In this review, we will be comparing Borea BR03 and Q150, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Triangle and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Triangle Borea BR03 and KEF Q150 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Triangle Borea BR03 | KEF Q150 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 11th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6" fiberglass | 5.25" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 46 - 22k Hz | 51-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 100 watts | 10-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.26kg / 13.8lbs | 5.60kg / 12.3lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14.9" x 8.1" x 12.3"
380.0 x 206.0 x 314.0mm | 11.9" x 7.0" x 10.9"
303.0 x 180.0 x 278.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Triangle Borea BR03 and KEF Q150 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* |
Triangle Borea BR03 |
KEF Q150 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
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through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Borea BR03 and Q150 are 2-way speakers.
Triangle Borea BR03KEF Q150
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 |
KEF Q150 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
Borea BR03 features a 1" silk Tweeter and 1 x 6" fiberglass Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3600Hz. On the other hand, the Q150 features a 1" vented aluminum Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
Borea BR03 has a frequency range of 46 - 22k Hz whereas Q150 has a frequency range of 51-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the Borea BR03 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Q150's min frequency of 51Hz.
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 and Q150 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Borea BR03 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Q150's is at 86 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Triangle Borea BR03 a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Q150, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Both handle the same maximum of 100 watts RMS, though Borea BR03 is rated up to 100 watts and Q150 10-100 watts.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier — change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Borea BR03 features Post type posts and Q150 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Triangle Borea BR03's Binding post terminals
KEF Q150's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Borea BR03 has a front firing port whereas Q150 has a rear firing ports. Triangle Borea BR03's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to KEF Q150 with its rear-firing port.
KEF Q150 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's and KEF Q150's external dimensions. Triangle Borea BR03 has external dimensions of 380.0 x 206.0 x 314.0mm (14.9 x 8.1 x 12.3inch) whereas KEF Q150 has external dimensions of 303.0 x 180.0 x 278.0mm (11.9 x 7.0 x 10.9inch).
Triangle Borea BR03 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 26mm wider, 77mm taller and 36mm deeper than KEF Q150.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Triangle Borea BR03 and KEF Q150 in scale.
Comparison image of Triangle Borea BR03 and KEF Q150 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 is approximately 646.8cm2 / 100.3inch2 and base area of the KEF Q150 is approximately 500.4cm2 / 77.6inch2. The Borea BR03 requires 29% more surface area than the Q150 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 and KEF Q150 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 weighs 6.26kg / 13.8lbs and the KEF Q150 weighs 5.60kg / 12.3lbs. This makes the Borea BR03 12% heavier than the Q150.
Here is a comparison of how Borea BR03 and Q150'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 BR03?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Borea BR03:
- 2 x Borea speakers
- 2 x protections grids
- 8 x adhesive rubber plots
- 1 x user manual
What's in the Box of KEF Q150?
Here are the items that come with the Q150:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Foam port plugs
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owner's Manual
- Warranty Registration Card
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Minimum Impedance |
4.2 ohms
vs
3.7 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
6 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
51 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
303mm
vs
380mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
500cm2
vs
646cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
600USD
vs
629USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Triangle Borea BR03 |
KEF Q150 |
| Brand |
Triangle |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
up to 100 watts |
10-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4.2 ohms |
3.7 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
46 - 22k Hz |
51-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
fiberglass |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
3600Hz |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
380.0mm (15") |
303.0mm (11.9") |
| Width |
206.0mm (8.1") |
180.0mm (7.1") |
| Depth |
314.0mm (12.4") |
278.0mm (10.9") |
| Weight |
6.26kg (13.8lbs) |
5.60kg (12.3lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Vinyl-wrapped |
| Available Colors |
Light Oak, Walnut, Black, White |
Black, Walnut, White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
18-24" |
| 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 |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass |
A |
Triangle Borea BR03 digs deeper - 46Hz against 51Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs |
A |
Triangle Borea BR03 is more sensitive (90dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom |
evenly matched |
Similar power handling (100W vs 100W). |
| Size |
depends |
KEF Q150 is easier to place; Triangle Borea BR03 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability |
depends |
Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Triangle Borea BR03 sits in a wider range (11 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price |
evenly matched |
Much the same money ($629 vs $600 a pair). |
A Triangle Borea BR03
B KEF Q150
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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 BR03 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 51Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Triangle Borea BR03 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, KEF Q150 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.