The new best budget speaker? Triangle BR03 Speaker review!
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- Опубликовано: 21 авг 2024
- #audiophile system #stereo system review #hifi #speaker review
Non affiliated link and I don't get anything for this but here are the links. It would help me because they will keep sending me gear to review.
US Adorama = www.adorama.co...
Quebec - centre Hifi = www.centrehifi...
Ontario = stardeals.ca/in...
My review of the new Triangle Borea Br 03 speaker
To get that 'realistic' voice with these speakers, you need to pair it with VERY neutral front end. In fact my own reference front end gear cannot really do it. With the Billie amp from Heaven 11, it was such a good match that the vocals sounded real. I know some of you already bought it and might be wondering why you are not getting that 'realism' I am talking about.
Great channel Thomas. Shawn at ZF pointed me towards the Bro3, so today I spent 3hr in listening room at my local retailer. The sample room was much closer to a regular room in a home w/ minimal acoustic treatments - which I find preferable, since that will minimize any surprises when you bring it home. Three meters wide and 5m long with perhaps 3m ceiling. Majority of drywall w/ 6 scatter panels on walls and 2 large bass absorbers behind the speakers. Since I already planned to hear the Bro3 along with Klipsch 600M, we started w/ Klipsch + Cambridge AXR100. Quite quickly that sound was not for me so we switched to Bro3, and what a difference - this was music, while Klipsch was noise and tiring at that. The whole 3h session consisted w/ playing same songs from several albums of Supertramp, The Doors, early Led Zeppelin (that is not great sound wise), old Genesis, old Yes and few others. But especially we played the initial 30s of Grover Washington song "Winelight". We ditched the Klipsch altogether and hooked up the Bro3's to the higher grade Cambridge amp the CX81, which is quite highly regarded in terms of the large "stage" it is touted to create. Well, it did all that and was easily, recognizably better sounding - Bro3 combined w/ CA CX81 - a real winner to my ears at that point. Since I wanted to sample the Emotiva gear we hooked up the Emotiva PT1 amp. In direct comparison w/ CX81, it was no match for the "stage" and precision, bassiness and delicacy of sound. Since this retailer, did not have the Emotive B1+ speakers on hand, while advising me that the B1+ is not a great sounding speaker, I asked still if we could try the floor standing model T1+ just one step up larger form than the B1+. We ran that w/ both Emotive Pt1 as well as CA CX81 amps. Indeed the sound impression on my ears was disappointing. It was especially surprising that the Emotiva speakers did not sound better w/ Emotiva amp, as opposed to CX81, while w/ CX81 they lost the "stage" they had with Bro3. While Bro3 offers a well organized sound experience , that Emotiva column more akin to the noise that Klipsch 600M presented w/ even worse mess of a sound. Towards the end we mated the KEF Q350 speakers w/ CA CX81 and did several back-to-back switchovers with Bro3's. To my ears KEF's were NO MATCH to Bro3. Unfortunately, that retailer does noit carry the ELAC brand so I will have to visit other stores to finallize my search/research.
I bought a pair of Triangle Borea BR03 recently and I fully agree with you they are different sounding speakers and you need some time to adjust but once that's out of the way they are pretty nice to listen to especially jazz and vocals sound very good. As you mentioned good recording makes big difference since they are not forgiving. I paired them with a primare i21 integrated amp while breaking them which sounded fine but later I paired them with a Rega IO amp which made them sound sweeter and more lively and articulate.
Always a pleasure to see another great video of your Thomas!
Thanks for dropping by.
@@ThomasAndStereo
Hi Thomas, could u recommend a few speakers to try under below conditions
Excellent sound stage (good layers, seperate instruments)
Sweet mids
Base not a top priority
Under 3k USD
@@pkdude5334 fixed, thanx
Thomas, You said it well........Watching these RUclips videos about not just Audio equipment can BE and IS Dangerous to my Wallet !!!
You deliver very good practical, spot on, info to be digested for purchase considerations. This was made just before the Pandemic Explosion, so now there is only purchasing on Amazon and listening, and with Amazon's liberal return policy , returning the unsatisfied merchandise.
Non affiliated link and I don't get anything for this but here are the links. It would help me because they will keep sending me gear to review.
US Adorama = www.adorama.com/triborteb35w.html
Quebec - centre Hifi = www.centrehifi.com/en/catalog/product/599843-Triangle-BR03-Wnt?searchterm=triangle
Ontario = stardeals.ca/index.php?route=product/search&search=Triangle
Can you please review the kinko audio 101-pro amplifier with the triangle speakers
@@shomesaha I am supposed to send these back so I will not be able to.
@@ThomasAndStereo if you are sending back to the shop or manufacturer ! Can you ask if i can take your demo piece at the reasonable price shipped to india...is it possible any how?
@@shomesaha I have to send to the next reviewer as per their request. Sorry. Also, if they were going to sell me, Mr. Kanta told me he is interested already.
@@ThomasAndStereo Thanks. No issue
I like having a high end reference setup and then a few pairs of budget (sub $1000) speakers setup in a separate system. I find it allows you to appreciate different levels of gear.
i started with the BR03 + IOTAVX-SA3 combo like many others and was very, very satisfied. I then realized, that i use them much more for movies than music and also jumped on a second pair for a great price on ebay. So i swapped out the IOTAVX with a used Onkyo AV-receiver, added a BRC1 center and a Klipsch SPL-150 subwoofer lol. So now i use 4 BR03s as front and rear channels, the fitting center and a massive sub, all in a one-room appartment in relatively near field conditions around my couch. I'm a happy man now, my neighbours not so much.
