Short answer: the Polk R200. It ranks #172 of 214 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.2/5, at $639; the Triangle Borea BR04 ranks #184, rated 3.0/5, and costs $649, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
What the Polk R200 does well: Two-way design with a 6.5” midwoofer and 1” ring radiator tweeter, giving reasonably tight, well-defined imaging. Watch for: A resonance and associated distortion increase around 800Hz-1kHz creates a “tinny,” occasionally glaring quality on certain instruments and vocals, confirmed both by ear and in the frequency-response and distortion measurements.
Why pick the Triangle Borea BR04: A larger Triangle Borea BR03 with a 6.3” cellulose woofer and a front port, rated from 44Hz at 90dB, so it is easy to drive and can sit near a wall. The catch: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared with ranked speakers.
Buy the Polk R200. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Triangle Borea BR04 and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Worth knowing: the Triangle Borea BR04 has not been measured yet. Its rating is estimated from related models, with a likely range of 2.7 to 3.3, so treat this verdict as provisional.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Polk R200 | Triangle Borea BR04 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $639.00 per pair | $649.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #172 of 214 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #184 of 214 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers Estimated |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 50Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 74Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3.8 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 85dB | 90dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | 25mm soft dome + 165mm woofer | 1x 1” EFS silk dome tweeter, 1x 6.3” cellulose pulp woofer |
| Weight | 31.3 lbs (14.2 kg) | 19 lbs (8.6 kg) each |
| Dimensions | 14.1”H x 7.5”W x 13.9”D (359.0 x 190.0 x 353.8 mm) | 16.7”H x 8.7”W x 12.4”D (425 x 220 x 314 mm) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.09 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.61 | - |
| DIY Kit | No | - |
| Frequency Response | - | 44Hz - 22kHz (manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 25-130W recommended |
| Enclosure | - | Front ported |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Polk R200: $639.00 per pair Amazon eBay
Same family: the Polk Reserve R100 (smaller bookshelf, ranked higher, rated 3.4/5), the Polk Reserve R500 (smallest floorstanding, rated 4.2/5), the Polk Reserve R600 (floorstanding, estimated 4.2/5), the Polk Audio Reserve R700 (largest floorstanding, rated 4.3/5), the Polk Audio Reserve R300 (smallest center, estimated 3.6/5), the Polk Audio Reserve R350 (center, rated 3.7/5) and the Polk Audio Reserve R400 (largest center, estimated 3.8/5).
Pros: Two-way design with a 6.5” midwoofer and 1” ring radiator tweeter, giving reasonably tight, well-defined imaging. Neutral through most of the midrange (roughly 200Hz-1kHz). On-axis response holds within about 1.5dB up to 10kHz. About 20dB of usable dynamic range (76dB to 96dB) before more significant compression sets in. Reasonably close to a 4-ohm nominal load, giving some flexibility with amplifier choice, though a dedicated 4-ohm-capable amp is still recommended. Measured bass extension of 74Hz (-3dB).
Cons: A resonance and associated distortion increase around 800Hz-1kHz creates a “tinny,” occasionally glaring quality on certain instruments and vocals, confirmed both by ear and in the frequency-response and distortion measurements. Above about 10kHz, the ring-radiator tweeter takes on an artificial, “digital-esque” quality, then falls off quickly above 16kHz. F3 of 74Hz and F10 of 50Hz mean there’s essentially no meaningful bass “thump” below about 60Hz: a subwoofer is strongly recommended even just to restore basic kick-drum presence. The ring radiator tweeter’s dispersion narrows sharply above about 8kHz, so the speaker should be aimed close to on-axis (no more than 5-10° of toe-out). Vertical listening position is fairly critical: moving more than a few degrees above or below the tweeter line causes a noticeable timbre shift due to a gap in the crossover region. Multitone distortion spikes substantially (to around 10%) in the 600Hz-1kHz region at higher output levels (around 96dB/1m), meaning the glare gets worse the louder it’s played. At the highest tested output (102dB, 26dB of dynamic range), the woofer shows clear signs of struggling; crossing to a subwoofer around 80-100Hz helps prevent bottoming out but doesn’t fully eliminate the compression.
Full Polk R200 review and specifications →
| Released | 2021 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 50Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 74Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 14.1”H x 7.5”W x 13.9”D (359.0 x 190.0 x 353.8 mm) |
| Drivers | 25mm soft dome + 165mm woofer |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3.8 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 85dB |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.09 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.61 |
| Weight | 31.3 lbs (14.2 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Triangle Borea BR04: $649.00 per pair Estimated Amazon eBay
Same family: the Triangle Borea BR02 (smaller bookshelf, estimated 2.7/5), the Triangle Borea BR03 (smaller bookshelf, ranked lower, rated 2.8/5), the Triangle Borea BR07 (smallest floorstanding, estimated 3/5), the Triangle Borea BR08 (floorstanding, estimated 3.2/5), the Triangle Borea BR09 (floorstanding, estimated 3.3/5), the Triangle Borea BR10 (largest floorstanding, estimated 3.3/5), the Triangle Borea BRC01 (smaller center, estimated 3.4/5) and the Triangle Borea BRC2 (larger center, estimated 3.3/5).
Pros: A larger Triangle Borea BR03 with a 6.3” cellulose woofer and a front port, rated from 44Hz at 90dB, so it is easy to drive and can sit near a wall.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared with ranked speakers. Its measured sibling the BR03 sits low in the rankings.
Full Triangle Borea BR04 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 25-130W recommended |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 16.7”H x 8.7”W x 12.4”D (425 x 220 x 314 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 1” EFS silk dome tweeter, 1x 6.3” cellulose pulp woofer |
| Enclosure | Front ported |
| Frequency Response | 44Hz - 22kHz (manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 90dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 19 lbs (8.6 kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons