If you really want bass for a B652-based garage sound system, youd better add an inexpensive subwoofer. These speakers also had a less attractive finish and were harder to drive than some other models. The soundstage on both speakers is excellent and the center image was locked in place on both speakers as well. The Q Acoustics Concept 20 speakers had bright, clear treble but lacked authority in the bass. Powered speakers with tone controls should be calibrated to sound good right out of the box, as Edifiers S1000MKII set is. 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. And measuring 8.11 x 12.36 x 14.96 inches, the Borea BR03s are the largest on this list, too. 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. Kef Q150, especially when they were on sale half price for $300 couple weeks back. 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. Still for jazz I would look at Whardale speakers. The Triangle Borea BR03 was loved by reviewers at Wirecutter (NYTimes), a highly trusted source that performs reliable in . AUDIO AND SCOTCH 743 subscribers Subscribe 11 Share 667 views 10 months ago Show more Show more Best Speaker Under $600 - Elac Debut Reference. I have not listened to the Dali nor the Triangle. The Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 and 12.2 got similar reactions from our panelists. These versatile, good-sounding speakers offer the widest variety of connection options, including a phono input for a record player. But its more than twice as costlyand the performance improvements dont merit that big of a price increase. company number 03997482, registered in England and Wales. A better comparison may be the Polk L200 vs the KEF R series bookshelf speaker (3-way design). But thank you for the suggestions. 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. The 3020i pair comes in a variety of finishes to match your decor. 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. The S1000MKII pair comes with a simple remote. 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. 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. Voices sounded natural, with perhaps a slightly exaggerated treble, and the bass, while a bit too punchy on occasion, was loud, full, and clear. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The availability of four different finishes (white, black, gray, and walnut) makes this speaker easier to match with your room. This pair costs little more than you might expect to pay to ship them, yet theyre fully functional speakers that sound good enough for background music in settings you might deem too hazardous for a nice set of speakers, such as a workshop or a childs playroom. Monoprices Monolith K-BAS speakers use a bass-port design that allows for extended response. Thats why this speaker sounded a little trebly. 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. In my 3rd system they come close to my much higher priced . 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. However, the inclusion of a subwoofer output does allow you to add your own subwoofer, and the R-51PMs remote control includes subwoofer output-level controls, so you can fine-tune the bass level without adjusting your subwoofers controls. Price: All of the speakers weve chosen are priced at $500 or below for a pair. 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 S1000MKII is the first powered speaker system weve tried that supports the aptX HD Bluetooth codec, a newer version of the aptX codec that runs at a higher data rate. Warm sounding speakers. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Press J to jump to the feed. 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. In our tests with Holly Coles version of Train Song, the sound sparkled, filling the room with the jingle of percussion instruments and the subtle sounds of fingers scraping the strings of the double bass. 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. For more details, read our blog post about Bluetooth codecs. AVForums.com is owned and operated by M2N Limited, Both these speakers are on sale in my area for around the same price. The Q Acoustics 3020i is our favorite pair of passive bookshelf speakers to mate with your favorite stereo receiver, while the excellent Edifier S1000MKII pair is a more complete option with built-in amplifiers and Bluetooth. That said, they are both very different speakers, and which is right for you really comes down to preference. To meet every readers needs, we tested traditional passive speakers as well as active (powered) speakers. I have the Dali Oberon 1s going through a Denon 2600h receiver and I've been blown away. Cookie Notice 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. The BR03 provides a clear step up in sound quality over the lower-cost models we recommend, offering the most natural, balanced sound weve heard from a bookshelf speaker priced under $1,000 per pairand theres no real need for a subwoofer unless youre a deep-bass fanatic. 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. 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. 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. 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. This website uses the TMDb API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDb. Before conducting listening tests, I broke in each speaker pair for 10 hours with music. Just a question for you: which one did you keep? In our tests, the ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 pair offered very good bass response and detail but had a relatively restricted soundstage. Sony A95L QD-OLED, X95L MINI LED And Full BRAVIA Range For 2023 (In-Depth Interview). Learn more. Can't go wrong with either in my opinion. Europe's busiest forums, with independent news and expert reviews, for TVs, Home Cinema, Hi-Fi, Movies, Gaming, Tech and more. 