After watching this review and hear Sean talk about the BRO3 and IOTAVX combination I went for it. For the price, it is a very hard combo to beat, especially if you are in Europe. For 700 euros/800 dollars, have not experienced a system with a better sound.
Congrats Jay on getting it.
@@ThomasAndStereo Same here, I got br03s at 406€, which is $460, very hard to beat in eu. Thanks for the reviews, Thomas and others. I've been enjoying them for almost 4 months now, they really are something special in the budget market
@@nox1cous654 congrats and thx for taking the time to let me know
Just bought these in light oak, basically just as an experiment
I have Xavian Perla reference speakers, solid wood. 3000.00 these Boreas cost me 625.00 Canadian shipped
Although the Perlas are more refined they lack bass and are definitely not 2400.00 better than these budget Triangles. Just saying. Price is not always the determining factor of which is better
I’ve paired the Triangles with Naim and Cambridge, Chord and Linn cabling. Out of the box they are impressive at this price point. Probably even better after 30 hour burn in.
Comparing to Elac and Dali, I choose these
Thomas, I know this is an old vid, but I wanted to share my experience. I have had the br03s for about 3 weeks. My chain is Bluesound node 2i>Schiit Gungnir Multibit A2>Schiit Saga Pre>Emotiva A150>br03. I have an untreated room, but it is reasonably "dead" due to carpeting, drapes, furniture etc. Obviously, my gear is pretty budget level, but I am very impressed with the results. My previous speakers were Monitor Audio Bronze bx2. While they were enjoyable, their signature was pretty neutral (living up to the company moniker I suppose), and they could get fatiguing over time, especially with poorer recordings or female vocals that were forward in the mix. They also were a little bass light, and needed to play pretty loud to get the best out of them. In my small room from 7-8 ft away, with them about 6 ft. apart, the br03s have fixed all of those problems, with the only apparent downside being somewhat loose bass. But that only occurs at freqs that the Monitors barely reproduced, especially at the low to moderate levels I listen at. They also seem to still be getting better. I mostly listen to rock, pop, prog, etc, and I find the br03s to be detailed but smooth, with good impact even at low volumes. Their bass production is such that my sub is really unnecessary, but it is now at very low volume and at the lowest x-over point available. Just really fun, enjoyable speakers. I listen to headphones far less than I did before lol. If I was going to mix, I would use the Monitors, but otherwise they will gather dust. Thanks for the review, which helped point me in this direction. Cheers.
Congrats and thanks for taking the time to let me know. Really appreciate it.
My daughter is 20 and never has had a Hi Fi system, just earbuds and cheesy computer speakers etc. I always had a system but she was never to interested in the components or operation other than on/off/up/down. She has played flute throughout her life. She asked for "white bookshelves" for Xmas, so I started searching. Decided on the BR03's for many reasons. I decided to get an SMSL a300 integrated/DAC to power it. System with stands was about $750. She can upgrade the DAC and amp later. I can only afford so much at once; I have a wife too. Not to mention I just bought myself a preamp. All of the SMSL reviews I have seen are positive for a low budget, for $200 it gets her playing music and if she doesn't like it I can hook it up on my shop system and get her something else. I believe it'll be a good small starter system. Your videos are really good, I value your opinions.
Edit: there was going to be a substantial delay in shipping so I ended up getting her Elac Debut Reference dbr62.
Thanks for sharing Eric.
I enjoyed all your sharing from your wealth of audio experience. As you often said that best sound is a matter of personal preference. Mine is that which gives me the goosebumps esp voice that is eerily real will be sheer enjoyment to my senses. I hope you could do a video to share your thoughts on how to achieve this.Apparently these BRO3 from your listening experience may come close to offer just that if matched well with neutral components.
Your reviews are getting better by the day plus you're more relaxed.
I appreciate your time and your thoughts!
Thanks, still a long way to go but working on improving my videos. Thanks.
Another great vid, you mentioned speaker break in and matching with the right type of electronics and what type of music will sound good with this set up. Enjoyment first ,then for most of us it's bang for the buck.
Well, I usually listen to soft music with lots of vocal myself. My friends do try other music but no heavy metal.
Thank you, man.
I'll actually pick up the BR09, the 5 driver towers.
Those must be sick sounding. Can't wait.
I’m a fan of Triangle speakers. My dealer has a pair of these on display, so I will have to take a listen.
Thomas !! Great job on the review !
I just dropped my overview of the bro3 with pop the hood of course ,
I was surprised by the Triangle Borea 3 , impressive stern bass midrange with good texture and natural sounding vocals with top end sparkle with plenty of life forward but smooth ! Paired with the IOTAVX SA3 I was shocked at performace to price point ! Thanks again for all your hard work and dedication ! My phone keeps deleting my comment hopefully this time it doesn't ! Please drop in on me overview I know you wanna see under the hood 😆
Sure will check it out Tee-Jay.
@@ThomasAndStereo 😆 working on part 2 ran out of time 😥
This is how reviews should be done. Free of marketing terminology and gimmickry.
Thomas - you just won the Audiophile Reviewer Medal of the Century!🥇
In my 40 years as an audiophile, no one has ever spewed - or written - a better quote than you: "not revealing enough, not refined enough that we can hear the saliva of the singer".
This will go down as the best new audiophile descriptive terminology ever - even J. Gordon Holt approves (RIP)!
Thanks. Lol, I also use this description to described the Cyrus Integrated amp in an upcoming video.
@@ThomasAndStereo - It will be a new standard in the audiophile reviewing community! Stereophile and The Absolute Sound are green with envy you came out with the term before they thought of it - LOL!
Love your channel. Cheers from Florida!
Thanks again. If you have not seen the Gershman video which I used a special way to describe it's sound stage, check it out. ruclips.net/video/sQoloCd8p7g/видео.html
@@ThomasAndStereo I did a few days ago. What a speaker! That brand has always been under the radar and underrated. Was not aware of their base/plinth box trick for the bass response. Clever!
