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. In our tests, the ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 pair offered very good bass response and detail but had a relatively restricted soundstage. In addition to our subjective panel testing, we measured each system to get an unbiased second opinion and detect any anomalies. Is there any of these that should be a clear favourite? Like the larger PSB Alpha AM5 set (which we list in Other bookshelf speakers we like), the PSB Alpha AM3 pair produced wonderfully clear and natural vocalsbut with its smaller woofer and weaker amp, it distorted easily when we played loud rock, and it produced a lot of port noise when we played hip-hop tunes. It also had much deeper bass response than the other two models. 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. No worries its an idea of where you "should" be at the end of the day given the quality of the speakers.. You can also often pick these up in good condition used on ebay or similar these days also. It sounded similar to that model but had less bass. $299.98 (50% off) SHOP NOW. 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. The Polk Alpha AM5 has a more focused and intimate sound that fans of jazz, classical, and acoustic pop may find appealing, but it distorts more with bass-heavy music. Price: All of the speakers weve chosen are priced at $500 or below for a pair. 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. The package includes a remote that controls volume, source selection, and play/pause/track-skip for Bluetooth devices. Just found out another possible problem. For more information, please see our The Dali's are in their way. Some metal parts of the speakers may be recyclable; the company does not have a recycling partner in the US, but in France it works with a recycler called Eco-System. 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. The charts below show the on-axis (directly in front) frequency response of our picks. Haven't tried the Kefs, but have no qualm recommending the BR02s. Nice bookshelf shootout Victor, well done. Click to reveal It had some peaks and dips at different frequencies, but generally the balance of bass to mid range to treble was pretty even. That means voices and instruments will sound pretty much like theyre supposed to. For example, the BR02 are significantly smaller. Unfortunately can't demo or return the triangles. We suggest keeping the tone controls centered because this speaker sounds its best right out of the box. The R-51PM set is especially suitable for use with a TV not only because of its optical digital input, but also because the manual provides codes for programming remotes from DirecTV and RCA satellite receivers and AT&T, Bright House, and Xfinity cable boxes to control the R-51PMs volume and mute functions. Its obvious that a great deal of thought went into the 3020is industrial designsomething we wouldnt say about most bookshelf speaker pairs priced under $500, which are usually plain-looking black boxes. Speakers with boosted treble can sound more exciting than the BR03, but to us they dont sound as natural. 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.) 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). ELAC tweaked everything, from the enclosure size to the tweeter to the speaker drivers, and the result is a robust bookshelf speaker that reproduces balanced, if a little too mature, audio. The B652s grille attaches to the speaker via plastic pegs. The binding posts are short, which makes it somewhat challenging to fit in bare speaker wire larger than 14 gauge. *At the time of publishing, the price was $330. 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 No. 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. Wharfedales Diamond 220 set had good detail and nice bass but produced a boxy sound, with a narrow soundstage. The video is also on my channel. 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. I liked the look of the black fascia with the Walnut cabinets but the bare metal grill over the tweeter really stood out to me and I felt it would have looked better had it been a flat black or a gloss black instead. The Triangle Borea BR02 sounded much like the BR03 but had less bass and sounded a little brighter and more trebly. 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. 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. I was so impressed with the BR03 that I had to check out . 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. 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. Sony A95L QD-OLED, X95L MINI LED And Full BRAVIA Range For 2023 (In-Depth Interview). The Klipsch R-51PM set is a great choice for vinyl-record enthusiasts because it includes a phono input, so you can easily connect most record players without having to buy a separate phono preamp. That said, they are both very different speakers, and which is right for you really comes down to preference. 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. 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. The S1000MKII pair comes with a simple remote. Compared with passive speakers, powered models are a more plug-and-play, all-in-one option. 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 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. The only bad audio system, is the one you don't enjoy to the fullest. Looking for first speaker set [onkyo9010], Advice needed, mixed usage stereo & home cinema, with bias towards stereo music. Considering how negligible the price premium is for the B652, we recommend the larger model if you have space for it. Press J to jump to the feed. Its available in a black or walnut finish with a black front panel, or in a white or light oak finish with a white baffle. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Privacy Policy. These speakers also had a less attractive finish and were harder to drive than some other models. 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. Dayton Audio said the B652 does not use recycled or recyclable materials, but that the company does offer replacement parts if repairs are needed. It was kindly sent to me for testing by a member and costs US $499 on Amazon including Prime shipping. The build quality on the DBR62 was the most disappointing of the group. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Triangle Borea BR03 Speakers https://amzn.to/2ybOCwjPrice: $549 (April, 2020), Overall Rating: Pros: Detail Sound, Clean Midrange and Bass . The pair I like better depends on my mood and what I'm listening to. KEF Q150. In the charts below, the flatter the trace is, the more natural the speakers sound. Bookshelf speakers are, as their name suggests, compact units that are meant to be placed on a shelf or a mantle. 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 former is a big plus. That said, these arent for bassheads or hip-hop fans the equalisation on the BR03s is fairly balanced, which results in a transparent sound that wont colour your music. I love that glossy deep rich finish! what amp would you recommend? Edit: The Q150 benefits the most of a subwoofer. I favor these when I want to toss something on in the background and chill out. Likewise, the newer HD4a slightly larger version of the HD3 with a bigger wooferhad a muted treble that made it sound less lively than the HD3. The 3030is are also considered unfussy speakers, which really just means theyll work well with most (budget) amplifiers and wherever in the room you place them. I hope to be able to articulate that well someday! 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. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. 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. A linha Triangle Borea oferece um desempenho vocal excelente e mdios ntidos, combinando com graves fortes e controlados. 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. Ive owned a pair for about a decade, and Ive found many uses for them. I am a fan of the Wharfedale 12.1's. In response to the question about the Triangle BR03, I have reviewed them. While this response is quite similar to what others offer, the BR03 can manage it while delivering a sensitivity of 90dB. The Dayton Audio B452 is a smaller version of the B652. The Dayton Audio B652 had a fairly even response except for a large peak and dip in the middle of the treble range, where the tweeter started to operate. The frequency response measurements for the S1000MKII were a little shocking in that they were the best of any of the speakers we tested. The Spektor 2 has the best bass response, is reasonable smooth but not as revealing. They are both great speakers by my standard (I'm no expert), and by the standard of many others as well as evidenced by the numerous good reviews for each. But before you take the plunge, theres a bit of research youll need to do as bookshelf speakers arent at all like your average soundbar or Bluetooth device. To use aptX HD, you need an Android device that supports it or a PC with an aptX HD Bluetooth dongle. 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. Excellent review Vic! The Micca COVO-S is a cute little concentric (tweeter-inside-woofer) speaker set. In short, the KEFs are a cup of coffee and the Triangles are a glass of red wine. They are considered passive speakers while Bluetooth devices are active speakers. If you really want bass for a B652-based garage sound system, youd better add an inexpensive subwoofer. 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. 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. These could be for you. 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. Good luck. 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. Cookie Notice We independently review everything we recommend. TRIANGLE BOREA BRO 3 vs KEF Q150. It also has no output to connect a subwoofer, if you want more bass. 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. What stands out in the 3020is performance is the detail and clarity that these speakers bring out in every recording. 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. I don't have an amp to go with them yet and there don't seem to be any great deals, so I'll probably pick up a Yamaha A-S301/501 and get a sound card to use the optical input. For now I will be driving both sets by the tiny Loxjie A30 but I aim to build a more robust system around those kef speakers in my living room. Very nice review!!! This is also our runner-up pick in our guide to the best surround-sound speakers for most people. I demoed the B&W's 607's when I bought my Rega Brio Amp a before lockdown. Klipschs R-51PM, which was another pick in our previously separate guide to the best wireless powered bookshelf speakers, is one of the most versatile powered speakers weve encountered because it has almost every type of audio input we can think of, including a phono input for connecting a turntable, a USB input for a computer, an optical digital connection for TVs, Bluetooth, and a standard analog line input. With most female voices and higher-pitched instruments, such as cymbals and acoustic guitars, the tweeter is more active, and the sound can become harsh and fatiguing if you play it loud. 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. On sale, they're hard to beat. Weve employed various listening panelists over the history of this guide, most recently including Wirecutter updates writer Nena Farrell, Wirecutter senior staff writer and headphone expert Lauren Dragan, and John Higgins (Laurens spouse), a professional musician and composer who has also written for Wirecutter and Home Theater. Like the ELAC B5.2s, the KEF Q150s are sombre, serious-looking loudspeakers that prize functionality over fanciful aesthetics. The switchers also let me move among the speakers (labeled only by number) without knowing which one I was hearing. The system cant pump out low bass, but it doesnt sound thin, eitherand adding a subwoofer is easy, thanks to an analog audio output whose level you control with the HD3s volume knob. 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.. Each speakers cabinet is finished in a vinyl wrap that looks far better than the faux wood grain you usually see at this price. I think KEF are freaking amazing. 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. SDA SRS 2.3TL's/SDA SRS 3.1TL's/SDA CRS+4.1TL's and some other stuff. Measured bass output was impressive, at 106.3 dB from 40 to 63 Hz, and it stayed strong all the way down to 31.5 Hz, where the system output 84.7 dB. We focus on education, discussion, and sharing of entry and mid level separate & multi component audio systems. The Pioneer DJ DM-50D-BT is the best-sounding pair of computer speakers weve heard in the $200 price range. New 5.1 speakers to accompany Yamaha Aventage RX-A1080 - B&W. Excellent Review Victor! Using speaker stands like the Sanus BF24B or Monoprice 39494 can also solve this problem. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. The Q150s are renowned for their soundstage. We all hear different. For reference, the lowest note of a standard bass guitar or double bass is E1 at 41.2 Hz, so 40 Hz is deep enough for most rock and jazz recordings. This is a review and detailed measurements of the Triangle Borea BR03 bookshelf speaker. A magnetically attached grille is included to protect the speaker drivers. 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. I imagine with the sockets, etc you are going to overhang by 6-7 cm). The Triangle Borea BR03 is widely considered to be a great Bookshelf Speaker at its $460 budget. The speakers are also nicely designed for the price, with custom binding posts, magnetically attached grilles, a decor-friendly 10.875-inch height, and nicely rounded corners that resist chipping. For near field listing the Kef you mentioned. This system does have a defeatable dynamic bass control that boosts the bass at low volumes, but in our experience it didnt seem to help, especially considering we did most of our testing at moderately loud levels. Theyre certainly not as lively as the Dali Spektor 2s not a bad thing if you listen to older recordings. They are notable in part because Triangle is not the most prolific of brands when it comes to new speakers. The Kanto YU4 offers a cool design, a phono input, and a reasonable price, but only one of our panelists really liked its sound. In all likelihood KEF will win this poll because KEF spends way more on marketing than Triangle, and the recent discount is fresh on everyone's mind. Good thinking! These $549 Triangle Borea BR03 and $599 KEF Q150s are just the kind of speakers that I enjoy listening to and evaluating. Interesting comparison to the Q150s, maybe they're not quite the steal at $600 I thought they were when I owned them. Hip-hop, R&B, and modern pop recordings often extend to lower frequencies, so if youre a fan of those genres (and you wont use a subwoofer), pay special attention to our CTA-2010 results at 31.5 Hz. The Marantz PM6006 would be an excellent choice have heard that amp with the B&W 607s. I know you gave all of the candidates every opportunity to prove themselves. Our panelists thought the Cambridge Audio SX-50 had a rather dull-sounding upper midrange, which made voices sound less clear. I am trying to decide between these two, but I can't test them given COVID. This size is especially recommended for dedicated listeners looking for the performance of a floorstander in a compact design. 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. Our panelists liked it pretty well for instrumental music, but found it tended to de-emphasize the sound of voices. Bookshelf speakers arent just for music, either. 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\" They dont take up as much visual or physical space as larger tower speakers doand they dont put out as much bass, either. What Do You Get When You Spend More for Speakers. The 3020i pair comes in a variety of finishes to match your decor. Mar 25, 2021. These monochrome offerings from Triangle come in both black and white pairs and are pretty sizeable, making a true audio-visual statement. Just going to step in here and say thank you for writing this up. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. Nothing comes close. Voices sounded natural, with perhaps a slightly exaggerated treble, and the bass, while a bit too punchy on occasion, was loud, full, and clear. 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. With that in mind, weve gone for style-conscious designs. 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. Triangle Borea BR03 Review (bookshelf speaker) | Page 2 | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum WANTED: Happy members who like to discuss audio and other topics related to our interest. 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 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. Credit: Triangle Manufacture Electroacoustique. Read More. AVForums.com is owned and operated by M2N Limited, They can be a bit bright for some female vocals, making something like Janis Joplin's Mercedes Benz sound a bit harsh at times. But for most people and most music styles, a good pair of bookshelf speakers will deliver a satisfyingly complete sound. 1 Home Entertainment Tech Resource. Triangle Borea BR03 Vs KEF Q150. Triangle Borea BR03 are a popular option in the middle of the speakers price range. SHOP NOW. They also all have aptX HD Bluetooth. These are the speakers to do it. technically its discontinued but you can still get your hands on a second hand model.. 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. My Own Devices Audio Channel. 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. 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 Q Acoustics Concept 20 speakers had bright, clear treble but lacked authority in the bass. 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. These speakers were not very picky on placement and they did not require much power to get good sound levels. Your IP: They eliminate at least one component (the receiver/amplifier) and at least one cable. Stylish design and great sound make the Polk Signature Elite ES15, ES10, and ES30 combo our pick for the best surround-sound system. A larger version, the Kanto YU6, won over two of our listeners, but the others werent impressed. Its a neat concept, but the speakers sound is rather thin and crude. 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. 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. 16K views 1 year ago. KEF amazon.com. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Would really like to audition the Oberon 5s in the future. Very cool Victor! We didnt include charts of these results here, but we do mention them in the discussions above for each model. The B652 set isnt handsome, but its surprisingly good for the price, making it perfect for workrooms, kids rooms, and other places where expensive speakers dont make sense. 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. The frequency response measurements for the 3020i looked very good, with a variance of only about 2.6 decibels through most of the audio range. highend666. While there were no major introductions of new bookshelf speakers at CES 2023, we have found a few current models that we hope to get in for testing. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. The HD3 offers a rich array of features, including aptX HD Bluetooth, a USB digital input, and a front headphone output. 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. Triangle Borea BR03. Have you had a chance to compare those two yet? Voices, in particular, sounded smooth, with no harshness, boominess, or chestiness, no matter the gender or range of the singer. Sony A95L QD-OLED, X95L MINI LED And Full BRAVIA Range For 2023 (In-Depth Interview). The BR03 offers binding posts to connect the speaker wire.