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. But I reckon these ones will be all right. This means that voices and instruments sound natural, and the speakers dont add much coloration of their own. Excellent Review Victor! I then conducted several rounds of brand-concealed tests with a listening panel, comparing speakers within categories such as small and large or affordable and expensive, and sometimes also compared speakers across price categories to get an idea of what improvements you might hear by spending more. Next up are the ELAC Debut Reference DBR62 speakers, which arrived the day after the LSiM703. And it hurts that the Borea BR03 is on sale for the same price right now but is too big for my desk. I love that glossy deep rich finish! Voices, in particular, sounded smooth, with no harshness, boominess, or chestiness, no matter the gender or range of the singer. I think KEF are freaking amazing. 11 AlchemistBleach 2 yr. ago Thanks for the insight. See What to look forward to for details. 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. Forward may not be the right way to describe the Q150 speakers but I think, in comparison to the other two speakers so far, one could see it that way. highend666. Of our three passive-speaker picks, the Triangle Borea BR03 came closest to an ideal response for a bookshelf speaker. I began measuring speaker performance in 1997 and have worked as a consultant on speaker tuning and measurement for some of the worlds biggest tech companies. When youre comparing speakers around the same price range that both have a good reputation, there is no better one. To use aptX HD, you need an Android device that supports it or a PC with an aptX HD Bluetooth dongle. 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. Audio enthusiasts might think they should spend more on speakers than the cost of the Triangle Borea BR03 pair, but this is such a satisfying set of passive speakers that Im not sure you really need to spend more. The Triangle Borea BR03 pair is a great buy for serious music lovers who want the enveloping, captivating sound of real audiophile-grade speakers but dont want to spend thousands of dollars or sacrifice a lot of floor space on tower speakers. I see that you have the Triangles for sale, have you moved on to another bookshelf speaker that you like better, or just going with your new 705s? The KEFs are brighter, more analytical, and I favor them for situations when I intend to listen actively. For near field listing the Kef you mentioned. The Klipsch R-51PM comes with a nice remote that includes subwoofer output-level controls, so you can fine-tune the bass level without having to make adjustments on the subwoofer itself (if you add one). New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Use this Slickdeals link to access the $279 sale prices for the BR02 at Adorama as it has links to the different finish options, https://slickdeals.net/f/14642636-triangle-borea-br02-bookshelf-speakers-279-or-brc1-center-speaker-199-free-s-h. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. 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. 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. It had some peaks and dips at different frequencies, but generally the balance of bass to mid range to treble was pretty even. 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. Too bad their sales aren'tbut the Q150s are excellent, and thats' a solid price for a pair. Edit: The Q150 benefits the most of a subwoofer. It also looks nicer than most powered speakers do, although its styling is decidedly old-school. The Triangle Borea BR03 is piquing my interest as well based on all of the glowing reviews but you can't find a pair to buy right now. Archived post. 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. Powered by Xenforo, Hosted by Nimbus Hosting, Original design Critical Media Ltd. I will mostly be using them to listen to classical music and watch films at my computer which is in front of a wall. They are front ported, which makes placement a little easier for me. 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. 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. 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. Was just curious! The 3020i speakers deliver great detail and a spacious sound, and their design and build quality are better than what you get from most speakers in their price range. Maybe give the 607s a go and return them if you think they are not up to par. Triangle Borea BR03 has a Frequency response range of 46 - 22k Hz at 3dB and Power Range of up to 100 watts. The higher the speaker line rises above the reference line, the more exaggerated those frequencies are. 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. 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 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. Triangle Borea BR03 are $9.02 more expensive than the average speakers ($289.98). A general standard of what represents a well-designed speaker is one whose output stays within 3 decibels through most of the audio range when measured on-axis, directly in front of the tweeter. The build quality on the DBR62 was the most disappointing of the group. The Borea BR03 is one of the best bookshelf speaker sets weve heard, with extraordinary clarity and spaciousness plus plenty of bass. Here are the criteria we considered when deciding which models to test: A pair of speakers can cost anywhere from two to seven figures. I've have a pair of KEF Q300s for the past 10 years and I absolutely adore them. Take it with a grain of salt. I hope to be able to articulate that well someday! Measured bass output of the total system was 105.4 dB from 40 to 63 Hz, just 0.9 decibel below the result from the Edified S1000MKII, but at 31.5 Hz the Klipsch sets output was 7 decibels lower, a difference youd notice when playing hip-hop and recent R&B recordings. A linha Triangle Borea oferece um desempenho vocal excelente e mdios ntidos, combinando com graves fortes e controlados. Combined with a minimum impedance of 4.1ohms, these specifications make the speaker quite easy to drive. 