I have the Triangle BRO3 and I pair them with a Carver M500t power amp rated at 250wpc. I am very happy with this pairing. 🙂
UPDATE: I have made some changes and I am now driving the BRO3 with the Jeff Rowland 125 power amp paired with the Schiit Freya+ preamp and I am loving the presentation. The BRO3 are really nice speakers!
Would be very interesting to compare them with the new ELAC Debut Reference DBR62...
Same question... Elac or triangle?
@@820SHAY I have been testing the Triangle Borea BR03 for a few days now. I will share my thoughts on them soon, if you like.
@@basiema.4185 So out of curiosity.. what are your thoughts on them? :D
@@coresplinter "I think it is a flawed design by it is broken in a way that creates a more pleasing sound than one would expect." Exactly what I think about them after 2 Months... www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/triangle-borea-br03-review-bookshelf-speaker.21739
Im grateful i went in blind and just demoed speakers untill i came across the br03. Besides the stage style imaging of speakers as opposed to the birds eye view imaging of headphones its suprisingly very headphone like in that the dynamic depth of the br03 is very good and i can hear relatively quiet shakers and marbles dropping over the screaming guitars.
Great job Thomas!.. as usual
Hi Thomas, great reviews ! Learning a lot
I just received mine this morning, 7 hours of listening and i'm in heaven. I can't stop listening. The bass is so strong, damn !
I still like the edge in the trebble and bass of my Elac debut b5.2 compare to this but this speakers are so smooth. Jazz all day and i can't stop. I did stop my sub tho, no need with this.
An allegory for the bass : Elacs debut 2 can give you a straight-punch but Triangle knows how to give jabs and a straigh-punch. If you want the upercut add the sub.
Nice, great that you are enjoying it. Bass is one of it's strength.
@@ThomasAndStereo Now i'm thinking about the triangle magellan duetto. I'm a bookshelf guy.
@@yannick930 Wow, that is a big jump from Borea!
@@ThomasAndStereo Yeah, I got the borea br02 . I got the titus ez too :), i'm loving them !
After trying/living with Elac debut 2, klipsch rp600m, Triangle, and soon Focal chora 806 (i'll decide after living with it too). i feel like i almost found my sound.
At the end of this year i'll comit for a big boy. Focal ( Kanta 1, Sopra 1 or Utopia diablo) too expensive right now. I don't wanna go that far. I'm only 1 year in the hobby. I know i'll regret my money lol
As soon as covid19 end, i'll go listen the Magellan duetto acajou :), Everything i read so far pleases me. I really hope this is the one. It's becoming expensive to stack those speakers at home. I want to comit and stop assessing speakers for a moment. It's becoming restless and i'm not listening to music the way i use to. Triangle so far keeps me away from analysing. I hope the feeling stays.
I'm french by the way. Live in Paris.
Just subscribed based on this review. I had watched Shawn’s video and am very interested in these speakers. I loved how you decided not to go into fine detail about how they sound (instead referencing Shawn’s video) but went at the review in a different direction. Great information on sound signature, equipment pairing, and comparisons to other speaker sound signatures. I’m one of those people that dislikes bright speakers and am willing to give up that last bit of sharp detail for a smoother, less fatiguing sound. Well done.
Another winner of a review! Always feel that I'm getting honesty. Thanks.
Great video review as always! Your video editing is superb and has come a long way since your earliest videos. As a request, please look at reviewing the JBL studio 530 (or 580/590)...you will be very surprised at how much fun this speaker is!
Thanks, I heard many good thing about JBL 530.
530 were on sale at 299.99 each now back up to 599. 95
I want to get a pair and the 590 as well but I don't know for sure what to pair them with I'm a beginner in the audiophile world so any help would be much appreciated
Thank you for this review, it helped me a lot in m'y decision to choose the borea br03 as m'y first pair of speakers (replacing Sonos 5.1). Really enioying the sound signature ....reminds me of the oppo pm-1 headphones.
I got a pair of ELAC Adante floor stand speakers(too big to be called bookshelf) on close out for $1500, regular price was $5,000. They sound eerily like my 707's when used with a sub, and they need a sub. Driving them with H360 and Musical Paradise D2 MK3 Deluxe DAC. Can listen to the ELAC's all day just like 707's, very good speakers. Great mids and highs, not as sparkly as LS50's, vocals are delicious.
Nice, I always wanted to get a pair. It should be more refined than the 707?
@@ThomasAndStereo I will need to do more A/B to really articulate the differences.
Interesting that you bring up the Wharfedale Diamond 225s. Very close to ordering those. I'm definitely worried about it sounding too warm, although I do enjoy warmth in a speaker... One of those things that can only be decided after hearing them unfortunately.
Bet the Rogue amps would work well. GREAT REVIEW THOMAS!
Thank you Thomas 👌🏼
I appreciate your process.
It really taught a me a lesson how great the impact of room acoustics actually is. The Wharfedale Diamond 225 were impossible to listen to in my bedroom with an awfully heavy bass emphasis. I then put them in my office room and all of the sudden they are really nice. The bedroom then got a pair of late 1980's Castle Trent speakers which are known for their recessed bass in my bedroom - what difference! They correspond perfectly with the wooden ceiling that is likely responsible for the bass resonance. Conclusion: You absolutely have to listen to a pair of speakers at your own location, otherwise it's simply impossible to predict anything.
Yup, that is another reason why I never make negative reviews, it could be my room acoustics that is the issue. The D225 are very nice.
