These are the speakers to do it. 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. This effect may be a perception created by the modest bass output of the 3020is relatively small 5-inch woofer. Bookshelf Speaker "Shootout" (under $600) Polk Audio Forum Each speakers cabinet is finished in a vinyl wrap that looks far better than the faux wood grain you usually see at this price. Just found out another possible problem. 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. Its massive. 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). Good thinking! 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. 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. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Too bad their sales aren'tbut the Q150s are excellent, and thats' a solid price for a pair. Not the surrealist Dali stands for Danish Audiophile Loudspeaker Industries, and theyre a seasoned brand that has earned near-universal plaudits for its entry-level and mid-range hi-fi speakers. The looks are refined (four finish options are available), and the engineering is outstanding. New 5.1 speakers to accompany Yamaha Aventage RX-A1080 - B&W. Are there any major differences to how these sound? B & W 607's vs Elac B5.2's - Anyone heard a back to back? New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Everything on this list sounds great, so youll be happy whether youre a classical enthusiast, a metalhead or anything in between. Certain sounds like hi-hats and snares are a little softer and arguably more pleasant. Triangle Borea BR03. I think KEF are freaking amazing. The binding posts are short, which makes it somewhat challenging to fit in bare speaker wire larger than 14 gauge. 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 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 Spektor 2 has the best bass response, is reasonable smooth but not as revealing. The R-51PMs audio performance isnt quite as good as that of the Edifier S1000MKII, but the 5.25-inch woofer in this speaker does allow the system to produce a reasonable amount of bass. A great pair of bookshelf speakers is one of the best investments a music lover can make. The Pro-Ject Speaker Box 5 sometimes drops into the price range for this guide, so we decided to test it. The No. The Klipsch R-41PM (which we did not test) is a smaller version of the R-51PM with the same features but a smaller woofer. 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. Have you had a chance to compare those two yet? They eliminate at least one component (the receiver/amplifier) and at least one cable. Can't go wrong with either in my opinion. It offers standard speaker-cable connectors to join the speakers, so you can sub in a longer cable if you need it. I have not listened to the Dali nor the Triangle. This means that voices and instruments sound natural, and the speakers dont add much coloration of their own. The Q Acoustics 3020i speakers sound and look fantastic, and they play music of all genres with great detail and clarity. 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. Credit: Triangle Manufacture Electroacoustique. Very good sound and couple of guys on here also speak well of them. Mar 25, 2021. Following are our impressions of some of the other speakers weve tested for this guide. Thanks! Triangle Borea BR03 Speaker Review - YouTube Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. 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. !BOREA BR03 What Hi-Fi ! Even when we played Lil Babys ultra-bass-intensive Woah at a loud volume, the BR03 didnt distort, and it produced only a barely perceptible amount of chuffing from its front ports. To meet every readers needs, we tested traditional passive speakers as well as active (powered) speakers. 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. 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. See What to look forward to for details. I'll most likely go with the kefs since they're slighter cheaper than the triangles. $299.98 (50% off) SHOP NOW. The latter should be a plus, ideally, because most electronics contain many recyclable materials. You are using an out of date browser. 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. 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. If youre looking for powered speakers that cost less and sound good, check out our best computer speakers guide. We cover everything from under-$50 budget speakers up to audiophile-oriented models costing as much as $600 per pair. 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. Kef Q150, especially when they were on sale half price for $300 couple weeks back. The 0.5-inch tweeter is really there only to add a little sparkle to the soundalthough that sparkle might be more accurately described as glare. 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. The Best Bookshelf Speakers for Most Stereos - Wirecutter: Reviews for 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. KEF Q150. Press J to jump to the feed. Haven't tried the Kefs, but have no qualm recommending the BR02s. *At the time of publishing, the price was $330. The 3020i pair comes in a variety of finishes to match your decor. I will mostly be using them to listen to classical music and watch films at my computer which is in front of a wall. Q Acoustics, Edifier, and Klipsch were unable to provide answers to our questions. For bookshelf speakers, we asked the manufacturers whether their packaging or products use recycled materials, and whether the packaging and products are recyclable. 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!. 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. 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). technically its discontinued but you can still get your hands on a second hand model.. 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. Price: All of the speakers weve chosen are priced at $500 or below for a pair. Its performance is bound to please practically any listener, and we like the sophisticated, minimalist design, which should suit almost any space. Next up are the ELAC Debut Reference DBR62 speakers, which arrived the day after the LSiM703. 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. 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? and most of the amps that have been recommended are stereo, good amps non the less, but not really what I'm looking for. The B652s frequency response measurements werent impressive, although any attempt on Dayton Audios part to make them better would almost certainly involve increasing the cost. 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. Copyright 2000-2023 M2N Limited E. & O.E. It also had much deeper bass response than the other two models. 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. what amp would you recommend? 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. We concluded that Fluances Ai41 speakers sounded decent but could use a little more bass; their sound wasnt full enough for us. I intend to use whatever I pick for a long time, so I may in the future use it in the living room of a small apartment in New York, if this should in any way affect my decision making. 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. Sorry, no experience with Triagle speakers you mentioned. Send the loser back. So if you have multiple analogue sources like a record player and cassette deck then you will probably need a traditional stereo setup with passive speakers. The B652 has two real downsides. 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. 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. The only bad audio system, is the one you don't enjoy to the fullest. I was so impressed with the BR03 that I had to check out . I am a Kef owner of almost 20 years with some Kef Reference Ones. 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. 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. Getting your music from the cloud has never been easier. Bookshelf speakers are, as their name suggests, compact units that are meant to be placed on a shelf or a mantle. Good looks plus good sound sealed the deal and the Triangle Borea BR03 are replacing the KEF Q150 in my 2-channel setup. Triangle Borea BR03 + Cambridge Audio CXA81 - YouTube Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. The Q Acoustics 3020i set has enough bass for most music styles, but with just a 5-inch woofer, its no low-end powerhouse. Triangle promises it will maintain an inventory of parts for at least 10 years after a product is produced. JavaScript is disabled. Thanks all for the suggestions. 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. 13.1K subscribers. I have no previous experience in audio, so I would greatly appreciate any advice that I receive. A proprietary 16-foot cable connects the two speakers. It's a dense piece of music, and the Dali's really articulates all the layers whilst producing a full sound. Edit: The Q150 benefits the most of a subwoofer. A magnetically attached grille is included to protect the speaker drivers. Triangle Borea BR03 Vs KEF Q150. I'd take a chance on them. For near field listing the Kef you mentioned. 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. Triangle Borea BR02 vs. Dali Spektor 2 vs. KEF Q150 HiFi Bookshelf Speaker - Borea BR03 - TRIANGLE Hifi The charts below show the on-axis (directly in front) frequency response of our picks. Powered speakers with tone controls should be calibrated to sound good right out of the box, as Edifiers S1000MKII set is. 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. They would be used for nearfield listening now (desk usage), but hoping to use them in a medium-sized room at some point in the future.I mainly listen to classical and jazz. However, the cardboard in its packaging can be recycled. A better comparison may be the Polk L200 vs the KEF R series bookshelf speaker (3-way design). Warm sounding speakers. KEF Q150 vs Polk RTiA1 Polk Audio Forum 11 AlchemistBleach 2 yr. ago Thanks for the insight. Still for jazz I would look at Whardale speakers. Many readers are concerned about how the manufacturing, shipping, and normal use of the products we recommend impact the world. They can be a bit bright for some female vocals, making something like Janis Joplin's Mercedes Benz sound a bit harsh at times. 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. *At the time of publishing, the price was $319. 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. You are using an out of date browser. I have been keeping my eyes a pair off B & W DM602/602's. 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. Triangle Borea BR03 are $9.02 more expensive than the average speakers ($289.98). 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. KEF amazon.com. 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. 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. The size isnt just for presence. In our tests it did a reasonable job with the bass notes in most light rock and pop music. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Good luck. 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. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Were inquiring now about getting these in for a listen. Youll also want to ensure your speakers can handle the power output (measured in watts) of your amp. 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. My 607's are on a shelf "alcove" with the wall around 10cm behind and sound great. I've been thoroughly enjoying them for music and pc gaming. Entry to hifi: Dali, Triangle or KEF? : BudgetAudiophile Theyre fairly tall, black boxes that arent attractive, and even though the bass was present in our tests, it wasnt tight or detailed. The Pioneer DJ DM-50D-BT is the best-sounding pair of computer speakers weve heard in the $200 price range. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. Lively piano jazz such as Old Castle by Chick Corea and Hiromi is still really fun and engaging. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. 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. Best were the 607's and the Dali Menuets but they're 850 and I couldn't justify +2x of the 607's. As with most things in life, you can pay a premium for a top-of-the-line speaker combo, but there are also plenty of budget options available, too. Its fairly common to see audio enthusiasts using refurbished 50-year-old speakers with modern amplifiers and sources. The enclosure uses point-to-point bracing to focus the stereo output, and is available in a series of colours (were quite partial to the walnut version) to ensure it fits with your homes interior design. If you have a question about a model not discussed here, leave a note in the comments sectionif weve tried that model, well be happy to share our impressions. 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 No. But we thought the midrange was somewhat de-emphasized, which tended to make voices a little less clear. AVForums.com is owned and operated by M2N Limited, 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). Read More. The Borea BR03 is larger than our other passive-speaker picks, but its just-right proportions keep it from looking intrusive. The 3020i is also beautifully designed, with high-quality speaker-cable binding posts, nicely rounded corners that resist chipping, a magnetically attached grille, and four finish options. 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. 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 package includes a remote that controls volume, source selection, and play/pause/track-skip for Bluetooth devices. Is there any of these that should be a clear favourite? The Borea BR03 is one of the best bookshelf speaker sets weve heard, with extraordinary clarity and spaciousness plus plenty of bass. These speakers also had a less attractive finish and were harder to drive than some other models. With its tone controls centered, the Edifier R1700BTs pair sounded too trebly and thin, and voices sounded coarse and crude. TRIANGLE BOREA BRO 3 vs KEF Q150. - YouTube 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. Klipsch also offers a smaller model with the same inputs and features, the R-41PM; we havent listened to it, but considering that the larger R-51PM could use a bit more bass, we expect wed feel the need for more low end to an even greater extent with the smaller model. Speakers with boosted treble can sound more exciting than the BR03, but to us they dont sound as natural. With that in mind, weve gone for style-conscious designs.