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. Nothing comes close. Through the years, weve tested many more speakers than what we list here, but weve deleted many older and discontinued models. and our I have been keeping my eyes a pair off B & W DM602/602's. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. 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. 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. He regularly gigs on double bass (and occasionally ukulele) with Los Angelesarea jazz groups. The Q Acoustics 3020i also had a fairly flat response, but with less deep bass. Powered by Xenforo, Hosted by Nimbus Hosting, Original design Critical Media Ltd. 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. That said, the styling is definitely old-school, more suited for a wood-paneled study than a contemporary living room. We originally didnt recommend the Polk Audio TSi100 set because we thought its price was too high for the performance it offered, but the price has fallen by about 30% since then. 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. 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. They can be a bit bright for some female vocals, making something like Janis Joplin's Mercedes Benz sound a bit harsh at times. 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. SHOP NOW. 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. My Own Devices Audio Channel. The binding posts are short, which makes it somewhat challenging to fit in bare speaker wire larger than 14 gauge. 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. If you want a smaller speaker than the B6.2, and if you listen to lighter music or prefer to use a subwoofer, this set is a good choice. Like the ELAC B5.2s, the KEF Q150s are sombre, serious-looking loudspeakers that prize functionality over fanciful aesthetics. For the CTA-2010 results, I averaged the output from 40 to 63 Hz to give you a quick idea of each speaker systems output. I'll most likely go with the kefs since they're slighter cheaper than the triangles. 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. Good looks plus good sound sealed the deal and the Triangle Borea BR03 are replacing the KEF Q150 in my 2-channel setup. 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. The B5.2s are the second version of the line, but this isnt an incremental upgrade. That makes the S1000MKII pair a good choice for hip-hop, pop, and R&B, which tend to have a lot of deep bass. 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. I know you gave all of the candidates every opportunity to prove themselves. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. For fun, I listened to the Q150s in a Best Buy Magnolia store with my 16 yr son. 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. 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. I have only listened to KEF's so far. SDA SRS 2.3TL's/SDA SRS 3.1TL's/SDA CRS+4.1TL's and some other stuff. The Dalis are bit warmer sounding. 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. Learn more about it in our blog post.) They may be best option. This effect may be a perception created by the modest bass output of the 3020is relatively small 5-inch woofer. 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. The frequency response measurements for the S1000MKII were a little shocking in that they were the best of any of the speakers we tested. enjoyed reading your thoughts on the different speakers. As the name suggests, these speakers are sized to fit on a shelf or to be mounted in a stand. I am a fan of the Wharfedale 12.1's. In response to the question about the Triangle BR03, I have reviewed them. 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. 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. Following are our impressions of some of the other speakers weve tested for this guide. Certain sounds like hi-hats and snares are a little softer and arguably more pleasant. Front ports can make chuffing noises more audible, but the noises are so low with the BR03 that this isnt a concern for us. 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. We used a wide variety of music for testing, including Tracy Chapmans Fast Car (found by audio testing experts at Harman International to be the all-around best overall choice for speaker listening tests), Lil Babys Woah, Ccile McLorin Salvants version of Wives and Lovers, and the live version of James Taylors Shower the People digitally dubbed from the Live at the Beacon Theatre DVD. In the charts below, the flatter the trace is, the more natural the speakers sound. It offers standard speaker-cable connectors to join the speakers, so you can sub in a longer cable if you need it. Bookshelf speakers are great for the music lover who wants better performance than anyone can get from the vast majority of one-piece, wireless tabletop speakers that dominate the scene right now. The BR03 cabinet features a front-facing port, so pushing the speakers back close to a wall is less of a concern than it is with rear-ported models like the Q Acoustics 3020i. A larger version, the Kanto YU6, won over two of our listeners, but the others werent impressed. You are using an out of date browser. Subscribe. Wharfedales Diamond 220 set had good detail and nice bass but produced a boxy sound, with a narrow soundstage. 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. 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). Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. 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. 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). They are notable in part because Triangle is not the most prolific of brands when it comes to new speakers.
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