Thomas, first of all thanks so much for the work you put into doing your reviews. I really enjoy them! My question is are these BR03 speakers efficient enough to pair up with a Vista Spark 20wpc for use in a small/medium sized kitchen aprox 12x12ft? Listening is usually medium volume rarely real loud. I don't think you have reviewed the Vista Spark so maybe not a good question for you.
Great review! Hope you will cover the Elac Debut Reference
I have tower speakers which are well voiced for acoustic instruments and Handel opera (my favourite listen) but mushy on TV audio, unless it's an excellent recording like Blu-ray.
I now have BR03 set up on a manual switch and the TV audio for streaming content has clearer voices, easier to understand accented speech.
The two speakers are so different that I am still checking out what suits certain content after a month. I think the bass is improving a little - they didn't impress on first listen. But the stands don't have ballast which may be an issue.
I recommend the BR03 as a very effective low cost speaker for low-fi like TV and Bluetooth.
I have had the BR03s since Friday and I love them. This is an amazing speaker which I am kind of playing with higher quality components out of its price bracket. I know you said that the metal tweeter is bright, but since the Comete EZ is essentially double the price of the BR03 but mostly identical apart from the tweeter, this makes me curious about whether that price difference is justified by performance. SInce I am in France, I am going to see if I can buy a pair of Comete EZ with a home trial period and see what's up.
Congrat! I am curious about the Comete too, let me know how it sounds and if I should check it out myself.
Thomas & Stereo I also got a pair of the Rel T7i because of your good review and friends comments. You are costing me money Thomas!
@@meshplates OMG...stop watching our youtube channels! It will take a bit of getting used to with the T7i cause as I mentioned in the video, it will not have the same 'boom' as a regular sub but once you have it dial in and use it for a while, you will appreciate the extra detail it brings to your system.
@@ThomasAndStereo Haha! Actually I had been thinking about subs for a long time already. By the way Z Reviews just uploaded his review of the Comete EZ. Not the most subtle review but he loved the Cometes. More than the Boreas br02 which have the same tweeter as the Br03. Just saying.....
@@meshplates For those who like metal dome tweeter (Focal, KEF, Monitor Audio, B&W) will prefer the Cometes. Just a question of taste and if you are worry about listening fatigue or not.
I love the activate windows logo.. which I have as well. Great minds think alike!
I've been thinking of getting my 3rd Dynaudio speakers, couldnt really explain the need for it, maybe just itchy fingers. But when i heard these Triangles at a hifi store today, the midrange really got to me. "How much is this?" $600. "Whuuut?!"
"The last thing we want is another same type of speakers." Your words carry weight, Thomas. I'm pretty much in shock as how Mr Kanta is. Finally i've found something that could break me free from my lust for Dynaudio. And it doesnt break my bank!
Heard the rp600m by the way. For those who dont know if the klipsch could be bright, do audition and listen to them for at least half an hour. You can sense a tinge of ear fatigue if it's not for you.
Ah, the RP600M could be bright as I mentioned. Really need to break in, match with the right equipment and have the right room. They are quite impressive if you have setup 'right'. Not for everyone but great for some.
Having said that, I always advocate to own speakers with different sound if possible. One for every day of the week :)
@@ThomasAndStereo yes yes i definitely agree. The demo set was quite new and we could sense the amp wasnt pushing the klipsch well. I will be buying the Triangle BR03 while my friend is getting the Klipsch RP600M. Will help him fine tune his setup and tame any brightness or discomfort after the break-in period. Hope my patience could level with yours when the time comes. ✌
Just ordered these and a Marantz pm6006. Should be fun ;) thnx for the video!
Hope you enjoy it!
Very interesting review.
It's surprising to find nowadays a modern speaker with a paper cone driver and a soft dome tweeter in the same unit. Triangle seems to go back with well proven solutions of the past. An unexpected formulae in these times of manufacturers experimenting with more and more exotic materials.
Any possible sound demo?
Thanks a lot.
You really have to give the Diamond 12.2 a go Thomas!
Musical speakers tips: First it's better to be silk dome tweeters, most probably. Second the woofer must have great elasticity and control, so to say easier to move. The Triangle do well in drum music? It might need some drum kicks practice for sometimes only will know. I thought the design a bit "MEH' though, looks a bit more modern to me. Paper cone durability is another concern too.
I love your reviews! This might be the next speaker. I noticed you say there are better speakers that are more forgiving for lower quality tracks. I am playing a lot of compressed audio files (mp3s) and Netflix movies so not very high resolution. Are these speakers forgiving enough or do you recommend going a different route?
I would say they are forgiving enough, just pair it with a warm sounding amp if possible. If not, if you are going for class D, make sure you have a good return policy.
It's challenging to keep resisting upgrading my budget speakers. I've almost purchased Elac, Kef, Klipsch and now Triangle due to YT hype. Holding out until I've got $1500-$2000 to spend.
You can do it! Save up for the end game speaker!
You're doing the right thing.
Great video, Thomas! Thanks!
Hey Thomas,
For someone like you it's OK to own brands like Focal, Klipsch, Kef, etc because even though they may be bright at times YOU own enough gear that you can mix and match components according to mood and material being played. On the other hand someone like me, who can afford maximum one or two sets of speakers, has to make sure they won't be fatiguing. It's like bicycles - I only own ONE and it's a hybrid. It excels at nothing but is a reasonable compromise of comfort, speed, reliability, etc.
Yup, that is why when I recommend speakers, listening fatigue is the top thing I consider.
After 3 weeks with a Marantz pm6006 Om more than pleased!
Triangle all these years has the cross high like PMC, its so "human"speakers i cant chance my old original "comette"from 2008,i love it
At our age Thomas we probably like bright speakers. 13 years ago I hated my infinity beta 50, now I like their brightness. Some people said they're dark but I think they just don't quite have enough opened up mids. But those beta 50 image and soundstage better than anything I ever heard.
