In this review, we will be comparing Borea BR02 BT and Alpha AM3, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from Triangle and PSB. Being Powered speakers, they both have built-in amplifiers so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp to power them.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Triangle Borea BR02 BT and PSB Alpha AM3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Triangle Borea BR02 BT Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 120-watt RMS Integrated Amplifier
- 1" Dome Tweeter
- 6.5" fiberglass Woofer
- 47-22kHz Frequency Response
- 90dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- 24-bit Max Depth / 48 kHz Max Sample Rate
- Built-in 5.0 Bluetooth
- Weight:14.20kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 360.0" x 8.1" x 12.36"( 206 x 360 x 314 mm )
PSB Alpha AM3 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 70-watt RMS Integrated Amplifier
- 0.75" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 4" Polypropylene Woofer
- 56-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 24-bit Max Depth / 48 kHz Max Sample Rate
- Built-in 5.0 Bluetooth
- Weight:4.50kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 220.7" x 5.1875" x 8.125"( 220.7 x 131.8 x 206.4mm )
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Triangle Borea BR02 BT and PSB Alpha AM3 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 Borea BR02 BT and Alpha AM3 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Triangle Borea BR02 BT |
PSB Alpha AM3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 4-inch
|
Borea BR02 BT features a 1" EFS fabric Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" fiberglass Woofer . On the other hand, the Alpha AM3 features a 0.75" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Polypropylene Woofer .
Frequency Response
Borea BR02 BT has a frequency range of 47-22kHz whereas Alpha AM3 has a frequency range of 56-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 47Hz, the Borea BR02 BT can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Alpha AM3's min frequency of 56Hz.
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
High Frequency
Bookshelf 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.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Borea BR02 BT and Alpha AM3 have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
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 Triangle Borea BR02 BT's and PSB Alpha AM3's external dimensions. Triangle Borea BR02 BT has external dimensions of 206 x 360 x 314 mm ( 8.1x 14.1 x 12.36 inches) whereas PSB Alpha AM3 has external dimensions of 220.7 x 131.8 x 206.4mm ( 8.6875 x 5.1875 x 8.125inch) .
Triangle Borea BR02 BT is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 74.2mm wider, 139.3mm taller and 107.6mm deeper than PSB Alpha AM3.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Triangle Borea BR02 BT and PSB Alpha AM3 in scale.
Comparison image of Triangle Borea BR02 BT and PSB Alpha AM3 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 Triangle Borea BR02 BT is approximately 646.0cm2 / 100.1inch2 and base area of the PSB Alpha AM3 is approximately 272.0cm2 / 42.2inch2. The Borea BR02 BT requires 138% more surface area than the Alpha AM3 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 Triangle Borea BR02 BT and PSB Alpha AM3 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 Triangle Borea BR02 BT weighs 14.20kg / 31.2lbs and the PSB Alpha AM3 weighs 4.50kg / 9.9lbs. This makes the Borea BR02 BT 216% heavier than the Alpha AM3.
Here is a comparison of how Borea BR02 BT and Alpha AM3's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Triangle Borea BR02 BT?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Borea BR02 BT:
1 x passive loudspeaker BOREA BT cable to link the loudspeakers 8. 1 x user manual1 x active loudspeaker BOREA BT (indicator light on the front) 2 x protection grills 1 x remote control, incl. 2 AAA batteries 8 x adhesive anti-slip feet to place below the speakers 1 x AC power cord 1 x 3 meters speaker
What's in the Box of PSB Alpha AM3?
Here are the items that come with the Alpha AM3:
Powered speaker Passive speaker 2 Grilles AC power adapter (attached 45-inch DC cord) 4-feet AC power cord Remote control (PSR-1) 2 AAA batteries 8-feet Speaker cable 58-inch Stereo minijack cable 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet Connection Diagram Warranty Card
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
47 Hz
vs
56 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
22k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
 Subwoofer Output |
mono-RCA
vs
No
|
Pair your speakers with external subwoofer |
 Height |
220mm
vs
360mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
272cm2
vs
646cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
449USD
vs
499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 USB Port |
microUSB
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
| General |
Triangle Borea Active BR02 BT |
PSB Alpha AM3 |
| Brand |
Triangle |
PSB |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Sensitivity |
90dB |
n/a |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
n/a |
| Impedance |
4.2 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
47-22kHz |
56-20k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
120-watt RMS |
70-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
24-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
48 kHz |
48 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
4" |
| Woofer Composition |
fiberglass |
Polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
0.75" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
360.0mm (14.2") |
220.7mm (8.7") |
| Width |
206.0mm (8.1") |
131.8mm (5.2") |
| Depth |
314.0mm (12.4") |
206.4mm (8.1") |
| Weight |
14.20kg (31.2lbs) |
4.50kg (9.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Light Oak Blue,Oak Green,Cream,Light Oak,Black |
Matte Black, Matte White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
3.5mm, RCA |
3.5mm |
| USB Port |
No |
microUSB |
| Phone Input |
Yes |
Yes |
| Subwoofer Output |
mono-RCA |
No |
| Digital Input |
Optical,Coaxial |
Optical |
| HDMI Input |
No |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
1 Year |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
1 Year |