HIFI BOOKSHELF SPEAKER – BOREA BR03

A bookshelf design to be placed on a dedicated stand (S02 or S04), the Borea BR03 is equipped with a 25mm EFS silk dome tweeter and a 16cm midrange/bass driver.

The untreated cellulose paper membrane, developed for the Esprit Ez series, confers a natural sound with no coloration. The vocal range keeps all its intensity and the low frequencies their usual dynamism without ever generating listening fatigue.

This size is especially recommended for dedicated listeners looking for the performance of a floorstander in a compact design. From the very first notes, the BR03 impresses with its energy, delivery of deep notes and power handling.

This speaker will fit perfectly in rooms ranging from 15 to 30m2.

BOREA TECHNOLOGIES

Borea loudspeakers benefit from research and innovations from the Esprit Ez range for uncompromising sound reproduction.

EFS TWEETER

A DIFFUSION THROUGHOUT THE ROOM

The tweeter of the Borea range is equipped with a next-generation system called EFS* (Efficient Flow System).

It is based on the association of a 25mm silk dome, known for its neutrality, with a phase plug developed specifically to homogenize high-frequency diffusion. This system significantly reduces the directivity regardless of your listening location in the room.

The dome is placed inside the partial horn loading, reducing reflections and allowing a clear reproduction of the high frequencies.  This transducer is powered by a neodymium motor generating high magnetic power in a compact size. It is coupled to a cooling system, ensuring a better power handling.

MIDRANGE IN NATURAL CELLULOSE

A UNIQUE TONALITY

The Borea range, inheritor of the Esprit Ez technological innovations, also incorporates a midrange driver with a membrane made out of 100% natural cellulose paper, receiving no surface treatment. This paper membrane, unique to TRIANGLE, avoids any coloration of the intermediate frequencies, and transposes the voices with stunning realism and tonality.

In an ongoing pursuit of excellence, the profile of the cone was also redesigned to improve the rigidity and now provides an extended frequency response.

On the three-way floorstander, the midrange driver incorporates a small pleat peripheral short-travel suspension, which Triangle is known for. Very rigid and perfectly adapted to the driver with short travel suspension, it allows a perfect control of the movement of the moving elements, thus ensuring natural-sounding vocals.

PUNCHING, POWERFUL AND PRECISE LOW FREQUENCIES

The mission of TRIANGLE’s engineers is to deliver a rich and dynamic sound in the low frequencies, emphasising the pace without ever distorting the music.  Controlled low frequencies is an ongoing quest. Living up to its reputation, TRIANGLE focuses on fast and precise drivers, with large engines, all housed in optimized cabinets. The impact disappears as quickly as it has arrived, for a perfectly controlled rhythmic reproduction.

To achieve this, TRIANGLE has opted for membranes in fiberglass with an excellent vibratory behavior. Their rigidity enables to strongly reproduce each impact while leaving space for the vocal range, thus keeping an airy sound.

DVAS SYSTEM

NEUTRALITY AND SOUND CLARITY

Significant research has been carried out to reduce internal vibrations in the cabinet. Unprecedented in speakers of this category, all models of the Borea range feature perforated internal panels in MDF & EVA foam, thus stiffening the transducer/cabinet combination.

This innovative concept not only reduces the vibratory behavior of the structure but also absorbs the vibrations generated by the movement of the bass drivers. This proprietary system unique to TRIANGLE is called DVAS (*Driver Vibration Absorption System).

At the end of each internal reinforcement, a high-density EVA foam gasket ensures the contact between the motor of the transducer and the reinforcement. The vibrations of the driver generated by the suspension of the membrane are greatly mitigated, the latter transmitting a low residual vibration to the cabinet.

The DVAS system considerably reduces the vibration of the speaker and reinforces the notion of neutrality and clarity when listening. It results in a better listening experience with no coloration or structure noise.

DECOUPLING

Each speaker of the Borea range has its own decoupling system.

The bookshelf and the center channel models are equipped with rubber pads, protecting your speakers and limiting vibrations transmitted.

The floorstanders have a pedestal, ensuring greater stability, on which four inserts allow the implementation of decoupling spikes. Rubber pads are also provided if the flooring does not allow the use of spikes.

