Short answer: the Triangle Esprit Antal Ez. It ranks #53 of 54 floorstanding speakers by sound quality; the Bose 901 Series V ranks #54.
What the Triangle Esprit Antal Ez offers: Predicted in-room response sums rather nicely aside from the resonance and bass issues. Watch for: Resonance around 260Hz and a number of other resonances show up on-axis, along with a dip in bass response.
What the Bose 901 Series V offers: Historically distinctive direct/reflecting architecture uses eight rear-firing and one front-firing full-range drivers to create a very large, room-filling presentation. Watch for: Even with the required EQ, Erin measured only about 81dB sensitivity, grossly non-flat response, numerous impedance/resonance irregularities and very high distortion.
Buy the Triangle Esprit Antal Ez if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Bose 901 Series V if the price matters more than sound quality.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip both of these and look higher up the 54 floorstanding speakers instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Triangle Esprit Antal Ez | Bose 901 Series V | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1799 Discontinued | Used availability Discontinued |
| Ranked | #53 of 54 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #54 of 54 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Drivers | 2x 6.5" (160mm) fiberglass cone woofers, 1x 6.5" (160mm) natural cellulose midrange, 1x 1" (25mm) titanium dome tweeter | Nine full-range drivers: eight rear-firing, one front-firing |
| Weight | 98.5 lbs / 44.7 kg | - |
| Discontinued | Yes | Yes |
| Sensitivity | 90.7dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Audio Science Review) | Approximately 81dB/2.83V/1m with tested EQ setting (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (2.7 ohms minimum, measured by Audio Science Review) | 6.2 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 43.9"H x 11.8"W x 15.7"D (1115.0 x 300.0 x 400.0 mm) | - |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front | - |
| Bass Extension | - | Strongly dependent on supplied active equalizer and room (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DSP | - | External analog active equalizer required |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- KEF R5 vs JBL Studio 590
- KEF R5 Meta vs Endow Audio Bravura 7
- Dali Rubikore 6 vs Endow Audio Bravura 7
- JBL Studio 590 vs Triangle Esprit Antal Ez
- JBL Studio 590 vs Bose 901 Series V
The Two Speakers In Full
Triangle Esprit Antal Ez: $1799 Discontinued
Pros: Predicted in-room response sums rather nicely aside from the resonance and bass issues. Horizontal beamwidth of about ±50 degrees is reasonably controlled.
Cons: Resonance around 260Hz and a number of other resonances show up on-axis, along with a dip in bass response. Two distinct distortion sources - one around 250-300Hz, another around 3-4kHz - already cross the reviewer’s audibility threshold even at moderate output, and get much worse at 96dB SPL/1m, where distortion broadly exceeds 50% relative level across large parts of the spectrum. Directivity is not great overall. The reviewer does not recommend it. Discontinued.
Full Triangle Esprit Antal Ez review and specifications →
| Dimensions | 43.9"H x 11.8"W x 15.7"D (1115.0 x 300.0 x 400.0 mm) |
|---|---|
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 2x 6.5" (160mm) fiberglass cone woofers, 1x 6.5" (160mm) natural cellulose midrange, 1x 1" (25mm) titanium dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (2.7 ohms minimum, measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Sensitivity | 90.7dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Weight | 98.5 lbs / 44.7 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Bose 901 Series V: Used availability Discontinued Amazon
Pros: Historically distinctive direct/reflecting architecture uses eight rear-firing and one front-firing full-range drivers to create a very large, room-filling presentation. Erin measured a benign 6.2-ohm minimum impedance, so the raw electrical load is easier than many modern four-ohm speakers. The supplied active equalizer offers user-adjustable tonal balance and is integral to obtaining usable bandwidth.
Cons: Even with the required EQ, Erin measured only about 81dB sensitivity, grossly non-flat response, numerous impedance/resonance irregularities and very high distortion. Output above roughly 90-95dB at his seat became audibly poor; multitone testing reached only about 98dB before the distortion limit. The reflection-dominant radiation prevents precise imaging and makes results strongly room-dependent. It requires the proprietary equalizer and substantial amplifier power despite its benign impedance. Discontinued.
Full Bose 901 Series V review and specifications →
| Bass Extension | Strongly dependent on supplied active equalizer and room (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| DSP | External analog active equalizer required |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | Nine full-range drivers: eight rear-firing, one front-firing |
| Impedance | 6.2 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | Approximately 81dB/2.83V/1m with tested EQ setting (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons