Triangle Borea Lively BR03 BT assessment: Hello-fi sound, Bluetooth comfort

When you concentrate on the most effective Bluetooth audio system, you won’t think about the Triangle Borea BR03 BT. These powered stereo audio system look far more like conventional hi-fi, the one distinction is, they do not want any extra package to get began. These will play properly with simply your cellphone and a Bluetooth connection.

In fact, if in case you have a turntable, streamer or CD participant – then there are all method of inputs right here to utilize, plus you’ll be able to hook them as much as your TV instead of a soundbar to really get probably the most worth from them.

However with no separate amplifier wanted, the Triangle Borea BR03 BT may merely stream music out of your cellphone by way of Bluetooth too, making them a vastly versatile all-in-one (properly, two) resolution.

They’re fairly properly priced at $799/£599 (although do go searching, they’re out there cheaper at some retailers) – however how do they carry out? I acquired listening to seek out out.

Design and connectivity

• Dimensions: 206 x 360 x 314 mm
• Inputs: Bluetooth 5.0, 3.5mm AUX, optical, coaxial, RCA (line/MM phono stage)
• Accessible in 5 colors

As I discussed, the Triangle Borea BR03 BT seem like conventional hi-fi audio system, as a result of, properly they’re. Take the BT off of the title and you will find some very properly thought-about standmount audio system that want the entire hi-fi gubbins to get them going – most notably, an amplifier. So in case you like what you learn beneath, do be sure to’re choosing up the proper model.

Within the BR03 BT, the amplifier is constructed inside the audio system as a substitute – a 60-watt Class D amplifier for what it is value – so that they’re able to exit of the field. It is about as plug and play as hi-fi will get.

All it’s good to do is plug the grasp speaker (which holds the amplifier) into energy and place it on the proper facet of your listening place. You then use the included 3m speaker cable to hook up the left-hand passive speaker.

That is much less versatile than some programs, and though you’ll be able to place the grasp on the left if you wish to – so as to attain a plug, maybe – your stereo channels shall be reversed. So finest to dig out an extension cable as a substitute.

As there isn’t any Wi-Fi right here, there is no such thing as a management app for the Borea BR03 BT. You get a distant included within the field, which is helpfully non-directional so you do not must be instantly in entrance of the audio system to make use of it.

You possibly can management quantity, monitor, supply and EQ from the distant – there’s a small LED within the high proper hand nook of the proper speaker that glows completely different colors to point out you what enter you are on.

From a driver perspective, you get a 16.5cm mid/bass driver and 25mm tweeter, and there are two bass ports on the again. This implies they do ideally want a little bit of house from a rear wall, although you’ll be able to tweak the EQ to assist if that is not attainable – extra on that shortly.

In the event you just like the hi-fi look, you’ll be able to go away the speaker grilles off, however if in case you have a home with young children in, that it’s good to shield these drivers from, the BR03 BT ship with a classy rounded grille that matches the end you select. Triangle do suggest you pay attention with the grilles eliminated for the most effective sound efficiency although – and I would agree. Fortunately they’re magnetic so you’ll be able to snap them on and off actually simply.

Triangle

I examined the white however there are 5 colors to select from, from conventional black to oak colored cupboards offset by colored baffles in forest inexperienced or blue.

Both manner, they give the impression of being pretty and are superbly constructed too, nonetheless it must be famous – these are fairly huge standmount audio system. Smaller rooms might go well with the smaller BR02 higher, however larger rooms will lap up all the additional energy the BR03 are able to.

As I’ve talked about, connectivity is robust within the Borea BR03, and consists of Bluetooth 5.0 (aptX, aptX HD, aptX Low Latency, SBC, AAC), an optical enter (nice for TV audio), a coaxial enter for high-res playback, a 3.5mm aux in and a built-in MM phono stage for turntables, which could be switched to an RCA line enter as a substitute.

There isn’t a Wi-Fi right here, so there isn’t any probability of Spotify Join or AirPlay 2 right here, and there isn’t any USB enter both. There may be, nonetheless, a sub output in case you really feel you need extra bass (however spoiler alert, I really feel pretty sure that will not be the case for most individuals).

Efficiency

• 16.5cm mid/bass driver, 25mm tweeter
• 60W output per speaker
• aptX HD assist

Getting the BR03 BT up takes lower than a few minutes, however discovering the proper listening place to get the most effective from them can take a bit of longer.