MAGNETIC GRILL

All speakers in the Borea range have a magnetic protective grill, showing no visible inserts or screws. It is recommended to remove the grills when listening to the speakers, as they can impact the sound.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Number of drivers 2
Number of ways 2
Sensitivity 90 dB/W/m
Frequency range 46 Hz – 22 KHz (+/- 3 dB)
Power handling 100 W
Nominal impedance 8 Ω
Minimum impedance 4,2 Ω
High frequency roll-off 3600 Hz
Dimensions (inch) 8,11 x 14,96 x 12,36
Weight 13,22 lbs
Dimensions Packaging (lxHxP)mm 460 x 510 x 390
Packaging Weight  (Kg/pair) 16,64

Triangle Borea BR03 review

A new contender for best in class Tested at £399

By What Hi-Fi? February 06, 2020

OUR VERDICT

It’s rare to find a pair of speakers at this price that sound so sophisticated, but these Triangles deliver refinement and detail in spades

FOR

• Sophisticated, detailed sound
• Impressive sense of scale
• High-quality, agile bass

AGAINST

• Aesthetic won’t be for everyone
• Slight peakiness to treble

At this level, the speaker market is an intimidating place to be. Many of the usual suspects, including B&W, KEF and Mission have plenty of five-star speakers to offer, with a select few even having a What Hi-Fi? Award to their names.

So, it’s going to take a special pair of speakers to stand out from the crowd. A pair of speakers exactly like the Triangle Borea BR03 standmounters.

Compatibility

As with any pair of new speakers, it pays to get to know the Triangle Borea BR03s and their preference for placement. Triangle recommends a minimum of 2m between speakers and also between them and your listening position. It also suggests placing them at least 40cm away from a back wall and 50cm from a side wall.

And we have to agree. Even though they’re front-ported, these Triangles don’t shine quite as much when placed up against a wall. They will certainly do a job, but the overall balance and stereo imaging suffer. With room to breathe and a little toe-in to shore things up, the Borea BR03s are able to perform at their very best.

Sound

The Triangles deliver a huge sense of scale, much larger than rivals such as the formidable B&W 607s. They can also boast impressive separation and precision.

There’s detail and insight across the frequency range and, given their size, the quantity of bass is perfectly acceptable. There’s plenty of weight to the relatively simple, yet hefty bassline that accompanies Eminem’s No Regrets. Some might lust after a more musclebound delivery, but it’s the detail and quality of bass that gives the Triangles an edge over many rivals at the money. There’s texture in spades. 

The Boreas also demonstrate an excellent sense of timing. There’s plenty of precision and no trace of lag as Nina Simone’s My Baby Just Cares For Me trots along. The snare drum and piano sound like they’re having plenty of fun in each other’s company.

There’s a nice tonal balance to the delivery, which is careful and considerate –sophisticated, even. In the past, we’ve tested some Triangle speakers that have sounded hard and bright in the treble, but that’s not the case with the Borea BR03s.

Bruce Springsteen’s Terry’s Song has a raw, demo-like quality to it. If the Triangle’s were going to sound bright then this track, whether it’s the vocal, guitar or piano, could rumble them. But to their credit, the Boreas take it all in their stride.

There is a very slight peakiness to the treble, but nothing that would deter us. We’d simply recommend you refrain from partnering the Triangles with bright-sounding electronics.

So, what kind of amp would work well? During testing, we partnered the speakers with the Cambridge Audio CXA61 (£750 / $999) and had a great deal of success. The Boreas immediately sound at home, their expressive and insightful character gelling well with the CXA61’s punchy and dynamic demeanour. 

A more affordable alternative might be the Marantz PM6006 UK Edition.

Build

The BR03s are the largest of two pairs of standmounters in the Borea range. They stand 31cm tall and feature a 25mm silk dome tweeter sat above a 16cm midrange/bass paper driver.

The twin-pronged diffuser appears to be pinching the silk dome, but look a bit closer and it’s just hovering over – it’s there to help reduce the directivity and improve the dispersion of high frequencies. Beneath the mid-bass driver sits a pair of bass reflex ports.

Our black review pair looks pretty punchy in the flesh, mainly thanks to the contrasting colour of the mid-bass cone, the silver trim that runs through the driver’s surround, plus that eye-catching diffuser. 

To some, the front of the speakers may look a tad unbalanced, with the ports a little cramped next to the mid-bass driver. However, with the magnetic speaker grilles, there is always the option of covering them up.

The Triangles are single-wired speakers and you’ll find a neatly finished pair of terminals for 4mm banana plugs on the rear of each cabinet. Besides our black review sample, there is also the choice of white or walnut.

Verdict

It’s not often we stumble across a pair of speakers at this price that sound as sophisticated as the Triangle Borea BR03s.

For the money, they’re savvy musical performers with a great sense of scale and an even greater appetite for presenting music in a transparent and mature manner. But are they speakers capable of worrying the current class-leaders? Most definitely.

SCORES

• Sound 5
• Compatibility 4
• Build 4