and our The only area that I thought was a little off was the midrange. 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. A proprietary 16-foot cable connects the two speakers. 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. The HD3 offers a rich array of features, including aptX HD Bluetooth, a USB digital input, and a front headphone output. Star Wars 4-6 are the best movies. 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. The binding posts are short, which makes it somewhat challenging to fit in bare speaker wire larger than 14 gauge. I'd take a chance on them. Sorry, this post was deleted by the person who originally posted it. I am currently deciding on what to get out of the 2 listed and the KEF Q150. So whether youre listening to vocals, instruments, or a bit of everything, the Spektor 2s will sound entertaining. 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. These versatile, good-sounding speakers offer the widest variety of connection options, including a phono input for a record player. Despite the use of a relatively large, 6.5-inch woofer, the B652s compact enclosure limited its bass output to an average of 102.2 dB for two speakers from 40 to 63 Hznoticeably below that of any of our other picksalthough this set had fairly decent output of 89.2 dB all the way down to 31.5 Hz. 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. 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. 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.. 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. Theyre fairly tall, black boxes that arent attractive, and even though the bass was present in our tests, it wasnt tight or detailed. Are they being sold by stores that allow in-home auditions or do cheap and easy returns? 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 lacks some features found on competing models, such as the Klipsch R-51PM. Send the loser back. *At the time of publishing, the price was $319. They are both 399, do just a question of which is superior and would fill room better. 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. Theyre certainly not as lively as the Dali Spektor 2s not a bad thing if you listen to older recordings. As the name suggests, these speakers are sized to fit on a shelf or to be mounted in a stand. The B652 uses spring-clip connectors, not binding posts, to hold the speaker wire. Cookie Notice 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. 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. Interesting comparison to the Q150s, maybe they're not quite the steal at $600 I thought they were when I owned them. Rega Planar 2, Rega Brio, Rega Fono Mk3, IFI Zen Blue 2, Marantz CD6006UK, Dali Opticon 1 Mk II. Powered by Xenforo, Hosted by Nimbus Hosting, Original design Critical Media Ltd. Add Mission LX /LX mark 2 range if available in your country. We didnt include charts of these results here, but we do mention them in the discussions above for each model. 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. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. I also did CTA-2010 bass output measurements, using the same process we use for our best high-performance subwoofer and best budget subwoofer guides. Of our three passive-speaker picks, the Triangle Borea BR03 came closest to an ideal response for a bookshelf speaker. I have been keeping my eyes a pair off B & W DM602/602's. Youll also want to ensure your speakers can handle the power output (measured in watts) of your amp. A magnetically attached grille is included to protect the speaker drivers. 16K views 1 year ago. Good thinking! What Do You Get When You Spend More for Speakers. The size isnt just for presence. Triangle Borea BR03 Speakers https://amzn.to/2ybOCwjPrice: $549 (April, 2020), Overall Rating: Pros: Detail Sound, Clean Midrange and Bass . 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. Voices sounded natural, with perhaps a slightly exaggerated treble, and the bass, while a bit too punchy on occasion, was loud, full, and clear. Next up are the ELAC Debut Reference DBR62 speakers, which arrived the day after the LSiM703. Compared to the KEFs, these speakers shine for me on mellow, melty songs such as Julian Lage - Nocturne or John Scofield - A Go Go. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. 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. The Fluance XL8S pair put out a good amount of bass for its size and price, but voices sounded somewhat thin and harsh. Still that well all depend on amplifier, source room. I've have a pair of KEF Q300s for the past 10 years and I absolutely adore them. I have rears for surround sound. Measured bass output from a pair of 3020i speakers was 107.6 dB. Speakers with boosted treble can sound more exciting than the BR03, but to us they dont sound as natural. Sony A95L QD-OLED, X95L MINI LED And Full BRAVIA Range For 2023 (In-Depth Interview). The video is also on my channel. I have no previous experience in audio, so I would greatly appreciate any advice that I receive. I will mostly be using them to listen to classical music and watch films at my computer which is in front of a wall. It was kindly sent to me for testing by a member and costs US $499 on Amazon including Prime shipping. 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. Triangle Up-sizes The Sophistication. The KEF Q150, however, while also a good product at this price point, doesn't stack up against its competitors quite as well. My space accentuates bass a little bit, which helps balance the rear ported KEFs that may otherwise be light on bass for some people's tastes. Privacy Policy. The Dayton Audio B452 is a smaller version of the B652. It lets the speakers project huge sound with great separation between instruments and tracks. 202.153.111.46 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). Just a question for you: which one did you keep? 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 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. But I doubt there are more than a small handful of people on this sub who have actually heard both personally. The Borea BR03 is one of the best bookshelf speaker sets weve heard, with extraordinary clarity and spaciousness plus plenty of bass. The KEFs are brighter, more analytical, and I favor them for situations when I intend to listen actively. The Dayton Audio B652-AIR is basically the B652 with an air-motion transformer (AMT) tweeter. 