As I discussed above, these audio system do sound their finest with a little bit of house, so attempt to not tuck them in opposition to a wall in case you will help it. The extra space you can provide them the higher, in honesty, but when your room will not permit it, you will need to mess around with the EQ settings, and knock a few notches off the bass to make sure it isn’t too overwhelming. You possibly can all the time reset the EQ to default utilizing the EQ reset button, to A/B the sound distinction – however even then, they might not be the most effective for very small room, given their depth.

As soon as I discovered a place I used to be proud of (I moved the audio system a great 30-40cm from my wall and knocked the bass down by two, tweeter up by one – I additionally had the separated additional than you will note in these photos), I acquired to listening and jumped straight in with aptX HD streaming from Tidal utilizing the Fiio M11S.

The very first thing that is abundantly clear is that these audio system have energy and scale in spades. Granted, I haven’t got the most important of dwelling rooms, however they fill it with out second thought – and with loads of quantity to spare. I would think about even these with far more house would nonetheless be simply catered for.

It is a heat, refined sound that, with the positioning and EQ tweaks above, is properly balanced and stuffed with element throughout the frequency vary.

Bass is deep and authoritative with loads of punch, mids are targeted and insightful, and up high, the treble is vibrant and ethereal, with no sense of ever sounding stretched or out of its depth.

Play Royals by Lorde, and the BR03 BT deal with the stripped backed intro with wonderful readability. Breathy vocals are pushed entrance and centre, and the influence of the bass drum rumble is offset superbly by the crisp finger snaps, slicing by way of the combination with precision.

Change to First of the Yr (Equinox) by Skrillex and push the amount a bit of louder than I am positive my neighbours could be proud of, and you may hear the soundstage these are able to. This an enormous monitor that typically struggles to seek out its ft on single field Bluetooth audio system, however right here there’s house and organisation to permit all the assorted strands of the music the room to breathe and develop – all whereas placing you proper on the centre the efficiency.

Because the tempo pushes forwards and will increase in the direction of the center of the music, the BR03 BT react appropriately, gripping tightly to the typically frantic melody, dynamics completely expressing the peaks and troughs of rhythm because it goes.

Even switching to an AAC stream from an iPhone 13 Professional, you will not discover an entire lot of distinction in what the BR03 are able to. They handle a intelligent stability of being clear with out being unforgiving – I may hearken to nothing however Bluetooth streams on these audio system and be very comfortable certainly.

In fact, feed them a greater supply and they’re going to present their hand appropriately. Attaching the Bluesound Node streamer by way of the coaxial enter and streaming from Tidal as soon as once more, you will hear extra element nonetheless, a bit of extra separation and timing that appears all of the extra positive of itself.

The optical enter additionally works superbly for TV sound. There are limitations to sound output over optical, in fact, so you will not have the ability to get lossless sound like Dolby True HD and so they actually will not have the ability to decode Dolby Atmos.

Nevertheless, they nonetheless carry out admirably, bringing all of the strengths of readability, separation and interesting sound that they’ve with music, by way of to TV. Meaning speech is evident and direct, and so they do not shrink back from going huge and reaching low when they should both.

TL; DR? It doesn’t matter what supply you are utilizing, the Triangle Borea BR03 BT carry out very properly certainly.

Verdict

The Triangle Borea Lively BR03 BT are an excellent choice for anybody trying to dip their toe into the world of hi-fi, with out shedding the comfort they’re used to from one-box options.

There’s one thing simply so likeable concerning the BR03 BT sound. They’re as refined as you’d hope, and filled with element, however pack a sound that huge and authoritative sufficient to fill even the largest rooms.

Irrespective of the enter, too, you could be positive you are going to get a sound that could be very completely hi-fi – however there isn’t any snobbishness right here in terms of wired sources versus wi-fi, and that is fairly refreshing, notably at this value.

These aren’t the smallest bookshelf audio system and you will want to be a bit of cautious with placement, or mess around with the EQ to get the easiest from them – for a extra impartial efficiency not less than. They won’t be your best option for the smallest areas even so, these sound their finest once they have some house the breathe.

I would like to see a USB connection, and Wi-Fi too could be nice for extra streaming choices. However lots of people shall be completely served by the collection of inputs up for grabs right here.

Whether or not you might have the package to utilize them now, hope to have it sooner or later or simply desire a extra convincing efficiency in your wi-fi playback, the Triangle Borea Lively BR03 BT are a robust, participating and reasonably priced method to do it.