Triangle Borea BR03 Review (bookshelf speaker)

[paulraphael]

I had a headache for a day after listening to these for about an hour. But I loved them so much still.

I've had Triangle tower speakers for years. This should be the company motto

 

[michaelahess]

Yep, 3way can get rid of the messy midrange leakage from the port.
You are listening to a rather different sound from (probably) the same midwoofer drivers.
BRC1 (centre channel) could have the same sort of problem but the location of the ports are different so I guess it could be less pronounced.

Interesting, and good to know. I was considering buying the BR03's for my office which has the JBL S38's currently. Maybe I'll look at the Debut or something else, Infinity maybe. Thank you for explaining that!

 

[ferongr]

It's 500 bucks/pair cheapies, I can not expect a lot.

ELAC DBR-62s say hi.

 

[Ron Texas]

ELAC DBR-62s say hi.

The DBR-62 is a no brainer in this price range.

 

[eddantes]

Heck - if we're really squeezed for budget...
Infinity R162

 

[Arc Acoustics]

Decades ago, this price range was filled by cr... less good loudspeakers but now, countless (could be exaggeration) gems.
Even if it was zirconia, it's still glittering.
Amazing, isn't it?

 

[fredoamigo]

The problem here is that the beginner audiophile will buy these speakers for the budget without knowing that it holds well the road but some time later he will want "to go up in range" with B&W 607 S2 Anniversary Edition

 

[cyruz]

The problem here is that the beginner audiophile will buy these speakers for the budget without knowing that it holds well the road but some time later he will want "to go up in range" with B&W 607 S2 Anniversary Edition

I bet they'll sound more airy and musical.

 

[Robbo99999]

I find it interesting that EQ did not improve these speakers during Amir's listening review, I guess that supports the idea that there's something wrong with these speakers as a whole....there's probably a number of factors working together to create that "whole" because otherwise Amir would have nailed it down.

 

[thewas]

I find it interesting that EQ did not improve these speakers during Amir's listening review, I guess that supports the idea that there's something wrong with these speakers as a whole....there's probably a number of factors working together to create that "whole" because otherwise Amir would have nailed it down.

Or his EQs weren't appropriate or he had listening fatigue or bad mood. I am listening to the same systems almost every day and subjectively feel huge quality differences between some days where they sound stunning and some where the only solution is to shut them down till the next day as they just don't sound good. But on the other hand I am just a normal human with unfortunately non absolute and infallible judgement and it often takes me months to optimise an EQ although I am experimenting systematically with DRC since more than 10 years now.

With that I don't want to say that he experienced may not be true, but personally I would do further experimenting before I search for deeper fundamental reasons.

 

[dorirod]

Or his EQs weren't appropriate or he had listening fatigue or bad mood. I am listening to the same systems almost every day and subjectively feel huge quality differences between some days where they sound stunning and some where the only solution is to shut them down till the next day as they just don't sound good. But on the other hand I am just a normal human with unfortunately non absolute and infallible judgement and it often takes me months to optimise an EQ although I am experimenting systematically with DRC since more than 10 years now.

With that I don't want to say that he experienced may not be true, but personally I would do further experimenting before I search for deeper fundamental reasons.

First set of speakers to require EQ (emotional quotient) for enjoyment...

 

[Robbo99999]

Or his EQs weren't appropriate or he had listening fatigue or bad mood. I am listening to the same systems almost every day and subjectively feel huge quality differences between some days where they sound stunning and some where the only solution is to shut them down till the next day as they just don't sound good. But on the other hand I am just a normal human with unfortunately non absolute and infallible judgement and it often takes me months to optimise an EQ although I am experimenting systematically with DRC since more than 10 years now.

With that I don't want to say that he experienced may not be true, but personally I would do further experimenting before I search for deeper fundamental reasons.

Probably less likely re fatigue or bad mood, as he said he switched back to the Revel in the same listening session and it sounded good.

 

[amirm]

Usually when I eq, I am able to take away a glaring negative aspect of a speaker with little to no consequence. Here, it seemed to fix a problem but potentially changed the tonality in the way that I thought someone may not prefer. And indeed in some tests I did not think I preferred it. A more exact correction may do better. Here is an intermediate version I saved:

The high frequency shelving was especially tough to adjust. In one version I took out the higher bass (around 100 Hz) and while that removed boominess, I thought it also cost too much in bass response.

 

[Robbo99999]

Usually when I eq, I am able to take away a glaring negative aspect of a speaker with little to no consequence. Here, it seemed to fix a problem but potentially changed the tonality in the way that I thought someone may not prefer. And indeed in some tests I did not think I preferred it. A more exact correction may do better. Here is an intermediate version I saved:

View attachment 120341

The high frequency shelving was especially tough to adjust. In one version I took out the higher bass (around 100 Hz) and while that removed boominess, I thought it also cost too much in bass response.

Just by eyeballing the on-axis response maybe it would have been better only taking down 800Hz by 2dB instead of 3dB, and perhaps shifting the High Shelf cut to be at 8kHz rather than 5kHz, and praps putting in a 1dB low Q filter at about 350Hz to boost that range from 200-600Hz.

 

[amirm]

I started the shelving at 8 kHz actually but it would still sound bright to me. So I knocked it lower.

 

[amirm]

praps putting in a 1dB low Q filter at about 350Hz to boost that range from 200-600Hz.

1 dB corrections are so subtle that sighted testing is not a good way to develop them.

 

[Robbo99999]

I started the shelving at 8 kHz actually but it would still sound bright to me. So I knocked it lower.

Fair enough

1 dB corrections are so subtle that sighted testing is not a good way to develop them.

True, but low Q filters amplify the ability to notice the change, and that 1dB low Q boost at 350Hz would be synergistic with the change to the 800Hz filter.

 

[Spocko]

Clearly, this speaker was meant to be listened in stereo!
I think this will be the default defense moving forward.

 

[Spocko]

I thought they were ok, but not my favorite in this price range. They looked cool, but like @amirm said, the sound signature confused me. So odd. After using them for a few weeks, I decided I liked them enough, but I could tell they weren't neutral. I have a review up on YT from a while back. The phase plug in front of the tweeter causes the narrow dip at 16khz. I measured it on the center channel too.

Did you like the Elac Debut Reference better?

 

[Spocko]

I had a headache for a day after listening to these for about an hour. But I loved them so much still. Great to see the measurements done.

LOL did you love the headaches or the speakers?