Polk XT20 vs Triangle Borea BR02 Comparison

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Polk XT20

Passive Bookshelf | 38-40k Hz

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Triangle Borea BR02

Passive Bookshelf | 51 - 22k Hz

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Polk XT20

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Triangle Borea BR02

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Polk XT20

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Triangle Borea BR02

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Polk XT20 vs Triangle Borea BR02 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing XT20 and Borea BR02, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Polk Audio and Triangle.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Polk XT20 and Triangle Borea BR02 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Polk XT20 Key Specs

2-way Design

1" Soft-Dome Tweeter

6.5" Bi-laminate paper Woofer

38-40k Hz Frequency Response

87 dB Sensitivity

Impedance: 8ohms

Power Range:30-200watts

Weight:5.45kg

Dimensions (H x W x D): 332.0" x 7-9/16" x 11-1/16"( 332.0 x 193.0 x 281.0mm )

Triangle Borea BR02 Key Specs

2-way Design

1" Tweeter

5" fiberglass Woofer

51 - 22k Hz Frequency Response

89 dB Sensitivity

Impedance: 8ohms

Power Range:up to 80watts

Weight:4.87kg

Dimensions (H x W x D): 310.0" x 6.9" x 10.7"( 310.0 x 176.0 x 274.0mm )

What size room are the Polk XT20 and Triangle Borea BR02 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*	Polk XT20	Triangle Borea BR02
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.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Polk XT20 and Triangle Borea BR02 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.

**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Drivers

Both XT20 and Borea BR02 are 2-way speakers.

Driver	Polk XT20	Triangle Borea BR02
Driver Setup	2-way	2-way
Tweeter	1-inch	1-inch
Midrange	-	-
Woofer	1 x 6.5-inch	1 x 5-inch

XT20 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Bi-laminate paper Woofer . On the other hand, the Borea BR02 features a 1" silk Tweeter and 1 x 5" fiberglass Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2900Hz.

Frequency Response

XT20 has a frequency range of 38-40k Hz whereas Borea BR02 has a frequency range of 51 - 22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 38Hz, the XT20 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Borea BR02's min frequency of 51Hz.

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 Bookshelf class in our database.

Low Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

XT20

Borea BR02

Min

Average

Max

High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

Polk XT20

Triangle Borea BR02

Min

Average

Max

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

XT20 and Borea BR02 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. XT20 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Borea BR02's is at 89 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Triangle Borea BR02 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk XT20, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

XT20

Borea BR02

Min

Average

Max

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.

XT20 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Borea BR02 has a max power handling value of 80 watts RMS, 120 watts less than the XT20.

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

XT20 features Binding post type posts and Borea BR02 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

Triangle Borea BR02's Binding post terminals

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 Polk XT20's and Triangle Borea BR02's external dimensions. Polk XT20 has external dimensions of 332.0 x 193.0 x 281.0mm ( 13-1/16 x 7-9/16 x 11-1/16inch) whereas Triangle Borea BR02 has external dimensions of 310.0 x 176.0 x 274.0mm ( 12.2 x 6.9 x 10.7inch) .

Polk XT20 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 17mm wider, 22mm taller and 7mm deeper than Triangle Borea BR02.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk XT20 and Triangle Borea BR02 in scale.

Comparison image of Polk XT20 and Triangle Borea BR02 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 Polk XT20 is approximately 542.3cm² / 84.1inch² and base area of the Triangle Borea BR02 is approximately 482.2cm² / 74.7inch². The XT20 requires 12% more surface area than the Borea BR02 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.

Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:

Size Comparison image of Polk XT20 and Triangle Borea BR02 on a Media Console

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 Polk XT20 weighs 5.45kg / 12lbs and the Triangle Borea BR02 weighs 4.87kg / 10.7lbs. This makes the XT20 12% heavier than the Borea BR02.

Here is a comparison of how XT20 and Borea BR02's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers

Polk XT20

Triangle Borea BR02

Min

Average

Max

What's in the Box of Polk XT20?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of XT20:

2 Bookshelf loudspeakers

2 Grilles (attached)

8 Self-adhesive rubber feet

Owners Manual

Online Product Registration

What's in the Box of Triangle Borea BR02?

Here are the items that come with the Borea BR02:

2 x Borea speakers

2 x protections grids

8 x adhesive rubber plots

1 x user manual

Reasons to choose Polk Audio Monitor XT20 over Triangle Borea BR02

Max Input Power	200 watts vs 80 watts	Handle more power from your amplifier
Woofer Size	6.5 inches vs 5 inches	Larger woofer
Low Frequency Response	38 Hz vs 51 Hz	Generates deeper bass
High Frequency Response	40k Hz vs 22k Hz	Generates higher frequency
Price per pair*	299USD vs 529USD	costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

Reasons to choose Triangle Borea BR02 over Polk Audio Monitor XT20

Sensitivity	89 dB vs 87 dB	Play louder with same amount of amplification power
Height	310mm vs 332mm	Easier to fit in smaller spaces
Base Surface Area	482cm² vs 542cm²	Takes less floor space

Polk XT20 vs Triangle Borea BR02 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Polk Audio Monitor XT20	Triangle Borea BR02
Brand	Polk Audio	Triangle
Speaker Type	Bookshelf speakers	Bookshelf speakers
Power Range	30-200 watts	up to 80 watts
Sensitivity	87 dB	89 dB
Impedance	8 ohms	8 ohms
Impedance	n/a	3.6 ohms
Frequency Response	38-40k Hz	51 - 22k Hz
Drivers
Woofer Quantity	1	1
Woofer Size	6.5"	5"
Woofer Composition	Bi-laminate paper	fiberglass
Woofer Surround Material	Rubber	n/a
Tweeter Size	1"	1"
Tweeter Type	Soft-Dome	n/a
Aimable Tweeter	No	No
Midrange Driver	No	No
Crossover Frequency	n/a	2900Hz
Firing Direction	n/a	rear
Physical Specs
Height	332.0mm (13.1")	310.0mm (12.2")
Width	193.0mm (7.6")	176.0mm (6.9")
Depth	281.0mm (11.1")	274.0mm (10.8")
Weight	5.45kg (12lbs)	4.87kg (10.7lbs)
Enclosure	Bass Reflex	Bass Reflex
Finish	MDF, Vinyl	n/a
Available Colors	Black	Light Oak, Walnut, Black, White
Mounting Bracket	No	No
Recommended Stand Height	24-28"	n/a
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