In this review, we will be comparing Airmotiv T2+ and Borea BR09, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Emotiva and Triangle. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Emotiva Airmotiv T2+ and Triangle Borea BR09 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Emotiva Airmotiv T2+ and Triangle Borea BR09 speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size and max power parameters:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Emotiva Airmotiv T2+ and Triangle Borea BR09 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both Airmotiv T2+ and Borea BR09 are 3-way speakers.
Driver |
Emotiva Airmotiv T2+ |
Triangle Borea BR09 |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
Tweeter
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.25-inch |
1 x 6-inch |
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
3 x 6-inch
|
Airmotiv T2+ features a 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter , a 5.25" Midrange and 2 x 8" woven fiber cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 350 Hz and 3200Hz. On the other hand, the Borea BR09 features a 1" silk dome Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 3 x 6" fiberglass Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 310Hz and 3900Hz.
Frequency Response
Airmotiv T2+ has a frequency range of 35 Hz – 28 kHz whereas Borea BR09 has a frequency range of 35 - 22k Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Airmotiv T2+ is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Borea BR09 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Airmotiv T2+ can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Airmotiv T2+ sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the Borea BR09's is rated at 92.5 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Triangle Borea BR09 a more sensitive speaker compared to Emotiva Airmotiv T2+, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Airmotiv T2+ can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Borea BR09 has a max power handling value of 170 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the Airmotiv T2+.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Airmotiv T2+ features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Borea BR09 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Airmotiv T2+ has a rear firing port whereas Borea BR09 has a front firing ports. Triangle Borea BR09's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Emotiva Airmotiv T2+ with its rear-firing port.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Emotiva Airmotiv T2+'s and Triangle Borea BR09's external dimensions. Emotiva Airmotiv T2+ has external dimensions of 1085.0 x 310.0 x 439.0mm ( 42-11/16 x 12-3/16 x 17-1/4inch) whereas Triangle Borea BR09 has external dimensions of 1095.0 x 206.0 x 314.0mm ( 43.1 x 8.1 x 12.3inch) .
Triangle Borea BR09 is 104mm narrower and 125mm less deeper than Emotiva Airmotiv T2+ but it is also 10mm taller.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Emotiva Airmotiv T2+ is approximately 1360.9cm2 / 210.9inch2 and base area of the Triangle Borea BR09 is approximately 646.8cm2 / 100.3inch2. The Airmotiv T2+ requires 110% more surface area than the Borea BR09 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Emotiva Airmotiv T2+ weighs 25.90kg / 57lbs and the Triangle Borea BR09 weighs 21.80kg / 48lbs. This makes the Airmotiv T2+ 19% heavier than the Borea BR09.
Here is a comparison of how Airmotiv T2+ and Borea BR09's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of Triangle Borea BR09?
Here are the items that come with the Borea BR09:
2 x Borea speakers 2 x protections grids 2 x pedestals 8 x screws 8 x adhesive rubber plots 8 x decoupling spikes 1 x user manual
Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
170 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
Height |
1085mm
vs
1095mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Price per pair* |
1099USD
vs
1850USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Sensitivity |
93 dB
vs
91 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
Base Surface Area |
646cm2 (206x314mm)
vs
1360cm2 (310x439mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
General |
Emotiva Airmotiv T2+ |
Triangle Borea BR09 |
Brand |
Emotiva |
Triangle |
Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
Power Range |
Up to 200 watts |
up to 170 watts |
Sensitivity |
91 dB |
92.5 dB |
Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
Impedance |
n/a |
3.3 ohms |
Frequency Response |
35 Hz – 28 kHz |
35 - 22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
3 |
Woofer Size |
8" |
6" |
Woofer Composition |
woven fiber cone |
fiberglass |
Tweeter Size |
25×32 mm" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
folded ribbon |
dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
5.25" |
6" |
Crossover Frequency |
350 Hz and 3200Hz |
310Hz and 3900Hz |
Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
1085.0mm (42.7") |
1095.0mm (43.1") |
Width |
310.0mm (12.2") |
206.0mm (8.1") |
Depth |
439.0mm (17.3") |
314.0mm (12.4") |
Weight |
25.90kg (57lbs) |
21.80kg (48lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
HDF |
n/a |
Available Colors |
Black |
Light Oak, Walnut, Black, White |
Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |