In this review, we will be comparing Chora 816 and Borea BR08, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Focal and Triangle. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Chora 816 and Triangle Borea BR08 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Focal Chora 816 and Triangle Borea BR08 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 Focal Chora 816 and Triangle Borea BR08 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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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Chora 816 and Borea BR08 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Focal Chora 816 |
Triangle Borea BR08 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6.5-inch |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6-inch
|
Chora 816 features a 1" TNF Al/Mg inverted dome Tweeter , a 6.5" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" Slatefiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 270Hz and 2700Hz. On the other hand, the Borea BR08 features a 1" silk Break_in Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 2 x 6" fiberglass Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 215Hz and 3500Hz.
Frequency Response
Chora 816 has a frequency range of 50-28k Hz whereas Borea BR08 has a frequency range of 40 - 22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the Borea BR08 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Chora 816's min frequency of 50Hz.
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
Chora 816 and Borea BR08 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Chora 816 sensitivity is rated at 89.5 dB and the Borea BR08's is at 92 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Triangle Borea BR08 a more sensitive speaker compared to Focal Chora 816, 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.
Chora 816 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Borea BR08 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Chora 816.
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
Chora 816 features Binding post type posts and Borea BR08 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Triangle Borea BR08's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Chora 816 and Borea BR08 have front firing ports. front ported speakers offers more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls&surfaces compared to rear ported speakers.
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 Focal Chora 816's and Triangle Borea BR08's external dimensions. Focal Chora 816 has external dimensions of 1007.0 x 305.0 x 404.0mm ( 39-5/8 x 12 x 15-7/8inch) whereas Triangle Borea BR08 has external dimensions of 1020.0 x 206.0 x 314.0mm ( 40.1 x 8.1 x 12.3inch) .
Triangle Borea BR08 is 99mm narrower and 90mm less deeper than Focal Chora 816 but it is also 13mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Focal Chora 816 and Triangle Borea BR08 in scale.
Comparison image of Focal Chora 816 and Triangle Borea BR08 Size and External Dimensions
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 Focal Chora 816 is approximately 1232.2cm2 / 191.0inch2 and base area of the Triangle Borea BR08 is approximately 646.8cm2 / 100.3inch2. The Chora 816 requires 91% more surface area than the Borea BR08 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 Focal Chora 816 weighs 18.50kg / 40.7lbs and the Triangle Borea BR08 weighs 18.85kg / 41.5lbs. This makes the Borea BR08 2% heavier than the Chora 816.
Here is a comparison of how Chora 816 and Borea BR08'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 Focal Chora 816?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Chora 816:
Floorstanding loudspeakerBase4 Rubber feet4 Spike feet4 Nuts4 Screws4 WashersHex-keyGrilleUser manual
What's in the Box of Triangle Borea BR08?
Here are the items that come with the Borea BR08:
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
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Minimum Impedance |
4 ohms
vs
3 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
1007mm
vs
1020mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
| Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
| Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
646cm2 (206x314mm)
vs
1232cm2 (305x404mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1600USD
vs
1798USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Focal Chora 816 |
Triangle Borea BR08 |
| Brand |
Focal |
Triangle |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
40-200 watts |
up to 150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89.5 dB |
92 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
3 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50-28k Hz |
40 - 22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6" |
| Woofer Composition |
Slatefiber |
fiberglass |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
inverted dome |
Break_in |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6.5" |
6" |
| Crossover Frequency |
270Hz and 2700Hz |
215Hz and 3500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1007.0mm (39.6") |
1020.0mm (40.2") |
| Width |
305.0mm (12") |
206.0mm (8.1") |
| Depth |
404.0mm (15.9") |
314.0mm (12.4") |
| Weight |
18.50kg (40.7lbs) |
18.85kg (41.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl-wrap |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black, Dark wood, Light wood |
Light Oak, Walnut, Black, White |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |