In this review, we will be comparing Borea BR02 and 3020i, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Triangle and Q Acoustics. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Triangle Borea BR02 and Q Acoustics 3020i first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Triangle Borea BR02 and Q Acoustics 3020i 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Triangle Borea BR02 and Q Acoustics 3020i 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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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Borea BR02 and 3020i are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Triangle Borea BR02 |
Q Acoustics 3020i |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
0.9-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
Borea BR02 features a 1" silk Tweeter and 1 x 5" fiberglass Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2900Hz. On the other hand, the 3020i features a 0.9" decoupled Tweeter and 1 x 5" Coated paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2400Hz and 2400Hz.
Frequency Response
Borea BR02 has a frequency range of 51 - 22k Hz whereas 3020i has a frequency range of 64-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the 3020i 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
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.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Borea BR02 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the 3020i which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Borea BR02 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the 3020i's is rated at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Triangle Borea BR02 a more sensitive speaker compared to Q Acoustics 3020i, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
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.
Borea BR02 can handle a max power of 80 watts RMS from the amp the whereas 3020i has a max power handling value of 75 watts RMS, 5 watts less than the Borea BR02.
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
Borea BR02 features Post type posts and 3020i has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Triangle Borea BR02's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Borea BR02 and 3020i 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's and Q Acoustics 3020i's external dimensions. Triangle Borea BR02 has external dimensions of 310.0 x 176.0 x 274.0mm ( 12.2 x 6.9 x 10.7inch) whereas Q Acoustics 3020i has external dimensions of 278.0 x 170.0 x 282.0mm ( 10.9 x 6.6 x 11.1inch) .
Q Acoustics 3020i is 6mm narrower and 32mm shorter than Triangle Borea BR02 but it is also 8mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Triangle Borea BR02 and Q Acoustics 3020i in scale.
Comparison image of Triangle Borea BR02 and Q Acoustics 3020i 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 is approximately 482.2cm2 / 74.7inch2 and base area of the Q Acoustics 3020i is approximately 479.4cm2 / 74.3inch2. The Borea BR02 requires 1% more surface area than the 3020i 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 and Q Acoustics 3020i 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 weighs 4.87kg / 10.7lbs and the Q Acoustics 3020i weighs 4.80kg / 10.6lbs. This makes the Borea BR02 1% heavier than the 3020i.
Here is a comparison of how Borea BR02 and 3020i's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Triangle Borea BR02?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Borea BR02:
2 x Borea speakers 2 x protections grids 8 x adhesive rubber plots 1 x user manual
What's in the Box of Q Acoustics 3020i?
Here are the items that come with the 3020i:
2 x 3020i bookshelf speakers 2 x Foam Bungs 2 x Speaker Grilles 1 x User Manual 1 x Handling Gloves 8 x Rubber Speaker Grips
 Max Input Power |
80 watts
vs
75 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Minimum Impedance |
4 ohms
vs
3.6 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
51 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
278mm
vs
310mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
479cm2 (170x282mm)
vs
482cm2 (176x274mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
399USD
vs
529USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Triangle Borea BR02 |
Q Acoustics 3020i |
| Brand |
Triangle |
Q Acoustics |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
up to 80 watts |
25-75 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.6 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
51 - 22k Hz |
64-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
fiberglass |
Coated paper |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
0.9" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
decoupled |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2900Hz |
2400Hz and 2400Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
310.0mm (12.2") |
278.0mm (10.9") |
| Width |
176.0mm (6.9") |
170.0mm (6.7") |
| Depth |
274.0mm (10.8") |
282.0mm (11.1") |
| Weight |
4.87kg (10.7lbs) |
4.80kg (10.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Light Oak, Walnut, Black, White |
Walnut, Black, White, Grey |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
4 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
4 Years |