Short answer: the Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ for better sound quality, the Triangle Borea BR03 for the lower price. The Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ ranks #72 of 100 bookshelf speakers at $449. The Triangle Borea BR03 ranks #80 at $381.77, $67.23 cheaper.
The case for the Emotiva Airmotiv B2+: Erin measured a useful 86dB average sensitivity and strong midbass punch around 120Hz. The tradeoff: The replacement B2+ did not deliver the neutral upgrade Erin expected.
What the Triangle Borea BR03 gets right: Bass output is genuinely decent for the price - measured extension reaches F3 57Hz/F10 42Hz, which the reviewer had no real complaints about. The catch: A noticeable mid-range suckout, most pronounced in the upper mid-range/lower treble.
Buy the Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Triangle Borea BR03 if the price matters more than sound quality.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Triangle Borea BR03. It ranks near the bottom of the 100 bookshelf speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ | Triangle Borea BR03 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $449.00 | $381.77 |
| Ranked | #72 of 100 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #80 of 100 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 42Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 66Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 57Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 87.5dB (measured at 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 6.5" woven-fiber woofer, 32 x 25mm folded-ribbon tweeter | 6.5" natural cellulose midwoofer, 1" (25mm) EFS silk dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) | 8 ohms nominal (manufacturer spec), 4.2 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, dual front ports |
| High-Pass Filter | - | 3600Hz |
| Dimensions | - | 14.96"H x 8.11"W x 12.36"D |
| Weight | - | 13.22 lbs each |
| Recommended Power | - | 100W |
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More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Klipsch RP-600M vs Wharfedale Diamond 9.1
- KEF Q350 vs Wharfedale Diamond 9.1
- Polk Monitor XT20 vs JBL XPL-90
- Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ vs Klipsch RP-600M
- Triangle Borea BR03 vs Yamaha NS-10
The Two Speakers In Full
Emotiva Airmotiv B2+: $449.00
Pros: Erin measured a useful 86dB average sensitivity and strong midbass punch around 120Hz. The folded-ribbon tweeter provides very broad upper-treble radiation, and the speaker can create a spacious presentation when positioned carefully. Response and directivity remain reasonably orderly below the roughly 2kHz crossover region. The 6.5-inch woofer offers more output capability than compact 5-inch competitors, while F3/F10 of 66/43Hz leave adequate overlap for a conventional 80Hz subwoofer crossover. Horizontal directivity data makes the broad baffle-step trend amenable to partial EQ below the crossover.
Cons: The replacement B2+ did not deliver the neutral upgrade Erin expected. A baffle-step loss around 500Hz depresses the lower midrange while the AMT’s much wider radiation above crossover injects excess room energy, yielding a bright, forward balance and false impression of cymbal detail. The directivity discontinuity near 2kHz cannot be completely equalized. Erin measured F3 at 66Hz and F10 at 43Hz, so meaningful kick-drum fundamentals and low bass still need a subwoofer. Vertical listening tolerance is roughly +/-10 degrees, with best results between the top of the woofer and tweeter axes. Broad lateral treble energy may require careful toe-out and sidewall absorption. Despite a large cabinet, it offers limited deep-bass advantage and was not Erin’s hoped-for successor to the more linear B1+.
Full Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 66Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 6.5" woven-fiber woofer, 32 x 25mm folded-ribbon tweeter |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (measured average, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
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- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ vs JBL XPL-90
- Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ vs Polk Reserve R100
- Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ vs Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2
- Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ vs Polk R200
- Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ vs Revel Performa M22
- Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ vs KEF Q350
- Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ vs Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator
- Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ vs Focal Aria 906
- See all 14 comparisons
Triangle Borea BR03: $381.77 Amazon
Pros: Bass output is genuinely decent for the price - measured extension reaches F3 57Hz/F10 42Hz, which the reviewer had no real complaints about. Dual front-firing ports and a well-stuffed, well-braced cabinet. Solid build quality overall.
Cons: A noticeable mid-range suckout, most pronounced in the upper mid-range/lower treble, that the reviewer attributes to cabinet resonances and driver breakup rather than a deliberate voicing choice - it makes vocals and instruments sound recessed and thin rather than warm. Sibilance in the 4-8kHz region shows up on every track the reviewer tried. Measured minimum impedance dips to about 4.2 ohms (with an even lower EPDR), despite the speaker and its own rear panel being labeled 8 ohms - worth knowing if you’re planning to drive these with a receiver/AVR that assumes an 8-ohm nominal load. The reviewer is upfront that this speaker has a devoted following among other reviewers, but says he specifically doesn’t hear what they hear and wants people who own it to trust their own ears rather than assume something’s wrong with their hearing if they don’t love it either.
Full Triangle Borea BR03 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 42Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 57Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 14.96"H x 8.11"W x 12.36"D |
| Drivers | 6.5" natural cellulose midwoofer, 1" (25mm) EFS silk dome tweeter |
| High-Pass Filter | 3600Hz |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (manufacturer spec), 4.2 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Recommended Power | 100W |
| Sensitivity | 87.5dB (measured at 2.83V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 13.22 lbs each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, dual front ports |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Triangle Borea BR03 vs B&W 805S
- Triangle Borea BR03 vs Wharfedale Diamond 9.1
- Triangle Borea BR03 vs Klipsch RP-600M
- Triangle Borea BR03 vs Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator
- Triangle Borea BR03 vs Aperion Audio Verus V8B
- Triangle Borea BR03 vs KEF Q350
- Triangle Borea BR03 vs Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2
- Triangle Borea BR03 vs Yamaha NS-10