I had the Beta 50 too!
@@ThomasAndStereo i never liked them until I put them in my room and connected Denon x3500h and ran xt32 seated in the center of my bed away from all walls. I think audyssey works best as far away from walls as possible.
So umm did you hate them or what?
They image and soundfield like crazy. Are superb with classical, jazz, some of the modern alternative, pop andok with rock.
Hi Thomas, thanks for your enjoyable and detailed reviews. Through telling stories and offering descriptions of sound and partnering equipment, you manage to offer a lot of both information and perspective. I have the BR03 and love the sound; the timbre of instruments manages to come through very naturally and realistically, and at the same time in a tonally pleasing way. I'm thinking of upgrading to the BR08, partly because I want to use it in a rather large octagonal classroom (9 meters across). I'm thinking the BR08 will fill the space better and have better bass weight, but I haven't had the chance to hear them. Were you similarly impressed by the BR08 to the point that you think this would in fact be an upgrade? Would it make sense instead to purchase a good subwoofer to pair with the BR03, at least in terms of bass weight? Would appreciate your thoughts if you have a moment. Thanks again for your great reviews!
Mr. Thomas I used to sell high end products, Mcintosh,Tandberg, Bang and olfsun, Braun speakers, Crown, Yamaha ect in 1970s. I recently just got back into hifi and find your reviews excellent of the many reviewers on net. you seem not just very knowledgeable but very honest. Keep up good work! These speakers remind me of the silky smooth speakers from Germany, Braun,/later ADS . I m going to do primary streaming and are reluctently sending back JBL 530s because they can be fatiquing when the music recording is not really good. (they are outstanding with good recordings) I will probably not go with turntable later so speakers have to be smooth with youtube, amazon music ect. on the net. Will these go well with yamaha s801 amp???
Thanks for the comment. I never tried that combo so I would not know, sorry. I think Tee-Jay the audio bargainfile did.
I totally agree with you, this speakers look cheap, since I like focals , Magnapans, b&ws I did not liked how they sound but it’s just me, I know a lot of pl will love them. Thanks for the video Thomas.
Any time I hear people saying certain loud speakers are “bright”, and I know they’re otherwise better quality loudspeakers, I already know I can typically tame the more revealing and borderline energetic treble designed speakers with either softer more forgiving electronics and or more rounded off cabling to get a good balance from the sound! In the end you always need to experiment
Tone controls can add or subtract, so a speaker with a speaker that's too soft can be improved by turning up the treble a bit. Voicing has nothing to do with quality, and everything to do with the designer's taste
Thomas putting out another speaker video in here like we forgot about the denafrips! Give the people (me) what they want!
Do you have the Ares? If yes, share your experience! I have mixed feelings about it.
@@ThomasAndStereo I don't! It's on my radar as is a chord qutest. I have just been curious about what the mixed feelings are. Thanks for the reply!
Thank you for this insightful review. Much appreciated! I am feeling that this is a kind of speaker I am looking for. What worries me though is the equal presence of the mid, high and low range to the point that they may get mixed up. You mention the importance of the front end in separating the different instruments. What low budget amps do you recommend for these speakers? Is the NAD C316BEE a good match?
I never heard the C316, sorry.
I see a lot of comments about how these speakers do better with a "good recording," because they're not "very forgiving." Just out of curiosity, what ... IF ANY... $500 pair of bookshelf speakers ARE forgiving? 75% of my CD collection is just old stuff that was never remastered. Back in the day the LP version of those recordings sounded wonderful on an old Sony with wood cabinet speakers and paper cone drivers, etc.
Elac b6.2 for example.
Great video man as always
What will happened if my speaker can handle 150w and I connect it to 200w will I damaged the speaker?
No, it is not like you are playing at max volume continously.
Signature Delta is the Triangle to get. You should tell Mr Kanta. :)
Yup, later on I will check those out.
Nice review Thomas- those triangle seem very interesting. I like that they use paper cones. I can usually hear a distinct difference between cone materials and find that paper, if done correctly, is still one of the best. Conversely, not a fan of aluminum cones or metal based cones (and especially not poly of any type) for mid-range/vocal reproduction. A couple years ago, I spent several hours in a hifi studio listening to the Sopra and Kanta. I really love what Focal does in making their cones with organic and composite materials. This makes the vocal range sound so realistic. Bowers & Wilkins also uses excellent woven materials for their mid ranges, especially in their Diamond series. It is so nice that there is now very good budget gear and with the help of your channel and a few others, people have a better chance of getting the setup right with minimum iteration on equipment pairing. Even if someone can't ever see dropping 20K for a pair of speakers, they owe it to themselves to visit a hifi shop that carries such gear. This way they will know how excellent a system can sound, and then try to get as close to that sound with their budget gear as possible. But also should be mindful that if you go OCD on audio, by the time you purchase a bunch of budget gear trying to get the next best thing, that money adds up quick and you find you could have saved the money and bought those high end speakers and amps you might initially thought were out of reach. One of the other aspects of higher cost options is the quality and beauty of the cabinet work. Sometimes it is pleasing to just look at the equipment. Anyway, people have to start somewhere and it's great that you are reviewing equipment in this price range as well as the high end stuff.
Thanks Taz for such an insightful comment. Yeah, I have the Kanta at my place now and the flax cones do remind me of paper but with a twist. It is not as dry as actual paper cone I have tried but retains the speed and dynamic of paper. I really do like it. I wish I can AB test it against the sopra as someone mentioned to me they chose the Kanta 3 over the sopra 2. I would say budget gear has come a long way. I probably will review a few mid level product soon as I have focusing too much on budget gear.