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). I'm looking to invest in my first set-up with the current sales. KEF amazon.com. The Edifier S1000MKII is an updated version of the S1000DB set, which was the top pick in our guide to the best wireless powered bookshelf speakers (which weve now rolled into this guide), and in our brand-concealed tests it was every bit as excellent as its predecessor was. They may be best option. You must log in or register to reply here. Note that we didnt make a budget pick for powered speakers because we didnt like any of the inexpensive ones we tried. However, if you know from the start that you want to build a multichannel home theater system, check out our guide to the best surround-sound speakers for most people, where we review complete systems that include a center speaker, surround speakers, and 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. Cool, figured it may have been a move up to a pricier speaker. The normal price I thought was okay, but then they went on sale, which made them seem more attractive. Otherwise, the S1000MKII set just does its job well without many noticeable sonic flaws, something that we cant say about most powered speakers in its price range. Seattle Area. To meet every readers needs, we tested traditional passive speakers as well as active (powered) speakers. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. The Klipsch R-51PM was less even, with a bit of excess treble, and its bass response wasnt as deep. 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. Our panelists found it plays deeper than anything else weve tried in the under-$200 price rangealthough its nearly 16 inches high, and its treble response sounds a little soft, so high-frequency instruments like cymbals and bells sound a bit muted. 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. That makes the S1000MKII pair a good choice for hip-hop, pop, and R&B, which tend to have a lot of deep bass. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 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. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. The Pioneer DJ DM-50D-BT is the best-sounding pair of computer speakers weve heard in the $200 price range. The under-$50 Dayton Audio B652 passive-speaker pair is the ideal complement to an inexpensive mini stereo amplifier or an old receiver youd like to put to good use. 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. That is my guess anyway. Good looks plus good sound sealed the deal and the Triangle Borea BR03 are replacing the KEF Q150 in my 2-channel setup. But since you listen to jazz, maybe you well find the kef a bit analytic. 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. Triangle Audio said it is not using recycled materials in packaging or production. Certain sounds like hi-hats and snares are a little softer and arguably more pleasant. 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). As are the trebles: KEFs tweeter is one of the best at this price range. Learn more. We concluded that Fluances Ai41 speakers sounded decent but could use a little more bass; their sound wasnt full enough for us. They also all have aptX HD Bluetooth. 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. Bookshelf speakers arent just for music, either. This website uses the TMDb API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDb. Triangle Borea BR03 (300 euro) KEF Q150 (360 euro) 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. 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. Looking to mount your speakers on a stand? The S1000MKII pair comes with a simple remote. KEF . 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 am a Kef owner of almost 20 years with some Kef Reference Ones. Many readers are concerned about how the manufacturing, shipping, and normal use of the products we recommend impact the world. 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. For bookshelf speakers, we asked the manufacturers whether their packaging or products use recycled materials, and whether the packaging and products are recyclable. What Triangle has done with the Borea range is ensure that it is very definitely less marmite than some previous offerings from the company. I've been thoroughly enjoying them for music and pc gaming. The Kanto YU4 offers a cool design, a phono input, and a reasonable price, but only one of our panelists really liked its sound. Digital assistants and smart speakers are all well and good, but sometimes you just want to output your audio the old-fashioned way: through quality speakers. I hear that the Q150s are supposedly even better, despite their smaller profile. In short, the KEFs are a cup of coffee and the Triangles are a glass of red wine. I can't demo them in store now obviously, so looking for some input. say 350 - 400 ( I have no idea if this is a good price range for an amp, as when I bought my Pioneer, it was on a steal price for 169). Im mentioned in the most popular text on speaker design, Loudspeaker Design Cookbook, and I have written for Voice Coil, the leading trade magazine for the speaker industry. Edit: The Q150 benefits the most of a subwoofer. Using speaker stands like the Sanus BF24B or Monoprice 39494 can also solve this problem. Our most recent round of testing, completed in January 2022, included nine new passive models and two new powered models. The grille attaches to the speaker via steel posts that stick out from the front baffle, so the pair looks much better with the grille on, but the grille is extra-thin and has little effect on the sound. I mainly listen to classical and jazz. 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. I asked him to pick out the speakers playing but he couldn't, they created such a good sound stage. I'm looking to invest in my first set-up with the current sales. 13.1K subscribers. Very cool Victor! Brent Butterworth is a senior staff writer covering audio and musical instruments at Wirecutter. 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. We tested speakers with expert listeners, and we concealed the identities of the products to eliminate bias. Stylish design and great sound make the Polk Signature Elite ES15, ES10, and ES30 combo our pick for the best surround-sound system. 