In this review, we will be comparing Borea BR03 BT and LSX II, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from Triangle and KEF. 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 BR03 BT and KEF LSX II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Triangle Borea BR03 BT | KEF LSX II |
|---|
| Brand | Triangle
France · founded 1980 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 100-watt RMS | 200-watt RMS |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 11th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 0.75" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" fiberglass | 4.5" Magnesium/Aluminium alloy |
|---|
| Frequency response | 56-22kHz | 54-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89dB | — |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 48 kHz | 24-bit / 384 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 5.0 | Built-in 4.2 |
|---|
| App control | — | Yes |
|---|
| Weight | 13.90kg / 30.6lbs | 3.60kg / 7.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14.2" x 8.1" x 12.4"
360.0 x 206.0 x 314.0mm | 9.5" x 6.1" x 7.1"
240 × 155 × 180 mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Borea BR03 BT and LSX II are 2-way speakers.
Triangle Borea BR03 BTKEF LSX II
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Triangle Borea BR03 BT |
KEF LSX II |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
Borea BR03 BT features a 1" EFS fabric Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" fiberglass Woofer. On the other hand, the LSX II features a 0.75" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Magnesium/Aluminium alloy Woofer.
Frequency Response
Borea BR03 BT has a frequency range of 56-22kHz whereas LSX II has a frequency range of 54-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 54Hz, the LSX II can go slightly deeper then the Borea BR03 BT's min frequency of 56Hz.
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.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Borea BR03 BT and LSX II 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.
KEF LSX II 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 Triangle Borea BR03 BT's and KEF LSX II's external dimensions. Triangle Borea BR03 BT has external dimensions of 360.0 x 206.0 x 314.0mm (6.92 x 12.2 x 10.8 inches) whereas KEF LSX II has external dimensions of 240 × 155 × 180 mm (9.5 × 6.1 × 7.1 inch).
Triangle Borea BR03 BT is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 51mm wider, 120mm taller and 134mm deeper than KEF LSX II.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Triangle Borea BR03 BT and KEF LSX II in scale.
Comparison image of Triangle Borea BR03 BT and KEF LSX II 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 BR03 BT is approximately 646.8cm2 / 100.3inch2 and base area of the KEF LSX II is approximately 279.0cm2 / 43.2inch2. The Borea BR03 BT requires 132% more surface area than the LSX II which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is 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 BR03 BT and KEF LSX II 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 BR03 BT weighs 13.90kg / 30.6lbs and the KEF LSX II weighs 3.60kg / 7.9lbs. This makes the Borea BR03 BT 286% heavier than the LSX II.
Here is a comparison of how Borea BR03 BT and LSX II'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 BR03 BT?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Borea BR03 BT:
- 1 x passive loudspeaker BOREA BT cable to link the loudspeakers 8. 1 x user manual
- 1 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 KEF LSX II?
Here are the items that come with the LSX II:
- 2 Wireless powered speakers
- Two 6.5-feet AC power cords
- 10-feet Cat-6 interconnect speaker cable
- Remote control
- 2 AAA batteries
- Quick Start Guide
- Important Safety Information
- Warranty Information
- Maintenance Guide
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Price per pair* |
599USD
vs
1299USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
 Phono Input |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connect your turntable directly |
|
Low Frequency Response |
54 Hz
vs
56 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 App-Based Control |
Apple iOS, Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Height |
240mm
vs
360mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
279cm2
vs
646cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Ethernet Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
High quality streaming over Ethernet |
 USB Port |
USB-C (connects to your computer)
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
 HDMI Input |
ARC
vs
No
|
Connect HDMI sources directly |
| General |
Triangle Borea Active BR03 BT |
KEF LSX II |
| Brand |
Triangle |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Sensitivity |
89dB |
n/a |
| Impedance |
3.6 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
56-22kHz |
54-28k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
100-watt RMS |
200-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
24-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
48 kHz |
384 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
4.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
fiberglass |
Magnesium/Aluminium alloy |
| 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") |
240.0mm (9.4") |
| Width |
206.0mm (8.1") |
155.0mm (6.1") |
| Depth |
314.0mm (12.4") |
180.0mm (7.1") |
| Weight |
13.90kg (30.6lbs) |
3.60kg (7.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Light Oak Blue,Oak Green,Cream,Light Oak,Black |
Carbon Black, Mineral White, Cobalt Blue, Lava Red, and Soundwave |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
3.5mm, RCA |
3.5mm |
| USB Port |
No |
USB-C (connects to your computer) |
| Phone Input |
Yes |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
mono-RCA |
Wired |
| Digital Input |
Optical,Coaxial |
Optical |
| HDMI Input |
No |
ARC |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
1 Year |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
1 Year |
These sit in different price classes - KEF LSX II costs roughly 2.2x what Triangle Borea BR03 BT 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 | evenly matched | Much the same reach (56Hz vs 54Hz). |
| Built-in power | B | KEF LSX II has the bigger amplifier (200W vs 100W RMS). |
| Connections | B | Triangle Borea BR03 BT adds phono; KEF LSX II adds Wi-Fi, streaming and HDMI. |
| Size | depends | KEF LSX II is easier to place; Triangle Borea BR03 BT is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Triangle Borea BR03 BT: a sub output; KEF LSX II: a sub output. KEF LSX II sits in a wider range (10 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Triangle Borea BR03 BT is cheaper - $599 against $1,299, about 54% less; arguably a different class. |
A Triangle Borea BR03 BT B KEF LSX II
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?
The usual trade-off: KEF LSX II measures better, Triangle Borea BR03 BT costs about about 117% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. In a large or open-plan room, Triangle Borea BR03 BT has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, KEF LSX II is the easier speaker to get right. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $700 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
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.