Thomas, je rejoins ton analyse (mon anglais progresse à t'écouter) Triangle est vraiment une marque à considérer de plus en plus; leurs produits sont réellement performant quelque soit la gamme (Esprit - Magellan) il faut juste bien les associer.
mon système actuel est composé d'un Lecteur Micromega Aria (ancien mais toujours d'actualité) + lecteur réseau Atoll st200 signature, d'un couple ampli/préamp ISEM Quovalis 2 / Quarq (marque malheureusement disparu aujourd'hui) associé à des Triangle Australe. Ce système est bluffant par sa clarté, réalisme, présence (matière), rapidité ! Les "Australe" sont de magnifiques alternatives au Kanta 2 à moindre cout . As tu eu l'occasion des les écouter ?
Merci Thomas pour ton objectivité et à bientôt pour de jolies découvertes.
Merci, vous avez un bon system. Non, je n’ai jamais entendu les Australe, un jour j'espère. Les triangles à un son similaire au focal.
Nice review Thomas. How do you think the BR03 compare to the BR08 with imaging tone etc. Is the BR08 just a better version of the BR03 ?
No, the Br08 sounds different. If you think about it, it is normal cause the extra 2 bass woofers are not made of the same material. Go listen to it, there is more heft but I feel there is less speed.
I'm going to check out some BR03's tomorrow, along with some Dali Oberon 3, Focal Chora 806, KEF Q350, KEF R300, and Rega Kyte ... my system is NOT bright. Freshly restored Sansui BA-3000 with Mundorf power supply caps and modern components) matched with the CA-3000, also restored, with modern trannies on the power supply board. The KEF's are at a different shop and I think I may check out the others first. I will be demo'ing these speakers with modern electronics, so I realize I may not hear each speaker as it might sound on my system. All my cables are Cardas Audio, which help me squeeze out extra detail in my current setup.
Has anyone else here listened to the BR03 on similar vintage gear at this level?
These speakers measure kind of bright on audio science review website! It is really interesting that you dont refer to them as bright while some other reviewers have! The only answer I can come up with is that maybe these speakers change in the treble region A LOT after burn in! Right? Did you notice any change in treble before and after burn in? Great review btw👍👌
Thanks, yes there are some people saying it is on the bright side. I did wonder if they changed the voicing but it seems not. I don't usually burn thing in myself, I let my friends do it.
Not bright at all
@Robin Alexander Yes they dont seem to be too bright. They do have some brightness in the measurements but nothing a simple eq cannot fix. Any comments on the bass? Especially lower bass.
I've been thinking of a blind test, for example rebadging speakers, or replacing the drivers and crossover out of a particular high end loudspeaker with average parts too see if we are listening with our eyes (this would include pricing as well) or our ears . I do audio mastering and it's the same lots of new engineers place too much stock in brand name and price instead of listening. Anyways maybe the test would be possible if you get a chance. Thank you keep up the amazing work
These days I don't tell my friend what they are listening to and ask them to guess the price instead after listening.
Very nice review Thomas, I am expecting a delivery of the Bro3 today, based almost on your review but partly because I want to try a standmount after being used to a floor standing LV Avatar.
My Avatars I think are in need of a service as they are quite old now must be over 15 years?
I have a choice of three amps to drive them with.
Naim Nait xs2
Puresound 2A3 valve amp
Cambridge audio 740a
I'm looking forward to hearing the results.
Hope you enjoy it!
@@ThomasAndStereo I had a brief listen last night and so far I'm impressed, very nicely balanced and I didn't push the volume much, excellent speakers.
All Triangle woofers are paper based, that's a unique strategy.
unique? I think retro is more accurate
Bought a pair today,based on your review. This will be interesting.
Congrats and remember to let it break in. If you have tone control, have fun with boosting the bass.
Dave, your review please.
@@happysoul941 hi,I had my money refunded by PayPal. Terrible dealer. Nothing came,and the place refused to return any of my correspondence. I think the vendor just operates a drop zone. The place sold things they never had.
@@davehattey6567 Oh! That's a sad end to the story!
@@happysoul941 yes,on the bright side, I finally got around to cracking the seal on my new Totem Signature one pair!🎶
Awesome Review! So Thorough! How long will these speakers last before the materials start to decompose? Thank You!
Pretty sure longer than its useful lifespan. Email the manufacturer. Paper woofer are not the same as yesteryear.
Thank you for the insights Thomas, the video really raised my attention. I am wondering if these BRO3's are a good match with my Bluesound Powernode 2i (2020 version with 2 x 60w). I read that that they don't need a massive amp, what's your opinion about it?
I have the 2021 version of the power node and imo its a good match. The only issue I would have is that bass attack can be abit soft compared to the NAD 316BEE connected to the same powernode. Otherwise the tambre and dynamics are really good.
@@llysender Thanks Ilysender. In the meanwhile i got the chance to purchase the BRO3's for a pretty good price. They really do a great job paired with my Powernode 2i! Lots of clarity and dynamics. Thanks to their sensitivity they don't need much power to deliver a good and bodied sound, even at lower volumes. When given some space they really fill my room instead of sending some soundwaves to one direction.
Hi Thomas. Great review. It was one of the reasons back then I bought the Triangles. But I am in the position now to buy some floorstanders. I'm relatively new to the hifi world. Since about a year my setup is like this: turntable Sony ps-x50, receiver NAD 7100, bluesound node n100 and speakers triangle borea bro3. Got the speakers on some sand-filled stands. I'm quite happy with it, but I miss a bit of body and some low end sometimes. Now I'm in the position to buy a pair of focal chorus 816v for the same amount I can sell my triangles + stands. So my question is: do you think this will be an upgrade overall or not? As you have experience with both of them. My room is about 35m2 btw.