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. What stands out in the 3020is performance is the detail and clarity that these speakers bring out in every recording. It may not display this or other websites correctly. In the BR03, particularly in the black finish, this could also legitimately be seen to be a little dull. TRIANGLE BOREA BRO 3 vs KEF Q150. Ive owned a pair for about a decade, and Ive found many uses for them. Very good sound and couple of guys on here also speak well of them. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Like the ELAC B5.2s, the KEF Q150s are sombre, serious-looking loudspeakers that prize functionality over fanciful aesthetics. 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. 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. I'm curious, between the Triangle and L200, which would you keep? Monoprices Monolith K-BAS speakers use a bass-port design that allows for extended response. 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. Through the years, weve tested many more speakers than what we list here, but weve deleted many older and discontinued models. We focus on education, discussion, and sharing of entry and mid level separate & multi component audio systems. You are using an out of date browser. The Q150s are renowned for their soundstage. The Q Acoustics 3020i also had a fairly flat response, but with less deep bass. 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. If so, buy both. For 299 they are a steal. We found that the more high-frequency sounds the music contained, the harsher the B652 sounded. Part of this clarity comes from the 3020is slightly bright tonal balance, which means the treble seems subtly emphasized. The Q Acoustics Concept 20 speakers had bright, clear treble but lacked authority in the bass. . Good luck. 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. The Triangle Borea BR03 is a two way standmount speaker and the larger of two models in the Borea range of speakers that makes up the second rung in the Triangle model line-up. In addition to our subjective panel testing, we measured each system to get an unbiased second opinion and detect any anomalies. 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. (And if you really want more bass, you can often add a subwoofer.). I agree completely. The B652s 6.5-inch woofer covers most of the audio band, from the bass to the mid-treble. 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. Both are similar sounding and both are great. They eliminate at least one component (the receiver/amplifier) and at least one cable. Triangle Borea BR03 are $9.02 more expensive than the average speakers ($289.98). In my current tests and in the original panel tests we conducted for the previous wireless powered speaker guide, we gave the R-15PM speakers positive feedback for their sound quality, but everyone concluded that voices sounded a bit bright and trebly, which suggests this set could use a little more bass (although some audiophiles may disagree). They will also highlight poor recording quality, so consider your source. 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. B&W's generally need a fair amount of space to breathe or they become boomy being rear ported. You might also like: If for no other reason the KEFs coaxial setup will image better, especially on a desk. 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. And last your own taste. 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. In our tests, the ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 pair offered very good bass response and detail but had a relatively restricted soundstage. $599.99. 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. Archived post. company number 03997482, registered in England and Wales. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. 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. I was so impressed with the BR03 that I had to check out . 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. Europe's busiest forums, with independent news and expert reviews, for TVs, Home Cinema, Hi-Fi, Movies, Gaming, Tech and more. 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. 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. Following are our impressions of some of the other speakers weve tested for this guide. If you want more bass than the Q Acoustics 3020i delivers: Our former runner-up pick in this guide, the ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 is a great speaker pair that comes close to the Q Acoustics 3020i in sound quality. Pair this set with an inexpensive amplifier, and it will give you better sound than most top-of-the-line wireless speakers produce, for a much lower price. As for the Triangle BR03's, also fantastic speakers. Europe's busiest forums, with independent news and expert reviews, for TVs, Home Cinema, Hi-Fi, Movies, Gaming, Tech and more. Music stuff - Roksan Kandy KA1-MKIII, Dynaudio DM2/6, REL Strata III, 16.0mm 6181Y Double Insulated Cable (commonly electrical meter tails). For fun, I listened to the Q150s in a Best Buy Magnolia store with my 16 yr son. The Onkyo A-9110 provides 30 W @ 8 Ohm. Audiolab 6000a with BW685 s2 missing bass. The BR03 is well worth its higher price. 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. I have the Triangles, paired with a Topping MX3 for my desktop setup. The Q Acoustics 3020i speakers sound and look fantastic, and they play music of all genres with great detail and clarity. But for most people and most music styles, a good pair of bookshelf speakers will deliver a satisfyingly complete sound. Is there any of these that should be a clear favourite? enjoyed reading your thoughts on the different speakers. 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. TRIANGLE BOREA BRO3 vs KEF Q150 - YouTube AboutPressCopyrightContact usCreatorsAdvertiseDevelopersTermsPrivacyPolicy & SafetyHow YouTube worksTest new features 2022 Google LLC 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. 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. Except for the James Taylor tune, which was a 256 kbps MP3, I streamed all the tracks losslessly via the Qobuz streaming service so that I could be sure any flaws we heard werent due to a Bluetooth codec. 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.