In this review, we will be comparing Theva No1 and Borea BR03, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Focal and Triangle.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Theva No1 and Triangle Borea BR03 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Focal Theva No1 | Triangle Borea BR03 |
|---|
| Brand | Focal
France · founded 1979 | Triangle
France · founded 1980 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" inverted dome | 1" |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Slatefiber | 6" fiberglass |
|---|
| Frequency response | 58-28kHz | 46 - 22k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-120 watts | up to 100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.82kg / 15lbs | 6.26kg / 13.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 15-3/8" x 8-3/8" x 10-1/4"
391.0 x 213.0 x 261.0mm | 14.9" x 8.1" x 12.3"
380.0 x 206.0 x 314.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Focal Theva No1 and Triangle Borea BR03 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:
| Listening Environment* |
Focal Theva No1 |
Triangle Borea BR03 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Bad |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Theva No1 and Borea BR03 are 2-way speakers.
Focal Theva No1Triangle Borea BR03
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Focal Theva No1 |
Triangle Borea BR03 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6-inch
|
Theva No1 features a 1" TNF Al/Mg inverted dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Slatefiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3000 Hz. On the other hand, the Borea BR03 features a 1" silk Tweeter and 1 x 6" fiberglass Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3600Hz.
Frequency Response
Theva No1 has a frequency range of 58-28kHz whereas Borea BR03 has a frequency range of 46 - 22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the Borea BR03 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Theva No1's min frequency of 58Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Theva No1 and Borea BR03 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Theva No1 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Borea BR03's is at 90 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Triangle Borea BR03 a more sensitive speaker compared to Focal Theva No1, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Theva No1 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas Borea BR03 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the Theva No1.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier — change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Theva No1 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Borea BR03 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Focal Theva No1's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Triangle Borea BR03's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Theva No1 has a rear firing port whereas Borea BR03 has a front firing ports. Triangle Borea BR03's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Focal Theva No1 with its rear-firing port.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be 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 Theva No1's and Triangle Borea BR03's external dimensions. Focal Theva No1 has external dimensions of 391.0 x 213.0 x 261.0mm (153/8 x 83/8 x 101/4) whereas Triangle Borea BR03 has external dimensions of 380.0 x 206.0 x 314.0mm (14.9 x 8.1 x 12.3inch).
Triangle Borea BR03 is 7mm narrower and 11mm shorter than Focal Theva No1 but it is also 53mm deeper.
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 Theva No1 is approximately 555.9cm2 / 86.2inch2 and base area of the Triangle Borea BR03 is approximately 646.8cm2 / 100.3inch2. The Theva No1 requires 14% less surface area than the Borea BR03 which gives it a small advantage 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 Theva No1 weighs 6.82kg / 15lbs and the Triangle Borea BR03 weighs 6.26kg / 13.8lbs. This makes the Theva No1 9% heavier than the Borea BR03.
Here is a comparison of how Theva No1 and Borea BR03's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Triangle Borea BR03?
Here are the items that come with the Borea BR03:
- 2 x Borea speakers
- 2 x protections grids
- 8 x adhesive rubber plots
- 1 x user manual
 Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Minimum Impedance |
4.6 ohms
vs
4.2 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 |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Base Surface Area |
555cm2
vs
646cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
58 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Height |
380mm
vs
391mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
629USD
vs
998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Focal Theva No1 |
Triangle Borea BR03 |
| Brand |
Focal |
Triangle |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-120 watts |
up to 100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4.6 ohms |
4.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
58-28kHz |
46 - 22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6" |
| Woofer Composition |
Slatefiber |
fiberglass |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
inverted dome |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
3000 Hz |
3600Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
391.0mm (15.4") |
380.0mm (15") |
| Width |
213.0mm (8.4") |
206.0mm (8.1") |
| Depth |
261.0mm (10.3") |
314.0mm (12.4") |
| Weight |
6.82kg (15lbs) |
6.26kg (13.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Black High Gloss,Dark Wood,Light Wood |
Light Oak, Walnut, Black, White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| 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 |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Triangle Borea BR03 digs deeper - 46Hz against 58Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (89dB vs 90dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (120W vs 100W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Focal Theva No1: bi-amping. Triangle Borea BR03 sits in a wider range (11 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Triangle Borea BR03 is cheaper - $629 against $998, about 37% less. |
A Focal Theva No1 B Triangle Borea BR03
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Triangle Borea BR03 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 58Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Focal Theva No1 the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and Triangle Borea BR03 for near-field listening and a small room.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.