Well you are comparing a $600 ish to a $1800k speaker so yeah, it is an upgrade. I have only heard the 836v. It will not be better in everything but overall it will be. Your only concern is the top end extension. Focal can be a bit bright with the wrong setup.
@@ThomasAndStereo Thanks for the quick response! I will have a listening session with my own amp before I decide on buying them yes or no. Appreciate your comment
Another good video!
I find a lot of benefit from living in the Yukon, but one thing I really regret is not being able to audition audio gear at all. I was thinking of this when you started talking about the difference between paper and metal tweeters. Right now I have a pair of Monitor Audio Bronze 2s powered by the Musical Paradise MP-301 tube amp. I don't notice any bright highs. I'm not sure whether its because of the tube amp or maybe since I'm older than you, my hearing isn't good enough to notice it any more???
But I do wish I could listen to a variety of different speakers, including some paper ones, just to be able to pin down better what I prefer. Maybe the Bronze 2s sound good because of having nothing to compare them to?
I am enjoying the combo I have, and am about to move to better tubes on the amp and dac as recommended by its creator, Garry.
The MP-301 amp and MP-D1 dac give me a musical, analog sound with a nice sound stage.
I like nearfield listening from about 6 ft and find no listener fatigue.
Maybe I'm just suffering from that dreaded audiophile symptom of always wondering if I'm missing out on something?
I think you have a combo that works for the Bronze so that is why you don't notice bright highs. It also depends on the volume you listen to. Most of the time, the issue with metal dome is that they can sound great at low volume but at high volume, it is hell. If you are happy with what you have, just enjoy it! If you do upgrade, let me know cause I am looking for an integrated tube amp again.
@@ThomasAndStereo Thanks, Thomas.
I think you hit it right. My listening space doesn't take much volume, and nearfield listening gives me a very engaging experience also without much volume..
Although only 90 db the Bronze 2s seem to work well with the MP-301. I seem to have a good balance between being able to relax with the sound and yet still find it engaging.
I got lucky that the bronze 2s are working so well, because it wasn't planned .... just what I had access to!
@@denniswade4998 Yeah, it may be because it has good synergy for the volume and distance you are listening to. Congrats.
Thomas, thank you for your thoughts on the BR03. I am planning to get my first setup so I’ve been watching a few of your video. I mostly listen to classical music and indie, so I am looking for imaging, separation, and more towards neutral. A balanced setup also works for uses outside of music.
From this video, it seems like BR03 is the right speaker (I want to pair with Sprout 100). I know that warmth is something you recommended to pair with the Sprout. Would you agree or is there another budget speaker you’d recommend such as Klipsch/Elac/KEF?
Excellent in depth review. So pairing these speakers with vintage amplifier or receiver does not pull optimum out of them. What about vintage stuff paired with Klipsch rp-150m? Good or bad idea? Anybody has some experience with vintage gear and modern speakers combo?
Well it is a question of taste. For my friend, he found with modern gear, it sounded better but it still sounds good with vintage gear.
I would like you to make a video about acoustic room treatments.
Kef LS50s were VERY bright in my system. I had a Rega Elex R and I guess it was a bad pairing, the ls50s also have a weird tone that I don't enjoy. So I got rid of my amp and speakers and I'm getting the Bro3s and Billie amp, because it seems like the sound I'm looking for (warm, great vocals, smooth). My Bro3s are still on backorder, can't wait to try them out!
The Billie amp is for a specific group of people and it is not a 'warm' amp as it is voice to be 'neutral'. I will go over it in my review which will be very soon.
@@ThomasAndStereo can't wait ! It seems like everyone loves it, and that it pairs well with basically every speaker
Yes and no. I will explain in my video.
Another excellent video. You mention using different gear changes the sound of the speaker, so some gear may bring forth the bass, some will be neutral and some would be brighter, right? If so would´t that improve the brightness or lack of brightness thereof of the Polks? Which gear might do that?
Yes, the brightness and lack of will be affected. I usually use cable to boost brightness. For example, I will use silver cables. Some amps are more forward sounding. My classe D200 is more compare to my Moon w5.3. Currently, the Wyred4sound monoblocs I am using are even more 'brighter' but maybe they need break in.
Say if you like Triangle's check out ATOHM speakers - one of the principal's from Triangle started his own company. I heard their GT Series at RMAF and I was impressed. Alas, only 1 US distributor and 1 CAN distributor (in Montreal) so far.
Any review of the Billie coming up? Very intrigued by this amp!
Yup soon, I just finished interviewing the owner a few days ago.
@@ThomasAndStereo fantastic, can't wait!
V nice looking hybrid..
Triangle does a very good job with its speakers... PS : bright... yer !
For Wharfedale, it has to be the Denton 80th instead of Diamond 225. The price is not much different but the sound signature is so much better from the Denton.
How would 11.1 compare to 80th?
Hi Thomas. Great video. I ordered a pair of the BR03 recently and am wondering how long of a break-in period these require. Also, how does it compare to other gear in terms of break-in? Does some gear take longer than others to break in? I've only ever owned hand-me-down gear from my father and used gear, so I've never had any experience breaking in gear first hand. Thanks!
I would say at least 30 hours before you start "seriously" listening to it. Don't use low volume and simple vocals. Use disco music with lots of bass.
@@ThomasAndStereo Thanks for the advice! I'm a fan of dance music, so that's perfect!
Did you know that about 8 years ago Prima Luna sold new integrated tube amps for $1,000. You cant get a used one for that price now. What stopped me from buying a bunch was stereophile wrongfully rated them, rated B. I needed my tail kicked. Also Carver has or had a great deal on an integrated tube amp where they say the tubes last almost forever.
I actually prefer their older models, the new model sound too solid state for me.
Do you think that triangle speakers are matching with primare amplifiers? I have a primare a20....Thanks for the excellent review!
Sorry I have no idea.
Congrats on the great and insightful review! I just ordered a pair and eagerly excited to use it in 2 weeks. I have Rega Brio...l any thoughts on this paring? Can you also recommend an el34 based integrated amp or a hybrid like rogue? Thank you for what you do!
The only one i have good experience with is the Cayin CS55A. I do have a Willsenton R8 in for review now.
nice job thomas. one day would you mind sharing your rew measurements of a few different speakers. what kind of freq response curve do you enjoy best? also whats your fav amp for focals?
Sadly I don't measure my speakers. I made it a point now to just enjoy the music and forget everything else. I even don't run test track anymore, I just listen to music even from youtube.
Indeed YT has some great music, especially jazz.
There are also some classical gems...BBC Erotica movie.
Hi Thomas. I note that speakers are frequently classified as either "bright", "neutral", "dark", etc.. which I directly (maybe wrongly?) associate to "high", "middle range", "bassy". I wonder then if there aren't speakers which have all of those qualities in one thing. My logic tells me that, if a speaker is a 3 ways, its tweeter will be "bright", its middle range will be "neutral" and the big guys will be bassy. There must be some manufacturer who made a fair balance of the 3, does that make sense? Regarding the Focals, I've heard that the Aria 948 have a deep bass. So why discarding them as bright? Just asking, because I am kind of interested on these speakers. Thank you for all these great videos!
No, that is not what it means. Perhaps start with these few videos first to get an idea?
ruclips.net/video/R1gKoTEiawE/видео.html
ruclips.net/video/9d9mGLq4aAQ/видео.html
ruclips.net/video/hiJ-D8WwTR8/видео.html
The only thing is when I say a speaker is bright, it means the treble is a bit lively.
@@ThomasAndStereo Thank you so much Thomas, indeed a great source of info (as your videos are too!). I have started taking notes from all these videos because I have the feeling that after having watched 100 videos I kind of forgot what the first ones meant. I think I like more bright/lively speakers then, but don't want to give on the other ranges neither (why would anyone? :).
@@j.carlosmuro2435 I would say a lot of people like detail and revealing speakers. That is why a lot of speakers are voiced that way today. Some people prefer dark because with those voicing, you can go for long listening sessions and also, it can be more relaxing. There is no right or wrong, just a question of taste. Some people prefer apples while others prefer oranges.
I owned a previous generation Triangle, the Stella ES. It was very unforgiving but did some other qualities. My question: there's a buzz around the BR03 but if you move up the Triangle ladder a bit to let's say Titus or Comete would you be getting more or less the same sound only better?
Well you will have the same but with metal dome tweeter. So you will get tons of detail but might be a bit unforgiving. In theory, the rest should stay someone the same? I never heard it at my place so I don't know. Maybe I can get them to send me a pair if there is enough interest.
will you do a review on the BRO8 since you have tried those? I see the BRO 8 is a 3 way, so it might sound a lot different.
Thomas you have access to so many speakers, can you please try to review ATC SCM19 please.
I don't have a connection with ATC, unless I see them on the used market at a good price.
Someone send Thomas a pair of ATC SCM19's and include a return shipping pre- paid label...
Have you tested Teufel speakers? I have a system 5 THX and T500 fronts, and since I got it years ago I never needed anything else for music games and movies. Before that I kept buying and switching brands and speakers. The virus is gone now. Unfortunately there are not much english reviews from Teufel. I bought it blind following my very limited german language skills. And am still amazed about the clarity and power at reference volumes. They have some nice sets.
No I have not, thanks.
Great and informative review. Thanks so much
Can I paired the Bro3 with Orisun OA1000?
Do you it will sound good
Hi
Thanks for a great review.
Are these good at reproducing dynamics at low volume ?
I find my Kef R100 to be not so fun until volume is turned up a few notches.
Thanks
They sound better at high volume, low volume is so so.
Check out the Loudspeaker from KS Digital. Awesome Active Speaker for a fair price. For me actives have often better sound for the price, than the passive bookshelfs
I own these now. They won't be the end of my speaker buying days, by any means. But, im enjoying them. I have them matched with my fisher 400 receiver, and records sound fantastic! I'm now looking at a pair of Focal Aria 906, to get in the future. Thomas, do you hear the harshness on the upper midrange, like some others do?
Focal harshness or brightness is there BUT it is more of a question of equipment matching. At my place, with the right combo, I can get it to sound good. What you have to know about these triangle, if you have enough juice with your power amp and you have tone control, you can get some seriously good bass out of them.
@@ThomasAndStereo I played a copy of RSD Miles Davis Kind of Blue, and it sounded better than anything i have heard before. Jazz records, like Blue Note, etc. sound amazing, but some other less produced records, not so great.
hello. I like your reviews. Do you think these speakers work well with the atoll in30?
I bet you have a sweet gaming rig in that celeron sleeper case..
Haha...I stop playing games for a while. I used to go many days playing.
@@ThomasAndStereo sounds like me. I had to quit cold turkey and like, do life.
Thanks Thomas for your review. How does it compare to Elac uni ub5 bookshelves?
If you want to upgrade, go higher. I always recommend 2 levels up.
Are the Kef R3's 2 levels up?
Try an experiment next time you get a great budget speaker and tell Mr Kanta they are 10k a pair.
Usually I don't tell him anything and I ask him to guess the price of the speaker based on what he hears. He tried the reverse on me where he told me he was playing a $20k+ system while it was like $2k...I should tell that story again one day in a video.