In this review, we will be comparing Heresy IV and Borea BR09, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Klipsch and Triangle.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch Heresy IV and Triangle Borea BR09 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch Heresy IV | Triangle Borea BR09 |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | Triangle
France · founded 1980 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" horn-loaded | 1" dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 1.75" | 6" |
|---|
| Woofer | 12" Fiber-composite | 3 x 6" fiberglass |
|---|
| Frequency response | 48-20k Hz | 35 - 22k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 99 dB | 92.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 100 watts | up to 170 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 20.45kg / 45lbs | 21.80kg / 48lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 24-13/16" x 15-1/2" x 13-1/4"
631.0 x 394.0 x 337.0mm | 43.1" x 8.1" x 12.3"
1095.0 x 206.0 x 314.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Heresy IV and Borea BR09 are 3-way speakers.
Klipsch Heresy IVTriangle Borea BR09
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Klipsch Heresy IV |
Triangle Borea BR09 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 1.75-inch |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 12-inch
|
3 x 6-inch
|
Heresy IV features a 1" titanium-diaphragm compression horn-loaded Tweeter, a 1.75" Midrange and 1 x 12" Fiber-composite Woofer. 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
Heresy IV has a frequency range of 48-20k Hz whereas Borea BR09 has a frequency range of 35 - 22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 35Hz, the Borea BR09 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Heresy IV's min frequency of 48Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing 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
Heresy IV and Borea BR09 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Heresy IV sensitivity is rated at 99 dB and the Borea BR09's is at 92.5 dB. This 6 dB difference makes the Klipsch Heresy IV a more sensitive speaker compared to Triangle Borea BR09, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Borea BR09 can handle a max power of 170 watts RMS, whereas Heresy IV has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 70 watts less than the Borea BR09.
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
Heresy IV features 5-Way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Borea BR09 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Triangle Borea BR09's Binding post terminals
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 Klipsch Heresy IV's and Triangle Borea BR09's external dimensions. Klipsch Heresy IV has external dimensions of 631.0 x 394.0 x 337.0mm (24-13/16 x 15-1/2 x 13-1/4inch) 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 188mm narrower and 23mm less deeper than Klipsch Heresy IV but it is also 464mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch Heresy IV and Triangle Borea BR09 in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch Heresy IV and Triangle Borea BR09 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 Klipsch Heresy IV is approximately 1327.8cm2 / 205.8inch2 and base area of the Triangle Borea BR09 is approximately 646.8cm2 / 100.3inch2. The Heresy IV requires 105% 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 Klipsch Heresy IV weighs 20.45kg / 45lbs and the Triangle Borea BR09 weighs 21.80kg / 48lbs. This makes the Borea BR09 7% heavier than the Heresy IV.
Here is a comparison of how Heresy IV 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 Klipsch Heresy IV?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Heresy IV:
- 2 Floor-standing loudspeakers
- 2 Detachable grilles (installed)
- 2 Base risers (installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- 4 Jumper-straps (installed)
- Owners Manual
- Congratulations letter
- Klipsch brochure
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
 Sensitivity |
99 dB
vs
93 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
631mm
vs
1095mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Max Input Power |
170 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
|
Number of Woofers |
3
vs
1
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
35 Hz
vs
48 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
22k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
646cm2
vs
1327cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1850USD
vs
3198USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Klipsch Heritage Heresy IV |
Triangle Borea BR09 |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Triangle |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 100 watts |
up to 170 watts |
| Sensitivity |
99 dB |
92.5 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.3 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
48-20k Hz |
35 - 22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
3 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
6" |
| Woofer Composition |
Fiber-composite |
fiberglass |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Treated cloth |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
horn-loaded |
dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
1.75" |
6" |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
310Hz and 3900Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
631.0mm (24.8") |
1095.0mm (43.1") |
| Width |
394.0mm (15.5") |
206.0mm (8.1") |
| Depth |
337.0mm (13.3") |
314.0mm (12.4") |
| Weight |
20.45kg (45lbs) |
21.80kg (48lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
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 |
10 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
10 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Klipsch Heresy IV costs roughly 1.7x what Triangle Borea BR09 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Triangle Borea BR09 digs deeper - 35Hz against 48Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Klipsch Heresy IV is more sensitive (99dB vs 93dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | B | Triangle Borea BR09 takes more power (170W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | A | Klipsch Heresy IV: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | Triangle Borea BR09 is cheaper - $1,850 against $3,198, about 42% less; arguably a different class. |
A Klipsch Heresy IV B Triangle Borea BR09
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 48Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Klipsch Heresy IV is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.