speakers with a lower impedance (measured in ohms) to an amp with a higher minimum impedance. I've have a pair of KEF Q300s for the past 10 years and I absolutely adore them. KEF Q150 has a higher list price and is on sale, so I'm wondering if it's supposed to sound better and is a better deal. Rega Planar 2, Rega Brio, Rega Fono Mk3, IFI Zen Blue 2, Marantz CD6006UK, Dali Opticon 1 Mk II. The Triangle Borea BR03 has a frequency response of 46Hz - 22kHz with +/-3dB. The Q Acoustics 3020i set has pretty much everything most people could ask for in a pair of passive bookshelf speakers. 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.