In this review, we will be comparing Borea BR03 BT and Borea BR02 BT, two Powered Bookshelf speakers by Triangle. 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 Triangle Borea BR02 BT first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Triangle Borea BR03 BT | Triangle Borea BR02 BT |
|---|
| Brand | Triangle
France · founded 1980 | Triangle
France · founded 1980 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 100-watt RMS | 120-watt RMS |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" fiberglass | 5" fiberglass |
|---|
| Frequency response | 56-22kHz | 47-22kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89dB | 90dB |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 48 kHz | 24-bit / 48 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 5.0 | Built-in 5.0 |
|---|
| Weight | 13.90kg / 30.6lbs | 10.20kg / 22.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14.2" x 8.1" x 12.4"
360.0 x 206.0 x 314.0mm | 12.2" x 6.9" x 10.8"
310.0 x 176.0 x 274.0mm |
|---|
Borea BR03 BT and Borea BR02 BT are members of Triangle's Borea Active series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Triangle Borea Active Series
History
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 Borea BR02 BT are 2-way speakers.
Triangle Borea BR03 BTTriangle Borea BR02 BT
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 |
Triangle Borea BR02 BT |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
Borea BR03 BT features a 1" EFS fabric Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" fiberglass Woofer. On the other hand, the Borea BR02 BT features a 1" EFS fabric Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" fiberglass Woofer.
Frequency Response
Borea BR03 BT has a frequency range of 56-22kHz whereas Borea BR02 BT has a frequency range of 47-22kHz. 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 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.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Borea BR03 BT and Borea BR02 BT have the same Impedance of ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Borea BR03 BT sensitivity is rated at 89dB and the Borea BR02 BT's is at 90dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Triangle Borea BR02 BT a more sensitive speaker compared to Triangle Borea BR03 BT, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Borea BR03 BT and Borea BR02 BT 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
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 Triangle Borea BR02 BT'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 Triangle Borea BR02 BT has external dimensions of 310.0 x 176.0 x 274.0mm (8.1x 14.1 x 12.36 inches).
Triangle Borea BR03 BT is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 30mm wider, 50mm taller and 40mm deeper than Triangle Borea BR02 BT.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Triangle Borea BR03 BT and Triangle Borea BR02 BT in scale.
Comparison image of Triangle Borea BR03 BT and Triangle Borea BR02 BT 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 Triangle Borea BR02 BT is approximately 482.2cm2 / 74.7inch2. The Borea BR03 BT requires 34% more surface area than the Borea BR02 BT 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 Triangle Borea BR02 BT 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 Triangle Borea BR02 BT weighs 10.20kg / 22.4lbs. This makes the Borea BR03 BT 36% heavier than the Borea BR02 BT.
Here is a comparison of how Borea BR03 BT and Borea BR02 BT'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 Triangle Borea BR02 BT?
Here are the items that come with the Borea BR02 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
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Minimum Impedance |
4.2 ohms
vs
3.6 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
|
Low Frequency Response |
47 Hz
vs
56 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
310mm
vs
360mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
482cm2
vs
646cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
499USD
vs
599USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Triangle Borea Active BR03 BT |
Triangle Borea Active BR02 BT |
| Brand |
Triangle |
Triangle |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Sensitivity |
89dB |
90dB |
| Impedance |
3.6 ohms |
4.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
56-22kHz |
47-22kHz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
100-watt RMS |
120-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" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
fiberglass |
fiberglass |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
360.0mm (14.2") |
310.0mm (12.2") |
| Width |
206.0mm (8.1") |
176.0mm (6.9") |
| Depth |
314.0mm (12.4") |
274.0mm (10.8") |
| Weight |
13.90kg (30.6lbs) |
10.20kg (22.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Light Oak Blue,Oak Green,Cream,Light Oak,Black |
Light Oak Blue,Oak Green,Cream,Light Oak,Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
3.5mm, RCA |
3.5mm, RCA |
| USB Port |
No |
No |
| Phone Input |
Yes |
Yes |
| Subwoofer Output |
mono-RCA |
mono-RCA |
| Digital Input |
Optical,Coaxial |
Optical,Coaxial |
| HDMI Input |
No |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Siblings in Triangle's Borea Active series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Triangle Borea BR02 BT digs deeper - 47Hz against 56Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Built-in power | evenly matched | Similar onboard amplification (100W vs 120W RMS). |
| Connections | evenly matched | The same set of inputs and streaming options. |
| Size | depends | Triangle Borea BR02 BT 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; Triangle Borea BR02 BT: a sub output. |
| Price | B | Triangle Borea BR02 BT is cheaper - $499 against $599, about 17% less. |
A Triangle Borea BR03 BT B Triangle Borea BR02 BT
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 BR02 BT 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 56Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. 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, Triangle Borea BR02 BT is the easier speaker to get right.
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.